The Organisation

Noarlunga Health Services is a regional Health Service, which is funded by the Department of Human Services in South Australia. The Outer Southern metropolitan area of Adelaide which is Noarlunga Health Services’ catchment area has a population of approximately 140,000, of which 39% is under 25 years. Noarlunga Health Services has prioritised family violence in its current Three Year Plan. Keep Safe Stay Cool is a major early intervention strategy of this plan. Health promotion and community initiatives are part of the strong primary health care approach taken by Noarlunga Health Services.

The Workers

Noarlunga Health Services encourages a multi-discipline team approach and this is represented in the team of workers involved in Keep Safe Stay Cool.

Noarlunga Health Services health workers from (at present) social work, community health nursing and occupational therapy plan, recruit, train and then work in partnership with peer educators.

All workers involved have extensive knowledge and experience of working with domestic violence. Responsibilities for workers include resource management, establishing contacts, quality assurance, support and forward planning. A health worker is present at every peer education session to support and have input if there are any difficulties. The health worker is also on hand if any students/young people have issues they want to discuss following the session.

‘Group photo of Peer Educators’

The Peer Educators

Peer educators with Keep Safe Stay Cool are recruited and trained once a year. There have been three intakes and we have trained 26 peer educators so far. Peer educators are aged from 14 to 24 and come from very varied backgrounds. Some are still at school, others are unemployed or single young mums and some are tertiary education students. Most become involved because they want to make a difference, are impressed when they participate in Keep Safe Stay Cool sessions as students or hope to go on to become youth workers, health workers or activists. Some have experienced domestic violence in the past in their family of origin or in their own relationships but many have no personal experience of domestic violence. All are provided with the opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills and to be valued as peer educators.

Peer educators work with Keep Safe Stay Cool for a year and some stay involved for longer training new peer educators, leading sessions when needed and contributing ideas and expertise.

Peer educators work as team members with health workers in session planning, decision making and resource design. As male/female pairs they present school and youth Keep Safe Stay Cool sessions and are active in community initiatives.

Reference Group

In 2002 the Keep Safe Stay Cool reference group has been established with representatives from:

The role of the Reference Group is to:

In establishing Keep Safe Stay Cool the following organisations contributed time, ideas, support and direction.

“Peace at Home”, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Sexual Health Information Networking Education South Australia (Shine SA)

South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU)

Woodcroft Community Health Service

Southern Vales Community Health Service

Seaford 6-12 School

Onkaparinga City Council

Zonta, South Australia

Achievements

‘The display’

Apart from delivering interactive sessions to young people in schools and youth groups Keep Safe Stay Cool has:

Peer Educators and health workers work together on all aspects of Keep Safe Stay Cool. The majority of conference presentations are delivered by Peer Educators.

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