For Parents

The P.A.R.T.Y. Program is an injury-prevention programwhich is designed to prevent alcohol and risk-related traumain young people.

Young people aged 15 to 25 years are grossly over represented in injury and trauma statistics. By learning about the consequences of risk taking behaviour, the program enables young people to recognise potential injury-producing situations, make prevention-orientated choices, and adopt behaviours that minimise unnecessary risk.

The program involves a full day excursion to either Royal North Shore Hospital or Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital where participants meet health professionals, emergency services personnel (e.g. ambulance officers and police) and people who have experienced trauma injuries, often with significant disabilities.

(1) What should my child wear on the day of the excursion?

The school will tell your child what they should wear however it is preferred that students wear their school uniform (unless your school does not have a uniform). It is not a uniform free day as it is important for patients, families and hospital staff to be able to identify each student as part of the school group. The temperature in the hospital environment can vary from cold to hot. Please encourage your child to bear this in mind when dressing for the day.

(2) How will my child get to and from the hospital?

The school will arrange transport for the students to and from the hospital.

(3) What will happen if my child is ill on the day of the excursion?

Notify the school or the teacher who has been allocated as the P.A.R.T.Y. liaison.

(4) Who will supervise my child during the day?

Supervision remains the responsibility of the school at all times under the direction of the hospital staff. At least one adult (teacher, school nurse, school staff member) per 8 students will be attending the excursion with the students to provide supervision and support during the day. When the class is split into smaller groups, one adult from the school will stay with each group at all times.

At the hospital, the P.A.R.T.Y. Program Coordinator, clinical presenters and allied health professionals all play a role in ensuring your child's needs are met. They have all the appropriate checks and clearances to ensure your child's safety and wellbeing.

(5) What happens if my child is physically or emotionally overwhelmed by the Program content?

All care has been taken to ensure that the program, while confronting, is physically and emotionally manageable by students of the age attending. However, procedures are in place to care for any student who becomes overwhelmed during the day. This includes the hospital's standard operating procedures for illness (including fainting or dizziness), or emotional trauma (panic attacks, feeling overwhelmed, becoming very upset, or just "having had enough"). A hospital nurse is also on-call to attend to your child immediately should they be required.

(6) Is there anything my child should bring on the day?

Yes - your child will need to bring their morning tea, lunch and a drink in a refillable water bottle. This will need to be something that does not require refrigeration or heating.

(7) Is there anything my child needs to do to prepare for the day?

Yes - they will need to eat breakfast. The program can be confronting and students who eat breakfast have been shown to be better prepared to deal with the program content.