Year 12 students to get the One Punch Can Kill message

All Queensland state high schools will make One Punch Can Kill information sessions available to Year 12 students in 2016.

Education Minister Kate Jones said the workshops would be delivered in state secondary schools across Queensland in partnership with the Matthew Stanley Foundation (MSF) and Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group (QHVSG).

“We made a commitment to ensure every Year 12 student understands that one punch can kill,” Ms Jones said.

“Our schools have a role to play – in partnership with parents – to help educate our kids about the risks and dangers associated with alcohol-fuelled violence.

“These two organisations, Matthew Stanley Foundation and Queensland Homicide Victims Support Group, have delivered a powerful anti-violence message across Queensland for many years.

“We’ve asked them to work together to deliver their message – that violence is never an option or a solution – face-to-face to Year 12 students before the end of the year.

“The information sessions will allow students to hear directly about the impact of one-punch assaults on both the victims and the perpetrators.

“Students will also be encouraged to make safe choices regarding their own behaviour and that of their peers.”

MSF founder Paul Stanley said violence was an issue for young people and the Walk Away Chill Out program encouraged individuals and communities to be proactive rather than reactive.

“We want to teach young Queenslanders to stop things before the violence starts and that we can talk things out rather than punch things out,” Mr Stanley said.

“Getting out there and delivering this message in all our schools will have a huge impact on these students’ attitudes towards violence.”

QHVSG general manager Ross Thompson said the One Punch Can Kill campaign was about making young Queenslanders aware of the dangers of assault and how easily a life could be taken.

“We’re grateful to have an opportunity to go to all state secondary schools in Queensland to deliver our strong anti-violence message and hopefully save some lives,” Mr Thompson said.

Ms Jones said the One Punch Can Kill information sessions would form an important part of the anti-violence education campaign being delivered in all state schools.

“Violence has a significant impact on young people and the wider community,” she said.

“Schools can play an important role to help change attitudes to violence.

“We want to give our young people the skills they need to develop respectful relationships that are free from violence and to manage challenging situations when engaging with their peers.”

In addition to the One Punch Can Kill program, the department recently made the Respectful relationships education program available to all schools for students in Prep to Year 12.

More information on the One Punch Can Kill initiative is available at http://qhvsg.org.au/ 

More information on the Matthew Stanley Foundation and Walk Away Chill Out is available at http://www.onepunchcampaignaustralia.com/the-matthew-stanley-foundation.html

Media: Matt Jutsum 0408 998 940