100 PER CENT of Bayside’s primary and secondary schools are participating in Council’s Graffiti Awareness Education Program, which aims to help young people understand the social impacts of graffiti vandalism.

Bayside Youth Advisory Group member, Councillor Terry O’Brien said the full participation was a great achievement and showed how much support the program had from schools.

“This program involves an actor going in to schools and giving an illustrative performance of what can happen to someone who is involved in graffiti vandalism,” Cr O’Brien said.

“It is delivered using the language of young people, and involves them on a level they can identify with, and gives a strong message that graffiti is about choices and consequences.

“The students attending the program are given strategies to help them deal with peer pressure, and to encourage them to look for more rewarding activities with their mates.

“This program is fun and informative, and has been successful in reducing graffiti vandalism in other areas,” Cr O’Brien said.

The Graffiti Awareness Education Program is jointly funded by Bayside City Council and the federal government’s National Community Crime Prevention Programme, and was developed by Warner Group’s, Graffiti Education™.

For more information on Bayside’s Graffiti Management Program, contact Bayside City Council’s Graffiti Strategy Officer on (03) 9599 4444.

For more information on Warner Group’s, Graffiti Education™ Program, contact Diana Cook, Warner Group, Manager Awareness Education Division on (03) 9555 9100.