A school-based program, created by local teachers, has been awarded for raising student awareness of domestic and family violence.
Five educators from St Teresa’s Catholic College, in Noosaville, a Brisbane Catholic Education school on the Sunshine Coast, developed a 12-week program where students trained to complete the overnight Darkness to Daylight challenge, while also learning about respectful relationships.
The quintet of Mark Roberton, Meegan Keating, Ronel Scheepers, Belinda Byrne and Elizabeth Robertson were last week awarded the Archdiocese of Brisbane’s Spirit of Catholic Education Award 2024 for their efforts, which has also raised $59,000 over seven years for those impacted by domestic and family violence.
The program has made such an impact that the team and students were featured in a 37-minute documentary about the program, produced by Challenge DV, due to be released soon.
The team now plan to help other schools across the state implement the program.
Mr Roberton, the College’s Business Manager said the journey began in 2016 when he entered the Darkness to Daylight challenge to combine his love for running and commitment to stand up against domestic and family violence.
“I felt moved by the experiences I heard at the pre-run vigil, and was inspired to get my students involved,” he said.
“This led me and the team to create a program allowing students to train mentally and physically for the Darkness to Daylight challenge.”
Mr Roberton said as part of the program students learnt about the Power and Control Wheel, respectful relationships, and gained the knowledge and confidence to identify unhealthy relationships.
Challenge DV Chief Executive Officer Keith Tracey-Patte said St Teresa’s program was how the community needed to tackle the issue of domestic and family violence prevention.
Mr Tracey-Patte said it connected with young people through the safe school environment and taught them the facts about respectful relationships and domestic violence in a way that cut through.
“Connecting this education with a social event such as Darkness to Daylight is a powerful way to close the loop on these discussions and serves as a way for the kids to demonstrate their advocacy in a team event that unites them and the wider community through a shared purpose.”
St Teresa’s Catholic College Principal Samuel Anderson said since its inception in 2016, more than 100 Year 10 students had embraced the Darkness to Daylight program.
About the Spirit of Catholic Education Award:
The Spirit of Catholic Education Award celebrates the outstanding contributions of passionate educators within Catholic Education in Queensland. Individuals or teams including staff members, parents/carers, or volunteers are nominated for making an outstanding contribution to the life of their school community.
