BRAKE - Case Studies

BRAKE has been successfully implemented in a number of Queensland council regions over the past three years. The implementation of BRAKE in a community follows a fairly standard pattern.

A community based organization or corporation agrees to act as sponsor for the community;
BRAKE appoints a coordinator for the community using the funds provided by the sponsor;
The BRAKE coordinator talks with schools that have students who will benefit from BRAKE training;
Schools then engage with the BRAKE coordinator to receive teacher training and begin offering courses;
The BRAKE coordinator then arranges evening meetings with community groups where the BRAKE principles are explained. This is to build local support and understanding for students undertaking courses;
The school and the BRAKE coordinator arrange for parents meeting, where the fundamentals of the BRAKE course are outlined.

Wherever the BRAKE program has been taught, schools and their communities have welcomed the effects that BRAKE has had on increasing the awareness of young adults that the most dangerous time on the road for young drivers is the first few years of driving.

Communities with BRAKE

In Logan City Council, the first BRAKE course was a community course held in the Jimboomba Library in January 2007. This was the inaugural course and many of the participants remain in contact with BRAKE today. It has been implemented in Flagstone State Community College and Park Ridge State High School. Both schools were amongst the earliest schools to offer BRAKE to their students and families and their involvement and assistance has been a highlight.

Park Ridge State High School is a BRAKE School of Excellence and heavily involved in the ongoing quality assurance of the program. The school has three 'master' BRAKE teachers who have subsequently trained over 20 other teachers at the school to facilitate BRAKE. Road safety particularly that of our young people, has become a culture at the school and the significant changes in young drivers behaviour is remarkable.

In Central Highlands Regional Council, the first BRAKE course was held at Blackwater State High School in 2008. The Mining Industry Road Safety Alliance (MIRSA) and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy have been significant partners through financial and resource assistance in providing BRAKE to the Central Highlands Regional Council community. It has been implemented in these State High Schools; Blackwater, Capella and Emerald as well as the Capricornia School of Distance Education and Marist College.

In Isaac Regional Council, the first BRAKE course was held at Dysart State High School in 2008.

The Mining Industry Road Safety Alliance (MIRSA) and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy have been significant partners through financial and resource assistance in providing BRAKE to the Isaac Regional Council community.

BRAKE has been implemented into these State High Schools; Dysart, Moranbah, Clermont and Middlemount College.

In Scenic Rim Regional Council the first BRAKE course was held in 2007. The former Beaudesert Shire Council, the majority of which was amalgamated into the Scenic Rim Regional Council, gave a substantial financial grant, and resources, to BRAKE in November 2006 to ensure BRAKE was established within the former Beaudesert Shire. This valuable assistance was the foundation of BRAKE. Beaudesert State High School provided vital focus group testing and development through staff from the school that enabled the school compnent to be developed ensuring young people input. We are proud that Beaudesert SHS is continuing their involvement and assistance with BRAKE in 2010 - but more importantly that they continue to take a leading role in providing BRAKE to students and their families and place such a strong emphasis on road safety.

In the Ipswich City Council area St Augustine's College cam on board quite early with BRAKE in 2008. Th school has became and important member of BRAKE through Laura Collier, who not only facilitates BRAKE, but trains other teachers and provides invaluable feedback on BRAKE content, delivery and student engagement.

Bundamba SHS has come on board in 2010 and we are looking forward to working with teachers and students at the school.

In the Gladstone Regional Council area Toolooa State High School commenced BRAKE in 2010. We are pleased to be associated with Toolooa SHS, it is a great school and their leadership and community spirit in offering BRAKE to their students, families and community is applauded. Just like Rockhampton we are keen for sponsorship for the area to allow more school to provide BRAKE to their students and community.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council The first community course in the Lockyer Valley was held in 2008 in conjunction with the Laidley Police. Laidley State High School have implemented BRAKE in 2010. We welcome them to the BRAKE family and it is fantastic that the school is helping their young people and community in relation to road safety. Such a proactive approach is so commendable and we look forward to working with them and their community.

We would love community support within the area which allow further schools to deliver BRAKE to their students and communities.

In Gold Coast City Council, the first BRAKE course was held in 2007. The Gold Coast City Council has provided significant support to the BRAKE program.

The assistance of the GCCC has been pivotal in providing access to BRAKE within the Gold Coast community and their assistance is greatly appreciated.

A number of community courses have been conducted on the Gold Coast with the assistance of the community and service clubs such as the Palm Beach Surf Club and the Currumbin RSL.

The ongoing support from the Currumbin RSL has allowed a number of community courses to be conducted for those whose schools may not undertake BRAKE, or do not attend school.

A Gold Coast BRAKE Community Committee has been formed and they are vital in ensuring BRAKE is relevant to the Gold Coast community and support the BRAKE social model.

BRAKE has been implemented in these State High Schools; Robina, Elanora, Palm Beach Currumbin, Miami, Pacific Pines, Coombabah, Southport and Nerang as well as Hillcrest Christian College, St Andrews Lutheran College, Coomera Anglican College, St Hilda's School, AB Patterson College, St Stephens, St Michaels College, Upper Coomera College and The Southport School.

Ryan Martin, Dean of Students at St Andrews Lutheran College said: "The BRAKE road safety program has been part of our Year 11 and 12 school program for the last two years. This is the most comprehensive and habit changing road safety program that I have ever seen.

The BRAKE program challenges students and their parents to think about their approach to driving and the underlying message of responsibility to themselves and others while on the road is so powerful that I have no doubt it produces safer drivers.' Ryan has become vital to BRAKE on the Gold Coast, his dedication to his students, and the wider community is evidenced through his 'expert' status as a BRAKE facilitator.

Not only does Ryan facilitate BRAKE at St Lutherans College, he is a member of the Gold Coast BRAKE Community Committee and provides ongoing facilitation assistance to community courses conducted on the coast.

Ryan Martin is just one example of the wonderful people actively involved with BRAKE helping our young people and the community.

As you can see community support has ensured the successful roll out of BRAKE on the Gold Coast.

In the Brisbane City Council area a number of schools have come on board with BRAKE. The first school was Sunnybank SHS in 2009.

In 2010 the following schools are providing their students and families BRAKE within the Brisbane City Council area: Sunnybank SHS, Aspley SHS, Corinda SHS and Holland Park SHS.

Aspley State High School is another example of where staff have embraced the program and engaged students to a high level in facilitating the school component. The staff at the school included individual, school and community specific issues that made the program that much more meaningful to the students in their own environment and location. We at BRAKE are also looking forward to the Road Safety culture that Aspley is developing within the school.

We also welcome Alexandra Hills State High School to BRAKE through their links with the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA). The QMEA have been a long time partner with BRAKE and we thank them once again for such wonderful support and assistance.

We also welcome Moreton Bay College to the BRAKE family as the latest school offering BRAKE to their students and community. The in-service training was very positive and we look forward to working with such great teachers and such a great school.

See full size image In the Rockhampton Regional Council area Glenmore State High School commenced BRAKE in 2010. We are looking forward to working with the school and schools community. This is the first school in the area to take up BRAKE and we are hopeful of sponsorship in the area allowing us to offer the program to further schools.

In the Sunshine Coast Regional Council area, Beerwah State High School commenced BRAKE in 2010. Beerwah are the first school in the area to offer BRAKE to their students and families and we hope that sponsorship can be obtained from the community to allow further Sunshine Coast regional Council area secondary schools to offer BRAKE to their school communities.