St Joseph's Nudgee College

May 1, 2008

Nudgee will join with members of the Coordinated Response to Young People at Risk (CRYPAR) program to host a Youth Violence Expo on May 9, 2008.

The Community Against Youth Violence Expo will incorporate the Matthew Stanley Shield touch football competition, resource and information stalls for students and parents by CRYPAR's service providers, promotion of the "One Punch Can Kill" campaign, food and entertainment.

Nudgee Principal Daryl Hanly said Nudgee College is delighted to be hosting the CRYPAR Expo.

"CRYPAR is a wonderful program that is working hard to improve the lives of young people at risk and Nudgee College is proud to be able to help raise awareness of CRYPAR in any way we can," he said.

CRYPAR is a whole of government initiative run by the Queensland Police Service. It aims to assist young people by addressing issues identified as contributing factors in the development of criminal and self-harming tendencies and anti-social behaviour.

To date, in excess of 600 young people and families have benefited from CRYPAR referrals.

"CRYPAR is a simple referral process that allows police officers to refer 'at risk' young people to an appropriate agency that has agreed to respond to CRYPAR referrals within 48 hours," CRYPAR's Program Manager Inspector Bruce Graydon said.

"These agencies then work intensively with the young person and/or family to address their specific issues," he said.

The Youth Violence Task Force recently made a number of recommendations to Government to address youth violence, including CRYPAR be considered for broader expansion to "assist young people at risk and families in crisis".

Mr Hanly said arrangements in place would allow Nudgee boys and their parents to attend the Expo and pick up valuable information.

"All the stall holders at the Expo will be set up by the time the students have lunch on the day which will give them the opportunity to speak with representatives from agencies such as Drug Arm, Open Doors and PCYC. Nudgee will also be fielding a team in the touch football competition, which I'm sure will be heavily supported by the other students," Mr Hanly said.

Other teams competing for the Matthew Stanley Memorial Shield in the touch football competition are a side from the Australian Women's Rugby League, Kurbingui Youth Development and local police.

Inspector Graydon, Paul Stanley (father of Matthew Stanley), representatives from CRYPAR and the Kurbingui Youth Development Association will also attend the Nudgee College Assembly on Tuesday May 6, 2008 where Inspector Graydon and Mr Stanley will speak to the students about CRYPAR, the Expo and the tragic story of Matthew Stanley.

"The information students will pick up as a result of the CRYPAR Community Against Youth Violence Expo will be invaluable. It is information that is relevant to them and that could potentially save their life or the life of someone they know," said Mr Hanly.

About the Matthew Stanley Shield

The Shield was named after Matthew Stanley, who died when he was 15 years old after being bashed outside a teenager's party in September 2006.

Matt was a talented sportsman who also excelled academically at school.

What became apparent after his death though was his enormous popularity. Without trying, he managed to touch the hearts of so many people, from his peers to young children and adults, students, teachers and parents.

The Stanleys' tragic loss triggered an outpouring of grief in the local community that demanded action. In response to this, Matthew's parents, Paul and Kay Stanley, established the Matthew Stanley Foundation.

The Matthew Stanley foundation is working closely with the Queensland Police and the community to educate the public, specifically young people, about preventing youth violence.

It aims to educate young people about how to avoid potentially dangerous situations and make parents and teenagers aware of possible risks at parties and what they can do to make them safer.