Traffic Offenders

(held at:) Burwood PCYC 17 Deane Street, Burwood

Time: Mondays 7:30-9:30pm

Cost: $120

The Traffic Offenders Intervention Program is an option available to Magistrates after a person has been found guilty of a traffic offence but prior to sentencing to seek to educate offenders. It may also be used by Probation and Parole Services in the management of offenders who are on existing Probation or Parole orders. The program is designed to increase participants understanding of their social commitments in general and traffic laws in particular.

POLICE SERVICE

This segment of the program aims to: increase awareness of the major factors associated with road crashes. This section will examine various driver habits including those of young, drunk, speeding or dangerous drivers. The program will look into the effects of traffic fines, cancellations and disqualifications of licences. It will also look at damage to property, injury and death caused by drivers. It will show young drivers the many hazards likely to be encountered because of inexperience or ignorance of the road rules. The aim is to educate drivers in the skills required to drive defensively and to emphasise those techniques. Discussion will centre on the responsibilities, courtesy and common sense required to achieve that style of driving.

LEGAL SYSTEM

In this section the more serious offences will be highlighted. The consequences of those offences will be explained as will the more basic offences under the Traffic Act. There will also be a brief discussion on the laws in relation to drugs, particularly sentencing, pointing out that the courts simply view drugs as illegal and punish people caught in possession of them. It will emphasise that courts do not enter into moral arguements about drugs. The session will outline your basic legal responsibilities as a driver and your rights in court. It will also outline the consequences of ignoring the law.

BRAIN INJURY

What are your chances of death or serious brain injury? Every year hundreds of Australians, mainly young people, become casualties, paralysed as a result of spinal cord injury. Many of them are accidents which could of been prevented. Have you ever thought about spending the rest of your life in a wheel chair? Every day you make choices, those choices those choices may change your life in ways you cannot now imagine.

INSURANCE COVER

NRMA staff from local offices will explain the different types of car insurance avaliable. They will explain the features of cover types of each insurance package. They will also discuss exclusions to insurance cover when alcohol offences are involved.

ORGAN & TISSUE DONATION

The Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinators are based within a central governing body based within the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. They aim to raise organ and tissue donation awareness by delivering prestentations in the local community about general issues and the donation process. The information and open discussion enables the participants to make an informed decision regarding organ and tissue donations.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

The aim of this session is to bring home to the participants the dangers for them and others of the drink or drug affected driver. The lecture will also look at the effects of drugs and alcohol on your body and mind. They will look at the social and economic cost of drug and alcohol use to you and the community. See how different substances affect the central nervous system, the classification of drugs and responsible use of drugs and alcohol.

DEFENSIVE DRIVING

Defensive Driving is driving in a safe way regardless of the actions of other road users or unfavourable conditions. The Defensive Driving session is designed to help participants develop a driving plan aimed at meeting every potential situation that is likely to occur on the roads.

AMBULANCE

The idea is to give you an overview of the Ambulance Service of NSW. Course content. Your Ambulance Service - its role, function, history, funding, and fleet size. Personnel - selection, training, specialists and courses. Helping Others - types of calls, how you can help, making the scene safe, hazards, what to do, preventing further injury and sustaining life. Film - combating death on the street. Drugs and Alcohol - problems, people society, driving, common drugs and their effects on you. Why are you here - driving and society, road rules, road toll, and costs to the community. Surviving the road - why accidents happen, the effects of speed, what are your chances, and avoiding becoming a statistic.

SENTENCING OPTIONS & VICTIMS OF CRIME

Each year we lose hundreds of people we love and there are many thousands injured. These tragedies cause indescribable emotional and physical pain. Grief from the loss of a loved one and the trauma from a road incident affects us all in different ways. Aims include: encouraging emotional support at individual, group and community levels, assisting in the creation of education programs and initiatives and raising community awareness of the responsibilities and acountabilities of all road users. * - Participants must start on week one of a course to complete the required sessions within six (6) months. To complete the course, payment must be made in full, a passing grade must be received on each of the eight assignments and each of the eight sessions must be attended. Should a class be missed, the participant will have to attend a repeat of that class held approx eight weeks later before the course can be completed.

Presentation Schedule

COURSE 24

14/09/09 Police

21/09/09 Ambulance

28/09/09 Drugs & Alcohol

05/10/09 PUBLIC HOLIDAY

12/10/09 It all went wrong – (Brain Injury)

19/10/09 Legal

26/10/09 Dangerous behaviors – (Defensive Driving)

02/11/09 Roads and Vehicles - Insurance Cover (NRMA) + Organ & Tissue Donation

09/11/09 Victims of Road Trauma – (Vocal) + Sentencing Options - Probation & Parole

COURSE 25

16/11/09 Police

23/11/09 Ambulance

30/11/09 Drugs & Alcohol

07/12/09 It all went wrong – (Brain Injury)

14/12/09 Legal

21/12/09 Dangerous behaviors – (Defensive Driving)

28/12/09 Club Closed for Christmas Holidays

04/01/10 Club Closed for Christmas Holidays

11/01/10 Roads and Vehicles - Insurance Cover (NRMA) + Organ & Tissue Donation

18/01/10 Victims of Road Trauma – (Vocal) + Sentencing Options - Probation & Parole

COURSE 26

25/01/10 PUBLIC HOLIDAY

01/02/10 Police

08/02/10 Ambulance

15/02/10 Drugs & Alcohol

22/02/10 It all went wrong – (Brain Injury)

01/03/10 Legal 08/03/10 Dangerous behaviors – (Defensive Driving)

15/03/10 Roads and Vehicles - Insurance Cover (NRMA) + Organ & Tissue Donation

22/03/10 Victims of Road Trauma – (Vocal) + Sentencing Options - Probation & Parole

Participants must start at beginning of a course.

All 8 session must be attended; participants cannot do the same session twice.