Safer Cities Project – Just Breathe Air (JBA)
A group project that all started during our year 10 ‘Work Related Skills’ class presented us with a wonderful opportunity. Along with our cohort and a few groups from neighbouring schools, we participated in the Safer Cities Project run by the City of Casey. 2023’s community safety initiative focused on the ‘growing dangers and risks in youth vaping’. A symposium run by members from Vic Police, VicHealth and Quit Vic educated us about the risks of vaping. Facts and statistics were shared enlightening us about the real dangers of vaping. The competition was introduced to us where we were to create an educational video on the topic of vaping.
This process all begun with a brainstorm. Starting with our name, something short, catchy and memorable. Just Breathe Air (JBA). Our name highlights the overarching topic of vaping hinting towards the addictive flavours. We spent time brainstorming and planning what we wanted to include in our video, followed by time recording, editing and finalising our video. A judging panel determined the winners, and we were awarded first place!
Following this, we were able to participate in phase two where we were supported with a $25,000 grant enabling us to create a professional quality video to further share our message. We had the opportunity to collaborate with members of the City of Casey Council and Monash Health. We discussed how we could present a video that would be effective in sharing our message:
“You are not alone.”
In our original video, we presented the idea that if you are already vaping, there are people who are willing to support you in your journey to quitting. We liked this message and wanted to carry it across to our new video and this was supported by the research that we conducted with students and staff. This time, we presented the effects that vaping was having on three different people who enjoy different things to appeal to a range of people. Vaping could affect anyone. We wanted to illustrate that once you realise the impact it has had on you, you can seek help. That you are not alone.
Along with the talent that volunteered to act in our video, we collaborated with a professional company who recorded our video. We were able to experience not only the process of planning a video but what it’s like to record a video. Throughout this project, we learnt and built on many skills including teamwork, communication, planning, problem solving and organisation.
Our aim was to share our message and inform individuals of the impacts of vaping on day-to-day life in a way that many can relate to. We hope that by sharing this video, the audience will be able to see how it impacts their life. Whether they be the one vaping, or someone witnessing the impacts on someone else.
Just remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE! – Just Breathe Air
Michelle Prak, Janelle Bias, Olivia Argaet, and Cindy Phao