More than 560 students at a Caroline Springs school took part in an initiative aimed at curbing violence and promoting conflict resolution and anger management, where the story of Pat Cronin was shared.
On Wednesday, May 28, Brookside College students from years 5–8 took part in the Pat Cronin Foundation’s Be Wise Education Program, as the foundation aims to involve more than one million young Australians in the program by the end of 2027.
The foundation was formed after the death of 19-year-old Pat Cronin in 2016, who died after being struck in the back of his head with a coward punch while trying to pull his friend away from a fight.
His story forms the heart of the foundation’s presentations, which aim to illustrate the devastating impacts of social violence.
Sessions in the program explore emotional awareness and triggers, highlight the consequences of choices, and provide practical strategies for defusing confrontational situations.
In a first for the foundation, all three of its presentations were conveyed to students in a single day at Brookside College.
College counsellor Valentina Zevallos said that it was the third year in a row the school has booked the foundation to present and she would “absolutely recommend [it] to any other school.”
“The students have responded really well to the program … it perfectly complements our Respectful Relationships Program, and each time we notice a change in student attitudes,” Ms Zevallos said.
Foundation director Matt Cronin – Pat’s father – said that the foundation never imagined how far the education program would go, with about 60 per cent of schools taking part, “which
demonstrates the demand for evidence-based education in this space.”
