The NSW Teachers Federation said senior jobs to be cut include the manager of drug prevention programs, Aboriginal support and the leader of drug and alcohol prevention strategy.

It said a further 12 jobs in regional areas were also at risk.

The federation’s Riverina organiser, Deb Marten, yesterday condemned the cuts and said the recent high school parties in Leeton which were plagued by underage drinking and violence show how important alcohol education is.

At the last two weekends more than 150 teenagers have been caught at year 10 graduation parties in Leeton which have spun out of control and required police intervention.

A spokesman for NSW Education said the government announced in June the Sydney-based Drug and Alcohol Education Unit would disband next year.

He could not confirm the fate of any regional staff as “the department’s current regional structure is subject to changes due to be confirmed at the end of this term”.

Drug and alcohol education will still be in the syllabus and advisors at a state level will replace the outgoing unit.

“This is just another example of teachers being asked to do more with less,” Ms Marten said.

“Anything like this you will have a varying level of comfort (by teachers) discussing a topic like this. This is up there with talking about sex.”

Nicole Shaddock works with the Dance Away Violence youth committee in Wagga – a group formed entirely of children who look at how to reduce violence in the community.

She said well-resourced education programs are invaluable for kids.

“Schools are a place where these kids can get that education across the board,” she said. “Yes it should be the domain of the parents to provide that information but in reality it’s not happening.

“Even when it is happening it should come from another source because teenagers don’t always listen to their parents.”