The Warner Youth Education Graffiti Education program, presented by Xavier Diaz, visited the school's Grade 5 and 6 students last week.

Using examples for the young participants to personally connect to in their own lives - such as that money spent on graffiti removal at the school takes away from what could be spent on sports equipment - it helps to personalise the issue, open their eyes to how tagging can affect people's lives and influence their future decisions.

By drawing on his own experiences and challenges when he was younger, Mr Diaz spends a lot of his time travelling to schools to spread positive messages to young people.

"I see that I am making a difference through using theatre and comedy as a way to open up their imagination and hopefully give them some good messages that will come in handy if they find themselves in a difficult situation," he said. "So it is helping them to realise that they can use creativity to get out of difficult situations."

One message he conveys through his presentation is around personal responsibility and that every decision comes with a consequence.

"Graffiti is the main message but it is about teaching respect, decision making and giving the kids options to get out of participating in anti-social behaviour and peer pressure," he said.

Principal Mel Stewart said the program taught pupils the message that it is okay to say no to their friends.

It was organised by the school for two reasons: firstly, as there had been a number of incidents of graffiti in the community which students had been exposed to, as well as at the school, so the program was a way to teach pupils how to be confident in themselves and say 'no' to their friends if being peer pressured.

"It is a tricky age for them to stay true to who they are," Ms Stewart said. "The program has a deeper message than just graffiti and street art. So we hope they can all go out in the community and teach others about what they have learnt."

Pupils Jalissa, Oscar and Brody took part in the session and learnt a lot from it.

"Even in a moment of time you may think it is a silly little joke but you really have to think about how it could affect you later in life and others too," Jalissa said.

Oscar and Brody agreed, saying that they learnt about how much graffiti could impact people's lives.

"I learnt it is okay to say no," Oscar said. "Even if you don't realise immediately, there will be consequences not just to you if you get caught but you will be in trouble in your own mind too.

"It's not just affecting the person whose house has been graffitied but also other people next door. It can affect everybody in one way or another."

Chief executive officer of Hepburn Shire Council, Evan King, said graffiti removal on council buildings and assets cost ratepayers an average of $5000 each year.

"This does not include the time and resources dedicated by our Parks and Open Spaces, Works or Building Maintenance Teams who remove graffiti from public toilets, playgrounds, bus shelters and other public areas managed by Council," he said.

The town's youth will be invited to create a street artwork at the new IGA supermarket sometime soon.