Strong & Deadly Futures: Co-designed Alcohol and Drug Prevention for Australian First Nations Youth
Tracks
Danggalaba (Saltwater crocodile)
| Tuesday, October 31, 2023 |
| 11:50 AM - 12:10 PM |
Overview
John Ryan, The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney
Speaker
Deanne Broome
Facilitator
Strong & Deadly Futures
Strong & Deadly Futures: Co-designed alcohol and drug prevention for Australian First Nations youth
Biography
Deanne Broome serves as a Community Education Officer at a Queensland State High School, specialising in advocating for the inclusion and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Her role involves educating the school community on Indigenous social and cultural perspectives. Beyond the classroom, she helps create activities that promote educational involvement for these students and their families. Deanne also contributed to the consultation phase of the Strong & Deadly Futures project, Australia's first school-based, culturally inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program. Her valuable feedback was instrumental in refining the program to better suit local needs.
Mr John Ryan
Research Assistant
The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney
Strong & Deadly Futures: Co-designed alcohol and drug prevention for Australian First Nations youth
Abstract
Background: School-based prevention programs have proven effective in reducing alcohol and other drugs (AOD) related harms; however, consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have identified a lack of evidence-based, culturally inclusive, prevention programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. To address this, Strong & Deadly Futures was co-developed with an Indigenous creative design agency and 4 schools. The program aims to: prevent the uptake of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis use among young people; foster safe attitudes towards alcohol and other drugs, promoting responsible decision-making; and enhance psychological wellbeing and empower students to navigate challenges effectively. After a successful pilot, we are now testing the program’s effectiveness in preventing AOD uptake, including the use of vapes and e-cigarettes in a large randomised controlled trial (RCT). The trial was preceded by a consultation and adaptation phase in partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) and steered by an Aboriginal Reference Group.
Population: Year 8/9 students from 24 schools in QLD, NSW and WA.
Method: ACCHOs in participating locations consulted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members (adults and youth) to obtain feedback on the program to inform tailoring to the local context. A trial is currently underway to evaluate the effectiveness of the Strong & Deadly Futures program in promoting wellbeing and preventing AOD harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, drawing on the latest evidence about effective wellbeing promotion, with a focus on cultural strengths and skill development.
Results: Community consultations resulted in 4 regional adaptations of the program. Insights arising from the consultations will be discussed.
Conclusion: Strong & Deadly Futures supports implementation by combining core learning outcomes with flexible activities to allow local tailoring of program content. If effective, Strong & Deadly Futures will provide a model for combining participatory research with rigorous evaluation.
Population: Year 8/9 students from 24 schools in QLD, NSW and WA.
Method: ACCHOs in participating locations consulted with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members (adults and youth) to obtain feedback on the program to inform tailoring to the local context. A trial is currently underway to evaluate the effectiveness of the Strong & Deadly Futures program in promoting wellbeing and preventing AOD harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, drawing on the latest evidence about effective wellbeing promotion, with a focus on cultural strengths and skill development.
Results: Community consultations resulted in 4 regional adaptations of the program. Insights arising from the consultations will be discussed.
Conclusion: Strong & Deadly Futures supports implementation by combining core learning outcomes with flexible activities to allow local tailoring of program content. If effective, Strong & Deadly Futures will provide a model for combining participatory research with rigorous evaluation.
Biography
John Ryan is a research assistant with the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. He is currently assisting with a trial of a culturally inclusive school-based alcohol and drug prevention program, Strong & Deadly Futures. The program was co-designed with Aboriginal and non-Indigenous students and teachers and is funded by NHMRC and the Australian Government Department of Health.
