School services
Schools can play a role in preventing and delaying the use of alcohol and other drugs by young people. Find out more about organisations offering evidence-based drug education programs for schools, including a summary of what they do and contact details.
About the organisation: Climate Schools is an evidence-informed program that addresses the issues of alcohol and other drug use from a health and wellbeing perspective. The program has been evaluated and has been shown to reduce drug use. The program offers online modules from years 8–10. Climate was developed by a group of leading alcohol and other drugs organisations, including the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of New South Wales.
Available resources: Modules that can be rolled out in schools, and resources for teachers and students.
Target Audience: Teachers/Young people (individual).
Preventure
About the organisation: Developed in Canada and adapted for the Australian classroom, Preventure is a school-based, selective prevention program that aims to reduce alcohol and other drug use among selected students in Year 7-8, and Year 9-10. Early intervention focused.
Available resources: Program that can be rolled out in schools in classrooms.
Target Audience: Teachers/ Young people (individual).
School Health and Alcohol Harm Reduction Project (SHARP)
About the organisation: Developed by the National Drug Research Institute and Curtin University, SHAHRP is a classroom-based program aimed at reducing alcoholrelated harm and risky consumption. The SHAHRP program was developed with young people and teachers and reflects the life experiences of young people, while also fitting well within the school curriculum. The program is culturally adaptable and has demonstrated harm reduction outcomes. Harm reduction focused.
Available resources: Classroom program that can be rolled out in schools.
Target Audience: Teachers/ Young people (individual).
About the organisation: Positive Choices is a website funded by the Australian Government Department of Health. The organisation highlights the importance of early intervention and the role of schools and parents in the prevention of alcohol and other drug harms. The content included is primarily ‘evidence-based drug education resources for school communities’. Resources have been divided according to audience type (for example teachers, parents, students). Most of the information available is intended to be interactive. Consultation with parents, teachers and students informed the development of the website and its content.
Available resources: The information available on the website varies considerably. Resources include evidence-based programs, drug facts pages, information guides, harm reduction videos, educational games, and apps.
Target Audience: Teachers. Parents. Young people (individual)