Be mindful that there are numerous programs that focus on alcohol and other drug-related treatment and recovery, which is outside the scope of the LDAT Program and its focus on preventing alcohol and other drug-related issues before they occur.
We encourage Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) to link with existing alcohol and other drug-related harm prevention programs that have been shown to work. Existing programs may target parents directly, or be designed for a broader group of people or key influencers.
A limited number of existing programs are listed below. You may find other programs through peak youth bodies, local health services or by drawing on local knowledge and networks. There may also be existing programs in place in your community that you can support and/or build on.
Existing programs in Australia which support teenagers:
Once you have found an existing program or activity, it may be useful to seek further information directly from the organisation offering these to confirm its relevance and suitability.
You might want to consider the following questions (some answers may be available online, others you may have to seek directly from the relevant organisation):
Due to the limited number of existing programs available, and the need for tailored approaches in many situations, many LDATs may work with partners to develop and deliver a targeted activity in their community.
Setting objectives for your Community Action Plan’s activity is an important part of the planning process.
Some example objectives for activities to support teenagers are provided below. Teams can develop their own objectives, although you may find these a useful starting point.
Over the next six months, work with (xx number) key partners of the (xx name) community to:
Strong partnerships are critical to your success in preventing alcohol and other drug-related harms
in the community.
LDATs may work with a variety of community partners to deliver activities to support teenagers. This might include secondary schools, family support services, and other organisations that work directly with children and/or parents.
Partners can support your activity in different ways, including through leading the activity, promotion, recruiting parents, providing expert trainers, financial support and other potential support.
The specific activity being delivered may influence the type of individuals, networks and organisations that your LDAT partners with. Partners may include:
All alcohol and other drug-related harm prevention activities need to be adequately resourced. Below is an indicative list of resources required for community organisations to deliver activities that support teenagers. LDATs may be able to support community organisations by providing some of these resources or linking these organisations to other partners who can provide additional support:
While you are planning your activity, it is important to consider measures to success for your activity. Determine how you will evaluate the success of your activity linking your evaluation measures to your objectives.