Radio Italiana 531 tackles AOD stigma in Adelaide’s Italian community
Adelaide’s Radio Italiana 531 Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) is working in the local Italian community to increase knowledge about the effects of alcohol and other drugs, reduce stigma and spark conversations.
It’s encouraging people to ask for support and informing them of services that can help them.
Why Radio Italiana 531 started an LDAT
The LDAT formed after the radio station noticed a knowledge gap when it came to talking about alcohol and other drugs in the Italian community.
The station wanted to help, knowing it was well placed to have an impact. It was already deeply invested in the Adelaide Italian community, with a long track record. The in-language station is a vital source of information, news and entertainment.
“We use the radio as a way to educate,” explained station general manager, Marco Petta.
“The Italian people, we’re a resilient community because of war and migration, but we don’t talk about these things. Alcohol and other drugs can sometimes be stigmatised because there is a pressure to keep up appearances and worry about what others will think of us.”
Radio Italiana teamed up with partners, the City of West Torrens and the City of Campbelltown, to develop its Community Action Plan (CAP) and address these local concerns.
How the LDAT reached Adelaide’s Italian community
The LDAT began with local consultation, to understand what alcohol and other drug knowledge was needed.
The initial idea was to educate older Italians about the risks of prescription medications. But the Italian youth committee, Club G, was very interested in being involved, so the target audience was expanded to include young people aged 21 to 35.
Through its focus groups, the LDAT found that even when you only talk to young people, the issues and conversations get passed on to their parents and grandparents.
“Ideally our CAP is about everyone, because alcohol and other drugs can affect the whole family,” said Marco.
Marco explained that stigma can sometimes get in the way of help-seeking around alcohol and other drugs in the Italian community.
If a family member has issues, culturally there can be a tendency that we try to cover it up and leave it in the closet. I think for us, it was good that in the focus group, people opened up. Parents, kids and grandparents were all able to talk. Marco Petta, General Manager, Radio Italiana 531
Events for all ages
The CAP had two main activities: producing information resources and hosting local events.
Multiple events were held across 2022 and 2023, including a brunch, a movie night and a beach party, attracting a variety of people, including many young people.
Through the events, the LDAT was able to reach a younger audience and offer a chance for cultural and social connection, both proven protective factors against alcohol and other drug harm at all ages.
According to Marco, a key factor in the LDAT’s success has been the support it received from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), which manages the LDAT program on behalf of the Australian Government.
The beach party at Henley Beach was broadcast live to air, and the LDAT’s ADF Relationship Manager attended as a guest speaker. The Sunday brunch attracted more than 50 people, and an ADF Regional Community Development Manager spoke about the importance of preventing AOD harm.
Resources in Italian
ADF resources were also translated into Italian. Thousands of flyers and coasters were printed and handed out at the LDAT’s events, and through station sponsors such as restaurants, shops, cafés and the Adelaide Italian Festival.
The coasters showed what a standard drink looks like and the Australian alcohol guidelines, with a QR code linking to information on how to help a loved one. The A3 flyers directed people to resources, help and support.
Results and advice from Radio Italiana 531
What the LDAT achieved
At each event, the LDAT ran surveys to check the information was useful. The surveys showed that more than 90% of attendees felt their alcohol and other drug knowledge had increased.
According to the LDAT’s ADF Relationship Manager, the Radio Italiana LDAT is doing an amazing job of influencing change around alcohol and other drug prevention in its community.
“It’s no easy task as it involves having difficult conversations to break down the stigma that stops people from engaging in these dialogues in the first place,” she said.
“The team is proud of their Italian heritage and use this passion for preserving and promoting their culture to drive the important work that they do. This has also meant that the activities they develop and deliver often help to bridge the disconnect between different generations – increasing the impact that their work has.”
Advice for other LDATs
Marco’s advice to other LDATs developing their CAP is to have realistic scenarios, goals and expectations of results.
He stressed that community consultation is an important step.
“Alcohol and other drugs can be really hard topics to discuss, especially with multicultural communities.
“Importantly, try to understand by asking questions to your communities – what is it they need to know?
“Don’t be scared to ask the hard questions.”
Marco also recommended leaning on ADF staff for support and working hard to promote the LDAT’s activities and get the message out. He explained that from the start, the LDAT had a lot of support from the ADF, and that its Relationship Manager had helped them understand what needed to be done.
“We often apply for multicultural grants and we get a bit of support, but not as much as you get from ADF. We get one-of-a-kind support from ADF,” said Marco.
For more on getting your message out, see how to work with local media.
Last reviewed: 30 October 2026