Alexandrina LDAT: Milang Youth Hub

The LDAT went into hiatus during COVID-19. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF), which runs the LDAT program, helped revive it, and Alexandrina Council took on the role of lead organisation. Alexandrina is a regional council area south of Adelaide, bordered on two sides by coast and Lake Alexandrina.

“We reached out to a range of stakeholders to have conversations about the AOD issues we were seeing in the community, who was affected and what we thought we could do about it,” said Kylie Markow, Community Development Officer at Alexandrina Council.

Alcohol and cannabis were the substances young people used most, and vaping was on the rise. School leaders were seeing the effects on some young people, such as more days missed at school.

In Milang, young people had nothing to do outside school hours and there were no active youth sports teams. Instead, they gathered at the town’s Wi-Fi benches, including one opposite the pub, and there were reports of negative interactions between adults drinking on the pub veranda and the young people nearby.

“Milang stakeholders were keen to create an opportunity for young people to do something positive, make social connections with peers, and have a positive influence from adult role models,” said Kylie.

The LDAT chose two key activities for its second Community Action Plan (CAP): AOD education in schools and the Milang Youth Hub.

AOD education in high schools

In 2023, the LDAT worked with Encounter Youth, a South Australian charity best known for running a safe Schoolies festival in Victor Harbor, to deliver AOD seminars to students, teachers and parents. Three of the four high schools in Alexandrina took part, with two sessions at each school for Year 7 to 9 students, plus two sessions for teachers and two for parents.

For its third CAP, the LDAT changed its approach so that teachers, who already have a relationship with their students, deliver AOD education over a series of lessons. It is trialling OurFutures, an evidence-based drug, alcohol and health education program with modules for students from late Year 6 to Year 10. All four high schools in the area are on board and have chosen to deliver several modules.

“It’s great that they have the opportunity to pick modules they feel are most relevant to their school – vaping has been popular,” said Kylie.

Find out more about what works in AOD education in schools.

Milang Youth Hub

The Youth Hub runs a Youth Group program for 10 to 18-year-olds, which was offered in 2023 and 2024. Activities include table tennis, air hockey, basketball, cricket, soccer, card games, retro video games and cooking. The Hub’s lakeside position also means kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing.

“The Youth Hub is in a unique position so we’re able to offer all these things onsite,” said Lyall Willis, Youth Activities Coordinator for the Milang Youth Hub, who is employed by Reclink SA.

Young people help decide some of the activities and have built equipment for the Hub. They’re encouraged to look after the space, which has helped create a sense of ownership and respect.

The program is a partnership between Reclink, the Milang Old School House and Community Centre, and Alexandrina Council. Each partner brings different networks and resources to promote the program and attract more grants and donations, and the community has given strong support through volunteer time and donated resources.

Where the LDAT is now

Building on the 2023 results, the LDAT’s later Community Action Plans set out to continue OurFutures in all four local high schools and to survey teachers on how it was working. Its current plan focuses on the Milang Youth Hub, the only youth-focused program in the town, for young people aged 8 to 17.

Students, teachers and parents

In 2023, 324 high school students completed the education course, as well as 22 teachers and 19 parents.

Of the young people who completed an evaluation, 63% reported an increase in knowledge of AOD risks and harms, and 76% reported more confidence to support their peers to stay safe around AOD.

Of the parents and community members who completed an evaluation, 100% reported an increase in knowledge of the potential AOD harms for young people.

Young people at the Youth Hub

Attendance grew as more young people heard about the Hub, reaching an average of nine young people per session by Term 3 of 2023. Of those who attended, 91% reported an increase in social connection and 100% reported a greater sense of belonging and connection to community.

“There’s been a core group of regular youth who feel at home at the Hub. Their social skills in navigating friendships have grown,” said Lyall.

The LDAT is now working to grow the Hub’s volunteer base so the program is sustainable, and is exploring transport so young people from surrounding towns can attend.

Advice for other LDATs

Kylie’s advice is to make the most of the people and resources at the ADF, and to follow the program’s process of consulting your community about what it needs. The Alexandrina LDAT used the Education in Schools, Supporting Teenagers and Creating Social Connection, Belonging and Purpose LDAT toolkits to plan its CAPs.

She also recommends building local partnerships.

“Our relationships with schools, community centres, mental health providers and others has meant that we’ve been able to pool our knowledge, skills and resources, and get more done together,” said Kylie.

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026