Taking the Conversation into Schools

February 28, 2022

Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)

ADA Australia’s facilitation team recently visited Donvale Christian College to provide training and education around drugs and alcohol for Years 10 and 11 students. 

It was a fabulous experience, not only for the wonderful reception from these students and their mature engagement with this difficult topic, but also for the opportunity to bring our ‘lived experience’ into this conversation.

We’re as committed to educating young people around substance-use and mental health as we are to our workplace training initiatives (with some of Australia’s largest companies and key unions). 

At ADA Australia, we feel we have an important role to play in opening up this difficult topic and getting the conversation going among young people. 

Our training opens up discussion around drugs (both legal and illegal), alcohol and mental illness, but also taps into a deeper part of the conversation. Touching on values, on strength of character, on “knowing yourself”, on striving to be the best version of that ‘self’ and of the importance of reaching for help when times are tough. 

It is these life skills, and in knowing your own values, that is so important for resilience, for protective behaviours and in making the best life choices – informed choices – when faced with these substances. 

Although always a great experience when presenting in schools, this recent block of school-based training with Donvale Christian College was particularly special for one of our facilitators. The day she presented to the Year 10 students coincided with her six-year anniversary of sobriety. 

It was a powerful moment when the Year 10s learned this news – the entire class broke into applause. And afterwards, one student came up at the end of the presentation and privately thanked her for the courage she portrayed when opening up about her lived experience.

This is why we do what we do. We have a passion to change the culture around substance-use and mental illness. It begins with young people and our schools, with education and awareness.  

It is our wish that we might help them recognise their inner strengths, know their own values, be comfortable with their decisions, to be alert to the dangers, and have a full understanding of the impacts of drugs and alcohol on people’s lives.

And sometimes, all that anyone needs is a bit of guidance.

If you’d like to learn more about our schools program, or any of the other training programs we offer, please call ADA Australia on 1300 378 429 or email: enquiry@adaaus.com.au

If this information raised any concerns for you, please do speak to your GP, they can help you back to good health, or call a helpline: LIFELINE 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue 1300 22 4636.

Article by
Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)