In 2014, ATODA was awarded a three-year health promotion grant to undertake a comprehensive alcohol harm-reduction and community information project in the ACT. Negotiations are currently underway to extend the project another three years to reach other groups in the ACT with important information about the harms of alcohol.
The project is a partnership between ATODA, ACT Health and the Western Australian Mental Health Commission and building on the Western Australian Alcohol Think Again initiative.
The Impact Alcohol initiative includes an informative website www.impactalcohol.org.au that contains information for all ages regarding the effects of alcohol on health, specific issues relevant to alcohol and young people, students and parents as well as up-to-date statistics pertaining to the impact of alcohol on the community and legislation relevant to the ACT.
Resources are also available on the Impact Alcohol website to support parents and secondary schools to implement promotional materials as well as resources for health professionals.
In 2016, ATODA collaborated with the ACT Department of Education, ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, The Association of Independent Schools of the ACT and the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools and Companion House to present alcohol information forums to parents, teachers and various community groups. These forums were well received and provided attendees with evidenced based information how to prevent alcohol related harms.
For the next phase of the Impact Alcohol project, ATODA is keen to collaborate with other sectors in the ACT including the government and higher education sectors.
For further information on the Impact Alcohol project, or to organise an alcohol education session for your organisation, please contact Annie Bleeker on annie.bleeker@atoda.org.au
ATODA worked with the youth and community services sector and ACT Libraries to organise a series of community information stalls and education sessions for workers, parents, carers, teachers and the general community.
These health promotion initiatives aimed to increase knowledge about alcohol use in the ACT as well as provide information on the harms associated with use of the drug. Up-to-date statistics was also presented on secondary students drinking patterns and strategies on how individuals, teachers and schools can prevent harm.
If you would like to organise a free health promotion activity on alcohol for your workplace or members of your community please contact ATODA on info@atoda.org.au or call (02) 6249 6358
Parents, Young People and Alcohol Community Information Forums
In 2016, ATODA engaged the support of the Department of Education, the ACT Council of Parents and Citizens Associations, the Association of Independent Schools of the ACT and the Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools to organise a series of community information forums for parents, carers and teachers.
These forums aimed to increase the knowledge of parents, carers, teachers and community members about alcohol use among secondary students aged 12 – 17 and the risks of harm. Information was also provided on how individuals, teachers and schools can prevent alcohol related harm.
The forums were well received and conducted in four ACT High Schools in October and November 2016 between 7 pm – 8:30 pm.
- Tuesday 11th October
UC High School Kaleen - Wednesday 12th October
Caroline Chisholm School – Senior Campus - Tuesday 15th November
Canberra Grammar School - Wednesday 16th November
Emmaus Christian School