National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

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Major Sponsors

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Local Perth project finalist in national award

Holyoake’s DRUMBEAT program, based in Victoria Park, is a finalist in the Excellence in Services to Young People section at the National Drug and Alcohol Awards

DRUMBEAT is an early intervention program designed by Holyoake for young people aged 11-25 years to target drug and alcohol misuse by reducing social isolation and increasing social competence. It achieves this through a framework of fun, experiential learning using hand drumming, and a cognitive behavioural approach where analogies draw participants' attention to connections between their experiences in the drum circle, and their relationships in the wider community. DRUMBEAT involves up to 10 participants in sessions with specific themes including Self-responsibility, Values, Emotional Expression, Identity & Peer Pressure, Harmony and Teamwork.

Simon Faulkner from Holyoake describes the finalist nomination as “prestigious”:

“We entered our program because of the credibility of the National Drug and Alcohol Awards. What we have developed with DRUMBEAT is a national program. So far 500 facilitators have been trained but the majority of them are in NT and WA. We’re hoping these awards will help us expand further across the country because the program has been very successful so far with its target demographics.” Mr Faulkner says.

The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative effort of the Ted Noffs Foundation, the Australian Drug Foundation, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian National Council on Drugs. They aim to support and encourage people working to prevent drug problems in Australia. It is estimated around 10,000 Australians now work directly in drug and alcohol treatment across Australia, with a further 8,500 in associated sectors. Winners will be announced at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne, on Friday 27 June 2008.

“As a nation we lose about $1.2 billion and 7.5 million working days due to the effects of alcohol abuse alone” says Wesley Noffs, Chair of the NDAA 2008.

“The emotional cost of drug and alcohol abuse to families includes domestic violence, suicide, depression, plus health issues such as brain, liver and heart damage. To meet the devastation brought on by drug and alcohol abuse are thousands of dedicated professionals, researchers, organisations and volunteers doing work that is world leading. These Awards go some little way to recognising the fantastic, innovative work they do. We applaud them.”

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Health and Ageing, VIC Department of Human Services, VIC Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and NSW Department of Health.

According to Daryl Smeaton, CEO of the AER Foundation: “It is a great privilege to support the national alcohol and other drugs sector in celebrating the achievements of their unsung heroes. As the major sponsor of these awards, AER congratulates all the winners, finalists and nominees.”

To interview the finalist please call Charlotte George or Johanna de Wever on 03 9278 8122. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/