It
could be any club in any Australian city, loud, pulsing rhythms,
deep pounding bass, flashing lights, a packed dance floor. Hundreds
of young people gathered to party – to forget about study
and work and girlfriend/boyfriend/best-friend problems. Dancing,
drinking and maybe drugs. Probably the last place that you would
expect to find volunteers from Australian Red Cross.
For the past five years however, Australian Red Cross volunteers
have been pounding the beat of clubs, pubs and music festivals
as part of its Save-a-Mate (SAM) programme. SAM promotes health
and well-being in young people by educating them about the harms
that they might face in everyday life, particularly in relation
to drug and alcohol use.
Clementine Penninger, 23, has been an active member of the SAM
first aid program for about two years now. Every couple of weeks,
‘Clemmie’, as she is known to her friends, and a
team of highly trained volunteers head out to youth events –
dance parties, music festivals, anywhere where that they are
needed.
Over the years, Clemmie and other SAM volunteers have had to
respond to numerous circumstances that have occurred as a result
of alcohol or other drug use. “But we don’t judge
or tell people off,” she explains. “We help them
when they are unwell, and give them advice when they’re
after it.”
This non-judgemental approach – rooted firmly in the Red
Cross principle of neutrality – is a central tenet of
the SAM program. Without any bias, volunteers share information
with revellers about the effects and dangers of experimenting
with drugs and alcohol.
“It’s easier for young people to hear about drinking
and acting responsibly from their peers,” Clemmie says.
“It means more when advice about these kinds of risky
behaviours – about drinking and experimenting with drugs
- comes from someone who is part of their own culture.”
Shaun Hazeldine, who, as Manager of Youth and Education Services
for Australian Red Cross is heavily involved in SAM, agrees.
“Research suggests that people are more likely to hear
and personalize messages if they believe the person telling
them is similar to them and faces the same pressures and concerns.
“That is why we recruit young people who are not out of
place at these events to talk to people their own age about
risks.”
Through the SAM program, Australian Red Cross also runs training
sessions that teach others to deal with drug and other alcohol
crises, about how to prevent, recognise and respond to any such
emergencies. “There are a plethora of drug and alcohol
courses in the community,” explains Shaun, “but
none focus on the emergencies that can result from alcohol and
other drug use. Likewise traditional first aid courses do not
deal substantively with drug and alcohol issues.”
So far, more than 5,000 people have completed SAM first aid
courses across Australia. And almost everyone has indicated
that they would recommend it to others. And according to Clemmie,
the SAM program is also generally very well received at youth
events, with people often seeking them out to congratulate them
on what they are doing. “We’ll walk into a club
and people will come up to us and say ‘Oh, SAM, how are
you going? I saw you at such-and-such event – you helped
me out!’”
Every year, more and more youth events are looking to include
SAM teams in their risk management planning. Australian Red
Cross is also looking to work with state education departments
to see that every final year high school student undertakes
the training course before leaving school. Efforts are also
underway in some states to ensure that staff in pubs, clubs
and other venues also undertake the training.
Through SAM, Australian Red Cross is striving to reach as many
people as possible who come in regular contact with the issues
that may result from alcohol and other drug use, including,
for example, sex workers, homeless youth and prisoners. “SAM
will continue to develop for those people facing drug and alcohol
issues,” says Shaun. “We will listen to young people
to make sure we are providing the kind of support they need,
not the kind we think they need.”
|
 |
 |
|
|
"Research
suggests that people are more likely to hear and personalize
messages if they believe the person telling them is similar
to them and faces the same pressures and concerns."
(p13247)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
For the past five years, the Australian Red Cross volunteers
have been pounding the beat of clubs, pubs and music festivals
as part of its Save-a-Mate (SAM) programme. (p13249)
|
|
News
