Latest DrinkWise campaign to target at-risk First Nations youth

DrinkWise has announced a new suite of alcohol education resources designed to provide support to at-risk First Nations youths. The suites - which can be accessed here - have been launched in collaboration with a number of indigenous support bodies and spokespeople, including Indigenous Australian rapper Danzal Baker (commonly known as Baker Boy) and AFL player Daniel Rioli.

“I’m proud to be part of DrinkWise’s latest educational videos. I hope to inspire the next generation to make good choices and support one another in those choices,” said Danzal Baker.

“I'm proud to be able to use my voice to help guide future First Nations generations around abstaining from alcohol when underage, avoiding peer pressure and being thankful for the support of community.”

The educational resources have been mapped to the Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework, and will focus on building knowledge and starting conversations around topics such as delaying alcohol until the age of 18, managing peer pressure, making healthy choices, understanding the cause and effects of FASD, and how and developing a support network.

Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for NT Hon Malarndirri McCarthy says the education-focused campaign is a positive step towards helping its targeted audience of indigenous Australians aged 13-17 years old.

“The power of role models in shaping attitudes can’t be understated and I congratulate DrinkWise on their new campaign,” she said.

“I want every young person out there to know there are people they can talk to if they feel pressured to underage drink, including through 13YARN.”

Simon Strahan, CEO of DrinkWise, added: “Education is so important to helping the next generation make healthy choices, but we need to ensure the message resonates, which is why DrinkWise continues to partner with strong Indigenous role models. Baker Boy and Daniel Rioli deliver powerful messages about their own journeys to young people, highlighting how abstaining from alcohol underage, creating strong support networks and avoiding peer pressure helped them achieve their dreams.”

In addition to DrinkWise, Baker Boy, and Daniel Rioli, campaign contributors include 13YARN; Richmond Football Club’s centre for Indigenous leadership Korin Gamadji; various Indigenous clinical psychologists, artists and graphic designers; and young mob, including students from the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School.

Simon Stratan said, “these resources do not imply that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people require additional education on alcohol and the impact it can have on an individual, family or community, but they support the feedback from First Nations experts, which is that young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel more culturally safe when they see themselves reflected in learning materials.”

Principal of the MITS Brad Carmody added, “The DrinkWise resources are a fantastic example of a resource teachers can use to make sure students are getting the message of not drinking before they're 18 years of age. It's really important that young Indigenous students can see themselves in their role models, so to have Baker Boy and Daniel Rioli for the students to look up to is pretty fantastic.”

To access the free DrinkWise education resources visit https://drinkwise.org.au/our-work/drinkwise-videos-for-education-programs or contact info@drinkwise.org.au for more information.