Indigenous education resources and partnerships

Indigenous education around alcohol consumption is an important focus for DrinkWise. Among Indigenous Australians who do drink, a higher proportion drank at risky levels. However, the gap between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians exceeding the lifetime risk guidelines has narrowed, from 1.5 times as high in 2010 to 1.1 in 2022-23. This improvement is great to see but there is still an ongoing need for educational programs.

DrinkWise focuses on delivering education messages around alcohol to the Indigenous Australian community. These include messages on the effects of alcohol, underage drinking, drinking in moderation, FASD and making healthy life choices.

We know that behavioural and cultural change programs among Indigenous Australian communities need to be delivered with local community expertise, understanding and experience. That is why we partner with organisations that have a consistent approach to on-the-ground education programs.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy welcomes new DrinkWise Alcohol Education Resources

The Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for NT, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Richmond Football Club CEO, Shane Dunne and MITS students and Principal Brad Carmody were all on hand at the official launch of the new suite of DrinkWise Alcohol Education Resources. Featuring Australian music talent, Baker Boy and AFL player, Daniel Rioli, the new Student and Teacher Resources were developed in collaboration with Indigenous clinical psychologists, 13YARN, the Richmond Football Club’s centre for Indigenous leadership Korin Gamadji, Indigenous artists and graphic designers and young mob.

The Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians and Senator for NT, said: “It was a pleasure to be with the students this morning at MITS. The power of role models in shaping attitudes can’t be understated and I congratulate DrinkWise on their new campaign. 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.”

Alcohol Education Resources

The DrinkWise Alcohol Education videos feature well-known Indigenous personalities, actors, musicians and sports stars including: 

Baker Boy (Danzal Baker) Daniel Rioli Deborah Mailman Aaron Pedersen
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti Aliesha Newman Shaun Burgoyne Michael O’Loughlin

The videos and supporting Teacher Resources and Student Resources (where available) encourage yarns and build student knowledge about delaying alcohol until at least 18-years-old. It also helps them learn how to:

  • manage peer pressure
  • make healthy choices
  • understand the cause and effects of FASD
  • develop solutions to relevant social situations.

The DrinkWise resources are the catalyst for discussions about mental health and healthy lifestyles. They provide a safe space for students to learn about and discuss issues around alcohol that impact them, their families and their communities.

You can download the Alcohol Education Videos, Teacher Resources and Student Resources (which are mapped to the Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Framework) free of charge for educational use via the Australian Government Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing Hub – an online portal for educators, students and parents in all states and territories or directly through the DrinkWise website.

DrinkWise has partnered with 13YARN, a crisis support line that offers a culturally safe space for mob to have a yarn about any worries or concerns without judgement. 

DrinkWise and 13YARN have worked together to develop awareness messages and social media geo-targeted campaigns as part of:

  • a dedicated 15 second commercial featuring Daniel Rioli shown on the Imparja television network and on Indigenous radio, allowing it to be seen and heard in over 200 regional and remote Indigenous communities and 75,000 homes across Australia.

The messaging reminds mob that there is support available if:

  • If they are worried about managing their alcohol consumption 
  • If their behaviours or choices are impacting the safety of their loved ones or people around them.

Wanta Aboriginal Corporation

From 2020 – 2024, DrinkWise supported Wanta Aboriginal Corporation to continue their work with upper primary and secondary students to increase school attendance and improve educational outcomes and youth transition to vocational opportunities.

Alcohol Education Sessions

Alcohol education sessions using the DrinkWise Indigenous education videos and the supporting tool kit to prompt discussions are delivered:

  • in remote schools
  • on bush camp
  • at the annual Wanta Cup Events across the Northern Territory.

These sessions helped to tackle the significant gap in education outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

Evaluation shows that because of the Wanta education sessions:

Travelling cinema

Wanta’s travelling cinema was welcomed by remote communities in the Northern Territory. The travelling cinema has covered over 42,000km visiting remote communities across the Central Desert, Barkley Region, Arnhem Land and Katherine regions. 

The DrinkWise-branded video truck played educational messages before each movie. This allowed the whole audience to absorb the content in an engaging setting. Some schools successfully used the movie nights as an incentive to increase school attendance.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

DrinkWise works with Indigenous medical and mental health experts to attract media coverage in Indigenous publications and broadcasts to ensure First Nations peoples and communities are receiving important health information around FASD.

Dr Mark Wenitong, past president and founder of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and past Aboriginal Public Health Medical Officer, has worked for almost three decades to help improve the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. He has lent his voice to several DrinkWise campaigns. Most recently, he has helped to highlight the importance of ongoing education about FASD and why it’s critical to not drink alcohol when planning for a pregnancy or when pregnant – and that it’s safest not to drink alcohol when breastfeeding.

Data from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health survey shows that 90% of mothers to Indigenous children aged 0–3 years did not consume alcohol during their pregnancy*.

“It’s great that so many mothers to Indigenous children are reporting that they are staying away from alcohol when they are pregnant, but there is still a lot more to be done to increase awareness about FASD and the fact that any amount of alcohol will have an impact on the fetus, no matter what background you come from,” said Dr Wenitong.

“It’s really important to acknowledge that this is not just an issue for our mob or for women in general, but for everyone. For men, the best thing they can do to make sure their bub gets born healthy and lives a good long life is to provide an environment that’s caring and loving for the mum, which might mean they should also stop drinking as well for the duration of the pregnancy as a sign of support.”

13 YARN National Manager, Aunty Marjorie Anderson, is helping to raise awareness and understanding of FASD to reduce shame and stigma.

“Education and raising awareness and understanding of FASD and reducing stigma and shame is important. Our mob need to understand the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, and where to go for support, so they can ask for help if they need it,” said Aunty Marj.

If you or someone you know is an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping, call 13YARN on 13 92 76 or visit 13yarn.org.au.

Deb Mailman

During International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Week, DrinkWise partners with Deborah Mailman to continue to create awareness that FASD is 100% preventable. A 30 second television focused on FASD airs on the Indigenous owned Imparja television network. This commercial is seen in over 200 regional and remote Indigenous communities and 75,000 homes across Australia.

Jam Pakt Indigenous music and health promotion radio program (past initiative)

For ten years (2012-2022) DrinkWise was a proud supporter of Jam Pakt, a weekly Indigenous music and health promotion radio program. This program provided a platform which delivered a unique mix of music and inspirational yarns with some positive and well-known First Nations personalities. Jam Pakt broadcast across 284 community radio stations.

Past guests included:

  • National Mental Health Commissioner Dr Mark Wenitong
  • singers Jessica Mauboy, Nooky and Briggs
  • actors Deborah Mailman and Aaron Pedersen
  • AFL legends Shaun Burgoyne and Michael O’Loughlin.

In addition to the special themed episodes (role models, FASD and parental supply), DrinkWise had a weekly presence through the Unmissable Moments and Always respect, always DrinkWise segments. These segments reminded listeners about the importance of moderating alcohol and being respectful to those around them. 

To listen to excerpts from some of the episodes please click on the icons below.

Jam Pakt

Jam Pakt


Partnering with the Australian Government (past initiative)

The Australian Government partnered with DrinkWise in 2018 to produce a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder educational campaign, featuring well-known Indigenous Australian actors Deborah Mailman and Aaron Pedersen. This campaign conveyed the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, when planning a pregnancy or when breastfeeding. Supported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO, the partnership materials were launched by the then Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP at Parliament House.

Aboriginal Medical Services and Primary Care Services (past initiative)

DrinkWise promoted two 30 second Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder videos (produced in partnership with the Australian Government) and digital messaging for 271 rural and remote general practice waiting and staff rooms.

The Australian Government provided further in-kind support by placing the videos on the Aboriginal Health Television Network which is shown in Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) across the country.

Heart of the Nation Indigenous AFL (past initiative)

Over several years, DrinkWise incorporated its You won’t miss a moment if you DrinkWise moderation messaging into Red Centre AFL games in Alice Springs. The games, which helped showcase Indigenous talent, also raise awareness and understanding of cultural and social issues in the Northern Territory.

Eddie Bets was interviewed on national television before the Red Centre AFL game to talk about the importance of the DrinkWise moderation and role modelling messages. A DrinkWise Unmissable Moments video featuring Eddie also premiered during the national broadcast. 

The You won’t miss a moment if you DrinkWise messaging was also integrated into a special Red Centre edition of the Footy Record magazine, along with DrinkWise goalpost wraps during the game.

 

 

Indigenous adaptation of the Australian Alcohol Guidelines (past initiative)

To help improve alcohol education among Indigenous people, in 2011 DrinkWise partnered with the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (ADAC) of South Australia to produce an Indigenous adaptation of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s alcohol guidelines. These guidelines were adapted for use by Aboriginal health workers and drug and alcohol counsellors across the country.

 

You may also like

DrinkWise Indigenous Education Resources available to Australian teachers through the Government Department of Education Student Wellbeing Hub
Campaigns Facts and advice Video

DrinkWise Indigenous Education Resources available to Australian teachers through the Government Department of Education Student Wellbeing Hub

DrinkWise has created a series of videos for school and community programs, to educate and build individual capacity to make informed decisions about alcohol.
READ MORE