Dr Kriscia Tapia
The Matilda Centre, University of SydneyPresenting at Sydney & Adelaide MHIS Conferences
Presentation: Strong & Deadly Futures: School-based alcohol and drug prevention in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Alcohol and other drug use are among the leading causes of poor health and death among young people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth are disproportionately affected due to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation and disempowerment. Skills-focused prevention programs delivered in schools have proven an effective strategy for preventing uptake and harm associated with alcohol and drug use. However, there are unique contexts and factors relating to alcohol and drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth that require prevention programs to be adapted so that they are culturally relevant and effective for these youth.
This presentation will outline evidence about the individual, relationship, community, societal and cultural factors that contribute to and protect against drug use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth. It will provide attendees with an overview of current evidence about strategies that are most effective in addressing these factors and preventing alcohol and drug use. Finally, it will introduce the Strong & Deadly Futures program, a culturally inclusive school-based program that has been developed with input from 26 Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. This program, which schools can enrol to implement in 2025, will fill a critical gap in school-based alcohol and drug education efforts by providing an empowering, strengths-based approach tailored for culturally and geographically diverse classrooms.
Dr Kriscia Tapia
Dr Kriscia Tapia is a Research Fellow at the Matilda Centre at the University of Sydney, and the Project Manager for Strong & Deadly Futures, a cluster randomised controlled trial of a school-based and culturally inclusive alcohol and drug prevention program for secondary students. Her research focus is the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.