Sony Foundation currently supports a number of initiatives which fall under Youth Off The Streets’ (YOTS) Anti-Drug and Alcohol Program.

The Anti-Drug and Alcohol Program incorporates two core facets of YOTS’ work in assisting young people. The program combines GetReel, an early intervention and prevention campaign, with the YOTS Dunlea Drug and Alcohol Treatment Program, which addresses the immediate needs of young people who have problematic levels of drug and alcohol use, and their families.

Get Reel

Sony Foundation Australia has supported Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) and its GetReel initiative since 2001. In that time:

• More than 10,000 schools across the country have been educated about the dangers of drugand alcohol abuse through the program;
• More than 5,000 students have entered the competition;
• To date, over 15 winning entries from students in regional towns to urbanised cities throughout Australia have been professionally produced into Community Service Announcements (CSAs) and aired on national television during Drug Action Week.

Check out the links below to view the 2009 GetReel CSAs. These ads received several hundred hits during National Drug Action Week (21-27 June):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADHayA5TWec
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJchFzSaZgw

An early intervention and prevention strategy, GetReel is a national school-based competition aimed to educate, empower and inspire young people to make informed choices about drug use and help them gain the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to make positive health choices. The competition requires students to plan, produce and edit a drug awareness commercial aimed at their own age demographic. The winning entry from each age group is then professionally produced and televised on free to air television during Drug Action Week.

The 2010 GetReel competition runs until October 15th across Australia. Entries are accepted in two divisions: Middle school (grades 5-8) and Secondary school (grades 9-10) and can be submitted individually or in teams. Teams can consist of a maximum of 6 members and the winning entries receive Sony prizes.

• April 10: GetReel applications open to coincide with National Youth Week.
• June 10: 2009 Winning ads aired nationally.
• October 15: Competition concludes. GetReel entry closing date.
• October 18 – November 12: GetReel preliminary judging takes place.
• November 17: GetReel final judging.

Dunlea

Sony Foundation also supports Dunlea, a non-residential drug and alcohol program which targets young people aged 13-19 whom have problematic levels of drug use. The program offers advice, assessment, referral to other services, and a rehabilitation program called ‘Taking Charge’ which utilises cognitive behaviour therapy and assists participants with developing coping strategies. Dunlea is a flexible program providing multiple entry and exit points for clients. The service also caters for their families who may be struggling with the issues surrounding the young person’s substance abuse.

The service includes psycho-education, group therapy, assessments, individual therapy and referral to a Psychiatrist when and if needed. Various activities and opportunities are planned for the young people and staff for their participation and engagement. Dunlea currently provides a family Support Worker who is available to the families of young people in the ‘Taking Charge’ program. A qualified counsellor is available to both young people and their families.

The program also provides recreation activities as part of its overall service delivery. It provides young people with a positive environment to learn many different skills including: socialising in public, having fun without using drugs or alcohol, and building rapport with young people to enable effective psychological support.

For more information please see www.youthoffthestreets.com.au.