The Australian Government is committed to providing safe and supportive environments for all school students. Through the National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES), a total of $47.5 million has been provided from 1999-2000 to 2007-2008 for school drug education. This funding is directed towards fostering the capacity of school communities to provide safe and supportive school environments for all Australian school students, enhancing school drug education programmes and the management of drug related issues and incidents in schools.
The Resilience Education and Drug Information (REDI) resources are the first school drug education resources to focus on preventing and reducing harm from by building resilience and connectedness in school students. REDI will help students develop knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to become more resilient young people.
REDI includes videos, CD ROMS and support materials for:
- upper primary students
- lower secondary students
- upper secondary students
- professional development for teachers and the school community
- a national website for school staff (http://www.redi.gov.au/
)
REDI was distributed to all Australian schools free of charge in July 2003.
Keeping in Touch (The Kit) 
(3.0 MB) has been designed to increase the knowledge and skills of school staff in providing early identification, effective responses and ongoing support to students across a range of drug use issues and incidents. 'Drugs' refers to all drugs including alcohol, tobacco, medicines and illegal drugs. The Kit comprises ten sections covering a range of topics to assist school staff in supporting those students most at risk.
The Kit is not a curriculum document. It is not for teaching about drug use at a classroom level. It is designed as an information resource for school staff to use in the management and support of students at risk or where drug use is already identified as an issue. The way in which the information and skills in The Kit are used will vary according to the role of each school staff member - it will support school staff to work with drug related issues within the context of their particular job role.
Rethinking Drinking - You're in Control - You’re in Control alcohol education materials have been adapted to provide an inclusive resource for use by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students. The adapted resource addresses the issues of reducing harm, promoting responsible choices and resilience building. This resource includes:
- A new trigger/professional development video;
- A revised teachers’ manual and student workbook containing lesson plans and activities;
- A new parent/community information booklet; and
- A CD Rom incorporating all written materials.
The Australian Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, has updated the Candidly Cannabis Kit that was produced in 1996. The updated resource, Cannabis and Consequences is designed to engage students to actively explore the issues surrounding cannabis, provide students with accurate information, encourage them to discuss issues, acknowledge the potential consequences of using cannabis, and provide opportunities to practise skills to successfully manage exposure to cannabis. The resource consists of a video, CD ROM, and Teachers guide. Cannabis and Consequences was distributed to all secondary schools and key stakeholders in August 2003.
Local School-Community Drug Summits brought together school staff, students, parents and key community members to encourage stronger, broader and more integrated community engagement and support in addressing illicit and unsanctioned drug use by young people. Funding was provided to each State and Territory over 2000-01 to 2002-03 to conduct Local School-Community Drug Summits.
The Evaluation of the National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES) and COAG Tough on Drugs in Schools Initiative (PDF) (798.2 KB, 166 pages) examined activities under the National School Drug Education Strategy (NSDES) and the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Agreed Measures from 1999 to 2003. It found there has been an increased level of participation of schools in NSDES activities; increased interest in and support for school drug education in schools; the development and adoption of a nationally consistent approach to school drug education; the adoption of a whole school approach which involves engaging school staff, parents and other community members; provision of professional development opportunities; enhanced educational resources; development of a partnership approach; and an increase in the profile of school drug education.
The Leading Education About Drugs (LEAD): Student Participatory Approaches (383.2 KB) resource provides support to schools and their communities to conduct successful drug education forums using peer participation strategies. The forums aim to further develop young people's attitudes, knowledge and values in relation to drug issues.
The LEAD resource assists schools in conducting forums by providing practical, hands-on strategies for implementing student participation in drug education; suggestions for using interactive and experiential learning approaches; guiding principles; planning points; sample agendas and outlines of activities for schools to use; and advice on peer participatory training.
This Section provides policy advice in the area of school drug education and liaises with school education jurisdictions and across Australian Government agencies on drug issues in schools.
It is also responsible for Australian Government initiatives in school drug education including the implementation of the National School Drug Education Strategy which supports the delivery of drug education in Australian schools.
The Section is also responsible for implementation of the National Safe Schools Framework and related activities. In addition, it provides advice and monitors developments in other areas of student wellbeing, including physical activity, sport and obesity.