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Strong & Deadly Futures

Matilda Centre University of Sydney

Strong & Deadly Futures is the first school-based alcohol and drug prevention program that is culturally inclusive and empowering for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

  • Online

Pricing: Free

Origin: Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts

Affiliations: Department of Health and Aged Care funded

Product type: Program; Online resources (e.g. videos, games, tools, readings); Student activities; Activity sheets; Learning modules; Class lesson plans

Contact details

Matilda Centre University of Sydney
ABN: 15 211 513 464

https://strongdeadly.org.au/

info@strongdeadly.org.au

Focus areas

  • Positive relationships

  • Belonging and inclusion

  • Mental health literacy and life skills

  • Self-regulation and engagement

  • Resilience and optimism

  • Drug and alcohol education

Curriculum alignment

  • Health and PE

Prospective users

Audience: Whole class universal (Tier 1), Targeted small group early intervention (Tier 2)

Communities: First Nations

Context: School or centre-based

Main beneficiaries: Year 7, Year 8, Year 9

Delivery style: Classroom teacher is trained

Aims & approach

The Strong & Deadly Futures program was developed with Year 7 to 10 high school students and teachers, and combines illustrated storylines with interactive classroom activities.

To promote social and emotional wellbeing, the program draws on the latest research evidence and is informed by consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth and communities.

Learning outcomes are communicated via 8 lessons each with an animated story, which follows a group of First Nation and non-Indigenous teenagers. The key messages are reinforced through interactive classroom activities that highlight cultural strengths and facilitate skills practice.

Schools register for a free online account, used by teachers to implement in class with their students.

The online program aims to:

  1. Prevent the uptake of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis use and vaping among young people.
  2. Foster safe attitudes and responsible decision-making.
  3. Enhance psychological wellbeing and empower students to navigate challenges effectively.

Implementation support

  • Implementation training webinars or modules
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support

Evidence

The program is informed by CBT, and adapted from evidence-based school programs such as Climate Schools and OurFutures.

Following a successful pilot, it is currently being trialled nationally in a randomised controlled trial in 22 schools in NSW, WA and QLD.

To read more about the program development and research: https://strongdeadly.org.au/about