Research and practice development
We believe young people should have a chance to thrive no matter their situation in life.
YSAS Research and Training aims to provide the Youth AOD workforce and wider community with access to current and up to date resources, evidence-based training opportunities, research and publications that support the upward trajectory for young people.
Our dedicated Research and Practice team collaborates with universities and research partners to advance the fields of youth Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), crime prevention, and mental health. We continually evaluate our services and develop evidence-based approaches to better care and support young people. As a learning organisation, YSAS is committed to continuous improvement. Our research helps us assimilate evidence-based best practice into our work. We’re also committed to improving the whole sector so that all young people stand the best chance of success. That’s why we publish the results of our research projects, so that other organisations can make sure their work is based on the best available evidence.
The training we provide
Training and presentations by YSAS are developed from over 25 years of direct practice experience supporting young people who have drug problems. Our courses are underpinned by an evidence-base and the practice knowledge of senior youth work practitioners. YSAS is well known by providing high quality Youth AOD Training to government agencies, local councils, youth organisations, and schools.
Training and presentations by YSAS are developed from over 20 years of direct practice experience supporting young people who have drug problems. Our courses are underpinned by an evidence base and the practice knowledge of senior youth work practitioners.
In our training delivery we endeavour to use, as much as possible, the model of ‘Explain Demonstrate Practice’. This can often take the format of explaining some theory or background information, illustrating it with a case study or vignette from practice, then getting the participants to practice the skill or contextualise the information to their own practice, through small group activities, scenarios, discussion and feedback.
Our sessions are always designed from the foundation of our evidence base for effective work with young people experiencing problematic behaviours including alcohol and other drug issues which is informed by a resilience-based practice model of care grounded in a developmentally conducive and relationship-based approach to practice.
Our trainings
Adolescents Who Use Alcohol and Other Drugs
This 1-day training program aims to increase the capacity of workers to effectively support and respond to the needs of young people who are using substances. During this session participants will learn why young people use drugs, how they are using them, and how to reduce harms and engage in constructive conversations around drug use.
Learning outcomes:
• Understand patterns of adolescent drug use, and drug effects
• Understand the function of substance use for young people
• Apply harm reduction strategies
• Engage young people in constructive conversations
• Work with Stages of Change
• Access the Youth AOD service system
Brief Interventions
This 1-day session will cover ways that workers can provide effective brief intervention support to young people who are not willing to engage in more traditional, clinical or intensive AOD support. The workshop will also cover other experiential and novel ways to work with young people who might be resistant to traditional approaches.
Learning outcomes:
• What are and when can we use AOD Brief Interventions with young people
• Experiential and novel approaches to supporting young people experiencing AOD issues
• Exploring creative and tailored ways to meet the needs of young people experiencing AOD issues
YSAS Family Violence Training is available separately, 2 days back-to-back or over the course of a few weeks.
Young people, Family Violence and Youth AOD
This 1-day workshop is for practitioners who are engaging with young people who experience both family violence and youth alcohol and other drugs (Youth AOD). Linking evidence informed approaches of both areas, this workshop has a particular focus on attachment, trauma and resilience. During this workshop, practitioners are provided with an introduction to key approaches, frameworks, language and development and age-responsive foundational practice skills to engage and support young people with co-occurring substance use and family violence experiences.
Learning outcomes:
• Youth-Focused Trauma
• Violence and Resilience Informed Lens
• Adolescent Development
• Links between Family Violence and Youth AOD, attachment, language and skills for engaging with young people with co-occurring Youth AOD and Family Violence
YSAS Family Violence Training is available separately, 2 days back-to-back or over the course of a few weeks.
Youth and Adolescent Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Use Coercion
This 1-day workshop focuses specifically on issues such as Adolescent and Youth Intimate Partner Violence and provides an introduction to working with issues of substance use coercion – the use of alcohol and other drugs as a form of power and control. This workshop enhances understanding into the different dynamics and risks of youth-focused substance use coercion, and ways that these dynamics can impact young people’s safety and engagement in interventions.
Using a Youth-Focused Trauma, Violence and Resilience Informed Lens, this workshop assists practitioners in identifying undertaking practice to enhance the understanding of resistance, resilience and safety alongside young people who experience co-occurring substance use coercion and youth and adolescent intimate partner violence.
Learning outcomes:
• Understanding Youth and Adolescent Intimate Partner Violence
• Understanding and recognizing youth-focused substance use coercion
• Dynamics of power and control
• Understanding and recognising risk and resistance, resilience-based approaches for working with young people
YSAS Family Violence Training is available separately, 2 days back-to-back or over the course of a few weeks.