Kangaroo Island Youth Worker Janine Trowbridge, Sustained Success Outstanding Project Award and Khyal Stead Winner Individual Participant Achievement Award pictured at the 2008 SA Works in the Regions Awards Night.YOUTH SERVICES
KANGAROO ISLAND

“Natural Assets” Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Treatment Program

Funded by Department of Health and Ageing

Target Group 12-25 year olds and

OBJECTIVES

  • To reduce, treat and minimise the impact of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) use by youth residing on Kangaroo Island

  • Reduce the risk of infectious disease amongst Kangaroo Island youth that are engaging in risky behaviours

  • Improve the physiological and psychological health and social functioning of Kangaroo Island youth

  • Work with KI Police to reduce criminal behaviour including under age drinking amongst Kangaroo Island youth at community and public events

Two Youth Workers coordinate this program to assist young people living across Kangaroo Island to address their drug and alcohol related issues. Comorbidity is increasingly of issue for this group with mental health referrals becoming common place. Provision of condoms is assisting to limit the spread of current levels of venereal disease across the island. This spread is linked to regular binge drinking and consumption of the ecstasy. It is not limited to under 25 year olds.

Intergenerational alcoholism is a great concern on this isolated island. Minimal parenting support is available. Lack of positive parental role modelling to influence the drinking behaviours of youth increasingly requires youth workers to conduct interventions involving extended family.

Life Skills group meeting by the beachSA Works in the Regions:
Kangaroo Island Youth Worker Project

Funded by Department of Further Education Employment Science and Training Administered by the Kangaroo Island Development Board

Target Group young people aged 16-24

This award winning FWS Youth Services project has been available to young people on Kangaroo Island since 2005. The 2008/09 project will be completed in October 2009.

The Kangaroo Island Youth Worker Project (KIYWP) provides a locally based, individualised case management service that supports young people who are disadvantaged, isolated and at risk on Kangaroo Island. Project activities and objectives include:



  • Empowering young people to make informed education, training and employment pathway decisions
  • Access to information and opportunities to enable guided transition from KI Community Education (KICE) and the youth community to tertiary education, training and employment placements on the mainland
  • Providing flexible assistance and support for participants to achieve their career goals
  • Engagement with young people at risk of early school leaving to increase retention rates across KICE campuses
  • Assistance with non vocational barriers to education and employment.

As participants step through the phases of the project they are assisted to identify their education and employment goals. The project worker offers participants at risk of early school leaving, due to issues such as:

  • Literacy
  • Numeracy
  • Homelessness
  • geographical isolation
  • family violence
  • drug and alcohol use

to engage with relevant service providers to address these barriers to active attendance at school. Working with young people and service providers to address these issues through progressive case management plans enables participants to then focus on their education and career goals.