THE STRENGTH OF THE D-FORCE PROGRAM

Co-designing with young people to empower students to make healthy choices and build positive communities.

Partnering with educators, delivering targeted prevention strategies to reduce the damage occurring in communities due to the drug methamphetamine (ice). With commitment and vision from the start, D-FORCE has become an innovative program educate young people to protect themselves and their friends.

Police Sergeant Kelly McNaughton and student discussing the drug methamphetamine and finding facts from trusted sources online. Students learn the facts from experts rather than learning about drugs on the street.

Partnerships

Working together to build healthy communities for our young people.

Victoria Police, Monivae College, Hamilton Alexandra College, RMIT, a child Psychologist, Boojum, Robot Circus, South West Community Foundation and Southern Grampians Shire Council.

Students working in groups – analysing and discussing the fundamentals of board games

Co-design

The D-Force program was initially co-designed and trialled in consultation with schools.

We worked with students from three schools to develop an approach that engages kids in understanding the facts about the drug methamphetamine, knowing how to seek help, and how to defend their friends.

Students working in groups, supported by educators, to develop a game to ‘defend your friends’ from the drug Methamphetamine.

The D-Force trial challenged students to think about their learning

Students created a board game with zones like ‘addicted world’

Monivae students created rules for their game.

Build

The outputs of the co-design workshops were given to Robot Circus, a professional educational games development company, who worked the ideas into a rich, thought-provoking, interactive game.

Learn

The learning materials are now available online. Schools can sign-up for access to the program.

Students learn about behaviour, addiction and of the dangers of the drug methamphetamine. Through the activities, students build their ability to make healthy choices to defend themselves & their friends from harm.

Results

Evidence of students’ learning (pre & post learning surveys)
“You can become addicted to ice after one use.”
Pre-learning , 50% of students agreed with the statement. Post-learning, the number of students who agreed with the statement increased to 92.86%.

Award winning
RMIT Helen and Geoff Handbury Award for outstanding innovation, contribution and commitment to fellowship.

Program supporters
18 sponsors committed to contributing to the success of the program.

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