Presentations are useful for providing participants with information about alcohol and related issues.

Who will speak?

Decide who will speak, and on what topics.

Take care to ensure that all your speakers are familiar and comfortable with the harm minimisation approach and with recent research on the role of parents in reducing alcohol-related harms among young people.

The evening will probably need a key facilitator or host. An introduction from the principal or a prominent parent or other invited guest may also add credibility to the evening.

Who else speaks will be determined by the agenda. Some facts about alcohol and related information will need to be delivered. Ideally, you want parents and students to interact and join in activities, so long speeches and information-only lectures should be avoided.

Suggested presentations

Some suggested presentations are listed below, with links to further information and resources for each.

Presentation 1: Youth alcohol facts (ppt 0.59mb)

This presentation provides some facts and figures on youth alcohol use in Australia - based on recent research.  It can be downloaded from this website and could be useful as an introductory presentation to give everyone the latest information and to stimulate discussion.  It could be presented by a student, teacher or other participant and can be followed by a discussion.

Presentation 2: Role of parents (ppt 484kb)

This presentation is a brief overview of recent research on the role of parents in influencing teenagers' attitudes to alcohol and alcohol consumption patterns.

Presentation 3: Standard drinks (ppt 1.24mb)

This presentation is a brief overview of government advice on safe levels of drinking for Australians. It looks at standard drinks and the official drinking guidelines.

Presentation 4: Your School’s Own Policy and Approach

We have not provided a ready-made presentation here as, whilst most schools will share an understanding of the issues involved, the language, policy making processes and teaching materials involved may be quite varied.

If you think it would assist your Alcohol Information Night, then ask a teacher, nurse or counsellor from your school to provide an overview of the school's approach to alcohol issues. Parents will be interested to find out what their children are being taught about alcohol and how this fits within the school's overall educational philosophy.  Ideally the teacher should be someone who runs programs on alcohol and related issues within the school and who can answer parents' questions.

Handouts are available to accompany each presentation.

Other presentation ideas

Local GP
A local GP could give a talk on the health aspects of alcohol misuse and talk about where to go if students and parents are concerned about alcohol-related problems in their families.  This could be followed by a question and answer session giving students and parents the opportunity to discuss their specific concerns with the GP. 

Student
A student could give a brief presentation on alcohol issues from a student's perspective. This could take the form of a talk by one student or a presentation by a group of students on a relevant issue.  It doesn't have to be a factual presentation - acting out a short drama or presenting a creative piece of music or art would work just as well.  What is important is that it helps parents and teachers understand students' perspectives on alcohol issues and their experiences of alcohol use and/or misuse.

DVDs/videos
You may also wish to show a relevant DVD/video or include a poster display in your information night.  Showing a DVD/video can be useful in highlighting some of the important issues you wish to raise and in stimulating discussion.  Make sure that you are familiar with the content of the DVD/video before you show it and that it is directly relevant to the issues you want to focus on.