Responding Well: AOD Awareness & First Response Training for School Teams

 
 

Responding Well: AOD Awareness & First Response Training for School Teams

Schools are increasingly navigating complex alcohol and other drug (AOD) concerns that intersect with student wellbeing, mental health, trauma and family environments. Responding Well is a professional development program designed to equip school staff with the knowledge, confidence and practical frameworks needed to respond safely, consistently and compassionately when concerns arise.

Delivered by NotEvenOnce® Projects (Teen Challenge Tasmania), this training draws on extensive experience across prevention education and real-world work with individuals and families impacted by substance use and addiction. Our approach recognises that school staff are not clinicians — but they are often the first to notice change, distress or risk. Responding Well focuses on helping staff understand what to look for, how to respond in the moment and when and how to escalate concerns appropriately.

Designed for Real School Contexts

Responding Well is grounded in the realities of school life. The training:

  • uses current youth trends and brain science to explain behaviour without judgement

  • introduces the Drug Wheel as a pattern-recognition tool, helping staff respond to risk rather than diagnose substances

  • provides clear role boundaries, protecting both staff and students

  • embeds practical response frameworks, including ALGEE, aligned to internal school referral pathways

Recent feedback from school staff highlighted the value of understanding how substances affect the brain, how home environments shape behaviour, and how consistent staff responses improve safety and trust (Arethusa Feedback Jan 2026.)

Practical, Confidence-Building Training

Staff consistently report that Responding Well:

  • increases confidence in recognising early signs of risk

  • clarifies the difference between noticing, responding and referring

  • supports the use of calm, non-judgemental language during difficult conversations

  • helps staff feel better prepared for real-life situations without feeling responsible to “fix” complex issues (Arethusa Feedback Jan 2026)

Scenario-based activities are a core feature of the program, allowing staff to practise responses using realistic school situations and reflect on how stigma or assumptions can unintentionally influence practice. Many staff identified these scenarios, alongside the Drug Wheel and risk/protective factor discussions, as the most helpful components of the training (Arethusa Feedback Jan 2026).

A Focus on Safety, Consistency and Care

Responding Well supports schools to:

  • strengthen staff confidence and consistency

  • reduce stigma around AOD and wellbeing concerns

  • improve early identification and referral

  • reinforce clear, safe internal processes

  • foster a school culture where students feel seen, supported and able to seek help

At its core, Responding Well is about small, calm, timely actions — listening well, responding thoughtfully and connecting students to the right support within the school. These actions, when applied consistently, can have a powerful protective impact.

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