PreVenture Australia
PreVenture is a prevention program for youth aged 12-18 that uses personality-focused interventions to reduce the risk of substance use and promote mental health.
PreVenture was originally developed by Dr Patricia Conrod, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Montreal in Canada and has since been adapted for an Australian audience.
Adaptation for the Australian Audience
For information about the adaptation of PreVenture to an Australian context, please see the information below:
Research Findings:
Following adaptation of the PreVenture program to an Australian context, several research trials have found that delivery of the PreVenture Australia program was associated with reductions in drinking and alcohol-related harms. These reduction effects were observed up to 7 years after program delivery. In addition, reductions in depressive and anxiety symptoms, conduct problems, tobacco smoking, bullying, and suicidal ideation, have been sustained for 3 years post-delivery of PreVenture.
For further information regarding the efficacy of this program with Australian teens, and references for the study articles, please click here.
Empowering Teens for a Brighter Future
The PreVenture Program was designed to equip teens with self-knowledge and skills to encourage healthy choices and behaviours. During the program, students learn about their personality type, develop useful coping skills, set long term goals, and channel their personality traits towards achieving their goals, so that they can thrive in all areas of their lives.
Dr. Erin Kelly
Dr. Erin Kelly is a Research Fellow at The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. Erin is leading a program of research in the translation of brief intervention in schools for the prevention of substance use and mental disorders and has published over 30 papers on bullying, substance use and mental health. Erin has been a PreVenture trainer since 2012 and is currently the lead trainer of the Preventure program in Australia. In addition to her research work and role as a PreVenture Trainer, Erin is also a practicing Clinical Psychologist, currently working part-time in private practice.
Become a PreVenture Facilitator
Facilitator Training Sessions are available virtually or in person and involves a combination of trainer-led activities and self-study. Training takes place in various locations around Australia, including the PreVenture Australia hub at the Matilda Centre, University of Sydney.
Below are the dates for the upcoming PreVenture Australia Facilitator Training Sessions:
- Thursday the 14th September and Thursday the 21st September 2023 (Online Training Session): Link to Event
- Friday the 27th October and Friday the 3rd November: Link to Event
- Training will be 9am-4pm on both days, with plenty of breaks throughout
Are You Eligible?
Are you eligible to attend the PreVenture Facilitator Training workshop?
Candidates interested in facilitating PreVenture workshops must meet the following criteria:
- Facilitators must be either mental health professionals, teachers, counsellors, social workers and/or masters-level prevention specialists.
- Facilitators must be employed by an educational institution, a counselling institution and/or a government funded educational or health organization with a mandate to provide educational, mental health and/or behavioural interventions to youth.
- Facilitators must be insured either personally or via their employer to deliver behavioural interventions to minors
OR
- Facilitators must be independent mental health practitioners with a membership to a professional order/association/college and be certified and insured to deliver behavioural interventions to minors.
If you confirm that you meet this criteria, click here to pay and reserve your place at an upcoming training session.
If you have any questions that are not answered above, please feel free to contact the PreVenture Australia team at Aus@preventureprogram.com
