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save-a-mate (SAM)
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Have YOU heard about save-a-mate?
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The save-a-mate (SAM) program is a harm minimisation youth program which aims to reduce incidents of harm and death associated with the misuse of alcohol and drugs in young people.
The SAM program does this through the save-a-mate First Aid Unit and the delivery of the save-a-mate Peer Education Program.
What do the save-a-mate First Aid Units (SAM FAU) do?
SAM FAU volunteers encourage a safe environment at corporate and community youth events through providing peer support, first aid services, information and health resources.
The save-a-mate First Aid Unit volunteers are fully trained young people aged 18 - 30. They are NOT the "Fun Police", they provide support and information about drugs, alcohol and other youth related issues and first aid assistance to young people attending events.
The FAU started in January 2003, attending 18 youth events. This year, the FAU has attended 40 events, with over 20 events booked for the rest of the year.
The save-a-mate team have responded to many casualties ranging from a band aid for a cut, asthma attacks, over intoxications, broken bones, head wounds and a drug overdoes.
Some of the events the SAM Team
have attended include:
Encounter Schoolies
Fresh FM's 1st Birthday
Winter Enchanted
Frantic
Adelaide Flinders University O'Ball
Skate Parks
Battle of the Bands
Off the Couch
Notorious Unlicensed
Southern ANZAC Youth Vigil |
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As you can see we attend a wide variety of youth events, so if you see us at an event, feel free to come up and say "Hi" or if you or a friend needs some help let us know!People can visit us at our main area at an event, you can't miss it with a red marquee that says save-a-mate First Aid. We also have roaming teams if anyone needs help.
So what is the save-a-mate Peer Education Program?
The second component of save-a-mate is the Peer Education Program which is an interactive harm minimisation drug and alcohol education program and first aid course specifically designed to reduce the incidences of harm to young people through equipping young people with relevant and practical skills to be able to save people lives.
The Peer Education Course will enable participants to discuss openly drug and alcohol issues and affects, guidelines to stay safe when using drugs and alcohol and challenge myths. The program also will equip participants with knowledge on how to recognise signs and symptoms of an overdose and providing emergency first aid help.
The save-a-mate Peer Education program has been operating in New South Wales and Queensland for a number of years and will begin to be piloted in South Australia in a small number of both regional and metropolitan high school and community groups from September 2004. It will then be rolled out to groups considered most at risk, from January 2005.
Matthew Clarke (Adelaide Crows Football Club) and Ali Carle (Mix FM) are ambassadors of the save-a-mate program and help to increase the profile:
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"All I can say is that I wish the SAM program was up and running when I was younger. I was already incredibly responsible of course - but my friends...now they needed saving!!! It is great to have a program like this available to young people so that they feel comfortable in asking for help, because sometimes that is the hardest thing to do" |
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"I love the Save-A-Mate program, because 1 - it implies I have friends and 2 - it means they have to look after me! Seriously - Education is the key to everything. So learning how to react in a situation is very important. You just never know when you will need help from a SAM team" |
Interested in booking a save-a-mate team for your event?
You can book a SAM team for any metropolitan or regional commercial or community youth event by calling the save-a-mate hotline on 08 8100 4681.
There is no cost to organisations who book a SAM Team, however, donations for services are encouraged. This ensures that the service can continue
For regional events, there may be a cost for travel and accommodation.
Peer Education Program
The Peer Education program will be delivered to groups considered most at risk of themselves, family members or friends becoming harmed through drug and alcohol misuse. Groups may include:
- High Schools
- Youth Drop In Centres/ Community Centres
- Tertiary education Institutes
- Detention Centres
- Prisons
To enquire about the Peer Education Program, please call the save-a-mate Program Coordinator on 08 8100 4613.
Want to get involved?
If you are thinking about joining the save-a-mate team as a First Aid Unit Volunteer, Peer Educator or an office volunteer, it might be good for you to know that the training that you need for each position will be provided for you. All you need to do is contact the save-a-mate office on 08 8100 4681 or email SAM who will provide you with any information and let you know the next steps.
Sponsoring Organisations
We would like to acknowledge and thank the following organisations who have been instrumental in supporting the save-a-mate program:
- Community Benefit SA Strategic Special Grants
- Pickard Foundation
- Singapore Airlines
- Bank SA
- Bank SA Staff Charitable Fund
- Detpak
If you would like to become a sponsor for this program, please contact us at 08 8100 4500. What people say about the SAM Program...
"..thank you for looking after me last night, when my friends continued to party.."
"..thanks for the advice....my friend didn't end up taking the ecstasy "
"Our volunteers can provide free water, emergency services contact numbers and information about drugs, alcohol, safe sex and health issues to people attending these events"
Dale Cleaver, Australian Red Cross, South Australia.
"There are always going to be kids who experiment with drugs and engage in other dangerous behaviour. The save-a-mate team, although we don't condone it, are there to offer practical advice, first aid support and information about the risks associated"
Miri Smith member of SAM FAU.
"I see you everywhere!"
Grace (Patron Flinders University Bands' Night).
"I am so very proud of the calm and professional way the incident was managed"
Mel Alexander, sam team support instructor and Paramedic Officer after a nasty accident dealt with by SAM at an event.
"The save-a-mate team were wonderfully organised, polite, friendly and professional. Congratulations and thank you for your support."
Event Organiser, March 2004.
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