Save-a-mate (SAM) and SAM 'our way'

• Reach:

  National

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Current

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

An initiative of the Australian Red Cross, the Save-a-mate (SAM) program provides education, training, first aid services, and support to young people on health issues with a particular emphasis on mental health and alcohol and other drug use. The SAM program has three major components:

1. education and training - aimed at young people and those who work with youths. The following training courses are offered through SAM: the alcohol and other drugs emergencies course; alcohol and other drugs peer education; mental health peer education; and SAM 'our way'
2. festivals and events - volunteers attend festivals and events to provide health related services to young people
3. health promotion and advocacy - using public relations, the internet, and activities with young people, SAM seeks to promote health behaviours among youths. SAM is also involved in advocacy, participating in steering and advisory bodies.

The SAM program recruits young people, usually aged 18-30 years, to the deliver its services to other young people aged 12-25 years. The program has been designed to target a broad range of youth groups, including (but not limited to) at-risk youths, Indigenous groups, rural and remote youths, and injecting drug users.

With regard to Indigenous youths, a pilot program, Save-a-mate 'our way', was run with Indigenous youth in Palm Island. This program was primarily aimed at young Indigenous people and focuses on issues of health and wellbeing. The emphasis was on delivering the program in a culturally appropriate and relevant way.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet abstract

Contacts

Belinda Stedman
Save-a-mate National Coordinator
Ph: (02) 9229 4197
Email: bstedman@redcross.org.au

Janelle Sparks
Save-a-mate New South Wales Coordinator
Ph: (02) 9229 4261
Email : nswsam@redcross.org.au

Karen Power
Save-a-mate Queensland Coordinator
Ph: (07) 3367 7240
Email: kpower@redcross.org.au

Robert Martin
Save-a-mate South Australia Coordinator
Ph: (08) 8100 4689
Email: romartin@redcross.org.au

Victoria Team Leader, Youth Health and Wellbeing
P: (03) 8327 7902
Email : vicsam@redcross.org.au

Rebecca Clifford
Save-a-mate Australian Capital Territory Coordinator 
Ph: (02) 6234 7613
Email: rclifford@redcross.org.au

Kim Ryder
Save-a-mate Western Australia Coordinator
Ph: (08) 9225 1935
Email: wasam@redcross.org.au

Michelle Ewington
Save-a-mate Tasmania Coordinator
Ph: (03) 6235 6018
Email: tassam@redcross.org.au

Links

• View information: Save-a-mate (SAM)
• View information: External evaluation brief - SAM Our Way (PDF - 89.5 KB)
• View contact details: Save-a-mate (SAM)
• View website: Australian Red Cross