2 Kool 4 Skool, The BRACE report card

Building Resilience via Advocacy Counselling Education (BRACE) is an embedded secondary school AOD specialist program that enhances protective factors against youth substance misuse (AOD) and poor mental health, including antisocial behaviour and youth offending. It employs universal prevention and targeted selective intervention for at-risk youth, their families, and school staff. BRACE leverages Odyssey Victoria’s expertise with young people, integrating multiple evidence-based initiatives that foster resilience and wellbeing in individuals, schools, and families. Experienced AOD clinicians provide holistic support focused on early intervention, prevention, and harm reduction related to AOD use. An evaluation indicated that key strengths were: keeping at risk youth engaged in school; a whole of school approach to substance use and adopting a health framework when managing substance use.

Rene’ De Sant’anna | Practice Lead Youth AOD Mental Health Clinician, Odyssey Victoria

René de Sant’Anna is the Practice Lead – Youth AOD Mental Health at Odyssey Victoria. He has lectured at Swinburne and Victoria University. As a co-founder of St. Kilda Gatehouse, he established a safe space for women in street-based sex work and young people affected by sexual exploitation. René holds postgraduate qualifications in Counselling and a Diploma in Community Services (AOD).

Petra Staiger | Associate Professor School of Psychology, Deakin University

Dr Petra Staiger is a Professor in the School of Psychology and Co-Director of the Centre for Drug Use,
Addictive and Anti-social behaviour (CEDAAR) and Deputy Co-Director of SEED Lifespan Strategic Research Centre. Her research expertise is in investigating the etiology and treatment of individuals with addictive behaviour problems with a particular focus on those with complex need.

Credited Persons

Dr Rebecca Sheils | Researcher School of Psychology, Deakin University

Raji White | Researcher School of Psychology, Deakin University

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