PROGRAM EVALUATION

The online survey feedback for Readymade’s Family Drug Support Online program has been overwhelmingly positive. The vast majority of visitors find the website “Very Helpful” and felt “Better” or “Much Better” able to cope after working through the video chapters. Comments include:

“Watching this series is like watching our story. It’s helped me understand our different reactions & responses to our sons drug use, highlighted coping strategies & the importance of boundaries & self care. When & how to communicate was invaluable.” [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“Very well presented, in stages so it’s easy to understand and connect the concepts. Also seeing and hearing others experiences which are like mine. Feel less desperate and alone. Also feel like a support group isn’t such an impossible scary option! Thank you.” [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“I found this video unbelievably helpful, I want to watch it again and again. I’d like to join a support group like this! Far out, after my journey with my son, I have not found something so helpful. Thank you.” [User age: Under 20 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: Over 3 yrs]

“It helped to know that we are not alone, all of the chapters reinforced our own feelings, communication etc. it made me quite emotional watching this, I cannot thank you enough for allowing us to do so. Absolutely fantastic.” [User age: 26-30 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“I wish I had watched this two years ago. I wish I had understood and believed earlier that our son really is on drugs. I wish I had not nearly bankrupted our family paying for his further education (all lies for drugs) I am so enriched by this knowledge despite devastated by the drug use.” [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: 1-3 yrs]

“I found it very helpful as I’ve just found out my son is a drug addict and have been feeling completed helpless in knowing what to do. I’m in fear constantly of where his aggressive behaviour the ice has caused is going to lead him, so this has given me some idea of what to expect. Thank you.” [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: 1-3 yrs]

“It gave me much more experienced, sensible, emotionally & rationally supported information with practical techniques to put into practice for one’s self, family and addicted one. Left me with a calmness. Thank you.” [User age: 31-40 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“What a great series of videos. I have lost a son in 2010 due to suicide due to ice. Our family was/is still devastated and now another son is using ice, stealing, lying, broken trust. I am walking that tightrope every day. I wish we had this group in Toowoomba. I need a place to talk.”  [User age: 31-40 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“…made me more comfortable to attend a local group…It made me realise that I am not alone.”  [User age: >40 yrs. Relationship to user: Friend. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“I found these videos so helpful with the way that I approach my alcoholic daughter, who has lived with me for a year having lost her 2 children, husband and home because of her serious drinking problem. I could relate to comments made by members of the group and it helped me so much.”  [User age: Over 40 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“…the themes discussed really rang true with me. The messages in the videos are really clear and I feel were more helpful to me than just reading about them. Thanks so much.”  [User age: 26-30 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: 4-12 mths]

“I felt these videos were honest [and] a very helpful reminder on how to keep communication channels open.” [User age: >40 yrs. Relationship to user: Parent. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“…very informative. I was nervous about the idea of going to a face to face support group, so this was a great introduction to how they work.” [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Sibling. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

“I wish you had a support group nearer to me – I would love to go…”  [User age: 20-25 yrs. Relationship to user: Friend. Duration of drug use: >3 yrs]

Readymade’s Stories of Us initiative has the support of some of the world’s leading bullying prevention scholars in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia, and the resources are being used in over a dozen countries. Readymade has been invited to present at dozens of conferences and seminars in Australia, the US and UK including the National Leaders Convention for the National Association of Secondary School Principals in Washington D.C., the Anti-Bullying Alliance in London, and the influential National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform in LA.

Support – Australian

• Australian Secondary Principals Association
• Australian Primary Principals Association
• Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
• Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
• South Australian Department of Education and Child Development
• South Australian Film Corporation
• MindMatters
• Alannah & Madeline Foundation
• Principals Australia Institute
• beyondblue
• South Australian Primary School Counselling Association
• Catholic Education Office
• Dr Ken Rigby, UniSA
• Optima Psychologists and Mediators
• Andrew Fuller
• Dr Barbara Spears, UniSA
• Jack Heath, Founder, Inspire Foundation
• Various senior Safety and Wellbeing, and Behaviour Management officers in state departments of education in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA.

Support – USA

• National Association of Secondary School Principals
• National Association of Elementary School Principals
• National Middle School Association
• US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration
• American School Counselor Association
• National Organizations for Youth Safety
• California League of Middle Schools
• California League of High Schools
• National High School Association
• National Forum to Accelerate Middle-Grades Reform
• National Council of Teachers of English
• National Association of School Psychologists
• International Bullying Prevention Association
• Illinois Secondary School Principals Association
• Indiana School Counselors Association
• Missouri School Counselors Association
• Wisconsin School Counselors Association
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of California, Santa Barbara
• University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• Dr Dorothy Espelage, UIUC
• Dr Shane Jimerson, UCSB
• Dr Susan Swearer, UNL

Support – Other International

• Dr Peter Smith, University of London, UK
• Anti-Bullying Alliance, UK
• Gill Frances, National Children’s Bureau, UK
• Beatbullying, London, UK
• John Quinn, Red Balloon Learner Centre, UK
• Dr Shelley Hyman, University of British Columbia, Canada
• David Millen, Executive Director, Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa, Canada
• David Diamond, Founder, Headlines Theatre, Vancouver, Canada
• Advocate Debarti Halder, Centre for Cyber Victims, India
• Esther Ng, Coalition Against Bullying for Children & Youth, Singapore.

Education Professionals

“Stories of Us is the best, most realistic account of bullying in schools that I have come across. The videos provide an excellent way of introducing the subject of bullying in schools to students as a prelude to constructive classroom discussion. Unlike many other videos on the same theme, Stories of Us will hold the interest of students because the stories are told in dramatic form by students as only they can tell it. These videos provide compulsive viewing for both children and educators.”
– Dr Ken Rigby, University of South Australia

“ASPA fully recommends and endorses these high quality resources to all secondary teachers and schools. They focus on the key issues that are at the heart of student wellbeing and importantly they demonstrate the power and value of student voice.”
– Sheree Vertigan, President, Australian Secondary Principals Association

“APPA takes great pleasure in endorsing two video resources for upper primary students on Bullying and Belonging. These are areas that all of us grapple with on a daily basis in our schools and these two videos have been developed in consultation with student counsellors, teachers, Mindmatters and beyondblue. They really are a fantastic resource and should be in every primary school in the nation.”
– Leonie Trimper, President, Australia Primary Principals Association

“[The Method of Shared Concern is] the best training tool I’ve seen (I teach counseling skills and none of the tapes are anywhere near this effective). I cannot praise this highly enough”
– Dr Sheri Bauman, University of Arizona 

“(Readymade’s) Chris Faull provided great creative expertise for this project and worked in a way that was wonderfully collaborative and respectful of the children, staff and consultants. The project was on time, on budget and delivered the key messages of the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum that we wanted. Thank you Chris.”
– Mary Carmody, Catholic Education South Australia

“Stories of Us is wonderful resource that engages young people and leads them in discussing bullying situations. A great resource for schools.”
– Andrew Fuller, Clinical Psychologist & Family Therapist, Victoria

“I didn’t have high expectations of the video series even though in my initial viewing of it I thought it was quite good. As a teacher you can be inundated with well-being products. But the impact of the video on the kids was unbelievable. They recognised their own language, behaviours and culture, it blew them away.”
– Kate Pollock, Teacher, Hillsmeade Primary School, Victoria

“The students were highly engaged in the videos. The teacher notes encouraged excellent discussion in our classroom. One of the best resources I have ever used.”
– Karen Box, Student Counsellor, Streaky Bay Area School, South Australia

“My students, racially, economically, and experientially diverse, came together in a way that I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing in my 16 years of teaching. It was remarkable! Discussing an issue so all-reaching and meaningful as bullying, and working together in situations which required trust, allowed peer groups, formerly unmatched, to come together. It was beautiful.”
– Shameem Rakha, Teacher, Franklin Middle School, Illinois 

“Many of the issues I deal with when counselling students or dealing with issues of Student Behaviour Management revolve around bullying and harassment. These three videos are outstanding, they’re Australian, they’re real and they present it as it is.”
– Louise Ward, Middle School Co-ordinator, Student Behaviour Management, Henley High School, South Australia

“The striking characteristic of the video was the absolute sense of reality and credibility of both characters and scenarios. It accurately and poignantly portrays what, regrettably for many, is a daily occurrence. Viewing the video, I was convinced its contents would strike an immediate and strong chord with students. The vignettes would give rise to at least three lessons, and appraisal and strategy development. An excellent resource.”
– David Richards, Student Counsellor, Craigmore High School, South Australia

“This resource is a valuable contribution to invite young people to take a stand against bullying and harassment.”
– Brook Friedman, Manager Five Schools Bullying Prevention Project, Adelaide

“Educators at the middle level have been at a loss to identify effective tools and resources to assist us in working with our school community to address this concern.  Stories of Us will immediately engage students, teachers and parents alike to work together to positively enhance the school climate and provide a safe and caring learning environment for all students.”
– Dr. Carol Stack, Principal, Illinois 

“They are remarkable tools which educators can use to assist school and classroom efforts to stem the rise of bullying. The associate materials accompanying the films guide both educator and student in meaningful conversation, which can lead to insightful resolution of real life issues. As you consider how best to resolve local bullying concerns, Stories of Us should be highly regarded in that effort.”
– Peter F. Murphy, Executive Director, Californian League of Middle Schools

“The best film series that I have seen in addressing the issue of bullying on middle school campuses. My students found the  films realistic and felt the story plots were timely and that any student could identify with the students in the stories.”
– Kristi Morris, Counselor, Goleta Valley Junior High, California

“The storylines and dialogue are that of the students and it is so realistic that I felt at times I was reviewing a surveillance tape instead of watching a scripted drama unfold in front of me.”
– Patti Kinney, National Association of Secondary School Principals (USA)

Students

“I never thought about what I should do as a person (bystander) who knows about someone else that gets bullied. Now I think I will try and help support them.”
– Student, Emmanuel College, QLD

“I thought the victims actually kept egging on the bullies, so then the bullies did it… but they don’t. The vicitms are normal people.”
– Student D, Pilot Evaluation

“I think the class really learnt something from it.”
– Student G, Pilot Evaluation