Stand Up! is a youth development programme for rangatahi whose lives are influenced by alcohol and other drugs.

Stand Up! is available to students enrolled in high school between Years 9 and 13 or within a secondary level alternative education course.

Any student whose life is influenced by alcohol and other drugs is welcome to engage with Stand Up! It is not limited to students that use alcohol and other drugs but also young people who might be around others who use. 

Stand Up! school-based services are currently based in high schools and alternative education courses in Auckland and Counties Manukau DHB regions.

Confidentiality agreements with these schools prevent Odyssey from naming the schools we work with. Youthline also delivers a Stand Up! programme in other schools within the Counties Manukau region. 

Students do not have to be ready or willing to make change, just open to having a conversation about their options. The Stand Up! programme explores a variety of topics and substances, the most common are alcohol, cannabis and tobacco; however, support is not limited to just these substances. 

Any student, enrolled in a secondary education provider, who is seeking support for themselves or wanting to refer others to Stand Up! may enquire about the programme at their school’s health centre. 

Health centre staff will be able to advise whether Stand Up! is available and which day of the week practitioners visit. Anyone can make a referral, including the Principal, Deans, Nurses, Teachers and peers. 

Because we work closely with, and as part of each school’s Student Health Centre, no parental consent is required. 

To self-refer or refer someone else, please provide your full name and some background detail around the reason for referral. One of our practitioners will then contact the student and arrange an initial catch up to get a full story of their life and background. 

The Stand Up! programme is designed to engage students in the early stages of any substance related challenges.  We aim to intervene quickly to prevent further harms or consequences like suspensions or exclusion and so the time between referral and the first session is typically short. Practitioners try to see the student on the day of the referral, or by the following week at the latest. 

Stand Up! is a flexible programme that seeks to meet the individual needs of participants as best it can. We offer both group and individual support; ensuring our students feel comfortable but are still challenged. The frequency of sessions is also customised to individual need.

Rangatahi can access the service weekly, fortnightly or once a term, if they wish to reduce time out of class. Two AOD-trained practitioners are assigned to each school, one male and one female. These practitioners visit the school weekly on the same assigned day and are present between periods 1 and 4 of the school timetable. Each session lasts for one period and is facilitated by either one or both practitioners.

There is no limit on the overall duration of the student’s therapeutic journey. However, the practitioners ensure the student’s goals are evolving and promoting personal growth.