LDAT Program Modules

All peer supporters need training to have the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to support their peers and help prevent and minimise AOD harms.

Before you run the training, it may be useful to conduct a quick quiz to assess people’s knowledge base so that you can aim your content at the right level.

Training sessions that incorporate a variety of activities will make the training engaging and suit a range of different people and their learning styles.

Consider activities including:

role plays
case studies using real world examples of situations peer supporters may face in programs
handouts and worksheets
videos and vox pops
infographics
group discussions
specialist guest speakers.

Training resources

‍Peer support conflict video and transcript

Activities

Pre-training quiz (PDF)
Resolving conflict scenario cards (A5, PDF)
Resolving conflict scenario cards (A4, PDF)
Supporting peers scenario cards (A4, PDF)
Supporting peers scenario cards (A5, PDF)

Session Plans and Training Presentations

Sample agenda/session plan – adaptable (PDF)
Training session slides (PPT)

Fact Sheets

ACTIVITY: Ice Breaker – Introductions

Objectives:

To help participants begin to know each other and become involved in the session
To provide an experience that is somewhat parallel to meeting with their peers
To introduce the idea of ‘roles’.

Length: About 30 minutes

Materials included: Handout: “Who I Am” (below)

You will need to supply: Name tags (do not distribute them until the end of the activity)

Steps:

Tell participants you want them to introduce themselves to one another. Organise the group into pairs. Pair people who do not know each other. Then distribute the handout “Who I Am”. Ask each pair to use the handout as a guide for having a conversation in which they introduce themselves and learn about one another. Tell them that each person will then introduce their partner to the whole group. Allow about 10 minutes for pairs to complete their conversations.
Have each person very briefly introduce their partner, allowing about one minute per person.
Lead a discussion about how this activity is similar to starting a new relationship with a peer. You can include these points:

How did it feel to reveal things about themselves to a stranger?
Did their partner do or say anything to help them open up? If so, what?
What did they try to do to help their partner feel more comfortable?
What would they do differently if they did this exercise again?

Note that this exercise provides practice in sharing information with another person and in helping that person share information too. Those are key first steps in beginning a relationship. The exercise should also have helped participants think about some of the roles they play in life. For many of them, being a peer supporter will be a new role.

Handout - Icebreaker Activity: Who am I?