‘You can be the most skilled and experienced worker in the world, with the best most effective program to deliver, but if you can’t engage with the young person and get them to engage with you and your service, you cannot be effective in their lives’

This is a key message from YSAS Director of research Andrew Bruun delivered as part of the Youth AOD toolbox’s ‘Introduction to Engagement’video resource for workers.

Drawing together the latest research and practice wisdom from the field the toolbox explores what makes for effective engagement and why engaging a young person is important to treatment outcomes.

It stressed that engagement is reciprocal; it’s about ‘getting to know a young person and more importantly, letting them get to know you and what your service offers.’

The module covers engaging clients in various settings, setting ground rules, providing meaningful incentives for engaging, who you are and how you present matters and engaging clients under coercion. Sign up via e-mail for this free mega resource.