More About DRUMBEAT
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The DRUMBEAT program is an early intervention program developed by Holyoake to reduce levels of alienation for 'at risk' youth. Alienation is a recognised risk factor for future problems with drugs and alcohol. The program is run over ten sessions and explores issues around building healthy relationships, through a co-operative group process involvinmg African drumming.

Developed in 2003 by the Wheatbelt Community Drug Service Team, the DRUMBEAT program has attracted wide interest for its ability to engage diaffected young people from different cultures and increase their competencies in a range of social skills, as well as lifting self-esteem and reducing social isolation.

Two formal evaluations of the DRUMBEAT program have been completed with the assistance of the Midlands Education District. Both of these used a before and after with control design, targeting 100 young people with behavioural issues at both primary and secondary schools. In these evaluations participants of the DRUMBEAT program were twice as likely to have improved their levels of co-operation in the classroom, improved their relationships with teachers and peers, raised their levels of self-esteem and increased their levels of emotional control. The second evaluation also measured school attendance where DRUMBEAT particpants reduced their absenteeism rate by over 40%.

A three day training program has been developed for teachers, psychologists, youth-workers and drug & alcohol workers who are interested in delivering the program. The training includes detailed sessions on group facilitation and working with defiant youth as well as the structure of the DRUMBEAT program itself. training is scheduled on a regular basis throughout the year. In 2006 & 2007 Holyoake , with the support of Healthway's 'Respect your Culture' will be delivering training for facilitators around the state of Western Australia.