TOOLS & RESOURCES

FEATURED & NEW TOOLS & RESOURCES

For workers, families & children who have parents experiencing mental illness.

D R U M B E A T The H O W and Why[1] (323 KB)

DRUMBEAT - The How & Why - Introductory information about this youth programme

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The DRUMBEAT program arose out of the failure of traditional, talk based, interventions to engage many young people facing social challenges that put them at risk of harm. These young people are often socially isolated and their behaviour’s often reinforce that isolation.

Holyoake was looking for a way to engage young people, lift their self confidence and teach them a range of life-skills that would enable them to reintegrate themselves with the community around them in a healthy way. Although developed originally for young Aboriginal men, the program now is being used with a wide range of population groups including adults in prisons and mental health facilities.

For information on the training program and upcoming dates in your area email
drumbeat@holyoake.org.au or visit www.holyoake.org.au

Training abstract[1] (488 KB)

Drumbeat Training abstract - An Early Intervention Program for Alienated Youth

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The DRUMBEAT training program is a three day training that equips attendees with the
necessary skills to present the DRUMBEAT early intervention program. The training
covers practical skills of working with alienated youth, including defiant and other
difficult behaviours. It covers facilitation skills, therapeutic factors of group work and the
implementation of the DRUMBEAT program itself. DRUMBEAT is made up of four
main elements: drum songs, drum games and analogies, a number of discussion areas
linked to healthy relationships and a performance. Approximately 50% of the training is
drum instruction. Participants do not need prior musical training.

Research Report D R U M B E A T[1] (52 KB)

An Evaluation of the Music Therapy Intervention ‘DRUMBEAT’ with Alienated Youth In the Wheatbelt of Western Australia

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Abstract
A Before and After with Comparison group evaluation design was used to assess the
relationship between participation in the social development program DRUMBEAT and levels of social isolation for a sample of sixty young people attending three schools in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia. All participating students were assessed as having a higher than average level of alienation from the school system. Alienation and social isolation are recognized ‘Risk Factors’ for a range of negative health and criminal outcomes (WA Aboriginal Child Health Survey, 2005; Loxley et al, 2004, Silburn, 2002). Results from the study indicated that young people participating in the DRUMBEAT program increased their score over a range of social indicators that act to increase connection with the school community. These results are consistent with earlier evaluations of the program conducted with High School students and support the underlying program theory. Further longitudinal studies are required to assess the sustainability of the measured outcomes and their vulnerability to external factors.