The OurFutures Vaping program was showcased at a media event last week involving federal Health Minister Mark Butler and federal Education Minister Jason Clare. Associate Professor Emily Stockings from The University of Sydney’s Matilda Centre spoke alongside the ministers, explaining how, “Programs like OurFutures are not only backed by rigorously tested evidence, but are developed […]

Adolescence is a formative time of exploration, development, and multiple physical, emotional, social and psychological changes. Emotional ups and downs are a normal part of life for anyone. However, during the teenage years they can be stronger and more frequent [1]. Fluctuating mood can be influenced by multiple different factors related to the various changes

The OurFutures programs have been rigorously evaluated across 8 large cluster randomised controlled trials in Australia (with 240 schools, >21,000 students, and up to 7-year follow-up), and a pilot trial in the UK. Compared to health education as usual, students who received the OurFutures programs showed reduced alcohol consumption and binge drinking, reduced cannabis and

Young people may be exposed to e-cigarettes (“vapes”) via friends, social media, or other sources. Ongoing open, honest communication with your child is really important to help educate them, prevent harms, and assist them in navigating new experiences and challenges. While there is no foolproof way to have a conversation about vaping with your child,

You may have heard about the vape (“e-cigarette”) bans being implemented across Australia. The federal government’s approach to address the increased prevalence of vaping (particularly among young Australians) involves stricter legislation, enforcement, education, and support. The laws around e-cigarettes can be confusing, so here we’ll explain some of the main points of what the new

At OurFutures, we’re very proud to have earned a number of prestigious awards: thirty since 2012. We have an exceptional team of researchers who have won these awards both individually and collaboratively, and it’s important to recognise their hard work, dedication and expertise. Receiving awards such as the ones listed below recognises and rewards outstanding

You may have heard of the term “chroming.” It refers to the act of inhaling solvents and other volatile substances to achieve a short-term high. Though it once referred specifically to breathing in aerosol chrome-based spray paints, it now often includes the inhalation of other volatile substances such as deodorants, hazardous household chemicals, and other

We understand how busy teachers are, and how important it is to not add to a workload that is already packed full. The OurFutures eHealth courses are a great addition to health class if you’re looking for high-quality, evidence-based, time-saving content that makes a difference. This blog post will outline some common queries we’ve had

One of the key tenants of the theory underlying the OurFutures eHealth modules is normative education. This means we want to challenge the view that most young people are using illicit substances, drinking, or vaping. In other words, if you’re avoiding these things, you’re in the majority. This is important to keep in mind because

What do we really mean when we say that the OurFutures programs are evidence-based and clinically proven? These could come across as buzzwords to some, but the amount of work that goes into the research behind our programs to make them evidence-based is often underestimated or misunderstood. So, let’s delve a little deeper into what