Over 2022-2025, NZCER has provided a range evaluation services to the New Zealand Drug Foundation in relation to Tūturu. Tūturu is a health–education partnership that supports secondary schools to develop a proactive and wellbeing-focused approach to student use of alcohol and other drugs (AoD). The initiative is designed as a multilayered whole-school approach.
Tūturu leads (advisers), from local AoD/youth providers, offer support for schools in a range of communities. There are different tiers of support available; partnership schools work more intensively with Tūturu leads, or schools can access Tūturu resources with some provider support or independently.
A second facet of Tūturu is working to support the development of system connections and the shared use of evidence-based practice across health, education, justice, research, and health promotion groups and agencies.
Current evaluation services provided by NZCER include:
- an evaluation of the Tūturu pilot (2017-2020 and expansion (2023-2025). Both evaluations initially included a formative/process aspect. Over time the evaluation focus shifted to explore emerging and short-term outcomes
- writing rapid literature reviews to assist in the development of support and resources for schools.