National Policy
Medicinal Cannabis – Narcotics Drugs Amendment Bill 2016
Australian Government
On 10 February 2016, the Turnbull Government has introduced landmark legislation providing the “missing piece” for Australian patients and their doctors to access a safe, legal and reliable supply of medicinal cannabis products for the management of painful and chronic conditions. Minister for Health
Sussan Ley announced the amendments to the Narcotics Drugs Act 1967 would allow the controlled cultivation of cannabis for medicinal or scientific purposes through one single national licensing scheme – an Australian first. Ms Ley said, if passed, this legislation would open the way for Australians with painful and chronic conditions to get access to the relief they needed where this was determined by their doctors to be of potential benefit.
For more information: See the
Narcotic Drugs Amendment Bill 2016, the
media release or call 0427 063 150
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Sector Development, Events and Activities
Update – National Family Drug Support Day
Family Drug Support (FDS)
ATODA would like to congratulate Family Drug Support on the first National Family Drug Support Day held on 24 February 2016. The National event was held at Parliament House in Canberra and speakers included:
- Tony Trimingham – CEO and founder of Family Drug Support
- Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash – National Party Deputy Leader
- The Hon Stephen Jones MP – Shadow Assistant Minister for Health
- Senator the Hon Richard Di Natale - Australian Greens Leader
- David Quilty – CEO, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
- Garth Popple – Executive Director, We Help Ourselves and also representing ATCA
- Debbie and Marion – Family members
For more information: See the
media release, visit the
website, or call (02) 4782 9222
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Training and Professional Development
ACT Comorbidity Bus Tours
ATODA, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT and the Youth Coalition of the ACT
The Comorbidity Bus Tour seeks to increase the capacity of frontline workers to support people experiencing co-occurring ATOD and mental health issues (comorbidity). The Comorbidity Bus Tour visits a variety of services in the ACT from the alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD), mental health and youth sectors.
The next Comorbidity Bus Tour for 2015 will be Tour A on
2 March 2016.
Cost: Members of the Youth Coalition, ATODA or MHCC ACT $50, $60 Non-member or non-government organisations, $70 Government workers
For more information: Visit
ATODA's website, email
bustours@youthcoalition.net or call (02) 6247 3540
Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
This training has been developed to:
- Assist workers to attain a practical and measureable difference in the lives of Aboriginal people.
- Assist government and corporate organisations to better engage with Aboriginal people and communities.
The training program will include such modules as cultural respect, effective communication, past policies and practices that have impacted upon Aboriginal people, and yarning circles on various topics.
Date: 11 March 2016
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Cost: ACTCOSS Member $270, Non-Member $300, Government/Corporate $330
For more information: Visit the
Eventbrite webpage, email
actcoss@actcoss.org.au, or call (02) 6202 7200
Recognising and Responding to Trauma: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
This training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers and workers engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children will be facilitated by Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Childcare (SNAICC).
A trauma informed approach to child protection and family services and topics will include:
- Cultural context of trauma work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
- The nature of trauma
- Intergenerational and trans-generational trauma
- Understanding trauma related behaviours
- Steps towards healing trauma
- Responding and easing the impact of Trauma
- Vicarious trauma
- Self-care and self-compassion
- Living and working in community
Date: 27 – 28 April 2016
Time: 9am – 4:30pm
Cost: ACTCOSS Member $400, Non-Member $450, Government/Corporate $500
For more information: Visit the
Eventbrite webpage, email
actcoss@actcoss.org.au, or call (02) 6202 7200
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Conferences and Symposiums
APSAD Pre-Conference Workshops
Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APDAS)
APSAD is currently seeking submissions for Sunday Pre-Conference Workshops from individuals and organisations for the APSAD Sydney 2016 Conference.
They are looking for half-day or full-day Clinical and Skills-Based Workshops on, but not limited to, AOD and co-morbid issues.
For more information: Contact Liz Baxter at
exec.officer@apsad.org.au or call (02) 9252 2287
Piecing the Puzzle Together – Winter School Series
Lives Lived Well
Piecing the puzzle together: Designing, developing and implementing evidence-based AOD services is the first workshop in this year Winter School series, which is bound to inspire ideas and discussion as the program delivers big picture concepts, international perspectives, Utopian approaches and practical applications towards improving AOD treatment and service delivery.
It is a chance to step back, pause and reflect on what’s happening in Australia and overseas. What could or should be happening and what can be done now to improve day-to-day outcomes? Get hands-on, gain more insight and take-away pieces of the puzzle to better treatment and delivery in Australia.
The workshop will be facilitated by Colin O’Driscoll, Associate Professor Nicole Lee and Dr Joel Porter.
For more information and to register: Visit the
website, email
aws@liveslivedwell.org.au or call (07) 3834 0207
NADA Conference 2016
Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA)
This conference will bring together people from across the alcohol and other drugs sector and is a vital opportunity for the sector to exchange best practice and showcase its achievements in responding to complexity.
Who should attend: frontline staff and managers in the alcohol and other drugs sector; clients, consumers and carers; policy makers and government funding bodies; along with researchers with an interest in community responses to alcohol and other drugs.
Date: 6 – 7 June 2016
Venue: Grace Hotel, Sydney, NSW
For more information: Visit the Conference
website or email
conference@nada.org.au
2016 National Hepatitis Health Promotion Conference
Hepatitis Australia
The conference will bring together a diverse range of community and health sector workers, researchers and speakers from across Australia.
The theme for the 2016 conference is ‘
Navigating the Future – Opportunities through Engagement’. The conference will explore the future health promotion response to viral hepatitis in Australia and look at how the sector workforce can maximise engagement and support people affected by viral hepatitis.
Date: 19 – 20 May 2016
Venue: Rydges Hotel, Melbourne, Victoria
For more information: Visit the Conference
website, or call (02) 6232 4257
Indigenous Conference – Registrations now open
Indigenous Conference Services, The Sovereign Union of First Nations of Australia
The Sovereign Union of First Nations of Australia in collaboration with Indigenous Conference Services (ICS-MEES Pty Ltd) is honoured to host the 2016 National Stolen Generations:
Bringing Them Home Conference. The philosophy of this conference is to provide educational platform to the wider community and endeavour to sensitively assist in a culturally appropriate way with the healing of spirit, mind, body and soul of First nations peoples of Australia affected by scandalous government policies of the removal of Indigenous children from their families and loved ones. This conference is formulated by Indigenous Conferences Services whose employees and their families have been profoundly affected by, in one way or another, the issues of stolen generations.
Call for papers close on 29 February 2016.
Date: 24 – 26 August 2016
Venue: Grand Mercure Resort, Gold Coast, Queensland
For more information: Visit the Conference
website, or email
adminics@iinet.net.au
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Resources and Publications
Trends in Methylamphetamine Availability, Use and Treatment, 2003-04 to 2013-14
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
The Report published in October 2015 has been updated with minor correction to supplementary data tables.There have been several corresponding trends in the availability, use and treatment of methylamphetamines since 2003–04. Following a decline between 2006–07 and 2009–10, there have been increases across many factors relating to methylamphetamines to 2013–14. Arrests, seizures and detections have all increased. Users are now favouring the crystal form of methylamphetamine. They are using it more frequently, and, there appear to be more new users of crystal. There are more people in treatment reporting smoking as their usual method of use for amphetamines than previously.
For more information: See the
Report, or call (02) 6244 1000
Progress and Priorities Report 2016
Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee
The report makes a number of recommendations including that each political party, prior to the next federal election, make Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing a major priority. Key ATOD points included:
- 47% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary health care organisations reported ATOD service gaps
- Recommended that the Australian Government revisit its decision to discontinue the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee.
- That the Tackling Indigenous Smoking programme is retained and funding is increased above current levels to enable consolidation, improvement and expansion of activities until the gap in the rates of smoking between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people closes.
- The National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing provides the basis for a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health and social and emotional wellbeing plan. This is developed and implemented with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy 2013 and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Drug Strategy implementation processes in order to avoid duplication, be more efficient, and maximise opportunities in this critical field.
For more information: See the
Report, or the NACCHO Aboriginal Health
News Alert
Addressing Structural Challenges for the Sexual Health and Well-being of Indigenous women in Australia
Centre for Health Equity, University of Melbourne
The report states that according to the most recent national data in Australia, there have been significant increases in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B and higher rates of hepatitis C acquired through burgeoning injecting drug use, combined with high rates of chronic disease, means there is a significant burden of disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that costs individuals, communities and health systems dearly.
For more information: See the
article, see the NACCHO
newsletter
Capacity Building and Change Management – A Guide for Community Services
Victorian Alcohol & Drug Association (VAADA)
The manual is written for all those in the community services sector who wish to move their agency towards greater capability to deliver programs to consumers in a more integrated, collaborative way.
For more information: See the
Manual, or email
jmoreton@vaada.org.au
Welcome To Country App
Weerianna Street Media
The Welcome to Country iPhone app. delivers a simple Welcome to Country video introduction~ to Australian indigenous culture, including basic cultural protocols that are tribal boundary geo-specific
For more information: Visit the
website
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Service Delivery
Education and Therapy Groups 2016
Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS), ACT Health
The Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS) regularly runs support and education groups for people who are having difficulty with alcohol and other drugs, people seeking support in preventing relapse, and for friends and family members.
Groups include:
- Controlling your Cannabis Use
- Controlling your Drinking
- Controlling your Ice Use
- Mindfulness, Mediation and Stress Management Course
For more information: See the
flyer, or call (02) 6207 9977
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Newsletters, Magazines and Updates
Harm Reduction Australia Newsletter
Harm Reduction Australia
Harm Reduction Australia (HRA) was launched in November 2015. It is a national organisation for individuals across Australia to join together in their commitment to reducing the health, social and economic harms potentially associated with drug use.
This is the first of regular newsletters that will provide current information on their work, their projects and national and international drug policies, programs and practices that help to reduce the harms associated with the use of drugs.
Join HRA and receive the newsletter directly! To do so, go to:
https://www.harmreductionaustralia.org.au/join-hra/
For more information: See the
latest issue
The Loop
National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
The Loop contains information about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders such as National and New Zealand news, resources, latest research and up coming events.
For more information: See the
latest issue
Winnunga News
Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service
The purpose of this monthly newsletter is to provide information on the happening at Winnunga, current topics and upcoming events.
For more information: See the
latest issue
ACT Media
This section includes ATOD related media from or relevant to the ACT
Does cannabis cause mental illness?
The Conversation, 25 February 2016
Peter Gates, Senior Research Officer, National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre
It’s legal in some places around the world, and offered medicinally in others. But what does smoking pot do to your mental health?
For more information: See the
article
Illicit drugs are illegal for good reason
Canberra Times, 25 February 2016
“I have seen the terrible harm caused by drugs and believe that illicit drugs are illicit for a reason, because they are dangerous.”
For more information: See the
article
A sanitised city locks us out from more than just nightclubs
Canberra Times, 24 February 2016
Killing Kings Cross to stop violence is like draining the ocean to prevent a shark bite.
For more information: See the
article
The ACT toys with lock-out laws
Canberra Times, 24 February 2016
When a group of bar managers declares that introducing Sydney-style lock-out laws in the ACT would be "hugely damaging" to the hospitality industry, and could even kill off the Civic small bar and entertainment scene, the public reaction is likely to be, well, they would say that.
For more information: See the
article
Canberra business oppose lockout laws despite support from alcohol harm groups
Canberra Times, 23 February 2016
Canberra bar managers have detailed their opposition to any extension of Sydney's lockout laws to the territory, despite support from alcohol harm groups.
For more information: See the
article
Pill testing proposals unworkable
Canberra Times, 21 February 2016
When persons with the gravitas of Bob Carr (Foreign Minister 2012 – 2013 and NSW Premier 1995 – 2005) [The Australian 7 December 2015] and former Australian Police Commissioner Mick Palmer [ABC 4 Corners 15 February 2016] call for pill testing facilities to be established at music festivals, attention is necessarily drawn.
For more information: See the
article
Good Samaritan protections for Naloxone
CityNews, 19 February 2016
Simon Corbell says new laws providing legal protections for people who administer the life-saving overdose reversal medicine Naloxone in an emergency situation, have been passed in the Legislative Assembly.
For more information: See the
article
Ever faster declarations of smoke free areas
CityNews, 18 February 2016
Meegan Fitzharris has introduced a bill intended to provide a more streamlined process for declaring smoke-free public places around Canberra.
For more information: See the
article
‘Like a hollow wooden drum sound’: Man guilty of bashing
Canberra Times, 17 February 2016
The attack occurred in April 2014 at the Belconnen Soccer Club, where Kane Rheinberger, 28, had been drinking with friends.
For more information: See the
article
Two men avoid jail over Canberra cannabis grow house
Canberra Times, 17 February 2016
Two men who cultivated cannabis plants in a north Canberra property as part of an extensive grow house network uncovered across the ACT last year have avoided time behind bars.
For more information: See the
article
Ice worth $1 billion seized in gel push-up bra inserts and art supplies
Canberra Times, 16 February 2016
Law enforcement agencies have seized $1 billion of ice in the largest drug bust of liquid methamphetamine in Australia's history, federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan announced.
For more information: See the
article
Greens push for pill testing scheme in the ACT
Canberra Times, 16 February 2016
The ACT government won't consider establishing a pill testing scheme to improve safety for drug takers in Canberra, rejecting a push by the Greens.
For more information: See the
article
Mother caught driving while six times legal limit with unrestrained 1yo in car
ABC News, 15 February 2016
A woman who recorded a potentially deadly alcohol reading of more than six times the legal limit was driving with an unrestrained one-year-old child in the back sea.
For more information: See the
article
In the polarising debate about vaping, we’ve forgotten to ask the right questions
The Guardian, 15 February 2016
Having been involved in debates about harm reduction for 30 years, Alex Wodak can see many commonalities between the electronic cigarette debate and earlier debates about illicit drugs
For more information: See the
article
Teen accused of distributing ecstasy in Canberra faces court
ABC News, 13 February 2016
A Canberra teenager accused of being part of a criminal group distributing ecstasy has faced the ACT Magistrates Court.
For more information: See the
article
What needs to happen now to get medicinal cannabis to those who need it?
The Conversation, 12 February 2016
Alex Wodak, Emeritus Consultant, St Vincent’s Hospital
The amendments will create two licence classes (medicine and research), limit access only to “fit and proper” Australians with no ties to crime, and allow the importation of plants and seed.
For more information: See the
article
Criminologist: How to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence
Canberra Times, 11 February 2016
The government is right to be concerned about this. Alcohol is thought to be responsible for 4.5 per cent of total disease and injury world-wide, with the cost to Australia estimated to be between $15.3 billion and $36 billion annually.
For more information: See the
article
ACT Government lost opportunity to reap economic harvest from medical marijuana
Canberra Times, 11 February 2016
This week, the Turnbull government tabled legislation that will allow farmers to grow cannabis for medical use, and allow businesses to manufacture cannabidiol – a potentially effective painkiller – from those plants.
For more information: See the
article
New laws to allow Canberra police to breath test without permission on private property
Canberra Times, 10 February 2016
The ACT government has closed a loophole that may have allowed some drink drivers to evade prosecution.
For more information: See the
article
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