International Overdose Awareness Day 2016
International Overdose Awareness Day is a global event held on August 31st each year and aims to raise awareness of overdose and reduce the stigma of a drug-related death. It also acknowledges the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have met with death or permanent injury as a result of drug overdose. Overdose Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.
This year has a new theme:
Time to Remember. Time to Act. The new theme has been applied across a set of downloadable resources to help plan and promote events this year. The kit includes posters, social media images and a comprehensive
event supporter kit.
There are many opportunities for individual, families and communities to get involved. Events can be listed on the
International Overdose Awareness Day website.
For more information: Visit the
website, or call (03) 9659 0699
Overdose Awareness Month
Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA)
The Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA) will be holding Overdose Awareness Month throughout August.
People are invited to visit the CAHMA office to write a tribute to a loved one lost to overdose, enter their poem writing competition to win a prize and get trained in using naloxone.
For more information: See the
flyer, email
info@cahma.org.au or call (02) 6279 1670
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Sector Development, Events and Activities
9th Annual Comorbidity Interagency Day
CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn
CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn are hosting the 9th Annual Comorbidity Interagency Day. This is a free event and great opportunity for alcohol, tobacco and other drug and mental health services to network and strengthen interagency partnerships and referrals.
This year there will be 2 special guest speakers followed by the original market day format and lunch.
Date: 28 September 2016
Time: 11am – 2pm
Venue: Blackfriars Rose Garden, Australian Catholic University (ACU), 127 Phillip Avenue, Watson
For more information: See the
Eventbrite page, or email
Abbey.Higginson@catholiccare.cg.org.au
Information Session for Charities and Not-for-Profits Organisations
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)
ACNC is holding a round of free information sessions for charities and NFPs organisations Commissioner Susan Pascoe AM will talk about the work of the ACNC, issues facing the sector and how to meet the ACNC obligations, including the Annual Information Statement.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions directly to the Commissioner during the Q&A session.
As part of the sessions, they will also be providing a free basic financial training session, which includes how to avoid the most common Annual Information Statements errors.
Date: 24 August 2016
Time: 10am - 12pm
Venue: Nicholls Theatrette, National Convention Centre, 31 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City
For more information: Visit the
Eventbrite webpage, visit the
ACNC website, or call 13 22 62
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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
7 September 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
August - September 2016 Training and Professional Development Calendar
ATODA, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT and the Youth Coalition of the ACT
The ACT Training and Professional Development Calendar collates training and professional development opportunities for workers in the alcohol, tobacco and other drug, youth, mental health, family support and community sectors.
To get the August - September 2016 training calendar, click
here.
To include your training in the next calendar, email
info@youthcoalition.net or call the Youth Coalition on (02) 6247 3540
Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
The aim of this training is 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: 16 September 2016
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Weston Hub Meeting Room, 6 Gritten Street, Weston
Cost: ACTCOSS Member $270, Non-Member $300, Government/Corporate $330
For more information: Visit the
Eventbrite page, email
actcoss@actcoss.org.au or call (02) 6202 7200
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Conferences and Symposiums
NDARC Annual Symposium
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
This year’s keynote at the NDARC Annual Symposium will be jointly presented by Royal Prince Alfred Hospital’s Professor Kate Conigrave and Mr Scott Wilson Director of the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council in South Australia . Their presentation Aboriginal Australians and alcohol and drugs: where we are now and future directions will review the current status, recent developments and suggestions for moving forward, giving examples from prevention, treatment, policy and evaluation research.
Other related presentations at the Symposium include Professor Anthony Shakeshaft on the effectiveness of community-based interventions for Indigenous Australians; Professor Kate Dolan on HIV, prisons and human rights and Professor Michael Farrell on OST in prisons.
Date: 12 September 2016
Venue: John Niland Scientia Conference and Events Centre, Sydney
For more information: Visit the
NDARC website or call (02) 9385 0333
Applied Research in Crime and Justice Conference: Call for Abstracts
NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) & Griffith University Institute
On 15 & 16 February 2017 the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR), in partnership with the Griffith Criminology Institute, will be convening the 4th annual Applied Research in Crime and Criminal Justice Conference.
The aim of the conference is to showcase high quality policy-relevant research on crime and criminal justice in Australia. Keynote speakers at the conference include Elizabeth Drake (Washington State Institute for Public Policy), Professor Jerry Ratcliffe (Temple University), Professor Rick Sarre (University of South Australia) and Professor Steven Raphael (University of California, Berkeley).
Abstracts are invited from anyone who has recently conducted or is currently conducting research on crime and criminal justice.
Closing Date: 16 September 2016
For more information: Visit the
website, email
bcsr@justice.nsw.gov.au, or call (02) 8346 1100
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Resources and Publications
SURE: Substance Use Recovery Evaluator
King’s College London
SURE is a psychometrically valid, quick and easy-to-complete outcome measure, developed with unprecedented input from people in recovery. It can be used alongside, or instead of, existing outcome tools.
For more information: Visit the King's College London
website
Tackling Indigenous Smoking Portal
Australian Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre
This portal hosts information for organisations funded through the national Tackling Indigenous Smoking Programme, but will also be useful for people working in the many other initiatives that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to quit or reduce their smoking.
This portal is where to find information on the Tackling Indigenous Smoking Resource Information Centre (TISRIC). The TISRIC has been developed by the National Best Practice Unit for Tackling Indigenous Smoking (NBPU TIS) and is tailored to the needs of TIS organisations, with information on: planning activities and interventions; activities that work; resources that work; and how to determine how well an activities work.
The portal also offers access to publications, resources, and information about projects and activities that relate to tobacco cessation. Workforce information includes job opportunities, funding sources and other organisations interested in tobacco control. The events section has information on courses and training, conferences, workshops and other events. These resources have been brought together in one place to help support clients and communities.
This web resource also links to the TIS Yarning Place and many social media platforms to encourage information sharing and collaboration among TIS-funded organisations.
For more information: See the
Portal, or call (08) 9370 6336
Research Update
Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), Australian Catholic University (ACU)
The Research Update aims to keep stakeholders informed about the projects the ICPS is undertaking. The July 2016 update provides information on the following current research projects:
- Managing Ethical Studies on Sensitive Issues (MESSI): Involving children in social research;
- kContact: Keeping contact between parents and children in care;
- Developing an understanding of how children understand and experience safety in institutions;
- Safe and Sound: The safety of young people in residential care;
- ·Help-Seeking and Primary Prevention Research Project;
- Encouraging and sustaining quality care to improve outcomes for children and young people in care;
- Child Protection Practitioner Study;
- Evaluation of the Youth Hope Program; and,
- Building Capacity in Family Support Services: Provision of evaluative support services to FaC service providers.
For more information: See the
Update, email
icps@acu.edu.au or call (02) 6209 1228
Australian Burden of Disease Study: Impact and Causes of Illness and Death in Australia 2011
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
The report Australian Burden of Disease Study: impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2011 was released in May 2016.
This release contains additional supplementary material related to this publication, including underlying data for a range of figures included in the main report.
For more information: See the
Summary Report, the
supplementary data tables, or visit the
AIHW website
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Newsletters, Magazines and Updates
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
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Youth, Mental Health and Allied Sector
Research into Personality Styles
The Australian National University (ANU)
People are invited to participate in a study investigating personality styles. Participants must be over 18 and be currently receiving mental health care treatment, or have received mental health care treatment in the past 12 months,
Eligible participants will be asked to complete an online survey at the ANU. Participation will be confidential, and will take approximately 45 minutes. Participants will receive $20.
For more information: Email
Jacqueline.liggett@anu.edu.au or call (02) 6125 5902
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Employment
Operations & Communications Officer
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA)
ATODA is looking for an Operations & Communications Officer to support the CEO and coordinate communications. This position is a 7-month fixed term contract.
This pivotal role provides assistance and administrative support to the CEO and a small supportive team with a focus on operational and communication duties including:
- Developing content for eBulletins & websites
- Distributing eBulletins & maintaining websites
- Developing & implementing projects as negotiated
- Collating background information to support planning
- Drafting correspondence & preparation of agendas, minutes and briefs
ATODA is looking for someone with a commitment to the values of population health, human rights, social justice and reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. Highly regarded will be Apple Mac users with previous experience in a similar administration and / or communications role with:
- Qualifications in administration, communications, public health or related field, highly regarded
- High proficiency in MS Office & ideally WordPress (on the job training will be provided)
- Strong abilities to manage competing demands in a fast paced environment
- Highly developed interpersonal & communication skills
- An absolute attention to detail
If improving the health and wellbeing of the ACT community is important to you, please forward your resume and covering letter addressing the skills required to
cv@ngorecruitment.com quoting reference #33301. To discuss this opportunity please call Annie Barker on 02 8243 0570.
For more information: See the
Position Description
ACT Hepatitis B Community Education Project Part-Time Position
Hepatitis ACT
Hepatitis ACT is seeking a suitably qualified person to work part-time (22.5 hours per week) until 30 June 2017 (with a possibility of extension) on the ACT Hepatitis B Community Education Project. The Project Officer reports to the Executive Officer, and is responsible for the coordination and delivery of a program of hepatitis B information, education and health promotion for people from high prevalence communities.
Closing date: 21 August 2016
For more information: email
info@hepatitisact.com.au or call (02) 6230 6344
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Part-Time Position
Hepatitis ACT
This is an identified position for an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Hepatitis ACT is seeking a suitably qualified person to work part-time (22.5 hours per week) until 30 June 2017 (with a possibility of extension) on the ACT Hepatitis B Indigenous Community Education Project. The Project Officer reports to the Executive Officer, and is responsible for the coordination and delivery of a program of hepatitis B information, education and health promotion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT.
Closing date: 21 August 2016
For more information: email
info@hepatitisact.com.au or call (02) 6230 6344
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ACT Media
This section includes ATOD related media from or relevant to the ACT
Seizure of amphetamine-type stimulants on a steep rise in the ACT
Canberra Times, 4 August 2016
Drug-busts for amphetamine-type stimulants has skyrocketed in the ACT, a new report has found.
For more information: See the
article
Finding a better way to treat drug addiction than by jailing people
Canberra Times, 10 August 2016
Australia could learn a lot from the fact that a number of American cities are successfully reducing the role of criminalisation in their drug policies.
For more information: See the
article
Service struggles to help women in crisis
CityNews, 8 August 2016
Public awareness of domestic violence is at an all-time high, says Susan Clarke-Lindfield, executive director of Toora Women, and yet funding for support for women experiencing it is still critically low.
For more information: See the
article
Levi Freeman-Quay appeals conviction fir drunken Civic one-punch assault
Canberra Times, 8 August 2016
Lawyers for convicted "one-punch" attacker Levi Freeman-Quay say enlarged CCTV footage suggests another man could have delivered the devastating blow to Matt Pridham's head.
For more information: See the
article
Extra money spent on drug law enforcement is having little effect on ice trade
Canberra Times, 5 August 2016
Could anything be more dispiriting than being a law enforcement warrior in the war against drugs? Last year police and customs agents seized record amounts of "ice", or crystal methamphetamine, now clearly enemy No. 1 in the illicit drug game.
For more information: See the
article
Canberra bottle shop owners say 25 per cent taxation hike could force them to shed staff
Canberra Times, 4 August 2016
Canberra bottle shop owner Paul Cains already spends precious little time with his children Nicholas and Sophie, but once the ACT Government hikes his liquor licence fees by 25 per cent, he fears he will miss out on even more.
For more information: See the
article
Mandatory rehabilitation for methylamphetamine users ruled out in ACT
Canberra Times, 4 August 2016
The ACT Government has ruled out radical new laws that could allow concerned family members to force meth users into rehab.
For more information: See the
article
ACT Government to start medicinal cannabis scheme
Canberra Times, 4 August 2016
Canberrans seeking medicinal cannabis products will soon be supported by a medical cannabis scheme run by the ACT Government.
For more information: See the
article
Buff and busted: spike in arrests and seizures for illegal steroids
Canberra Times, 4 August 2016
Australia's pursuit of the perfect pecs, abs and biceps has led to an explosion in the number of arrests and seizures for illegal steroids.
For more information: See the
article
The five reasons people die on Canberra roads
Canberra Times, 3 August 2016
It may have been law for more than 40 years, but ACT Policing said failing to buckle up is still one of the main reasons people die on Canberra roads.
For more information: See the
article
Weekly Dose: sofosbuvir – what’s the price of a hepatitis C cure?
The Conversation, 3 August 2016
Greg Dore, Professor, UNSW
Marianne Martinello, Research Associate, Kirby Institute
Sofosbuvir is one of a number of new direct-acting antiviral drugs revolutionising the care of people living with hepatitis C. Combinations of two or three hepatitis C virus direct-acting antiviral drugs taken for 8-24 weeks can cure more than 90% of people treated. However, this breakthrough in clinical medicine comes at a cost.
For more information: See the
article
Urgent action needed to better rehabilitate Canberra jail inmates: committee
Canberra Times, 2 August 2016
The government should bring in local businesses to help urgently create a prison industry program that produces goods and services for the outside population, an inquiry has found.
For more information: See the
article
ACT Health moving more staff to Woden
CityNews, 2 August 2016
Simon Corbell says more ACT Health staff will move into the Woden Town Centre, with the ACT Government signing a 15-year agreement to lease 2-6 Bowes Street with Quintessential Equity.
For more information: See the
article
E-cigarettes now tightly regulated in the ACT
Canberra Times, 1 August 2016
E-cigarettes will now be banned in smoke-free areas in Canberra and can no longer be sold to minors under new laws.
For more information: See the
article
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