ATODA wishes a Happy New Year to everyone! Last year was a busy year for the alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector with an abundance of challenges and also great achievements. We thank you all for your contributions and we look forward to working with you in 2016.
From 18 January 2016, ATODA will be relocated to a new office at 11 Rutherford Crescent, Ainslie ACT 2602.
As we will be moving in, ATODA will have limited capacity and interrupted communications until Friday 29 January 2016. We apologise for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding during this time.
A critical change has recently taken place in regard to the means by which the Australian federal government provides funding to national, community based, peak organisations representing communities known to be at greater risk from exposure to, and incidence of, blood borne viruses (BBVs) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
While this change has also affected funding for other organisations it has, unfortunately, effectively excluded AIVL from applying for funding which would allow them to continue their work in this important area of public health policy and advocacy beyond June 2016.
This change is a significant departure from the demonstrably successful and internationally recognised way that Australia has responded to BBVs and STIs in the past. It is an enormous blow to the good work undertaken in the context of harm reduction, and the end of the historic decades long “Partnership Model” where governments worked with key affected communities.
They are urgently appealing to the Federal Health Minister to ensure Australia continues its successful approach in the areas of prevention and treatment of BBVs and STIs among people who use drugs, and that AIVL is in a position to continue to perform this vital role as a key partner with unique insight and expertise in this field as a part of Australia’s ongoing response to these truly ‘life and death’ issues for so many Australians.
The potentially dire consequences to both directly effected communities, and the broader Australian community generally should AIVL no longer be in a position to advocate, lobby, and undertake representation of the community on government advisory and policy panels and committees, amongst their other work, is something that will no doubt in hindsight prove to be a great loss to the wonderful credentials AIVL has in this field.
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Sector Development, Events and Activities
1st National Family Drug Support Day
National Family Drug Support
Drugs affect all members of the community but it is the families and drug users themselves who bear the brunt of the problems. The National Day will deliver some key messages for affected families.
Date: 24 February 2016
Time: 10am
Venue: Parliament House Canberra
For more information: Visit the
Family Drug Support 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 C on
10 February 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
December 2015 - January 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 December 2015 - January 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
Recognising and Responding to Trauma: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
This workshop is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers and workers engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.
The workshop will be facilitated by Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Childcare (SNAICC).
It consists in a trauma informed approach to child protection and family services. Topics 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: 9:00am – 4:30pm
Venue: Weston Hub Meeting Room, 6 Gritten Street, Weston, ACT, 2611
Cost: ACTCOSS Member $400, Non-Member $450, Government/Corporate $500
For more information: Contact Lisa Howatson on (02) 6202 7200, or email
actcoss@actcoss.org.au
To Register go to:
https://recognising-and-responding-to-trauma-27-28april16.eventbrite.com.au
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Conferences and Symposiums
NADA Conference 2016 – Abstract Open
Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA)
Abstract submission is now open for the NADA Conference 2016.
The NADA Conference 2016 -
Integrated care: Working together to respond to complexity will bring together people from across the alcohol and other drug sector and will provide a forum to highlight and foster interagency partnerships. It is an important opportunity for the sector to exchange best practice and showcase its achievements in responding to complexity.
Closing date for abstract submission: 26 February 2016
Date: 6 June 2016
Venue: The Grace Hotel, Sydney
For more information: Visit the
NADA website, or email
conference@nada.org.au
ATDC Conference 2016 – Abstract Open
Alcohol Tobacco and other Drug Council of Tasmania (ATDC)
Abstract submission is now open for the ATDC Conference 2016.
The ATDC 2016 Conference Rethinking Prevention: a broader agenda encourages presenters and delegates to discuss how to support and provide prevention, treatment and harm reduction interventions in the current environment and into the future.
Recognising preventative approaches at all levels of our work is one aspect of rethinking prevention. The conference will explore how we prevent harm in multiple ways, not only dealing with substance use activity.
The fundamental question of how to ensure integration between policy, practice and research will underpin the conference program, guaranteeing a stimulating two days for all attendees.
Closing date for abstract submission: 18 January 2016
Date: 12 - 13 May 2016
Venue: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart
For more information: Visit the
ATDC website, or email
conferencemanager@atdc.org.au
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Resources and Publications
Preventing and Reducing Alcohol and Other Drug Related Harm Among Older People – A Practical Guide for Health and Welfare Professionals
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)
Older Wiser Lifestyles (OWL) is Australia’s first older adult age-specific alcohol and other drug (AOD) service. It was established by Peninsula Health in 2009 following the identification of a service gap. OWL aims to elevate the issues in regard to AOD use among older adults and provide leadership in the development and delivery of evidence-based models of care.
Peninsula Health commissioned the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) to develop this resource.
For more information: See the
Guide, or visit the
Older Wiser Lifestyle AOD website
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Newsletters, Magazines and Updates
The Loop
National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
The Loop contains information about Fetal 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
Survey: AIDS Action Council Strategic Planning
AIDS Action Council
The AIDS Action Council of the ACT (the Council) is currently undertaking a strategic planning process to reflect on successes to date, current and emerging priorities and to determine the organisation's future.
From late 2015 to early 2016 the Council is holding a number of consultation processes for different stakeholders. They invite all external stakeholders, including people living with and impacted by HIV, service users, members of LGBTIQ communities, sex workers, community partners, funders and members of the wider Canberra community to participate in this short survey on the future direction of the Council.
To complete the survey, go to:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AAC_Strategic_Planning. All responses are anonymous.
For more information: email
contact@aidsaction.org.au or call (02) 6257 4838
Rainbow Activity Calendar January 2016
Mental Health Foundation ACT
The Rainbow has produced a calendar of the activities they will hold in January 2016.
To download the Calendar, click
here.
For more information: email
rainbow@mhf.org.au, or call (02) 6242 6575
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ACT Media
This section includes ATOD related media from or relevant to the ACT
Man arrested after drugs, weapons and cash from Wannisassa home
Canberra Times, 15 January 2016
A 32-year-old man will appear in court on charges of drug trafficking and dealing in proceeds of crime after ACT police allegedly found drugs and cash at a home in Wanniassa.
For more information: See the
article
“They’re always outside the same venue’: Doctor calls for alcohol legislation reform
Canberra Times, 14 January 2016
If you dropped a pin on the places where frontline emergency service workers respond to alcohol-fuelled violence on Friday and Saturday nights, Dr David Caldicott says there are some areas in this city which would light up like a Christmas tree.
For more information: See the
article
Calwell man pleads guilty to cultivating 21kg of cannabis
Canberra Times, 14 January 2016
A Calwell man who grew cultivating 85 cannabis plants – weighing almost 22 kilograms in total- has pleaded guilty to drug charges.
For more information: See the
article
Coward punch penalties: laws should change in response to evidence, not outrage
Canberra Times, 13 January 2016
Coward punches must stop, but there is no evidence the existing penalties are insufficient.
For more information: See the
article
Don’t wait for the next tragedy: the ACT must act now on alcohol
Canberra Times, 13 January 2016
The government must crack down on reckless discounting of alcohol and reduce bottle shops' trading hours.
For more information: See the
article
Government told to show leadership after one-punch attack
Canberra Times, 13 January 2016
Tough measures are needed to reduce violent acts, alcohol safety campaigners say.
For more information: See the
article
John Birmingham: Coward punches, it’s a guy thing
Canberra Times, 12 January 2016
Lockouts, licensing restrictions, the criminal code and punishment regimes, they all have their part to play. But until men change, nothing will.
For more information: See the
article
Tougher laws no antidote to violence
Canberra Times, 12 January 2016
In a strongly-worded opinion piece published in
The Canberra Times on Tuesday, Nicholas Stuart expressed his dissatisfaction with Simon Corbell's response to an alleged one-punch attack in Civic in the early hours of New Year's Day. I understand Mr Stuart's concern about violence of this nature. I also appreciate the personal perspective he brings to the devastating consequences of such offences.
For more information: See the
article
One-punch victims deserve better from Canberra’s justice system
Canberra Times, 11 January 2016
This sort of attack is designed to eliminate people. That's why Queensland has created a new charge of unlawful striking causing death. This may or may not work in deterring such attacks – but at least the government there has recognised the problem. Not here.
For more information: See the
article
Summernats hopes to set record at next year’s event
Canberra Times, 11 January 2016
"ACT Policing conducted over 2300 random breath tests, 100 random drug tests and issued 41 traffic infringement notices [in Canberra] between Friday and Sunday," Superintendent Cartwright said.
For more information: See the
article
Canberra woman caught driving on Hume Highway at 167km/h had baby with her
Canberra Times, 11 January 2016
During the first 17 days of the operation, police breath-tested more than 170,000 motorists and charged 219 with drink driving.
For more information: See the
article
ACT must investigate laws for one-punch attacks
Canberra Times, 9 January 2016
The recent alleged one-punch attack in Canberra should prompt the ACT government to investigate the territory's violence laws.
For more information: See the
article
‘Last-drink’ laws, not lockouts, reduce alcohol-fuelled violence
The Conversation, 8 January 2016
Kypros Kypri, Professor and Senior Brawn Research Fellow, University of Newcastle
Each state and territory of Australia has laws concerning times when alcohol can be sold. As Queensland considers new laws, several policy experiments that have occurred in recent years can provide valuable lessons.
For more information: See the
article
Man charged over alleged one-punch attack in Civic
Canberra Times, 8 January 2016
Police have charged a 20-year-old Braddon man in relation to an alleged one-punch attack on another man in Civic early on New Years Day.
For more information: See the
article
NSW government drug approach like climate change denialism, says doctor
Canberra Times, 5 January 2016
Dr David Caldicott, an emergency specialist at Canberra's Calvary Hospital, said the proposal advocated by NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant and backed by Premier Mike Baird was based in the regressive ideology of drug prohibition, which he likened to the "ideological equivalent to climate change denialism".
For more information: See the
article
Canberra road toll rises by 50pc, prompting police to issue plea to drivers
ABC News, 4 January 2016
Station Sergeant Susan Ball said speeding remained the most common cause of accidents, along with drunk or drug-affected drivers, and distractions like mobile phones.
For more information: See the
article
Woman allegedly indecently assaulted at Mooseheads at New Year’s celebrations
Canberra Times, 4 January 2016
Canberra's largely subdued New Year's Eve celebrations were marred by arson and underage drinking.
For more information: See the
article
Public exposure accused charged after bail breach allegation
Canberra Times, 2 January 2016
His lawyer, Hugh Jorgensen, applied for his bail to be extended, but suggested the conditions also include a ban on drinking alcohol.
For more information: See the
article
Doubts over synchronisation of Canberra Hospital clocks has conviction overturned
Canberra Times, 1 January 2016
Questions over whether clocks at Canberra Hospital are synchronised – casting doubt on whether blood tests had been taken within legal timeframes – has caused a Canberra man's drink driving conviction to be overturned.
For more information: See the
article
How well did Canberrans behave on New Year’s Eve?
Canberra Times, 1 January 2016
Two free, all-ages gigs planned for the official celebration in Civic and a 9pm and midnight fireworks show pulled punters into the city's heart, with police heavily patrolling the area, targeting antisocial behaviour and underage drinking.
For more information: See the
article
Alcohol and domestic violence: a national blind spot
Canberra Times, 1 January 2016
Yet in some areas, ignoring the pivotal role of alcohol in domestic violence remains a national blind spot. This is despite the fact that alcohol is to violence as water is to fish.
For more information: See the
article
Dry January: is it worth giving up alcohol for a month?
The Conversation, 1 January 2016
Alcohol Concern has thrown down the gauntlet to drinkers: can you manage a month without alcohol? The campaign, Dry January, aims to attract funding through donations, raise awareness of alcohol-related problems and educate people about the health benefits of abstaining from alcohol.
For more information: See the
article
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