End of Year eBulletin 2011

END OF YEAR BULLETIN 2011

ATOD Awards 2011 / Launch of Naloxone Program / Holiday Shutdown

Thank you and happy holidays from ATODA

The ATODA team thanks the ATOD and allied sectors for your fantastic work throughout the year. It has been an incredibly busy year for everyone, and we greatly appreciate your contributions, support and dedication over this time. We hope you all receive a well-deserved break over the holiday period!

3rd Annual ATOD Awards 2011

The 3rd Annual ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Awards were held on Friday 16 December 2011 at the ACT Legislative Assembly. The Awards recognise individuals who, during the course of their careers, have made outstanding contributions: to improving the health and well-being of people affected by alcohol, tobacco and other drugs issues; to reducing alcohol, tobacco and other drug related harm; and towards developing the alcohol, tobacco and other drug profession.

The Awards also seek to acknowledge exemplary practice related to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in the ACT.

Mrs Agnes Shea OAM, Ngunnawal Elder gave a Welcome To Country. Download photo.

Chief Minister & Minister for Health Ms Katy Gallagher MLA, generously presented the Awards. Download photo.

ACT Health Directorate generously supported the awards.

See the Awards webpage for photos from the day and the ACT Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Awards 2011 Booklet for further information.

Congratulations to the 2011 Award Recipients:

Ms Kim Fleming, Excellence in Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Work Award
Ms Kate Gardner, Lifetime Achievements Award
Ms Helene Delany, Outstanding Contributions Award
Public Health Association of Australia, Recognition of Service to the ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Sector
Dr Peter Sharp AM, Honour Roll

Congratulations to the 2011 Minimum Qualification Participants:

The ceremony also recognised the achievements of the workers who had engaged in the Minimum Qualification Strategy in 2011, with certificates of participation being presented by Mr Adrian Marron, Chief Executive Officer, Canberra Institute of Technology.

Aaron Horton (ACT Corrective Services)
Alicia Osborne (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Carmel McBride (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Catherine Dooley (DIRECTIONS ACT)
Danial Massey (Ted Noffs Foundation ACT)
Geoff Ward (Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy)
James Bint (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Jo Taylor (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Julie Blunden (DIRECTIONS ACT)
Juliet Schofield (Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy)
Lynda Watt (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Patrick Mullin (Ted Noffs Foundation ACT)
Sandra Popovic (CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn)
Steve Byrne (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Steve Rooney (Canberra Recovery Services, Salvation Army)
Tessa Oakely-Bowes (Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate)
Tim Ireson (DIRECTIONS ACT)
Tracey Neill (Karralika Programs Inc)
Tracie Williams (Lesleys Place, Toora Women Inc)

Thank you to all people in the alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector in the ACT.

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Launch of Australia’s First Overdose Management Program that

provides naloxone on prescription to potential overdose victims

Building on international evidence and being an Australian first, an opioid overdose management program that provides naloxone on prescription to potential opioid overdose victims will be implemented in the ACT. Naloxone is a schedule 4 opioid antagonist medication used to reverse the effects of opioid class drugs such as heroin, morphine and oxycodone.

ACT Chief Minister & Minister for Health Ms Katy Gallagher launched the program on Friday 16 December at the ACT Legislative Assembly. Additional speakers included Professor Paul Dietze, Burnet Institute, and Ms Nicole Wiggins, Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy.

This important public health program has been developed by the ACT alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector. This initiative has been driven by the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA) and the multidisciplinary Expanding Naloxone Availability in the ACT (ENAACT) Committee.

About the program

The training will be conducted for opioid users and other potential overdose witnesses over a two-year year period with 200 participants. Eligible participants who successfully complete the training will be prescribed naloxone by a General Practitioner upon reaching a level of competence and assessment.

Topics addressed in the training program will include recognising opioid ovedose; risk factors for opioid overdose and responding to opioid overdose (including resuscitation techniques, calling for an ambulance and administration of naloxone).

An independent evaluation of the program will assess the implementation of the program and participants’ experiences of the program. It will contribute significantly to new knowledge about the implementation of expanded naloxone availability in the ACT context and across Australia.

This program will be rolled out in the ACT beginning in early 2012.

For further information see the ACT Overdose Management Program Description, the Expanding Naloxone Availability in the ACT Question and Answer (Q&A) document, further background and research evidence at www.atoda.org.au/policy/naloxone/

Media

There was and continues to be ACT and national media coverage including headline news items on the ABC, television coverage and the front page of Saturday 17 December 2011 Canberra Times. For a summary of media coverage see the media section at www.atoda.org.au/policy/naloxone/

See also the launch’s Media Brief http://www.atoda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Australias-First-Overdose-Naloxone-Program-Media-Brief-151211.pdf

ATODA, with the sector are progressing a range of activities in early 2012 including:

Enrolments for the 4 core competencies as part of the Minimum Qualification Strategy (Semester 1, 2012) (information and application package here).
Enrolments for people that have expressed interest in the MQS post-graduate expanded units pilot.
Registrations for the 31 January Illicit Drug Reporting System and Ecstasy and Related Drug Reporting System presentation and workshop (see flyer here).
Registrations for the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen training. Contact ATODA on info@atoda.org.au to obtain a copy of the flyer.
Plan for your new year’s resolution - and register for free Nicotine Replacement Therapy (see flyer here).

And more! For information during the holiday shutdown visit http://www.atoda.org.au/ or contact a member of the ATODA team in early January.

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ATODA services end of year shutdown periods

This section outlines the end of year shutdown dates for ACT Government Health Directorate funded or delivered ATOD services.

ATODA
The ATODA office will be closed from 23 December 2011 and will reopen 3 January 2012.

Alcohol and Drug Services, Health Directorate

Intake and Helpline (02) 6207 9977: Available 24/7, The Alcohol and Drug Service will continue to provide a 24 hour Helpline over the holiday period. This service will be provided by Turning Point from 19 December - 9 January.

Opioid Treatment Service:
·       Open 9am – 1pm, Christmas Day.
·       Open 7.15am – 9.30am, 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 3pm on 26 – 28 and 31 December.
·       Open 9am – 1pm on 1 January.
·       Open 7.15am – 9.30am, 10am – 12pm, 1pm – 3pm on 2 January.

Withdrawal Unit: Closes 23 December and reopens 9 January.

Consultation and Liaison: Closed 24 – 28 December, and 2 January. A Liaison Nurse will be on call on 0409 772 734 on 26 – 28 December from 8.30am – 5pm. A Medical Officer will be on call from 23 December – 3 January and can be contacted through the Intake and Helpline.

Moore St Services (Diversion & Counselling and Treatment): Closes 23 December and reopens 3 January.

Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy: Closes 23 December and reopens 9 January.

Canberra Recovery Services, Salvation Army: Operating throughout the holiday period, however, staff numbers will be reduced.

DIRECTIONS ACT:

Needle and Syringe Program: Civic open 10am – 2pm, 24, 27, 29 and 30 December. Normal operating hours continue from 3 January. Phillip NSP closes 23 December and reopens 3 January.

Arcadia House: Last discharge on 16 December. Referrals will be accepted from 3 January with admission commencing on 9 January.

All other DIRECTIONS ACT Programs: Close 23 December and reopens 3 January.

Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation: Closes 21 December and reopens 3 January.

Karralika Programs Inc: Last intake on 20 December, reopen for admissions on 3 January. Assessments will continue over the holiday period except for public holidays.

Lesleys Place and Marzenna, Toora Women Inc: Operating as normal with no intake available on weekends or public holidays.

Ted Noffs Foundation ACT: Fully operational throughout the holiday period.

Sobering Up Shelter and GrogWatch, CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn: The Sobering Up Shelter will be operating every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night (as per normal hours) including public holidays throughout the holiday season. GrogWatch will operate at normal hours except on public holidays.

Solaris Therapeutic Community: Closes 23 December and reopens 3 January.

WIREDD, Toora Women Inc: Closes 23 December and reopens 3 January.

Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Services: Closes 12pm on 23 December and reopens for half days, 9am – 1pm on 28, 29, 30 December. Reopens at normal operating hours on 3 January.

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Crisis services

This section outlines the crisis services that will be available throughout the end of year period.

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES PLEASE CONTACT: 000

ACT Housing 
Provides public housing services in the ACT. 
Phone: 13 34 27 
Web: www.dhcs.act.gov.au/hcs/

ACT Police  
24/7 central contact point for police and police stations across the ACT. Non-emergency only. 
Phone: (02) 6256 7777 
Web: www.police.act.gov.au
  
Canberra Hospital 
The major tertiary referral hospital for the ACT and the Southern areas of NSW. 
Phone: (02) 6244 2222
 Web: www.canberrahospital.act.gov.au

Calvary Hospital 
Calvary John James Hospital is the largest private hospital in the ACT.  Phone: (02) 6281 8100
 Web: www.calvaryjohnjames.com.au  

Canberra Connect  
Gateway to ACT Government services will be open 24/7. 
Phone: 13 22 81   

Care and Protection 
The statutory child protection agency in the ACT. Open 24/7.
 Phone: 1300 556 729 (general public line) or 1300 556 728 (mandated reporters) 

Domestic Violence Crisis Service
 Provides 24/7 domestic and family violence crisis counselling and support. 
Phone: (02) 6280 0900 or TTY hearing impaired (02) 6228 1852  
Web: www.dvcs.org.au  

Emergency Relief & Community Service Providers Christmas Hours 
The Citizens Advice Bureau ACT puts out a list of opening and closing times for emergency relief providers and community services.  Visit www.citizensadvice.org.au to download the Emergency Relief and Community Service Providers Christmas Hours document.   

Free Meal Guide for Holiday Season 
 The Citizens Advice Bureau ACT puts out a free meal guide for the holiday period. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.au to download the free meal guide.  

Kidshelp Line
 Provides 24/7 counselling and support for young people under 25 years.
 Phone: 1800 55 1800 
Web: www.kidshelp.com.au   

Lifeline 
Provides 24/7 counselling and support services. 
Phone: 13 11 14
 Web: www.lifeline.org.au

Mental Health Crisis and Assessment Treatment Team
 Provides 24/7 mental health crisis support.
 Phone: 1800 629 354 (24 hour service) or (02) 6205 1065. 
Web: http://health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=sp&pid=1061186615

Rape Crisis 
Provides 24/7 sexual assault counselling and support. 
Phone: 6247 2525 
Web: www.rapecrisis.org.au