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National Policy

Priorities for action by the Australian Government to respond to methamphetamine related-harms in the ACT
 
ATODA wrote to the Minister for Health, Mr Simon Corbell, in advance of the August Federal and State and Territory Health Ministers meeting to share some identified ACT priorities for action by the Australian Government with regards to drug treatment and support, particularly related to methamphetamines.  

The priorities include:
 
1. Maintain and enhance Australian Government funding for drug treatment and support services

All existing ACT drug treatment and support funding contracts with the Australian Department of Health expire on 30 June 2016.  One of the most significant actions that the Australian Government can take to address methamphetamine (“ice”) is to reverse the planned cuts to the Federal Health Flexible Funds; enhance funding to existing drug treatment, support, peak and research services; and to extend the current Department of Health contracts for another 3 years.
 
2. Maintain the extent, scope and frequency of methamphetamine and other drug data collection and monitoring systems
 
3. Implement an evidence-based non-stigmatising National Drugs Campaign
 
4. Improve screening and brief intervention practices
 
Read the full letter here.

 
Federal cuts to drug and alcohol services hurting those in need
Simon Corbell MLA, Minister for Health
 
ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell has called on the Federal Government to consider the impact of cuts to front line drug and alcohol services in Australia.
Mr Corbell raised the more than $790 million worth of Federal Government cuts to flexible health funds, including essential drug and alcohol services at the COAG Health Council in Darwin today.
“The federal minster needs to explain what impacts the $793 million worth of cuts will have on the ACT and the rest of Australia,” Mr Corbell said.
“In light of the Federal Government's $20 million media campaign highlighting the challenges with drugs like ICE, the Federal Government needs to explain what impact the cuts to the flexible funding program will have on front line drug treatment.
“I specifically raised my concerns following representations from both the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association and the Public Health Association of Australia, who both are very concerned about what these cuts mean to services.
 
Read the media release here
 

Cuts to Health Flexible Funds

Funding for the CO-OPS Obesity Prevention Network has ceased on 30 June 2015, making it the first of the foreshadowed cuts to the Health Flexible Funds.
 
ATODA, as part of a coalition of peak and non-government organisations from the health and community sectors is calling on the Australian Government to scrap plans to cut nearly $800 million in funding to key health initiatives over the next four financial years.
 
Among the other 13 Flexible Funds apparently to be affected are those supporting the provision of essential services in rural, regional and remote Australia; working to Close the Gap in health outcomes for Indigenous Australians; managing vital responses to communicable diseases; and delivering substance use treatment, support, peak and research services around the country. The foreshadowed cuts are of great concern to all the services and organisations potentially affected. They have the capacity to decimate NGO responses to key public health issues across the nation
For more information: See the full media release
 

National Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce Development Strategy 2015-2018
A sub-strategy of the National Drug Strategy 2010-2015
Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs, National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA)
 
This Strategy has been developed to support the National Drug Strategy at the request of the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs in recognition of the need for a national focus on workforce development activities for the alcohol and other drug (AOD) workforce.
 
The AOD workforce includes workers whose primary role involves reducing AOD-related harm as well as those whose primary work focus is on other issues but, nevertheless, play an important role in reducing AOD harm. Consequently, this document addresses the needs of workers from the health, welfare, criminal justice and education sectors.
 
This document is a national policy framework that is complemented, supported and integrated with a range of other existing national, state/ territory, government and non-government strategies, plans and initiatives. The Strategy identifies key strategic action areas to enhance the capacities of Australia’s AOD workforce. It is intended to be a strategic, rather than operational, document. The Strategy will link with other work already underway and be used to inform future activity.
The goals of the Strategy are:

• To enhance the capacity of the Australian AOD workforce to prevent and minimise alcohol and other drug-related harm across the domains of supply, demand and harm reduction activities.
• To create a sustainable Australian AOD workforce that is capable of meeting future challenges, innovation and reform.

Another aim of the Strategy development process is to achieve general agreement about the future directions of workforce development in the AOD field, which will shape practice in this area and be reflected in service tendering processes and funding agreements.
For more information: See the Document, or go to www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au
 
 
COAG Special Meeting and Ice Taskforce Interim Report
Council of Australian Governments
 
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held a special meeting where the National Ice Taskforce Taskforce presented its interim report to COAG, following extensive consultation with the community and experts from the health, education and law enforcement sectors.
 
The interim report provides COAG leaders with the Taskforce’s initial analysis of this complex issue, an overview of existing efforts and gaps to tackle the problem, and advice about what more needs to be done.
 
The Prime Minister, all Premiers and Chief Ministers, and the President of the Australian Local Government Association noted the interim report, which was shaped by the experiences and advice the Taskforce heard from its many discussions held across Australia. The outcomes of the meeting can be viewed here.
 
The feedback received from the Australian community paints a worrying picture about the impact of ice.  During its consultations the Taskforce heard from many experts and community members who are concerned about the impact of ice and received over 1300 written submissions.
 
The Taskforce has identified six areas for action where they believe more work needs to be done by all governments, and where the greatest benefits can be gained to assist ice users, their families, communities and the workforce to tackle this complex problem.
 
These six areas are:
1.       Target primary prevention
2.       Improve access to early intervention, treatment and support services
3.       Support local communities to respond
4.       Improve tools for frontline workers
5.       Focus law enforcement actions
6.       Improve and consolidate research and data
 
These six areas will form the basis for the next phase of activity, as the Taskforce completes its final report to the Prime Minister and works with all governments to develop the National Ice Action Strategy.
The Strategy will comprise detailed initiatives under each of these areas, and will be brought back to COAG for endorsement before the end of this year.
For more information:  See the COAG Communiqué, or visit the COAG website 
 

Dob in a Dealer Campaign
Australian Government
 
Plans to establish a national ice hotline for people to "dob in drug dealers" and the locations of drug labs across the country have been announced by Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
The "Dob in a Dealer" campaign has been given $1 million in funding and is modelled on a similar program run by Crime Stoppers Victoria.
For more information: See the media release, Crime Stoppers Victoria website, the ABC News article, the NACCHO Communiqué
 
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National Peak Update

A New National Peak Body

The Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australian (ADCA) Board established an independent committee to provide advice on the establishment of a new national peak body. The report from the independent committee has now been submitted to the ADCA Board. In summary, the report finds:

1. Overwhelming support for the establishment of a new national peak body to represent the AOD sector
2. Support for a coalition governance model for such a peak body, formed by members from peak organisations, along with research centres and other organisations that represent the sector (eg APSAD, ATCA, DANA etc)

For more information or to get a copy of the report: Email rebecca.macbean@qnada.org.au, larry@nada.org.au, or Alison.ritter@unsw.edu.au

 
Ongoing Work

The ADCA Board continues to work on administrative aspects of ADCA, including sorting through the library materials – which are a treasure trove of books, articles and resources. They are progressively working through the resources and looking for new homes for the materials. Stay tuned for a possible Book Fair. The extent to which the new national peak body will take up some of the library materials, and the services to the sector, such as Update and a Daily News has yet to be resolved.
 
For more information: Contact Alison Ritter by email Alison.ritter@unsw.edu.au or call (02) 9385 0167

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Hepatitis C 

Political Alert
This Political Alert reports on Senate recognition of hepatitis C stigma, advocacy efforts and the new treatments not yet available to Australians living with hepatitis C.
For more information: See the media release 
 
Together We Can: See Our Future
Hepatitis Australia
The book Together We Can: See Our Future includes stories of Canberrans living with hepatitis C. It has been produced to help Australians to understand the significant impact that hepatitis C has on those living with the virus and also their friends, family members and the community at-large. These stories highlight that a desire to beat hepatitis C is a central theme and with understanding and support anything is possible.
For more information: See the Hepatitis Australia website
 
Injecting Risk Practices and Hepatitis C
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
This Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) bulletin reports on the extent of injecting risk behaviours among a typical sample of people who inject drug (PWID), and compares the drug use and risk behaviours of PWID who reported anti-HCV positive and negative results,
Key findings are:

• Sharing needles/syringes and injecting equipment poses a substantial risk to HCV transmission among PWID
• While needle/syringe sharing is low among PWID, equipment sharing is far more common
• Those who have tested positive to HCV antibodies are 7.5 times more likely to receptively share needles/syringes than those who tested negative to HCV antibodies, thereby putting themselves at increased risk
• Harm minimisation interventions and public health messages need to target this behaviour to reduce the risk of HCV infection

For more information: See the Bulletin, or visit the NDARC website

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Sector Development, Events and Activities
 
Community Meeting: Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm
ACT Government
The Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm is part of one of the biggest infrastructure investments ever delivered in the ACT, the Health Infrastructure Program (HIP). This extensive program of works is all about investing in Canberra’s health by changing how and where health services are delivered. It is about making sure Canberrans get the right care at the right time in the right place – be it in a hospital, in a specialised centre or in the community. 
The Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm will be a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, providing culturally appropriate prevention, education, and rehabilitation programs in a natural and therapeutic setting based on a working farm near Tharwa. 
People are invited to attend a community meeting to receive a project update of the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm.
Date: 2 September 2015
Time: 5:30 - 8:30pm
Venue: The Hall at Birrigai, Paddys River Road, Tharwa
RSVP: By 31 August 2015
For more information: See the flyer, email HIP@act.gov.au, or call (02) 6244 3179

8^th Annual Comorbidity Day
CatholicCare Canberra & Goulburn
The Comorbidity Day enables Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug and Mental Health Services in the ACT the opportunity to come together to showcase services and focus on strengthening interagency referrals and collaboration. This year the format of the day has been changed. Between 11am-1pm interested agencies are invited to present information about their service(s) and initiatives. This may be in the form of a case-study or a short 5-15 minute presentation on successes or challenges faced in supporting individuals with multiple needs and comorbid conditions. The aim of this activity is to promote information sharing and learn from one another. This will be followed by lunch and networking in the Blackfriars Rose Garden between 1-2pm where agencies are invited to bring information and marketing materials to exchange with other service providers.
Organisations interested in presenting are asked to submit an expression of interest to Abbey Higginson to abbey.higginson@catholiccare.cg.org.au by 25 September 2015.
For more information: See the flyer, or call (02) 6163 7625
 
National Survey: State of the Australian Not for Profit Sector
Pro Bono Australia
Pro Bono Australia is undertaking this latest online survey to gauge the State of the Not for Profit Sector for the fourth consecutive year.
The survey looks at past, present and future expectations and tracks sentiment around the constant change the sector faces such as - adapting to new funding arrangements, considering its advocacy role and examining competition and collaboration as well as developing new and different ways of operating.
To complete the survey, click here. 
For more information: Visit the Pro Bono website, or call  (03) 8080 5650   

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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
 
InTouch
Public Health Association Australia (PHAA)
Intouch is the monthly newsletter of the PHAA summarising public health news and events in Australia.
For more information: See the latest issue

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Resources and Publications

Women Want to Know
Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE)
Women Want to Know was officially launched by FARE on 1 July 2014 in response to research which indicated that many pregnant women weren’t receiving much information, or were hearing conflicted messages, about alcohol consumption.
Women Want to Know aims to overcome these barriers by educating medical professionals about the effects of alcohol consumption during pregnancy and encouraging them to relay this information to their patients to ensure that women are fully informed. 
For more information:  Visit the FARE website, email info@fare.org.au or call (02) 6122 8600

Conversations about alcohol and pregnancy
University of Canberra, Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE), The News & Media Research Centre
This study examines how the Australian media portray alcohol and pregnancy and how women respond to mediated information and advice about drinking during pregnancy. Women’s alcohol consumption has attracted increasing media attention in the past decade, yet little is known about how women interpret and respond – in terms of their consumption and information seeking practices – to claims about the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy. 
For more information: See the report, or visit the University of Canberra website 

Identifying Alcohol and Other Drug Use During Pregnancy: Outcomes for Women, their Partners and their Children
Institute of Child Protection Studies (ICPS), Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD)
ICPS researchers examined the outcomes of identifying Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) use during pregnancy on women, their partners and their children by consulting widely, and reviewing the literature and existing policies in Australian states and territories relating to the identification of maternal AOD use in pregnancy.
For more information:  See the report, or visit the ICPS website
 
Confident Communities: A Guide to Working Together with African Communities to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms
Hunter Multicultural Community Drug Action Team, Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC)
Whilst the research and community consultation underpinning this toolkit have focused on African communities, some of the topics and strategies discussed may also be of use to those working with other community groups to address a range of alcohol and other drug issues.
For more information:  See the toolkit, visit the linked Facebook page
 
Policy Toolkit 2^nd Edition for AOD services
Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA)
This new edition is the result of a comprehensive review of the NADA Policy Toolkit (2010) and provides a new, up-to-date and user friendly toolkit of policy and procedure templates that can be adapted to support individual organisations.
The toolkit includes:

• A hardcopy and electronic user guide providing you with background information and guidance on how to use the Template Map and edit templates.
• Template Map acts as a contents list and allows you to link directly to any of the templates in the toolkit.
• 190 policy and supporting document templates

For more information:  See the toolkit. or visit the NADA website 
 
NADA Practice Resource: Working with Women Engaged in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment
Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA)
Provides a practical guide to supporting workers and organisations to provide best practice interventions for women accessing AOD treatment. This includes effective organisational change, becoming a gender responsive service, supporting family inclusiveness and providing trauma informed care. 
The resource provides a range of information to support you in your work including:

• Women in AOD treatment settings
• Creating an enabling environment for women in AOD treatment
• Improving access and retention for women from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Pregnancy, parenting and AOD
• Developing and strengthening partnerships
• Organisational change and self-care
• Useful resources

For more information:  See the resource, email ciara@nada.org.au or call (02) 8113 1306
 
Case Management in Non-Government Alcohol and Other Drugs Services: A Practical Toolkit
Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (AADANT)
Provides services with a suite of core-practice documents that have been modelled from best practice and validated stimulus from the local, national and international AOD platforms.
For more information:  See the toolkit or email admin@aadant.org.au
 
An Update on Drug-Driving Behaviours and Attitudes Towards Drug Driving in Australian Consumers of Ecstasy and Related Drugs: 2007-2013
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
This Bulletin examines three major issues. First, the rates of reported drug driving behaviours and experiences of roadside testing, comparing between Victoria and the remaining states and territories, and how these rates vary over time. Second, whether key variables are associated with reports of drug driving, stratified by whether the person believed they were affected by drugs at the time. Third, the recent data on attitudes to drug driving in the context of roadside testing and participants’ beliefs about the impact of roadside testing.
Key findings include:

• The prevalence of reports of driving after consuming illicit drugs among regular ecstasy users declined between 2007 and 2008, but remained relatively stable thereafter
• REU’s experience of roadside drug testing increased over time between 2007 and 2013
• There was little variation evident between Victoria and the remainder of the country in terms of reported drug-related driving behaviours
• A significant minority of REU reported engaging in specific harm reduction strategies as a result of the introduction of roadside drug testing

For more information:  See the Bulletin, or visit the NDARC website

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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 B on 9 September 2015.
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  2015 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 2015 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

Webinar Series: Adolescent Cannabis Check-Up (ACCU) – A Clinical Intervention
National Cannabis Prevention & Information Centre (NCPIC)
The intervention - which is especially suitable for counsellors and psychologists - is based on motivational interviewing and primarily targets ambivalent clients in the hope of increasing their motivation towards change. Participants are taken through the structured ACCU intervention process and familiarised with the resources needed to deliver the intervention. The workshop will enable participants (especially those in rural and remote regions) to deliver an evidence-based Motivational Enhancement Intervention to their cannabis using client population which will:

• Increase awareness of the risks related to cannabis use
• Motivate those clients using cannabis to move towards change

All four webinars of the series can be viewed for free.
For more information: See the webinar series, or email training@ncpic.org.au
 
Effective Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and Communities
ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS)
This seminar will be presented by Keith Brandy. It aims at providing participants with:

• An understanding of past policies and legislation/s that have impacted upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Knowledge of how to effectively engage, build meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
• Strategies to recruit and retain Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff to enhance your organisation
• A better understanding of the impacts of racism and how to be part of the solution

Date: 4 September 2015
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Venue: ACTCOSS meeting room, 1/6 Gritten St, Weston creek
Cost: Free
For more information: See the Eventbrite page, email actcoss@actcoss.org.au or call (02) 6202 7200

Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: Dealing with Problem Gambling
ACT Gambling and Racing Commission
The 'Beyond Smoke and Mirrors' training course gives an understanding of the reasons for and the mechanisms of deception and helps non-specialist community sector workers and counsellors work more effectively with clients affected by gambling problems, whether they're a gambler themselves or a family member.
Date: 11 September 2015
Time: 9am - 4:30pm
Venue: Woden CIT, Ainsworth Street, Phillip
Cost: Free
For more information: Email Penelope.foudoulis@act.gov.au or call (02) 6207 0258

Accidental Counsellor Training
Lifeline ACT
Accidental Counsellor is a two-day workshop that provides participants with fundamental skills in crisis support counselling and dealing with difficult situations.  The course also covers topics such as dealing with people who are angry, highly distressed, drug and alcohol affected or experiencing effects of a mental illness.
Date:  10 & 11 September, 12 & 13 October, 3 & 4 November, 1 & 2 December 2015
Cost: $450 general, $400 not-for-profit organisations
For more information: See the brochure, visit the Lifeline ACT website, email training@actlifeline.org.au, or call (02) 6204 6402
 
LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Lifeline Canberra
ASIST is a two-day interactive workshop which aims to improve participants suicide awareness and prevention skills. The course is presented by LivingWorks-accredited facilitators, who use internationally standardised resources and materials. Participants are trained to recognise when a person may be at risk and how to respond to improve the immediate and long-term safety of the person at risk.
Date:  26 & 27 October, 7 & 8 December 2015
Time: 9am – 5pm
For more information: See the flyer, email training@act.lifeline.org.au, or call (02) 6204 6402

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Service Delivery

Getting Ready Program
Directions
The Getting Ready Program is a psych-educational group for people who are pre-contemplative about their substance use.  It comprises of a 3 session program, aimed at providing education around the impact of substance use and strategies to change.
Date: Group runs on Fridays
Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Venue: Level 6, Cosmopolitan Centre Bowes St, Woden
For more information: Visit the Directions website, email reception@directionsact.com, or call (02) 6132 4800

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Conferences and Symposiums The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre’s Annual Symposium
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
The theme for this year’s Symposium is “Emerging issues in drug and alcohol use: Current problems and future solutions”.
The Symposium will focus on the biggest challenges facing the alcohol and other drug sector and the integration of research evidence into public policy and clinical practice.
Date: 15 September 2015
Venue: John Niland Scientia Building, University of New South Wales, Sydney
Cost: $250
For more information: Visit the NDARC website, or email ndarc.symposium@unsw.edu.au

2015 National Cannabis Conference
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC)
The conference includes a one-day workshop, and two days of international and local speakers.The event will include the latest research on emerging areas, and papers on various perspectives of cannabis legalisation policy.
Date: 7 - 9 October 2015
Venue: Melbourne Rydges Hotel, Melbourne
Cost:  by 6 September $499, Concession $250; after 6 September $599, Concession $350
For more information: See the program, visit the conference website 
 
International Symposium on Hepatitis Care in Substance Users 2015
International Network for Hepatitis in Substance Users (INHSU)
This symposium is the leading International conference focused on the management of hepatitis among substance users. It attracts delegates including health professionals (including doctors, nurses and allied health), researchers, community organisations, people who use drugs and policy makers.
This year’s conference will focus on issues related to: 

1. HCV epidemiology, screening, assessment
2. HCV treatment and care
3. HCV treatment access and implementation

Date: 7 - 9 October 2015
Venue: Sydney Manly Novotel Pacific, Sydney
Cost: $570 by 1 October 2015, $620 after 1 Oct 2015
For more information: Visit the website, see the program 
 
DPMP Symposium
Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP)
This year the annual Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) symposium will be held in conjunction with the annual Drug Trends Conference. The DPMP Symposium will consider drug policy from multiple perspectives - treatment, harm reduction and law enforcement - with papers on policy evaluations and policy processes and examination of the effects of policy development, design and implementation on drug-related harms.
Date: 14 October 2015
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Customs House, Sydney
Cost: $220 DPMP Symposium, $320 both Drug Trends Conference and DPMP Symposium
For more information: Visit the website, or call (02) 9385 0167

The Annual National Drug Trends Conference 
National Drug & Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
The National Drug Trends Conference will present recent findings in illicit drug use, markets and related harms across Australia and internationally.
Convened by Australia’s largest drug monitoring systems, the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) and the Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), the one-day conference will include the first release of the 2015 findings. 
Date: 14 October 2015
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Venue: Customs House, Sydney
Cost: $220 DPMP Symposium (see above), $320 both Drug Trends Conference and DPMP Symposium
For more information: Visit the website, or call (02) 9385 0333

24^th International Harm Reduction Conference
Harm Reduction International, Malaysian AIDS Council
The four day event will bring together up to 1,000 people from 70 countries to participate in a diverse and exciting program of panel discussions, training workshops, group discussions and film/video presentations.
This year’s theme – ‘Call for Leadership’ – reflects the urgent need to address critical issues faced by the harm reduction response.  
Date: 18 – 21 October 2015
Venue: Royale Chulan Hotel, Kuala Lumpur
Cost: £495: Standard/low & middle income; £595 Standard/high income; after 1 October 2015: £899
For more information: Visit the Conference website, see the program, email nigel.kay@ihra.net

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Grants and Funding Opportunities

ACT Women’s Safety Grants
ACT Government
2015-16 ACT Women’s Safety Grants Program is an ACT Government initiative to advance the objectives and priorities of the ACT Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Strategy 2011-2017 (the Strategy).
A total amount of $310,000 (GST exclusive) is available in the 2015-16 funding round across all funding categories:

• Early Intervention Projects
• Engagement Projects
• Diverse Experiences of Violence Projects

Closing date: 18 September 2015
For more information: Visit the ACT Government website, email women@act.gov.au, or call (02) 6205 3614

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Consumer Participation

Consumer Participation in the Australian Alcohol and Other Drug Sector
Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD)
This is a background paper for an Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) roundtable on service user participation in the Australian alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment sector. With a focus on participation in the AOD treatment sector, the report covers principles, methods of participation, organisational approaches, barriers and facilitators and ideas for discussion.
For more information:  See the report

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Youth, Mental Health and Allied Sector
 
Mental Health Australia Events Map
Mental Health Australia
Provides a national events map for World Mental Health Day (10 October 2015).
For more information: See the Map, or call (02) 6285 3100

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Employment

CAHMA Naloxone Project Trainer
Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA)
The Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA) is looking for a part-time (30 hours per week, or 0.8 FTE) Naloxone Project Trainer.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist used to reverse the effects of opioid overdose. In 2011, CAHMA, ACT Health, the Alcohol Tobacco & Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) and a multi-disciplinary group of stakeholders initiated Australia’s first take-home naloxone program.
The ACT program involves comprehensive opioid overdose management training and the prescription and supply of take-home naloxone to eligible participants – people at risk of opioid overdose.
The position of Naloxone trainer is responsible for furthering this innovative project, and the trainer will work closely with the CAHMA manager and a worker responsible for undertaking strategic work to embed the naloxone program across the ACT in a range of settings.
For more information: See the Naloxone Trainer Application Pack, or email amym@aivl.org.au

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ACT Media
This section includes ATOD related media from or relevant to the ACT

Alcohol-related news

Young swear off booze as middle-age binge drinking grows – often on the quiet
Canberra Times, 23 August 2015
Generational changes in the way we drink can be seen in figures from the most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's National Drug Strategy Household Survey – considered the most detailed snapshot of our nation's legal and illegal substance use.
For more information: See the article
 
Man five times over the legal alcohol limit charged following crash that left woman in hospital in Marulan
Canberra Times, 19 August 2015
A man driving with a blood alcohol level five times over the legal limit has been charged following a crash in the state's Southern Tablelands that left an 80-year-old woman in hospital.
For more information: See the article
 
One drink a day increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer: study
Canberra Times, 18 August 2015
One alcoholic drink a day is enough to increase a woman's risk of breast cancer, according to new research that challenges Australia's current drinking guidelines.
For more information: See the article

Alcohol, prescription drugs beat illegal narcotics for most ambulance calls
ABC News, 17 August 2015
Alcohol and prescription drugs including common painkillers are causing more ambulance calls in Victoria than illegal drugs such as heroin and ice, new data reveals.
For more information: See the article

Children exposed to thousands of alcohol advertisements on television sporting games
Canberra Times, 12 August 2015
Monash University research shows children are watching thousands of alcohol advertisements while watching live sport, which is the only time they are allowed to be screened in daylight hours.
For more information: See the article

Australia’s $3b hangover: Alcohol and drugs causing 11.5m ‘sick days’
Canberra Times, 11 August 2015
Hangovers are causing 11.5 million "sick days" a year at a cost of $3 billion to the Australian economy, new research suggests.
For more information: See the article
 
New laws to crack down on underage drinking in Canberra
Canberra Times, 4 August 2015
Attorney-General Simon Corbell said new territory laws passed on Tuesday would benefit parents in making decisions about their children drinking alcohol underage.
For more information: See the article

More late-night venues will stop antisocial behaviour in Newtown, not more lockouts
Canberra Times, 4 August 2015
Let's ditch prohibition and focus on creating the type of late-night environment we want: live music - in venues and on the streets - dancing like there's no one watching, laughing around crap shots on pool tables, good food, feeling safe to walk down the street.
For more information: See the article
                                                                            
Alcohol consumption on rise especially among teenagers
Canberra Times, 2 August 2015
Australians are drinking more alcohol than they were 15 years ago with teenagers drinking significantly more, according to a new study.
For more information: See the article
 
Aussies drink more alcohol despite claims to the contrary
Canberra Times, 2 August 2015
Australians are drinking far more alcohol today than 10 years ago, researchers have found, despite claims the nation's alcohol use is falling.
For more information: See the article

Decision reserved in drunken Civic punch trial
Canberra Times, 31 July 2015
Lawyers for a man accused of delivering a drunken blow that caused a serious brain injury have suggested CCTV footage is "unambiguous" in showing another assailant punching the victim.
For more information: See the article
 
Queanbeyan and Goulburn drivers caught drug driving
Canberra Times, 31 July 2015
One in three tested Queanbeyan drivers and almost one in seven tested Goulburn drivers were caught driving under the influence of drugs in July as part of a targeted police operation.
For more information: See the article
 
Drink-driving and texting while driving: Canberra study to probe young drivers
Canberra Times, 29 July 2015
Academics at the University of Canberra are preparing to examine young drivers' attitudes towards drink-driving and texting behind the wheel in the ACT.
For more information: See the article

Policing parenting: is the Family Court going to punish you for having a drink?
The Conversation, 29 July 2015
Sascha Callaghan, Lecturer in Health Law & Bioethics, University of Sydney
News outlets have pounced on a Family Court “order” for parents of a six-year-old boy to not smoke around the child and to limit their alcohol consumption while caring for him.
For more information: See the article
 
From drunks to pint glasses up bums: The trials of the emergency department
Canberra Times, 28 July 2015
As a doctor in a busy emergency department you need to be prepared for all manner of presentations, from drunken abuse and violence, to pint glasses stuck up bums.
For more information: See the article

Off-duty Monaro police officer charged for failing to leave a Goulburn club when drunk
Canberra Times, 25 July 2015
A 26-year-old off-duty police officer will face court for failing to comply with requests he leave a Goulburn club due to his level of intoxication. 
For more information: See the article
 
Early lockouts, more expensive drinks on the cards as ACT Government looks to crackdown on alcohol-related crime
ABC News, 21 July 2015
Early lockouts and more expensive drinks could soon be forced on Canberra's pubs and clubs as the ACT Government looks to continue its crackdown on alcohol-related crime.
For more information: See the article


Drug-related news
Young people and e-cigarettes: what we know so far
The Conversation, 19 August 2015
Linda Bauld, Professor of Health Policy and CRUK/BUPA Chair in Behavioural Research for Cancer Prevention, University of Stirling
Thanks to decades of action against tobacco, smoking rates among children and young people are in decline: far fewer teenagers are now taking up smoking than in the past
For more information: See the article

NSW prison officers exempt from prison smoking ban as inmate forced to quit
Canberra Times, 9 August 2015
Hundreds of prison officers will be exempt from the smoking ban starting Monday in NSW prisons, following a state government backdown criticised by prisoner rights groups and health experts.
For more information: See the article

Don’t worry, if you smoked during pregnancy, your child isn’t programmed for delinquency
The Conversation, 7 August 2015
Caroline Homer, Professor of Midwifery, University of Technology Sydney
A study released this week suggests women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to rear children who are involved in delinquency.
For more information: See the article
 
Govt should own up to cost of tobacco litigation
Canberra Times, 31 July 2015
On Tuesday, Fairfax Media economics writer Peter Martin made the startling revelation that the government's ongoing legal dispute with Philip Morris has already cost the country $50 million ("Tobacco box legal row costs hit $50m", July 29, p5).
For more information: See the article
 
Family Court orders parents to stop smoking around six-year-old son
Canberra Times, 28 July 2015
A Family Court judgment that ordered the parents of a six-year-old to refrain from smoking around their son reflects an increasing tendency of the court to make specific orders in the interests of children's health, researchers say.
For more information: See the article

ANU campus smoking ban bringing clear air
Canberra Times, 25 July 2015
A week after a new smoking ban came into force at the Australian National University, grounds staff and administrators say early results around the campus are encouraging. 
For more information: See the article

National retail associations call for strict regulation of e-cigarettes in the ACT
City News, 22 July 2015
National retail associations have called on the ACT Government to introduce strict regulations on the sale of e-cigarettes and end uncertainty. 
For more information: See the article
 
Australian National University campus-wide smoking ban comes into force
ABC News, 20 July 2015
From today the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra is instigating a full smoking ban on its campus, leaving smokers with only a select few areas to light up.
For more information: See the article

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