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Community report—Canberra, ACTBackgroundThe National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) has determined that it will hold an alcohol and other drug (AOD) agency forum in conjunction with its meetings. These forums will focus on Indigenous AOD issues. Through these forums the NIDAC is able to ensure that the views of a range of stakeholders (e.g. Indigenous organisations, non-government organisations etc) that deal with Indigenous AOD issues are considered as part of drug policy advice. The NIDAC produces a report from each forum which aims to provide a brief description of the issues raised by forum participants. These reports are made available on the ANCD’s internet site to enable forum participants and interested others to access the issues that were discussed. The NIDAC also provides a copy of each report to the ANCD, as well as the Premier or Chief Minister and the Minister/s responsible for AOD and Indigenous issues in each jurisdiction, to ensure that the Government is aware of the issues that were raised. It should also be noted that the issues raised at the forums are not necessarily areas that the NIDAC agrees with or is able to address. They do however provide NIDAC members with an important insight into community concerns and perceptions about specific AOD issues. In addition, the NIDAC believes that it has an obligation to participants to report the issues and concerns raised in an unfettered manner. Canberra 2005Approximately 40 people from Canberra and the surrounding area participated in the NIDAC’s AOD agency forum, which was held at University House, Canberra, on 22 August 2005. The forum participants included representatives from a range of Indigenous and non-Indigenous non-government organisations, ACT Government departments and Australian Government departments. NIDAC’s Chair, Associate Professor Ted Wilkes, officially welcomed participants to the forum, explained its purpose, and then introduced the Executive Officer of the ANCD, Mr Gino Vumbaca. Mr Vumbaca gave a brief presentation that:
At the conclusion of his presentation Mr Vumbaca opened the floor for questions and/or comments about current and emerging AOD issues in the ACT and surrounding area, with NIDAC members responding where possible. The following issues were raised:
Participants commented that Indigenous AOD services require increased funding to meet the demand for their service. In particular, it was stated that the funding provided to Indigenous AOD services from organisations such as the former ATSIC* and now OATSIH** has not changed significantly since 1986 and is based on historical agreements. Participants also noted the diversity in funding sources for Indigenous organisations. It was suggested that it would be useful to identify, in a coordinated manner, all of the funding sources and how the funds are used. * Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission The forum heard that the retention of workers in Indigenous AOD services is extremely difficult, especially once they have received their Certificate III or IV qualifications. It appears that once workers have received their qualifications they move to non-Indigenous services because these services have the capacity to pay higher salaries. Participants commented that there is an over-representation of Indigenous people in the prison system and that some of these individuals need access to specialist AOD treatment provided by Indigenous organisations. In particular, it was suggested that some females need access to residential rehabilitation services, rather than prison. Participants stated, that where necessary, it was essential to develop and maintain strong partnerships with the law enforcement sector to maximise the chances of strategies designed to address Indigenous AOD issues succeeding. Participants commented that AOD issues are just one of many that Indigenous communities have to deal with, particularly given the historical context of white settlement in Australia and the impact this has had and continues to have on Indigenous communities. It was suggested that a healing strategy or healing centres need to be developed to provide holistic, culturally sensitive approaches to addressing the wide range of issues affecting these communities. However, it was also stated that all stakeholders, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, must work together to resolve the issues faced by Indigenous communities. Participants informed NIDAC that there are not enough financial and human resources to cover the needs of Indigenous people across Australia, especially in very remote locations. It was suggested that Indigenous people need greater access to AOD outreach services in order to better address their needs. Participants also commented that treatment would be even more effective if services could cater to the needs of the individual and their family. In regard to Indigenous young people, participants commented that although there are a number of AOD services in the ACT very few of them actually cater to their needs. As a result there is limited access to, and lengthy delays for, detox and/or long term rehabilitation places. Participants were also of the opinion that some young people feel that they are shuffled from service to service. Young people who attended the forum stated that it is essential that they are directly consulted so that their voice is heard, rather than ‘older’ people always telling them what they need. In essence, young people felt disengaged from decision making processes that affect them. Psychostimulants and heroin were identified as the main illicit drugs of concern within Indigenous communities in the ACT. Participants commented that these drugs were tearing families and communities apart, as well as causing serious physical and/or mental health problems. Participants stated that AOD and related services across the country needed to deal with Indigenous clients in a more culturally appropriate manner. It was argued that dealing with clients more appropriately would facilitate more effective treatment outcomes. Participants informed NIDAC that approximately 45% of those individuals held in youth detention in the ACT are Indigenous and that there is also a significant homeless population in the ACT. It was suggested that a number of individuals in the aforementioned groups have also experienced problems related to AOD and the services designed to assist them deal with their problems are not effectively catering to their needs. Participants also stated that the ACT/NSW cross border issues add another confounding variable to the treatment of Indigenous individuals for AOD problems. Participants acknowledged that governments do not have all of the solutions or are able to address all of their needs. It was suggested that communities need to work together to develop feasible solutions to the issues they face. It was also suggested that once these solutions have been developed they should be brought to the attention of governments so that they can see that there are viable responses to deal with the issues that are experienced in Indigenous communities. Participants questioned whether there is a plan in place to evaluate the implementation of the Complementary Action Plan. In particular, participants were keen to know how the Federal and State/Territory Governments would be held to account in regard to the implementation of the Complementary Action Plan. Participants identified that in comparison to the general population there is a paucity of research conducted and/or available about Indigenous AOD issues. As a result, it is difficult to gain a complete understanding of the AOD issues that are faced by Indigenous people and then to develop appropriate interventions to address their needs. 22 August 2005
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