NSW Local Agencies Consultation Forum report

NSW Local Agencies Consultation Forum report

Background

The Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) has determined it will hold a local agency forum, in conjunction with its meeting in each State and Territory. These forums form part of the Councils strategy to fulfil its role of representing the views of non-government and community-based organisations working in the drug and alcohol field.

It should be noted that all the issues raised at the Forums are not necessarily areas that the Council will be able to address. They do however provide an important touchstone for the Council's members.

New South Wales Local Agency Forum

Over 100 people from the NSW drug and alcohol field, including non-government sector, police and government representatives, attended a forum hosted by the Council at the Salvation Army on Thursday, 10 February 2000.

Mr Vumbaca gave a brief introduction to the forum and then introduced Major Watters, ANCD Chairman.

Major Watters outlined the role of the Council, its Terms of Reference, the Key Activity and Broader Relationship Areas within the Councils Work Plan and then introduced individual Council members to the participants.

The floor was then opened for questions and comments, with discussion facilitated by Mr Vumbaca.

Council members in attendance were:

Major Brian Watters (Chair)
Commissioner Mick Palmer (Deputy Chair)
Professor Margaret Hamilton
Professor Ian Webster
Professor Wayne Hall
Dr Robert Ali
Deputy-Commissioner Jack Johnston
Ms Karyn Hart
Ms Jude Byrne
Mr Arthur Toon
Mr Scott Wilson
Mr Tony Trimingham
Mr Dennis Young
Ms Tonie Miller
Mr Gino Vumbaca (Secretariat)
Ms Karen Price (Secretariat)

The following themes were raised and discussed throughout the forum:

Dual Diagnosis/Dual Disorder was raised as a major issue on many levels. Elements raised in the forum included:

adjustrightthe continuity of care between treatment for alcohol and other drug problems and treatment for the mental illness,
funding for mental health services and the difficulty attracting and retaining skilled professionals
problems placing people who are psychiatrically affected in detoxification or treatment services

The alarming rise of Hepatitis C infection and the effectiveness of harm minimisation strategies to effectively deal with this epidemic. In particular, concern was expressed over the extremely high infection rate amongst prisoners and the impact of this upon release back into the community.
Capacity Development for small non-government organisations (NGO). NGOs require support to improve the efficiency of their infrastructure, secure ongoing, longer-term funding (ie: 3years) to allow for better planning, staff development needs, etc.
Rural Services they are lacking in number and struggle to attract and retain skilled staff to work in them. The issue of Juvenile Offenders from rural and remote centers having nowhere to be referred to (commonly no service available) was also raised.
Shortage of skilled staff within the drug and alcohol sector. Specifically ongoing training needs, high proportions of applicants whom have just exited university or other tertiary education without experience, the comparatively low levels of pay and lack of kudos of working in drug and alcohol field, means attracting highly skilled workers difficult. The issue of integration of institution-based education with field experience was also raised.
Lack of emphasis of tertiary training institutions on addictions. Less emphasis is placed on the study and role of addictions in university preparation and training for professions such as Doctors, Nurses and Psychologists. This is particularly poignant considering that usually General Practitioners are often the first contact when a person seeks help for an addiction problem.
GST and its impact on small, not for profit organisations. Also the impact of Fringe Benefit Tax changes on those NGOs who use salary packaging to attract skilled staff is of concern.
Relationship between Public Sector and NGO sector and the antagonism between them arising from the fact they often compete for the same funding. This is not helpful when trying to work collaboratively to address drug related problems.
Indigenous treatment issues - the need to encourage GPs to provide a culturally accepting and holistic approach to diagnosing problems rather than quickly diagnose a drug and/or alcohol problem.
Supervised Injecting Facilities ANCD view and the range of views within the drug and alcohol sector, and the general community.
National social justice safety net in the form of a nationally funded substitution therapy (baseline funding at least), similar to other health subsidies (co-payment). Issue that cost is a prohibitive factor for some treatment options for addiction.
Importance of the role of parents in informing drug policy and practice.
Overdose statistics and the currency of the information (ie: often a 12 month gap between the end of the year and the overdose death rates for that period being released).
Better utilisation of the media to assist the cause of the drug and alcohol sector through providing accurate reports, positive stories, etc

Karen Price
ANCD Secretariat

14 February 2000

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