❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses alcohol abuse concerns, particularly in the Kimberley region, focusing on strategies, rehabilitation services, counselling, alcohol restrictions, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and inter-ministerial coordination. The Minister's response outlines prevention, early intervention, and treatment strategies.
AnsweredQoN 1683Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Referring to the increasing concerns about the problems alcohol abuse causes, such as violence, road crashes, domestic violence and the drinking pattern of young people, as reported in the article, ‘Alcohol abuse is the ‘biggest burden’’, published in
The West Australian
on 23 February 2010 on page 11, I ask -
(1) What strategies does the Minister have to address the damaging use of alcohol in Western Australia?
(2) What alcohol rehabilitation services are available in the Kimberley region (Please name the services and the number of clients the service is funded by the Western Australian Health Department to support)?
(3) How many workers funded by the Western Australian Health Department provide counselling services in Fitzroy Crossing as of today?
(4) What qualifications to these workers have?
(5) Given that alcohol restrictions appear to work well in Fitzroy Crossings, what plans does the Minister have to extend alcohol restrictions beyond Fitzroy Crossings to other towns in the Kimberleys?
(6) What strategies does the Minister have to address foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Western Australia?
(7) How does the Minister ensure that his efforts and the efforts of the Minister for Mental Health addressing alcohol abuse in Western Australia are coordinated?
The West Australian
on 23 February 2010 on page 11, I ask -
(1) What strategies does the Minister have to address the damaging use of alcohol in Western Australia?
(2) What alcohol rehabilitation services are available in the Kimberley region (Please name the services and the number of clients the service is funded by the Western Australian Health Department to support)?
(3) How many workers funded by the Western Australian Health Department provide counselling services in Fitzroy Crossing as of today?
(4) What qualifications to these workers have?
(5) Given that alcohol restrictions appear to work well in Fitzroy Crossings, what plans does the Minister have to extend alcohol restrictions beyond Fitzroy Crossings to other towns in the Kimberleys?
(6) What strategies does the Minister have to address foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in Western Australia?
(7) How does the Minister ensure that his efforts and the efforts of the Minister for Mental Health addressing alcohol abuse in Western Australia are coordinated?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 April 2010
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Mental Health
Response time
49 days
(1) The harmful use of alcohol is addressed using a comprehensive across government evidence-based approach. While treatment and support services will remain a key feature of the range of strategies offered, there is an increasing focus on preventing alcohol-related problems and harm. Strategies include:
Prevention
A range of culturally secure prevention programs and services are provided by the Drug and Alcohol Office (DAO) in collaboration with government agencies and the non-government sector. Such initiatives include:
Education (e.g. social marketing campaigns designed to change community attitudes and behaviours);
Legislative (e.g. monitoring and investigation of high risk liquor licence applications and use of the
Liquor Control Act 1988
to make submissions to the Director of Liquor Licensing on grounds of preventing harm or ill-health due to the use of liquor);
Environmental (e.g. Night Venues and Entertainment Events Project which provides a combination of monitoring and education to create safer settings and prevent alcohol-related harm); and
Community capacity building and action (e.g. Regional Alcohol Management Plans, which include human services agencies, community and other service providers).
School drug education
The School Drug Education Road Aware (SDERA) project is based on the 12 principles of best practice in drug education. The drug education components of SDERA are wholly funded by the State Government, costing approximately $1m per annum, and are available free to all schools in Western Australia, including those of the Catholic Education Office and the Independent Schools Association of Western Australia.
Early intervention
Early intervention includes: screening and early detection; opportunistic brief intervention; and referral to treatment services as appropriate. Examples include brief interventions provided through the Alcohol and Drug Information Service, the Parent Drug Information Service, as well as through drug and alcohol sector treatment and support services and the WA Country Health Service (WACHS).
(2) The Drug and Alcohol Office funds a number of government and non-government service providers to deliver a range of alcohol rehabilitation and treatment services across the Kimberley. Funding is provided based on the cost of total service delivery and not on a projected number of clients to be seen. In 2009-10 the following services were funded. The funding amounts specified include State and Commonwealth funds administered by DAO for treatment and related prevention services (excluding harm reduction services such as sobering up centres):
Kimberley Community Drug Service Team - contracted to WACHS for regional treatment services - $1 127 415;
Ngnowar Aerwah - based in Wyndham and offering rehabilitation services across the Kimberley - $369 843;
Milliya Rumurra - based in Broome and offering rehabilitation services to the Kimberley region - $109 199;
Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services - based in Fitzroy Crossing and offering treatment services to Fitzroy Valley residents - $413 728; and
Jungarni Jutiya - based in Halls Creek and offering treatment services to Halls Creek residents - $82 717.
The Commonwealth Government also provides funding directly to some of these services and to others in the region.
(3) There is currently one counselling position funded by DAO's office in Fitzroy Crossing.
(4) The Fitzroy Crossing alcohol treatment position is funded under a service level agreement with WACHS. The agreement stipulates that the service provider (WACHS) must ensure that clinical practice is consistent with current best practice. Accordingly staff are required to have qualifications commensurate with the role.
(5) The decision making ability to implement liquor restrictions lies with the Director of Liquor Licensing. DAO, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Public Health and local health services will continue to work with high risk communities to address alcohol-related harm and ill-health. Where warranted, this will continue to include the provision of reports to the Director of Liquor Licensing seeking action in high risk communities.
(6) The Department of Health is leading the development of a
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Model of Care
by a dedicated working group that DAO supports. The
Model of Care
group has addressed issues as diverse as: prevention; screening/early detection; diagnosis; therapy/care/intervention; workforce development; and, research and evaluation.
DAO offers staff in mainstream agencies and the alcohol and other drugs sector a knowledge and skills-based training session:
Raising the issue of alcohol use before and during pregnancy.
The
Strong Spirit Strong Mind
-
Western Australian Aboriginal and Other Drugs Plan
and the associated culturally secure alcohol and other drugs resources address alcohol and pregnancy.
DAO delivers the
Aboriginal Alcohol and other Drug Worker Training Program, Certificate III in Community Services Work
, which includes a module concerning alcohol and pregnancy.
The Pregnancy, Early Parenting Illicit Drug Support Unit (PEPISU) provides support and skills development for new mothers with drug and alcohol problems.
The WACHS
Brief Intervention Program
, available at all country health service sites is well placed to assist women at both ante and post natal stages.
(7) Mechanisms for the coordination and integration of activities already exist at a national, jurisdictional and local level and facilitate planning, implementation and reporting processes. This 3-tier approach uses existing infrastructure and networks wherever possible.
DAO has developed a wide range of robust and practical linkages between the drug and alcohol sector and other key services. DAO maintains such partnerships through Memorandum of Understandings, Service Level Agreements, participation in networking and coordination groups and consultation processes.
The DAO Community Program has been developed to support relevant government and non-government agencies and community groups to identify alcohol and other drug related harm issues and implement evidence based solutions. Support is offered at State, regional and local levels.
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http://www.rtlib.com
Prevention
A range of culturally secure prevention programs and services are provided by the Drug and Alcohol Office (DAO) in collaboration with government agencies and the non-government sector. Such initiatives include:
Education (e.g. social marketing campaigns designed to change community attitudes and behaviours);
Legislative (e.g. monitoring and investigation of high risk liquor licence applications and use of the
Liquor Control Act 1988
to make submissions to the Director of Liquor Licensing on grounds of preventing harm or ill-health due to the use of liquor);
Environmental (e.g. Night Venues and Entertainment Events Project which provides a combination of monitoring and education to create safer settings and prevent alcohol-related harm); and
Community capacity building and action (e.g. Regional Alcohol Management Plans, which include human services agencies, community and other service providers).
School drug education
The School Drug Education Road Aware (SDERA) project is based on the 12 principles of best practice in drug education. The drug education components of SDERA are wholly funded by the State Government, costing approximately $1m per annum, and are available free to all schools in Western Australia, including those of the Catholic Education Office and the Independent Schools Association of Western Australia.
Early intervention
Early intervention includes: screening and early detection; opportunistic brief intervention; and referral to treatment services as appropriate. Examples include brief interventions provided through the Alcohol and Drug Information Service, the Parent Drug Information Service, as well as through drug and alcohol sector treatment and support services and the WA Country Health Service (WACHS).
(2) The Drug and Alcohol Office funds a number of government and non-government service providers to deliver a range of alcohol rehabilitation and treatment services across the Kimberley. Funding is provided based on the cost of total service delivery and not on a projected number of clients to be seen. In 2009-10 the following services were funded. The funding amounts specified include State and Commonwealth funds administered by DAO for treatment and related prevention services (excluding harm reduction services such as sobering up centres):
Kimberley Community Drug Service Team - contracted to WACHS for regional treatment services - $1 127 415;
Ngnowar Aerwah - based in Wyndham and offering rehabilitation services across the Kimberley - $369 843;
Milliya Rumurra - based in Broome and offering rehabilitation services to the Kimberley region - $109 199;
Nindilingarri Cultural Health Services - based in Fitzroy Crossing and offering treatment services to Fitzroy Valley residents - $413 728; and
Jungarni Jutiya - based in Halls Creek and offering treatment services to Halls Creek residents - $82 717.
The Commonwealth Government also provides funding directly to some of these services and to others in the region.
(3) There is currently one counselling position funded by DAO's office in Fitzroy Crossing.
(4) The Fitzroy Crossing alcohol treatment position is funded under a service level agreement with WACHS. The agreement stipulates that the service provider (WACHS) must ensure that clinical practice is consistent with current best practice. Accordingly staff are required to have qualifications commensurate with the role.
(5) The decision making ability to implement liquor restrictions lies with the Director of Liquor Licensing. DAO, in collaboration with the Executive Director, Public Health and local health services will continue to work with high risk communities to address alcohol-related harm and ill-health. Where warranted, this will continue to include the provision of reports to the Director of Liquor Licensing seeking action in high risk communities.
(6) The Department of Health is leading the development of a
Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Model of Care
by a dedicated working group that DAO supports. The
Model of Care
group has addressed issues as diverse as: prevention; screening/early detection; diagnosis; therapy/care/intervention; workforce development; and, research and evaluation.
DAO offers staff in mainstream agencies and the alcohol and other drugs sector a knowledge and skills-based training session:
Raising the issue of alcohol use before and during pregnancy.
The
Strong Spirit Strong Mind
-
Western Australian Aboriginal and Other Drugs Plan
and the associated culturally secure alcohol and other drugs resources address alcohol and pregnancy.
DAO delivers the
Aboriginal Alcohol and other Drug Worker Training Program, Certificate III in Community Services Work
, which includes a module concerning alcohol and pregnancy.
The Pregnancy, Early Parenting Illicit Drug Support Unit (PEPISU) provides support and skills development for new mothers with drug and alcohol problems.
The WACHS
Brief Intervention Program
, available at all country health service sites is well placed to assist women at both ante and post natal stages.
(7) Mechanisms for the coordination and integration of activities already exist at a national, jurisdictional and local level and facilitate planning, implementation and reporting processes. This 3-tier approach uses existing infrastructure and networks wherever possible.
DAO has developed a wide range of robust and practical linkages between the drug and alcohol sector and other key services. DAO maintains such partnerships through Memorandum of Understandings, Service Level Agreements, participation in networking and coordination groups and consultation processes.
The DAO Community Program has been developed to support relevant government and non-government agencies and community groups to identify alcohol and other drug related harm issues and implement evidence based solutions. Support is offered at State, regional and local levels.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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