Monthly Archives: November 2007

Multiple roles available (Queensland)

“QuIHN is currently recruiting for a range of clinical roles:

1. Parent, Child and Family Outreach Support Service

QuIHN has recently received new funding to expand upon current services supporting families affected by mental illness and/or substance abuse/dependence. Services offered will include:
– Providing support to families that will help to protect the current and future health and well-being of children who may be at risk as a result of residing in families affected by mental illness and/or substance abuse
– Supporting parents to reduce the obstacles to positive parenting that exist as a direct/indirect result of mental illness, including counselling for their own mental illness and/or substance abuse
– Counselling for significant others directly and/or indirectly affected by mental illness and/or substance abuse

This program requires four new clinicians:

Program Manager (Brisbane) (Full-Time/SACS6:$50,000-$52,399+SalSac)
Case Manager (Brisbane) (Full-time/SACS5:$43,350-$45,423+SalSac)
Case Manager (Sunshine Coast) (Full-time/SACS5:$43,350-$45,423+SalSac)
Case Manager (Gold Coast) (Full-time/SACS5:$43,350-$45,423+SalSac)
Application Packs can be downloaded from http://www.quihn.org/job_positions.htm

[These new positions have been made possible by new funding under the federal Dept FACSIA’s Mental Health Community Based Program]

2. InHouse Counselling Service

Case Manager (Brisbane) (Part-time:22.5hrs/SACS4:$24,114-$25,358+SalSac)

This eclectic role will have a dual diagnosis focus (cooccurring mental health- and substance-related disorders) and wil l primarily involve:
– Initial screening and assessments
– Client-directed counselling aimed at working with IDUs contemplating changes to their drug use and related mental health concerns; or making changes either by reducing or abstaining from use, or sustaining change with the aim of entering longer-term care (eg, therapeutic community)
– Educating and supporting significant others
– Some co-facilitation of psychosocial education groups

This position requires a non-judgmental individual, who would enjoy working as part of a small, multidisciplinary team.

New graduates are encouraged to apply for this latter position.

Application Packs can be downloaded from here

To have an application pack mailed or emailed to you please contact 07 36208111 or reception@quihn.org

Applications close 5pm Monday 10 December, 2007 for ALL of the above positions.”

Sexual Health Promotion Officer (Sydney)

“16 hours per week, up to 2 March 2009

Temporary Part-time

Position Summary
The HEO has a key role in developing, implementing and evaluating sexual health promotion programs for young people and Aboriginal people to help address the burden of STIs in these priority populations within South Eastern Sydney Illawarra Area health Service.

This position holder works directly and in partnership and collaboration with Sydney Sexual Health Centre staff, HIV/AIDS & Related Programs Unit (HARPU), St George Sexual Health Service, ACON, the SSWAHS Sexual Health Promotion Team, the SESIAHS Aboriginal STI & BBI Steering Committee, La Perouse and Woolloomooloo Aboriginal and youth communities, WAYS Youth Services and the Satellite Sexual Health Youth Clinic staff.

The position holder participates in other health promotion activities relevant to the mission of SSHC and SESIAHS.

Essentials

Demonstrated capacity to develop, implement and evaluate health promotion projects.
Demonstrated understanding of sexual health issues affecting young people and/or Aboriginal people.
Demonstrated capacity to develop and maintain relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including Government and non-Government organisations/departments, general practitioners and consumer groups.
Demonstrated project management skills.
High level oral, written and interpersonal communication skills.
Computer literacy and skills in word processing.
Desirables

Experience in the HIV/AIDS, sexual health or hepatitis C fields.

Contact Name For Position Enquiries: Lynne Martin 02 9382 7460 “

Rudd and Drugs

Now the election is done, coming weeks will see some clarity come to the policy positions adopted by the incoming government. I’d like to make some predictions that are as staid and conservative as I believe the Rudd government will be in the ATOD area:

1. ‘Tough on Drugs’ will remain, perhaps with a rebranding.
2. No further liberalisation of drug laws will occur.
3. There will be no Federal support for other injecting room trials.
4. Drug Free Australia may be treated with a little more scepticism than currently.
5. There’ll be some increased expenditure around alcohol and tobacco prevention initiatives.

WHat are your thoughts? Am I being too cynical? I have a feeling I’m not.

Alex Wodak on the Coalition’s Tough on Drugs Election Policy

I noticed this is today’s Crikey email:

“President of the Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Dr Alex Wodak, writes:

The Coalition Government’s Election 2007 Policy, “Tough on Drugs”, was released over the weekend. The centre piece of the new policy, a triumph of gesture politics, is a commitment to “quarantine and manage 100 per cent of welfare payments to stop people convicted of criminal drug offences …from using welfare payments to buy illicit drugs”.

If this desperate policy is ever implemented, we can be confident of a growth in crime which will require increased resources for police and prisons and which in turn can only be paid for by increased taxes. Perhaps that was meant by the “Go for Growth” slogan? The amphetamine market has certainly gone for growth during the lifetime of the “Tough on Drugs” policy.

The new drug policy was released just after the most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a report which represents even greater political difficulties for the Coalition. Surely the timing of the release of the new drugs policy was intended as a distraction from the new IPCC report.

It is hard to understand how a government which prides itself on understanding markets can reconcile itself with a drug policy which attempts to defy economic gravity.

Sooner or later, the major parties will have to accept the reality that while there is a demand for drugs, there will always be a supply. And if there is no legal supply, other forms of supply will inevitably emerge. Wasn’t that the lesson of alcohol prohibition in the USA? The ability of governments to modify powerful market forces is marginal, as we all now know from the collapse of communism.

The Coalition also criticises the ALP for supporting a trial of a Medically Supervised Injecting Centre, a scientific trial of heroin prescription and the decriminalisation of cannabis. The trial of a Medically Supervised Injecting Centre in NSW was supported by a number of Liberal members of the NSW Parliament including a future Liberal Leader of the Opposition (John Brogden). A scientific trial of heroin prescription was first proposed in Australia by Mr. N. Greiner in 1984 while Leader of the Opposition in NSW (before he went on to become a Liberal Premier).

One of the major advocates for a scientific trial of heroin prescription was Ms Kate Carnell while Chief Minister of the ACT. The Liberal Commonwealth Minister for Health and Minister for Justice both voted for a heroin trial at a major Ministerial meeting in July 1997. Many prominent past and present Liberal politicians support sensible reforms of drug policy. Coalition state and territory governments have liberalised cannabis policies or retained policies liberalised by previous Labor governments.

So far this is one policy that the ALP Opposition has not cried “me too” on, but don’t hold your breath. ”

Crikey is well worth the $100+ dollars to receive a daily email full of commentary in a range of fields. Health topics get regular coverage in an in-depth manner – something the major media outlets would do well to emulate.

Multiple positions at The WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies

“Sector Development – Be at the heart of change in WA

There are exciting times ahead! Non-government alcohol and other drug treatment agencies in Western Australia have recently been granted $5.9 million to build their capacity and improve their services to people with both mental health and alcohol and other drug use issues. Join the Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (WANADA) in one of these new full time exciting and innovative roles to revolutionise the way in which the sector works. Both positions below are initially offered for 12 months with an expectation to extend following review.

Sector Development Coordinator – $60,000 to $65,000
(plus superannuation and generous salary packaging options)

As Sector Development Co-ordinator you will oversee the project, working directly with treatment agencies and relevant state level stakeholders. You’ll be travelling to visit agencies across WA, establishing strategic relationships and effecting sector wide change. This is your ideal job if you are an excellent communicator, experienced project leader and enjoy driving collaborative working relationships.

Sector Development Project Officer – $50,000 to $55,000
(job share available plus superannuation and generous salary packaging options)

As Sector Development Project Officer you will establish communications networks between mental health and alcohol and other drug agencies in WA and work to meet the resource and training needs of the alcohol and other drug sector in relation to mental health and alcohol and other drug use. Your outstanding interpersonal skills, attention to detail and the satisfaction you gain from seeing results will be well rewarded in this role.

Details including JDF and selection criteria for each position can be obtained by e-mailing drugpeak@wanada.org.au or phoning (08) 9420 7236. JDFs can also be downloaded from the WANADA website. Indigenous people are encouraged to apply.

Applications should be sent or hand-delivered to WANADA, City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi St, West Perth WA 6005 or sent to drugpeak@wanada.org.au.

Closing Date: 12noon Tuesday 4 December 2007.”

Some great jobs in Tobacco research (UK)

These jobs sound fascinating and with exchange rate the salary isn’t too bad…

“RESEARCH POSTS IN TOBACCO CONTROL

The Universities of Bath and Edinburgh are seeking to appoint a total of four* Research Officers / Research Fellows in Tobacco Control*, with equivalent posts based at each institution, to contribute to two major international research projects. All posts will involve analysis of previously secret internal tobacco industry documents. These were released as a result of litigation and have so far provided unique insights into the conduct of the tobacco industry in a wide range of countries. This knowledge has, in turn, contributed to advancing tobacco control policies and holding the tobacco industry to account. It is anticipated that both projects will have an important influence on international tobacco control policy making.

/Tobacco control, public policy and global health.
/*2 x 36 months fixed-term posts; Salary: £27,466 – £38,019

You will contribute to an exciting research project funded by the US National Institutes of Health and being conducted across three centres – the University of Bath, the University of Edinburgh and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. This project aims to examine industry strategies to influence international organisations, analyse the significance of trade liberalisation to tobacco corporations, understand corporate restructuring within the context of global expansion, and analyse corporate strategies to inhibit the global spread of effective tobacco control policies.

Details of post at University of Bath

Details of post at University of Edinburgh

*/Tobacco industry influence on EU tobacco control policy making
/*2 x 18 months fixed-term posts; Salary: £27,466 – £30,913

Funded by the Smoke Free Partnership, this project will use industry documents to examine the influence of the tobacco industry on European Union (EU) tobacco control policy, including how the industry has sought to influence EU policy on tobacco taxation, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, labelling and ingredients disclosure and advertising legislation. The work will be conducted jointly by the Universities of Bath and Edinburgh, with an equivalent appointment being made in each institution

Details of post at University of Bath

Details of post at University of Edinburgh: e-mail james.lancaster@ed.ac.uk

We will consider applicants with postgraduate qualifications from a broad variety of backgrounds (eg, social science, public health, business studies, European studies). You will be highly motivated with a strong aptitude for document-based research, proven analytical skills, and the ability to work independently to produce work of publishable quality. We are particularly keen to attract applicants with knowledge of the tobacco industry and tobacco control policy, and those with experience in conducting policy relevant research and/or analysis of tobacco industry documents or similar.

Closing date: Bath positions – Tuesday 27 November, Edinburgh positions – Friday 30 November Informal enquiries are welcomed by:

Dr Anna Gilmore, University of Bath a.gilmore@bath.ac.uk tel: +44 (0)1225 386810
Dr Jeff Collin, University of Edinburgh jeff.collin@ed.ac.uk tel: +44 (0)131 651 3961)”

Howard mentions illicits – finally

Today John Howard announced that illicit drug uses convicted of a drug-related offence would have any welfare payments quarantined.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. The first that came to mind for me is the increase in crime that would occur with such an initiative. Although someone on welfare with a heavy addiction won’t be able to fund their habit that way, its fair to assume that at with even less cash at hand, crime will become an even more necessary option. I wonder if the broader public thinks of that if they even notice the announcement. The only other certainty is that the ALP won’t refute the proposal – more ‘me-too’ I would expect.

The Liberals’ full ‘Tough On Drugs’ policy for the election can be found here

Forensic Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor (Victoria)

“Moreland Hall offers a range of Forensic Alcohol and Other Drugs Support Services to the community in a variety of settings. We offer treatment services for clients referred by ASCO COATS and the Koori Court at Broadmeadows and prisoners of Port Phillip Prison.

We are currently seeking an experienced Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor to join our Forensic Services team based at Port Phillip Prison, Laverton to deliver psycho-educational group programs, facilitate training and program develop and evaluation and provide counselling and support services to clients and families and secondary consultation and liaison with key partner agencies.

To be successful you will require a relevant tertiary qualification, sound assessment and counselling skills and demonstrated knowledge working with a forensic population.

For further information and details on how to apply for this position please phone (03) 9384 8801 or go to the employment section on our website.

Applications are to be sent to the HR Manager, 26 Jessie Street, MORELAND 3058 OR email: jobs@morelandhall.org

Closing date for applications is 5pm Friday 30th November 2007

Moreland Hall has more than 35 years experience in the statewide delivery of alcohol and other drug services; we are a leader in the field. As an employer and Registered Training Organisation, Moreland Hall is committed to providing a positive and supportive work culture where employees have access to professional development and generous salary packaging arrangements.”