Author Archives: James

Social Inclusion and Complex Needs Conference

PHAA National Social Inclusion and Complex Needs Conference: Canberra, 15-16 April 2013

 

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

 

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CLOSES – 11 January 2013

 

Invitation

The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) invites you to participate in the first Australian conference to showcase successful programs/approaches in addressing complex needs and social determinants of health – with the broader purpose of identifying what works and how.

 

It has long been acknowledged that people with complex needs often fall through the cracks in service delivery – between national and jurisdictional service delivery, between government and non-government services, and between services delivered by different portfolio agencies. This conference seeks to identify and showcase successful collaborative efforts in service delivery, with a view to informing whole-of-government approaches to policy and program development.

 

We note that the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda has acknowledged this as an area of need and is working toward reforming the delivery of Government services to improve outcomes for people with complex needs.

 

The conference will be an excellent opportunity to hear the most recent research and practitioner wisdom and to make your own contribution to breaking down structural and systemic barriers to achieving better health and social outcomes for people with complex needs.

 

With noted national experts from both government and non-government sectors showcasing their work, the conference aims to shed new light and consider current evidence about issues relevant to, and the challenges in seeking to, achieve better outcomes for people with complex needs in the Australian community.

 

We encourage the submission of abstracts/presentations showcasing innovative research and practice in collaborative approaches to achieving better health and social outcomes for people with complex needs.

 

Abstracts are to be submitted under the following session themes:

· Building stronger linkages in NGO service provision

· Prevention and social determinants of health

· Comprehensive case management – service providers working together

· Australian Government Social Inclusion Agenda and service delivery reforms

· Breaking down structural and systemic barriers

· Cross-sectoral and cross-portfolio approaches

· Collaborative Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug service delivery

· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services

· Family, Housing and Community Services

 

Further information on the abstract submission process is available on the PHAA website at: www.phaa.net.au/documents/Complex_Needs_Call_For_Abstracts.pdf

 

School drug use in Australia 2011

Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-thecounter and illicit substances in 2011

 

Yesterday the Department of Health and Ageing released the 2011 Australian secondary school student’s use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substance use.

Access the report here – http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/Publishing.nsf/content/school11

Centre for Research Excellence into Injecting Drug Use (CREIDU) launches

Press release from the Burnet Institute:

Introducing the NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence into Injecting Drug Use (CREIDU) and the new website:  http://creidu.edu.au/

CREIDU is a collaboration between the Burnet Institute, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, the Kirby Institute, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, the National Drug Research Institute, the University of Queensland, the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, Anex, Harm Reduction Victoria and Hepatitis Victoria.

CREIDU brings together researchers, policy-makers and community-sector representatives working in the fields of alcohol and illicit drugs, blood-borne virus transmission, justice health, mental health, and policy research.  CREIDU’s vision is to improve the health of people who inject drugs by generating new knowledge and effectively translating this into policy and practice. CREIDU also aims to build capacity in the sector through education and training for students, early-career researchers and community sector workers.

The Centre currently supports six PhD students and conducts regular colloquiums and training activities. CREIDU also provides seed-funding for research and other projects on an annual basis. Recent events detailed on the website have included:

  • What’s new in viral hepatitis and injecting drug use? (2012)
  • Prisoner health is public health (2012)
  • Suboxone in Australia: The path ahead (2012)
  • Improving drug policy & practice through research (2011)

CREIDU has also developed a series of policy briefs on topics that require policy attention, including:

  • Safe injecting facilities: reducing harm and improving public safety and amenity – Prof Robert Power.
  • Future directions in hepatitis C treatment: closing in on a cure for the vast majority – Prof Greg Dore.
  • People who inject drugs can be successfully treated for hepatitis C (HCV), and treatment has the potential to reduce the community prevalence of HCV –Prof Margaret Hellard.
  • Improving responses to opioid overdose through naloxone – Prof Paul Dietze & Prof Simon Lenton.
  • Increasing hepatitis B vaccination in people who inject drugs – Prof Lisa Maher.

These and other resources can be found on the CREIDU website.  We encourage you to utilise this resource.

PHAA: Roxon wins award for tobacco stance

Press release from PHAA:

Nicola Roxon wins highest public health award for 2012

PHAA Sidney Sax Medal awarded to former Health and Ageing Minister

Attorney-General, Hon Nicola Roxon MP has been announced as the Sidney Sax Medallist for 2012.  This is the highest award given annually by the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to public health.  The Medal will be presented at a public health dinner this evening by PHAA’s Immediate Past President, Professor Helen Keleher.

 

“The PHAA is proud to present an award to someone who has really made a difference in public health,” said Professor Keleher in making the announcement.  “As Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon embraced public health, understood the role of social determinants and recognised the importance of prevention.  Most importantly, however, she was prepared to take action including standing up to big tobacco and vested interests in the alcohol industry in favour of a healthier community.

 

“Nicola Roxon’s own words in response to a question when she was launching the report of the Preventative Health Taskforce in October 2009 summarises her approach: ‘we are killing people by not acting’.  As Health Minister from December 2007 through to December 2011 and then as Attorney-General she has pursued public health issues with vigour and with considerable success,” said Professor Keleher.

 

The most prominent achievement is the world leading plain packaging of tobacco legislation which has only been successful due to her outstanding leadership.  There are also many other achievements in fighting tobacco including a 25% increase in excise on tobacco, a ban on internet promotion, a boost for funding of anti-tobacco campaigns through the National Preventive Health Agency and a $125 million program to tackle Indigenous Smoking.

 

However, her other outstanding achievements cited in the nomination include:

  • The establishment of the Australian National Preventive Health Agency (ANPHA)
  • Facing down the spirits industry over the “alcopops” tax – reducing the number of young women introduced to spirits in early puberty
  • An additional $50 million into campaigns around binge drinking
  • Oversight of the biggest increase ever in funding to prevention of $872.1 million from Federal, State and Territory contributions

o   Seeking healthier communities through careful targeting of specific groups and settings including children, Indigenous people, workers and local governments.

 

“The PHAA is proud to have Nicola Roxon accept this award from the Association as it highlights the impact that a Minister can have when they are prepared to provide leadership in the area of public health,” concluded Professor Keleher.

Jobs: Community Health Worker, Victoria

Community Health Worker – Health Works

12 month Fixed Term contract, Part time (32 hours per week, 4 days X 8 hours per day)

“To create healthy and connected communities in Melbourne’s West through the delivery of high quality, accessible community and health services.”
The Western Region Health Centre (WRHC) provides a range of health and community support services and are committed to innovation and quality in all we do.

Western Region Health Centre is a non-for-profit organisation in Melbourne’s west which provides a broad range of services including community and allied health, medical, dental, counselling, support, and outreach. Our programs and services, addressing specific individual and community needs, actively cater for clients with a range of abilities and cultural backgrounds.

Health Works, a program of the Western Region Health Centre, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people who inject drugs in the western suburbs of Melbourne. The service provides a range of programs including:
• a needle and syringe program which provides people who use drugs with new injecting equipment
• a drug safety worker who provides education and health promotion activities for people who use drugs
• a Cambodian, Lao, Vietnamese worker who works with these communities to foster a greater understanding of harm reduction
• a community education worker who raises harm reduction issues with the broader community
• a health care team, who provide holistic health services to people who inject drugs
The Community Health Worker role involves the delivery of clinical (including first aid and post-test counselling for blood borne viruses) and non-clinical primary care services to people who inject drugs. Community Health Workers are part of a multidisciplinary team that works alongside clients to address their health needs in a holistic manner.

We are seeking a committed and experienced individual to undertake the role of a Community Health Worker in the Health Care Team. The successful applicant will ideally have experience working in a complex health setting. It is expected he/she would have a working knowledge of harm reduction, the social model of health and BBV/STIs, particularly hepatitis C and HIV. A lived experience of injecting drug use is desirable. This position is fixed for one year.

Mandatory:
• Tertiary Qualification in a relevant discipline (i.e. Social Work, Psychology, Alcohol and other Drug Studies, Community Development), or other relevant professional or personal experience
• Experience of working with people who inject drugs and have complex needs
• Knowledge of and a commitment to community health principles and practices and a sound understanding of harm reduction. In particular, issues relating to injecting drug use, blood borne viruses, health care access and other health care risks
• A sensitivity to and understanding of the issues and needs of people from culturally and linguistically (CALD) communities who inject drugs
• Commitment to teamwork and a collaborative approach to service delivery
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills
• High level or computer literacy, including word processing and database skills and hold a current driver’s licence

Wages and Conditions: Community Health Centre (Stand Alone Services) Multi Employer Certified Agreement 2005 – As Varied 24 May 2011, classification Community Development Worker Class 2B (year dependant on experience). Attractive salary packaging with the option to salary package meals/entertainment and also venue hire (e.g. holiday accommodation) over the threshold, as well as FBT free items. This role offers a supportive team environment and flexible work arrangements to ensure a work life balance.

For a position description please visit our website at www.wrhc.com.au or for further queries, please contact Human Resources at jobs@wrhc.com.au .

Closing date for applications is Sunday 16th December 2012 at 5pm.
Please submit your application via email to jobs@wrhc.com.au , to the attention of Bernadette Suter and include:
• current resume
• covering letter
• a separate response to the Key Selection Criteria (located within the position description) – please note that applications will not be considered without this

A pre-employment criminal record check is mandatory.

WRHC is an equal opportunity employer.

Breaking the Taboo: Drug Policy

A global campaign has been co-ordinated by the Beckley Foundation aiming to break the taboo on drug policy, draw attention to harms that arise from the War On Drugs and argue for a rational, evidence-based response that is driven by human rights.

A celebrity driven social media campaign is joined by a documentary called Breaking the Taboo, narrated by Morgan Freeman, and featuring most notable figures in world politics speaking out about the subject: e.g. Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia, Fernando Cardoso (ex-President of Brazil), Cesar Gaviria (ex-President of Colombia), Ruth Dreifuss (ex-President of Switzerland), and Ernesto Zedillo (ex-President of Mexico).

The film will go live on-line at YouTube, with Google as a partner, on 7 December. A massive online campaign and petition hosted by Avaaz are other features.

A viral campaign has already started with the Breaking the Taboo YouTube Channel. Clicking on the link below you will be able to see some celebrity virals which have already reached over 35,000 views in the few days it has been live. Watch it here:

ADIS on Twitter

ADIS, Alcohol and Drug Information Service, is the NSW statewide service providing 24/7 anonymous, confidential telephone service for anyone affected by someone’s use of alcohol and other drugs. ADIS is available to substances users, their family and friends, health professionals and the community at large. Staffed by experienced counsellors and health professionals, and with an excellent database of services and agencies across NSW. ADIS is a non-judgemental low threshold gateway to education, support and treatment.

ADIS offers education, information, referrals, brief interventions and crisis counselling.

ADIS can be found on Twitter www.twitter.com as @ADIS_NSW . ADIS will be tweeting about substance use, seeking information and support, facts and research, and latest news, and seeking to connect with other health agencies and experts in the field.

ADIS will be tweeting from APSAD this week, using the hashtag #APSAD.

ADASC 2013

Closing date for abstract submission is today Friday 9 November

6th Australasian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference 19 – 22 March 2013
Luna Park, Sydney

NSW Police Force and the Australian Federal Police are hosting the 6th
ADASC 2013 in March 2013.

This conference has been running in Australia since 1999 and provides an
opportunity to share experiences between policing jurisdictions, showcase
research and foster effective inter-agency partnerships.  The conference
program will consist of an historical reflection on the launch of the
National Drug Strategy and look to the future with emerging psychoactive
substances and technology enabled drug crime receiving particular
attention.

Conference themes include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.  Alcohol licensing
2.  Case studies/investigations
3.  Drug diversion
4.  Policy issues
5.  New technologies/new approaches
6.  Aboriginal and diverse communities
7.  Pharmaceutical drugs
8.  Illicit drugs
9.  Emerging drugs
10.  Prevention
11.  Young people, drugs and alcohol
12.  Drugs and organised crime

To submit your abstract please visit
www.adasc2013.com today. Don't delay. We would like to welcome you to Sydney.

AOD Summer Courses: Uni of Queensland

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND OTHER DRUG STUDIES

 Fast-track your career – enrol in these Summer Semester courses as part of the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma in Public Health or Master of Public Health (Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs) You can undertake these from anywhere in the world, icorporating full electronic materials and support.

 

Summer Semester 2012

3 Courses Offered

Commencing November 26th

 

HPRM7004 – Introduction to Substance Use and Misuse – external

Introduction to Substance Use and Misuse is a core course in the ATOD program. This course provides a general base of understanding for the core concepts surrounding alcohol and drug use. The concepts and behaviours associated with drug use are described including drug actions and styles of use. The course links drug use and its consequences with aspects of government policy, health initiatives, policing and media. Stereotypical views and images are challenged as students undertake exercises and review key articles.

 

PUBH7028 – Alcohol in Contemporary Society – external

This course will examine patterns of alcohol use from a national and international perspective, social and community factors influencing alcohol use, legislation to control the distribution and sale of alcohol and population efforts to limit the harms associated with alcohol use/misuse.

 

PUBH7124 – Tobacco Cessation and Control – external

This course describes the history of the 20th century tobacco smoking epidemic and the consequences for population health and public policy. It equips students to carry out detailed analyses of the prevalence of tobacco use and tobacco related harm in Australia and other countries, as well as tobacco control policy and programs at the regional, national and international levels. The course enables students to assess the effectiveness of tobacco cessation strategies. These processes of analysis and assessment are critical to developing effective responses, at population and individual levels, to the considerable burden of tobacco related illness.

 

How to Apply

Contact QADREC for more information or to obtain an application form. Applications are invited for either of the three university semesters (beginning March, July, November) each year.

Email: addictions@sph.uq.edu.au

Website: http://www.uq.edu.au/qadrec

Phone: 07 3365 5189

Jobs: Case Worker, Coffs Harbour

UPPER HUNTER DRUG & ALCOHOL SERVICES INC.

 

POSITION VACANT

 

Title:               Case Worker – MERIT Program Coffs Harbour

Location:      Mid North Coast, Coffs Harbour

Hours:                       Permanent Part Time – up to 32 hours per week

 

Permanent part time, up to 32 hours per week. The Magistrate’s Early Referral into Treatment (MERIT) Program is a program aimed at breaking the drug cycle; reducing crime associated with illicit drug and alcohol use. The MERIT Program Case Worker operates within a multidisciplinary team environment as part of the Upper Hunter Drug & Alcohol Services Inc. based in their Coffs Harbour office.

 

Award: NSW Social, Community, Home Care and Disability  Services Industry Award 2010 – Grade dependent on qualifications and experience.

 

Selection Criteria

 

Essential

 

2.1       Relevant tertiary qualifications in health, science, social, education, behavioural

            sciences or equivalent.

2.2       Demonstrated understanding of contemporary methods of drug and alcohol client

            service delivery.

2.3       Demonstrated capacity to provide written reports, assessment, case management and

            co-ordinate care to clients referred to the MERIT Program.

2.4       Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.

2.5       Demonstrated organisational and time management skills, strong interpersonal

            skills.

2.6       Demonstrated oral and written communication skills including report writing.

2.7       Experience working with multicultural, Aboriginal and CALD communities with

            strong cultural awareness, empathy and understanding of a wide and diverse

            community.

2.8       Sound computer and typing skills.

2.9       Current driver’s licence.

2.10    Understanding of and commitment to Equity, Workplace Health and Safety and

            Quality Improvement.

 

Desirable:

2.11    Experience in facilitating groups.

2.12    Experience in the Criminal Justice system as it applies to the Local Court.

2.13    Experience in working with a variety of health and welfare settings.

 

Closing Date:                                  Friday 30 November, 2012

Enquiries contact:                Libby George (02) 6543 2677

For Position Description:     email atiernan-grant@uhdas.org.au

Send applications:                by email (above) or post

Postal address:                                 PO Box 370, Muswellbrook, NSW 2333

 

Selection Criteria must be addressed to be considered. Standard background/criminal checks will apply for the successful applicant