The World Health Organization’s Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) is a clinically and scientifically validated questionnaire that screens for all levels of problem or risky substance use in adults.  The current version of the ASSIST questionnaire is not valid for young people, particularly given the lowered risk thresholds in young people.

 

DASSA has developed draft versions of the ASSIST-Y for 10-14 year olds and 15-17 year olds, using clinical consensus and expert opinion, along with revised materials for delivering the brief intervention and for providing the approporiate intervention (Clinical Instructions).

 

The ASSIST-Y resources are available from the DASSA website at http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=477 under Administering the ASSIST to young people (ASSIST-Y).

 

Please be aware if you intend to use these that they are draft versions only and have not had extensive psychometric or other testing.  Any feedback you wish to give on these drafts should be emailed to dassa@health.sa.gov.au

FARE and Drug and Alcohol Review are pleased to invite you to a forum:

Out of sight, out of mind: Australia alcohol guidelines

The journal Drug and Alcohol Review is focusing its March edition on the National Health and Medical Research Council Guidelines to Reduce Health Risks from Drinking Alcohol (the Guidelines). To coincide with the release, FARE, the Drug and Alcohol Review, and the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR) will host a special forum to explore the role of the Guidelines in reducing risky drinking in Australia. The forum will explore:

• the role of the Guidelines in promoting messages around alcohol consumption
• the work being done to promote the Guidelines at a national and local level
• the role of the Guidelines in increasing awareness of the harms associated with risky drinking among the general public

The Forum will present new research on the awareness of the Guidelines by Australians, and the ability of the Guidelines to influence perceptions. The forum will involve representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing, the Australian National Preventive Health Agency, and a range of public health organisations including:

• Professor Robin Room, Editor-in-Chief of Drug and Alcohol Review and Director of CAPR
• Dr Lisa Studdert, Australian National Preventive Health Agency
• Mr Michael Livingston, CAPR
• Winthrop Research Professor Carol Bower, Senior Principal Research Fellow, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
• Mr Scott Wilson, Director, Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council, South Australia

The morning will finish with a panel discussion to critically examine the value of the Guidelines in communicating information about alcohol to the general public, and what these messages should be.

Event details:

Date: Tuesday 6 March 2012
Time: 9am for 9.30am -12pm
Venue: Alan Gilbert Executive Lounge, Alan Gilbert Building
Building 104, Grattan St, University of Melbourne, Carlton 3053
RSVP: please RSVP to glenis.thomas@fare.org.au by 29 February 2012
Morning tea will be provided, please contact us with any dietary requirements.

Twitter:

FARE staff will be regularly checking and updating Twitter throughout the day. By using the hashtag #AlcGuidelines, you can make comments, give feedback, or ask questions of the speakers.

All coverage will be sent out via the @FAREAustralia account, and will include the #AlcGuidelines hashtag.

SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

INVITATION TO APPLY

Background
The Australian Rechabite Foundation (ARF) is a prescribed purpose fund established in 2009 as part of the demutualisation process of the IOR Friendly Society. The friendly society has its origins in the Independent Order of Rechabites, a temperance society. The ARF’s small grants program supports community-based initiatives that foster change within communities and individuals to reduce adverse effects from alcohol.

Eligibility
Organisations with objects consistent with the prevention of alcohol-related harms are invited to apply for grants through the ARF’s small grants program.

Organisations must be:

• Existing Australian-based entities with Deductible Gift Recipient status (applications from individuals will not be considered)
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of the challenge of supporting changes in communities and individuals in relation to alcohol
• Able to confirm that they have no funding or support of any kind from manufacturers, importers, distributors, sellers or other parties in any way associated with the sale, distribution or promotion of alcohol
• Able to complete planned projects within the specified time period
• Able to comply with all conditions outlined in the Funding Agreement, including the ability to plan, budget and report on results and implications of the funded project at its conclusion

Organisations may be:

• Providers of community support services (including clubs and associations)
• Involved in research
• Involved in teaching, training or provision of educational services
• Sporting bodies or associated groups
• Other groups with objects aligned to the ARF’s mission to build knowledge of the harmful effects of alcohol, inform lifestyle choices and encourage/support change within communities and individuals.

Projects must:

• Be grounded in evidence of potential effectiveness, in the case of action projects.
• Address issues which hold promise for reducing alcohol problems, in the case of research projects.
• Undertake to collect and provide evidence of the project’s effects in relation to its aims.

Terms of Grants
The ARF has $25,000 to allocate in its small grants program for 2012. Grant selection will be merit based and the number of grants made will depend upon the evaluation process. The ARF will consider applications for the entire $25,000, however any such proposal must be of sufficient calibre to warrant exclusion of all other applications Applicants are therefore encouraged to provide alternate plans and funding amounts where possible Grants are one-off opportunities; your proposal may be self-contained, or may be presented as the first Phase in a planned ongoing program, or as a Pilot phase of a larger project planned for subsequent years. The ARF anticipates running its small grants program yearly and recipients of funds in 2012 are welcome to apply for further grants in subsequent years.

How to apply
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in applying for a small grant please email arfoundation@australianrechabites.org.au to request a copy of the application form.

Important Dates
Applications close on 23 March 2012. Funds will be distributed on the signing of Funding Agreements in May 2012.

Sample Funding Agreements are available upon request to: arfoundation@austraIianrechabites.orq.au

The following conference includes scope for critical reflections of the relationship between alcohol and other drugs, crime, and the politics and efficacy of criminal justice responses. The call for abstracts is now open, see below.

THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY CONFERENCE 2012

‘Changing the Way We Think about Change: Shifting Boundaries, Changing Lives’

Thursday 12 – Friday 13 July 2012

University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia

A two day conference for academics, practitioners, activists and students. The 2012 theme focuses on changing contexts, dynamic relations, innovative approaches and emerging challenges in criminology and beyond. The event page and preliminary conference details are available at the following link:

http://www.events.utas.edu.au/2012/july/the-australian-and-new-zealand-critical-criminology-conference-2012

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS NOW OPEN

Abstracts are invited for papers exploring the following themes:

* Contradictions, paradoxes and controversies

* Global inequalities: people, places, politics

* Green criminology in a climate of change

* Institutions and culture: police, courts, probation, prisons

* Ending offending: desistance and the process of change

* Gaps, silences and forgotten minorities

* What matters? What’s important – and according to whom?

* Advocacy, activism and resisting apathy

* Over the horizon issues and emerging challenges

* Thinking differently, innovation and research frontiers

For details on abstract submission, please download the ‘Call for Abstracts’ flyer by going to the events page (see link above).

Conference programme and registration details to come.

For more information, please contact the CONFERENCE CONVENOR

Rob White, Professor of Criminology, School of Sociology & Social Work, University of Tasmania, Hobart

Email: R.D.White@utas.edu.au

Exciting news from Odyssey House for those interested:

Qualifications in Alcohol & Other Drugs and Mental Health

Odyssey House Victoria is pleased to offer funded qualifications in Alcohol & Other Drugs and Mental Health see below for details.

Courses include:
· Diploma in Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs) CHC50208 ( www.workskillsweb.net/dip_info.html )
· Diploma in Community Services (Alcohol, other Drugs and Mental Health) CHC50408 ( http://www.workskillsweb.net/dip_aodmh_info.html )
· Certificate IV in Community Services (Alcohol and Other Drugs) CHC40408 ( http://www.workskillsweb.net/certiv_info.html )

Recognition of Prior Learning
Would you like to gain your Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD), and feel your current skills should be recognised? Then you could qualify for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is a process where you gain your qualification based on your work experience, prior training and job description. We can visit you to conduct the necessary assessment and this usually takes just one or two visits.

Examples of assessment:
· Work related documentation
· Third party reports (e.g. from supervisors or managers)
· Evidence of completed tasks at work
· Prior vocational experiences and training
Benefits of RPL:
· Reduces the time involved in gaining your qualification
· Removes ‘exam stress’
· Helps lower your related study costs
Full fee options are also available, however Odyssey House Victoria is able to offer eligible Victorian candidates funded qualifications courses listed above for only $550*. Funded training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding and eligibility depends on your personal circumstances for details visit www.odysseyinstitute.edu.au.

Enquiries and registration www.odysseyinstitute.edu.au or contact Sariah on 03 9420 7644, email studentadmin@odyssey.org.au

Michael Ried
Education & Workforce Development Manager
Odyssey Institute
660 Bridge Rd. Richmond Victoria 3121
www.odysseyinstitute.edu.au

Via NCETA:

As you may be aware, the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University has a strong interest in the area of workplace health and safety. Our interest particularly focuses on issues that involve alcohol and or other drugs. NCETA has undertaken an extensive program of research in this area and developed many practical resources for use by researchers, policy makers and coal face practitioners.

We are pleased to provide you with details of a range of new NCETA workplace products that you may be interested in; they are:

1. Workplace Drug Testing: Evidence and Issues. Pidd, K., & Roche, AM. (2011) – a comprehensive review.

2. Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing. Pidd, K., Roche, AM., & White, M. (2011) – 4 page flier.

3. Young workers and workplace safety: Guidelines for managing alcohol and other drug risk. Pidd, K., Roche, AM., & Wilson, P. (2011) – a 20 page document.

These resources stem from projects undertaken by NCETA with funding provided by the South Australian Government through SafeWork SA.

If you would like hard copies of these resources or further information regarding our work in this area please contact the NCETA reception desk on 08 8201 7535 or email nceta@flinders.edu.au.

Electronic copies of these resources can be downloaded from the NCETA website www.nceta.flinders.edu.au.

Get your nominations in!

Outstanding drug and alcohol workers and organisations will be recognised for their tireless work preventing or minimising harm in our community.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said: “Every day, thousands of dedicated professionals offer their experience, expertise and compassion to those struggling with the consequences of drug use. Their interventions help protect public health, reduce crime, and enable users to come to terms with their condition and regain control of their future. If these are difficult endeavours, they are never thankless. Rather our hardworking drug and alcohol workers have the nation’s gratitude and admiration.”

Nominations for the National Drug & Alcohol Awards are now open at www.drugawards.org.au

The Awards recognise the many people and organisations doing exceptional work to reduce the harm and impact of alcohol and other drugs in Australia.

Awards will be presented at the National Drug & Alcohol Awards Presentation Dinner at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on Friday 22 June 2012.

Categories for nomination are:

v Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence and Outstanding Contribution to Drug and Alcohol Endeavours
v Excellence in Prevention and Community Education
v Excellence in Treatment and Support
v Excellence in Research
v Excellence in Services to Young People
v Excellence in Law Enforcement
v Excellence in Alcohol and other Drugs Media Reporting
v Excellence in School Drug Education
v Excellence in Creating Healthy Sporting Communities

The 2012 inductees for the National Drug and Alcohol Honour Roll will also be announced – for which nominations can also be made.

If someone you know deserves recognition for their valuable contribution make sure you nominate them by Monday 30 April 2012.

Each category winner will receive $2000 prize money.

To find out more about the selection criteria and access the nomination form visit
www.drugawards.org.au

The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative initiative by the Ted Noffs Foundation (TNF), the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD), the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA), and the Australian Drug Foundation. This year’s Awards are coordinated by the Australian Drug Foundation.

Awards and Presentation Information: Vanessa Ferguson 0415 561 243 or info@drugawards.org.au

Media Enquiries: Jaki Colgan or Renee Lustman, Australian Drug Foundation, 03 9278 8100 or 0430 948 380.

Pills, powder, plonk: how to reduce alcohol and other drug related harms in our community
When: Thursday,16th April 2012
State: Queensland (QLD)
Where: Surfair, Marcoola Beach

Description: Australia has long been recognised as a drug taking society. The landmark Senate Report in 1981, chaired by then Senator Dr Peter Baume painted a stark picture of the way excessive alcohol and prescription drug consumption impacted on the lives of all Australians. With the exception of our efforts to curb drink driving, we appear to have achieved little in the way we use and misuse alcohol. The estimated cost of alcohol related problems now stands at a staggering $36 billion per year. The economic impact of all other drugs (excluding tobacco) is in comparison, modest at $6 billion.

Communities throughout Australia are increasingly concerned about the problems posed by excessive alcohol and drug fuelled violence. Many communities and businesses have taken action in an effort to reduce alcohol and drug related harm. Efforts at the national level to tackle our excessive alcohol consumption have been limited and poorly coordinated. Building our effectiveness to advocate for better public policy from local, state and federal governments is increasingly seen as important for communities to ‘take back the streets’ and turn around the level of alcohol and drug-fuelled violence.

This seminar will examine:

The problems of alcohol and drug related harm in communities
The role of marketing in alcohol use
Community advocacy and action for better alcohol-related policy
A range of community based initiatives to tackle alcohol related harm including those in Indigenous communities.
http://www.focushealth.com.au/activities.html

Are you a health professional who counsels individuals who use cannabis? If so, the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre would like to invite you to participate in an online survey to find out your views on cannabis use treatment guidelines. The survey takes less than 30 minutes to complete and participation is confidential. You will not be asked to identify your place of employment. Participants who complete the survey will be asked to provide an email address to enter a draw to win one of ten $100 AUD vouchers via PayPal. To complete the survey, please follow the link:
https://www.surveys.unsw.edu.au/survey/156130/586a/

Contact Dr Melissa Norberg for enquiries (m.norberg@unsw.edu.au). This research has been approved by UNSW Human Research Ethics Advisory Panel (HREA: 2011-7-47).