2006-07 federal budget measure drug and alcohol and mental health counselling services within...
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2006-07 Federal Budget Measure
Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Counselling Services within
Universities
Background
• $19.8 million to support a network of non-government counselling services to assist students who have problems with substance abuse, mental illness and/or need family support assistance.
Background
• Intent is not to replace existing services but augment these services to ensure they are adequately supported
• Alcohol and other drugs awareness raising component of the measure- drawing on resources from the National Drugs Campaign and others
Background
Background
• First step – situational analysis of the nature and extent of counselling services currently provided.
• Map how services are funded and utilised and characteristics of clients using these services.
• Results of these extensive consultations, summarised in a discussion paper.
• Also likely to establish a Expert Reference Group to allow further consultation and advise on possible funding models.
Situational Analysis Counselling services in universities
• One of Australia’s leading social research firms.
• Highly experienced study team with considerable research and practitioner experience in the university, counselling and broader health sector.
• Examples of previous work in related areas:
– National Review of Young People and Mental Health
– Evaluation of National Suicide Prevention Strategy
– A National Review of Sexual Assault Prevention Education in Tertiary Settings
– Numerous reviews of drug and alcohol programs, policies and initiatives and family support services
About Urbis Keys Young
The Team
• Main team:
– Urbis Keys Young Director: Alison Wallace – over 25 years experience in social policy and research; diverse research experience in mental health, drug and alcohol and family support services
– Urbis Keys Young Director: Dr Roberta Ryan: social policy and social work academic; student counsellor; member of the National Education Policy Committee for Education, Policy and Support in the Tertiary Sector
– Project manager: Frances Haynes, MAASW,12 years social research experience; social work supervisor; ongoing private practice; 5 years team leader adult mental health counselling services
Purpose of project
• Information gathering
• Ideas generation based on consultations
Aims of project
• Map current counselling services
• Specific focus on:
– substance abuse
– mental health
– family support
Aims of project
• Identify key resources:
– people
– programs
– resource material
• Identify gaps, barriers
• Identify service linkages
• Seek ideas about how Australian Government money can be best invested across university counselling services
Aims of project
• Develop a discussion paper:
– Describing the nature and scope of current services
– Identifying key issues
– Identifying strengths, resources, gaps
– Identifying options for consideration by the Reference Group and the Department
Our approach
• Initial scoping -review of background documentation, initial stakeholder consultation, develop final project plan
• Stakeholder consultations – in-depth interviews with 20-25 stakeholder groups
• Survey of services and select follow up interviews with counselling services
• Online survey of students OR focus groups
• Development of discussion paper
Survey of counselling services
• Can be completed by email or mail
• Key issues:
– Who uses student counselling, and presenting problems
– What is known about mental health, substance use and/or family relationship issues among university students (eg research)
– Impact of these issues on students’ well-being, performance, attendance, retention
– Demand, quality, accessibility, affordability of services – including for groups such as Indigenous, CALD, regional, remote students
– Practice standards
– Impact of VSU amendments
– Identify gaps, resources, links with other services
– Emerging trends
– Identify drug and alcohol, mental health prevention early intervention activities
Survey of students
• Draft online survey to be piloted before implementation
• Will ensure representation from a range of State and Territories and Universities
• Will seek a survey response from 300-350 students
Timeline
• Initial scoping: Nov-Dec
• Stakeholder consultation: Dec - Feb
• Survey of services: completed by Jan 27
• Follow up interviews with services: February
• Survey/focus groups students: Feb 26-Mar 9
• Finalise discussion paper: March 31
How this group can help
• Assist with initial scoping
• Broad understanding of how services are structured
• Identification of stakeholders
• Identification of programs, initiatives, resources
• Identify key contacts to complete survey
• Identify what data is likely to be available and in what format
• Advice re practicalities of surveying services and/or students