Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory: Implementation approach for Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans

The Australian Government is publishing this Implementation Plan (IP) because it is committed to working with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory, their representatives and leaders to effectively implement Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory measures.

The Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans Implementation Plan contributes to the objectives and outcomes of the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory. This IP sets out the strategy for how the Commonwealth will deliver projects and services for which it is responsible. It should be read in conjunction with the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory.

The Australian Government has made a 10 year commitment to work with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to build strong, independent lives, where communities, families and children are safe and healthy. Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory is a $3.4 billion investment and responds directly to what Aboriginal people have told the Government is important to them.

The Australian Government will work with Aboriginal people in both large and small communities to support local jobs, tackle alcohol abuse and encourage children to go to school, as well as provide basic services, including health, education and police. The Australian Government will talk to Aboriginal people in each community about how best to deliver services under Stronger Futures, providing Aboriginal people with more responsibility for services within their own community.

The Australian Government will support Aboriginal organisations to deliver services under Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory and all services will be expected to employ Aboriginal people wherever possible.

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Stronger Futures - Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans:

The aim of the Alcohol and Other Drug Workers element is to enhance the alcohol and other drug (AOD) workforce through capacity development and training of staff to identify and treat substance misuse. This will be achieved through the:

- addition of 20 new workers to provide AOD services in remote communities who are developing Alcohol Management Plans or have them in place;

- provision of training or professional development and support to these workers;

- provision of housing in four sites to support the new workforce; and- evaluation of the implemented service delivery model associated with these

workers.

The additional Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory AOD workforce will build on the existing workforce (26 workers) which includes positions for registered nurses, AOD workers and community support workers.

Why is this element included in the Stronger Futures package?

The Australian Government, through Stronger Futures, has put in place a package of support to vulnerable people most at risk from the harm caused by alcohol abuse. These include maintaining existing alcohol restrictions; the development and implementation of Alcohol Management Plans that must meet minimum standards and be approved by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs; funding for licensing compliance and extra scrutiny for licensed premises associated with alcohol-related harm; and increased penalties for grog running.

In recognition of a possible increase in demand for withdrawal and rehabilitation services as a result of restrictions in access to alcohol, the Australian Government has committed funding for the provision of AOD services:

- designed to respond to a possible immediate rise in the need for withdrawal and residential rehabilitation resulting from restricted access by Indigenous people to alcohol; and

- delivered through remote primary health care centres and Aboriginal medical services in urban, regional and remote areas by a variety of AOD workers.

There are currently 26 AOD workers, community support workers, registered nurses and other health professionals, such as social workers employed to support AOD services. Additional funding will enable more drug and alcohol services to be delivered in urban, regional and remote communities through AOD workers being employed

These workers will increase the capacity of existing health and/or substance use services to support community agreed harm minimisation strategies as part of their

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Alcohol Management Plans (AMPs) and contribute to the success of these plans for the community as a whole.

The development of AMPs in identified communities is the responsibility of the Northern Territory Department of Health with the support of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

In November 2012, the Australian Government released a set of stringent minimum standards for AMPs which were finalised in February 2013, to ensure that AMPs are focused on reducing alcohol related harm. A number of communities had already commenced developing AMPs and may require support to strengthen them to ensure they meet the standards. Community consultation and engagement for the development of AMPs in a number of communities continues. The Department of Health and Ageing and FaHCSIA will work with communities to determine the location of the 20 additional AOD workers where they are needed the most.

What is the objective of this element?

To enhance the AOD workforce through capacity building, professional development and training to identify and treat substance misuse in communities developing AMPs or with AMPs in place.

Expected outcomes and outputs

Outputs

The addition of 20 new AOD workers in the Northern Territory, who are linked with existing remote and primary health care services and Aboriginal medical services, to deliver AOD services to where they are needed most. This workforce will be supported by training and professional development/support and by accommodation in four sites.

Outcomes

Improved access and availability of AOD services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with substance misuse issues.

Improved knowledge and skills of AOD workers delivering services in communities who are negotiating AMPs or have AMPs in place.

How will it be implemented?

The Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of alcohol management planning activities is being delivered by the Department of Health and Ageing. This component will be delivered in over 10 years from 2012-13 to 2021-22.

DoHA and FaHCSIA will work closely with communities to determine where these services are needed most. This will be predominantly informed by the alcohol

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management planning activities occurring in some communities across the Northern Territory.

Stronger Futures Commitment to Aboriginal Service Providers and Aboriginal Employment

Under Stronger Futures, the Australian Government is committed to developing the capacity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service delivery organisations and increasing employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Employment targets are being set for all Stronger Futures measures to encourage service providers to invest in employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and developing their skills.

- This component of Stronger Futures will provide an additional 20 AOD workers through remote primary health care centres and Aboriginal medical services.

- It will provide employment opportunities for local workers, however planning is still taking place and sites are not yet confirmed.

- A professional development and support framework will provide training aimed at supporting AOD workers.

Stronger Futures Commitment to Engagement with Aboriginal people:

This element will build on the existing AOD workforce in the Northern Territory while increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment in the workforce.

It will increase the professionalisation and improved career development opportunities for local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff across the region.

It will support and continue to work with communities who are developing AMPs or have AMPs in place and help to expand the capacity of Aboriginal medical services in these communities.

Links to other programs

The Department of Health and Ageing provides funding for primary health care centres and AOD treatment services in the Northern Territory that all link with the Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans component of Stronger Futures.

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Funding and governance arrangements

The funding available for this project is: Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans

Year 2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

2017-18

2018-19

2019-20

2020-21

2021-22

Total

Australian Government Funding

0.714 2.649 3.851 4.120 2.914 3.045 3.182 3.325 3.475 3.631 30.908

Evaluation, monitoring and review

The Stronger Futures Evaluation Framework provides the broad conceptual framework for the evaluation of the National Partnership Agreement on Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Stronger Futures) and associated Implementation Plans. The framework provides guiding principles to ensure that evaluation is of high quality but flexible and improves ongoing system and program understanding and management for government, participants and stakeholders. The framework supports a co-operative, harmonised and transparent approach with evaluation as a partnership, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as participants and collaborators in the evaluation process.

As outlined in the Stronger Futures Evaluation Framework, the government will publish six monthly public reports on progress in implementing the package. Implementation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans will be reported in the six monthly Stronger Futures Progress Report.

Evaluation of the Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Support of Alcohol Management Plans will be undertaken by the Implementation Plan owners prior to the Stronger Futures mid-term evaluation in 2016-17 and the Stronger Futures outcome evaluation in 2019-20. 

Lead agency

The Department of Health and Ageing is the lead agency on the implementation of this measure.

Contact details and questions

The DirectorTreatment Programs and Policy SectionSubstance Misuse and Indigenous Wellbeing BranchMental Health and Drug Treatment DivisionPh: (02) 6289 3102

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