Remote Alcohol & Other Drugs Workforce Northern Territory Australia Having our Voices Heard: Indigenous Leadership in the Northern Territory Leon James: Diane Mayers: Patricia Raymond: Lauren Buckley Footprints across the Territory 1
Statement of Acknowledgement: We would like to Acknowledge that the land we meet on today is the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today. Footprints across the Territory 2
Who We Are Remote Alcohol & Other Drugs Workforce Program Indigenous Workforce in Primary Health Care Centres Territory-wide Program Department of Health sites and Aboriginal Medical Services sites Indigenous Leadership Group Footprints across the Territory 3
Why an Indigenous Remote AOD Workforce? Report: Violence in Indigenous Communities 2001 Commonwealth originally wanted drug and alcohol nurses Consultation showed Primary Health Care Centres and communities wanted more local Aboriginal people in the AOD Worker positions Footprints across the Territory 4
Drug and Alcohol in the NT Footprints across the Territory 5
29.7% Indigenous in NT: remote Central Australia 85%, remote Top End 77% (Primary Health Care statistics 2014) Indigenous 4.7% in other states & ACT Footprints across the Territory 6
NT residents more likely to drink at levels that place them at risk of lifetime harm, and at levels that placed them at risk of an alcohol-related injury Footprints across the Territory 7
NT has highest proportion of males drinking daily (2010 NDSHS) Footprints across the Territory 8
Gunbalanya Oct 2015 Footprints across the Territory 9
14 litres pure alcohol drunk by non-indigenous per year in NT 16 litres pure alcohol drunk by Indigenous per year in NT (2010 NDSHS) Footprints across the Territory 10
Alcohol-related deaths in NT 11.8% (2010 NDSHS) Footprints across the Territory 11
Workforce History In 2006 funding through the Council of Australian Government was provided to establish a Remote Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Workforce to deliver services within remote communities. Funding is provided to both q Department of Health q Aboriginal Medical Services Program Support Unit is funded to provide service to both DoH & AMSs Footprints across the Territory 12
Remote AOD Workforce Program NT Program Support Worker Health Centre Support Footprints across the Territory 13
Remote AOD Workforce Achievements Chief Minister s Award for Excellence 2013 Enhancing Health & Wellbeing category The greatest support I ve ever gotten in all these years is Jenn and her team. Patricia Raymond, Darwin Footprints across the Territory 14
Remote AOD Workforce Achievements Nomination for Administrators Medal in Primary Health Care team award Footprints across the Territory 15
Program Objective To develop and implement a Remote AOD Workforce which is: q based within a primary health care service q providing a service to people that currently have limited access to AOD services q culturally appropriate q evidence based q sustainable Footprints across the Territory 16
Program Area Over 35 communities across the NT Central Australia Barkly Top End Footprints across the Territory 17
Department of Health sites q Tiwi Islands q Wadeye q Nauiyu q Gunbalanya q Jabiru q Groote Eylandt q Borroloola q Elliott q Ali Curung q Ti Tree q Yuendumu q Titjikala q Aputula Footprints across the Territory 18
Aboriginal Medical Services q Danila Dilba Darwin q Miwatj Health Nhulunbuy q Katherine West Health Board Katherine West region q Wurli Wurlinjang Katherine q Sunrise Health Katherine East q Anyinginyi Tennant Creek q Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Ltyentye Aperte q Western Aranda Health Aboriginal Corporation Ntaria Hermannsburg Footprints across the Territory 19
What we- the workers- say This team is the magic. People say the most wonderful things about us, as a team. We encourage and support each other. Robert Wilson, Groote Eylandt We are like one big family, we are all connected across the Territory, through family, kinship, relationship. Sampson Henry, Jabiru Help is just a phone call away. It helps knowing you re not alone. We have clinic staff to call on. I know it s not an easy job but it s a good job and I like it. Patricia Taylor, Borroloola Encompassing a leadership group of predominately Indigenous workers versed in the AOD field adds more credibility/support to the Remote AOD Workforce as a whole, particularly in a professional context. Leon James Gunbalanya It s the values that drive this Workforce. Claude Poulsen, Ntaria Footprints across the Territory 20
Where Are We Now? Growth of workforce Resource toolkit Leadership Group Footprints across the Territory 21
Remote Alcohol & Other Drugs Workforce Northern Territory Leadership Group Footprints across the Territory 22
Objective Provide appropriate suggestions to Program Support Unit Be a voice for the whole of workforce on any issues Play a role in delivery of conferences Support Program Support Unit Mentors and Role Models for existing and new workers Succession Planning for future Leaders Footprints across the Territory 23
Remote AOD Workforce Program NT Leadership Group Support Program Support Worker Health Centre Support Footprints across the Territory 24
Membership Eligibility All new members to have been employed for a minimum of 3months with AOD Workforce Commitment to monthly meetings (1 hour) Face to Face Meetings quarterly (commitment) Prepared to support/mentor new workers and existing workers within own region. Positive attitude Willingness to support new ideas Overall commitment Committment to 2 years on the Leadership Group Footprints across the Territory 25
Closing the Gap Mentoring (for new workers) Peer Support (for current workers) Remote AOD Workforce Forums (on going training and feedback) Leadership Group Succession and Youth Planning (encourage youth Footprints across the Territory 26
Challenges Emotional exhaustion (feeling overextended and drained of emotional and physical resources) Not just 8 to 5 workers in remote communities Depersonalisation (negative, detached or cynical view of one s work) Gender Balance there needs to male/female in each community Isolation Community issues Footprints across the Territory 27
How Do We Know What Works? We come together and tell each other stories of what we are doing. Asman Rory, Borroloola Feedback Forums Retention rate Growing workforce Evaluation Footprints across the Territory 28
Clinical Resources Assessment 1A & 1B Yarning about Alcohol Yarning about Gunja Brief Wellbeing Screener Yarning about Relapse Yarning about Work Yarning about Alcohol & Pregnancy & Advice Card Yarning about Ice In progress: Yarning about Wellbeing Yarning about Sniffing Yarning about Smoking Footprints across the Territory 29
Resources Relapse Prevention Guide Community Development Framework DVDs www.remoteaod.com.au Footprints across the Territory 30
Resources For more information & resources (08) 8958 2503 0439 184 398 www.remoteaod.com.au Footprints across the Territory 31
Thank you We are like one big family, we are all connected across the Territory, through family, kinship, relationship. Sampson Henry, Jabiru Remote AOD Workforce forum April 2014 Footprints across the Territory 32