QuIHN – Sunshine Coast Region

About Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN)

QuIHN is a statewide, not for profit, and non-government health service which provides a variety of health services to people whose lives are or have been affected by substance use, as well as their friends, families and members of the community who are or have been touched or affected by substance use, throughout Queensland.

QuIHN provides medical services, needle syringe programs, counselling, peer support, distribution of information, education and training, workforce development initiatives, life skills programs and services that relate to substance use, blood borne viruses, sexual health and other psychological and physical health issues.

QuIHN operates from a harm reduction and evidence-based framework.

Programs

Alcohol And Other Drugs Outreach Program: this primarily works with referrals from the Hospital and Health Service (HHS) area and provides an outpatient case management and counselling service with the capacity to provide limited after hour’s services to those affected by alcohol and/or substance use concerns.

MAISE Group – Sunshine Coast: The MAISE (mental health and illicit substance education) group based in Sunshine Coast region is a support, skill building and education program for anyone experiencing the negative effects of drug use and mental health problems (dual diagnosis). This group runs once a week for two and a half hours and includes lunch. The topics covered during the MAISE Group include:

• Relapse prevention and management
• Understanding triggers and cravings
• Enhancing Motivation to Change
• Managing mental health
• Self-Care
• Communication
• Mindfulness
• Stress management

LightHouse Counselling: this provides clinical counselling and support to individuals who wish to address their drug use and any co-occurring mental health concerns (dual diagnosis). Counselling and support can also be provided to significant others and/or carers of someone with substance use and/or mental health concerns.

Individual Counselling: QuIHN offers individual clinical counselling for people whose lives are affected by substance use and related mental health and/or parenting and family issues that may be present. Therapeutic and psychosocial education and support groups are also available to complement the individual counselling.

Group Counselling: QuIHN offers a range of therapeutic and psychosocial groups for people whose lives are affected by substance use and any related mental health and/or parenting and family issues that may be present.

Needle & Syringe service: this service offers a range of programs and activities aimed at reducing HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and those at risk of injecting drug use. Such services include:

• Needle and Syringe Program (NSP)
• Hepatitis C Rapid Fingerprick Point of Care Testing
• Education programs and information provision for people who inject drugs and those at risk of injecting
• Non clinical counselling and a range of support groups
• Health Promotion interventions and events promoting awareness around relevant issues i.e. World AIDS Day
• A range of high quality printed & electronic resources
• Referrals
• General welfare support
• Naloxone provision for people who are risk of opiate overdose or likely to witness an overdose such as friends and family. Naloxone is a medication that is used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save someone’s life.

Peer Education: this program aims to reduce drug-related harms and promote the health of people who use substances through effecting changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours in individual substance users, and influencing the norms and culture in substance use groups.

Point of Care Testing: QuIHN offers free, rapid fingerprick testing for Hepatitis C, HIV and Syphilis. This is available at the QuIHN NSP and Nurse Practitioner outreach clinics across the region. Results are provided on the day and anyone requiring further testing or treatment are linked to the QuIHN Nurse Practitioner.

Hepatitis C Treatment Management Program: QuIHN offers a free Nurse Practitioner Clinic. On-site pathology, Fibroscan, clinical assessment and scripting for Hepatitis C is provided. Harm reduction case management services are available to all people requiring Hepatitis C treatment. Outreach clinics are provided by the Nurse Practitioner across the wider Sunshine Coast and Central Queensland region including Caboolture to Rockhampton.

For more information about QuIHN services on the Sunshine Coast, visit https://www.quihn.org/location/sunshine-coast/

Intake, assessment and referral

Self-referral to this service is welcome along with referrals from family, community services and health professionals. The intake team will help determine which programs are the best option.

Additional information

QuIHN – Harm Reduction Video