Current projects

Peer-based Peak Body Scoping Project

QNADA recognises the important role that people who use health services can have in contributing to and informing the delivery of the services and systems that they access. We also recognise the specific difficulties in hearing the voices of people who use drugs (PWUD) in service or system design, re-design or evaluation in the alcohol and other drug treatment and harm reduction sector. In particular, the criminalisation of use and possession and the associated stigma and discrimination faced by people who use illicit drugs is a significant barrier to the engagement and participation of this group.

QNADA is interested in exploring the groups and organisations which have provided representation for people who use drugs in Queensland both historically and at the present time. This project will consider potential models representation for the voice of people who use drugs in Queensland. QNADA acknowledges the work that has been done in this area to date by our collaborating organisations on this project, particularly the Queensland Injectors Voice of Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA) and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) (Queensland Indigenous Substance Misuse Council (QISMC)).

Stretch2Engage

The Stretch2Engage framework was developed with the aim of improving and increasing capacity to engage people who access services, their friends and families.  The framework requires organisations to re-think their engagement activities by asking the question “How can my organisation more effectively engage?” rather than the usual approach of asking, “How can we enable people who access services to engage with us?”

This project, funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission, will provide an opportunity to test the framework’s premise and evaluate its efficacy in assisting organisations to undertake engagement for the purpose of system design, re-design and evaluation.  The Stretch2Engage partnership, led by
QNADA, will work with a small number of services to test the framework in situ.  The aim of this pilot is to explore the potential outcomes for services from the implementation of the Stretch2Engage framework.

For more information about this project, please visit the Stretch2Engage or the Queensland Mental Health Commission’s websites.

Systems Navigation, Early Intervention and Telephone Counselling Project

Working in partnership and funded by the 4 regional Primary Health Networks (PHN), North Queensland, Western Queensland, Central Queensland, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay and Darling Downs and West Moreton, this 18 month project seeks to address issues of awareness of and access to services for people with problematic alcohol and other drug use in regional, rural and remote Queensland.

QNADA and the PHNs worked in partnership with ADIS (Alcohol and Drug Information Service) and Insight to develop and deliver the project activities.  Activities included the development of a social media strategy and campaign targeting the 4 PHN regions encouraging people to seek help for themselves or a family member or friend by accessing the ADIS 24/7 telephone support and counselling service.  11 short vignettes were developed utilizing local spokespersons including PHN CEOs and staff, football players, musicians, a family member with a lived experience, ADIS staff and leaders from the sector.  The social media campaign was run throughout July 2018.

In recognising the critical role of primary health care services in rural and remote region in increasing access to alcohol and other drug treatment, QNADA worked with Insight to deliver 4 webinars targeting General Practitioners to increase their skills, knowledge and confidence to respond to alcohol and other drug issues and to support the reduction of stigma in the community.  These webinars were run between August and September 2018. 

Outcomes and learnings from this project will be documented in the final report due by February 2019.

Queensland alcohol and other drugs treatment and harm reduction outcomes framework

The development of the Queensland alcohol and other drugs outcomes framework got underway in early 2017, following on from an outcomes symposium in 2016. In collaboration with the Queensland AOD Sector Network, we brought together representatives of government, non-government and private specialist alcohol and other drugs services from across Queensland to identify a series of outcome indicators specific to:

• client changes that are directly affected by treatment (client indicators);
• treatment service quality (organisation indicators); and
• population level issues that may impact treatment (system indicators).

The Queensland AOD Sector Network collated the results after each round of meetings and synthesised the outcome indicators resulting in universal indicators (relevant across all treatment/intervention types) and those that are specific to:

• residential treatment;
• psychosocial interventions;
• harm reduction;
• withdrawal management; and
• medication assisted treatment.

The Queensland AOD Sector Convention was held in Brisbane on 22 June 2018 at Brisbane City Hall and brought together 110 service managers, policy makers and sector leaders from across the government and non-government alcohol and drugs sector in Queensland. The Queensland AOD Sector Network is pleased to release a copy of the Convention Report and announce that the draft Queensland AOD Treatment and Harm Reduction Outcomes Framework (THROF) was overwhelmingly endorsed at the event. The THROF will be officially released by the end of the year following amendments suggested at the Convention and further consultation with the Community Controlled Sector.

Working with Primary Health Networks

We continue to work with Primary Health Networks across the State to support their understanding of the sector and their options for investment.

In the Northern Qld PHN region, we have established two alcohol and other drug treatment services reference groups (in Cairns and Townsville), to harness the expertise of the local alcohol and other drugs treatment and harm reduction sector to support effective service delivery across the region.

In the Brisbane North PHN region, we have been funded to deliver a service integration and workforce development project, which aims to support the alcohol and other drug workforce through activities that promote joined up assessment processes, referral pathways, and support continuous quality improvement, evidence based treatment and service integration/coordination.

In the Brisbane South PHN region, we have been funded to establish and support a collaborative, made up of representatives from non-government and government specialist alcohol and other drug services. The collaborative is tasked with identifying and addressing barriers for clients attempting to access alcohol and other drug treatment in the Brisbane South region.

Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS)

We continue to support the collection of the AODTS NMDS for non-government services. The 2015-16 collection included 9912 episodes of care (up from 7555 in 2014-15) from 56 reporting establishments. Check back soon for details of the 2016-17 collection.

Capacity building

We support our members and the broader alcohol and other drugs sector to build their capacity to respond to shifting trends and the increasing number of clients who present with multiple and complex needs.

Our focus is on:

• establishing and maintaining linkages and strategic partnerships between the AOD sector and other health and community support sectors to develop greater understanding and collaboration;
• assisting NGO AOD treatment services to undertake service improvement initiatives;
• identifying and facilitating training opportunities for NGO AOD treatment services; and
• providing targeted information and resources to the NGO AOD treatment sector and other social and health services relating to effective responses to alcohol and other drugs related harm.