2011-12
Copyright
Gold Coast Drug Council Annual Report 2011-12
Published by the Gold Coast Drug Council, December 2012.
This document is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3 Australia licence.
© The Gold Coast Drug Council, 2012
In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt the work, as long as you attribute The Gold Coast Drug Council and abide by the licence terms. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Attribution
Content from this report should be attributed as:
The Gold Coast Drug Council, Gold Coast Drug Council Annual Report 2011-12 For a copy of this report go to www.livelifewell.org.au or contact
Marketing & Communications Manager
Live Life Well PO BOX 332 Spring Hill Q 4004
t: (07) 3834 0200
Contents
Chairman’s report . . . . 2
0
CEO’s report . . . . 4
0
At a glance . . . . 6
0
Our Board and governance . . . . 8
0
Our executive team . . . .16
0
Our history . . . . 20
0
Our story . . . . 22
0
Our services . . . . 26
0
Our achievements . . . . 30
0
Community services . . . . 30
0
Diversion services . . . . 36
0
Residential services . . . . 38
0
Banjara medical centre . . . . 40
0
Our corporate services . . . . 42
0
Our people . . . . 44
0
Our funders, partners and supporters . . . . 47
0
Our financial report . . . . 49
0
Table of figures
Figure 1: GCDC Board Members 2011-12 as at 30 June, 2012 . . . . 110
Figure 2: Number of clients seen by clinicians
at Banjara Medical Centre . . . . 410
The need for these services remains high with levels of personal distress and community concern associated with alcohol and other drug use showing no signs of decline . However, gains have been made in some areas such as tobacco smoking .
In May this year, the Gold Coast Drug Council and the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council merged with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland, under the corporate umbrella of Live Life Well.
With a combined history of service provision spanning nearly 80 years, the Live Life Well group is now a leading non-government provider of alcohol and other drug focussed services in Queensland.
As a group, we are able to take advantage of internal efficiencies that come with resource and knowledge sharing. Externally, we are better positioned to exercise leverage in our funding negotiations with governments or corporate sponsors and donors.
Under the merger arrangement, Life Live Well, Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland, Gold Coast Drug Council and Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council maintain their status as separate entities while sharing a common Board. Collectively the Board brings an impressive depth and breadth of governance experience to their deliberations. I wish to acknowledge and thank my fellow current Board members - David Tapsall, Raylee
Taylor, Amelia Callaghan, Cheryl Herbert, Damian Wright, Allan Barbeler, Dr Michael Bolton and Dr Jeremy Hayllar.
I also wish to acknowledge Andrew Maloney, previous Chair of the Gold Coast Drug Council and Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council boards for the leadership and diligence he so evidently displayed during the pre-merger negotiations. Additionally to those other Gold Coast Drug Council Board members who have vacated their positions during the year, I extend thanks to Dr Peita Melville and Don Eyre.
In June this year, Mary Alcorn resigned as Executive Director of the Gold Coast Drug Council. For the past twenty five years Mary has dedicated herself to nurturing
Over the past year
the Gold Coast Drug
Council has continued
its grand tradition of
delivering quality programs
for young people across
Chairman’s
report
and growing her beloved Mirikai from very humble beginnings to the preeminent position it currently holds within the sector. Mary’s contribution to the community extends well beyond her involvement with the Gold Coast Drug Council, and after a lifetime of service to others, we wish her well in her retirement.
The past year has presented the organization with more than its fair share of challenges. A competent and committed Gold Coast Drug Council management team have led from the front and it is fair to say that the whole of staff group have risen to every challenge, dealt with it and moved on. Their efforts have been truly praiseworthy.
Barry Scott
2012 will stand as a watershed year for the Gold Coast Drug Council (GCDC) and the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland (ADFQ) as these two iconic service providers, together with the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council (QDAC) merged under the corporate umbrella of Live Life Well (LLW) . It has been my privilege to be a part of this historic event .
I was fortunate to work closely with GCDC’s Executive Director Mary Alcorn (retired) who was a driving force in the merger and whose contribution to the sector over 25 years is unparalleled.
While the merger process has not been without its challenges, I am confident that we will look back and view the emergence of LLWA as a positive and strategically sound initiative – one that positions us favourable to respond to both the opportunities and challenges that we might encounter in the future. The merging of three organisations under a single entity is not a simple process. In addition to the legal and governance matters, there is a raft of corporate and operational issues that need to be addressed – for example, integrating human resource and accounting and payroll systems, corporate branding activities, designing and deploying an ICT system to support the group’s operations.
My thanks to all those who have contributed in these areas for without their time, effort, knowledge-base and commitment, we would not be in the sound position we are today. I would also like to extend my appreciation to all staff for their patience and continued strong work ethic during a period that was not without a degree of uncertainty and understandable anxiety for some. I also thank the previous GCDC Board, who presided over the organisation’s operations for the majority of the year, for their admirable dedication and service. I must thank members of the executive team for their support and the tremendous amount of time and effort
2012 will stand as a
watershed year for
the Gold Coast Drug
Council
CEO’s
report
they have put in towards bringing about a relatively smooth transition. There is little doubt that we are currently experiencing significant change in our service delivery landscape and that change, per se, is likely to be a constant in any future operating environment we might envision.
The challenge for organisations in the non-government sector is the same – how do we optimally fashion ourselves to thrive in such an environment?
In part the answer lies in establishing ourselves as an efficient, high quality service provider – connected to our consumers and community;
responsive and resourceful in our approach and judged by our service purchasers and partners to be a low risk, resilient, reliable and accountable organisation.
I believe that we are better placed than we were this time last year to deal with the future, no matter what it brings. I believe that over the coming year we will continue to consolidate and develop.
Together, as Live Life Well, we are that much more than the sum of our parts.
Mitchell Giles
14 May 2012—Live Life Well was established
. . . . CNAPIS provided intensive case support to 32 consumers with multiple and complex needs. Outcomes for clients included better health, education and a reduction in homelessness . . . . As at June 30, 2012, the Youth Out client Program (YOP) was servicing 23 young people and meeting all deliverables
. . . . Student Program assisted in the further education of 44 students from a wide range of educational institutions through work
placements with GCDC
Mirikai’s Therapeutic Community supported 179 residents with approximately 35 per cent completing their first 90 days of treatment
. . . . CLAIS continued to grow,
seeing 40 clients – 21 of whom were entered into the Mirikai Therapeutic Community. It also held 16 educational workshops, in conjunction with YODA, in Gold Coast high schools
. . . . The OASIS Halfway House program supported 38 residents with outcomes for clients, including education and employment. On average, over 70 per cent of OASIS clients, who finished the program, exited to work, training or further education options
Stop Pot continues to be a popular choice of intervention for cannabis users with 64 clients participating in Stop Pot groups
. . . . Young Families Support Program, which provides education and support around parents with substance use issues and aims to reduce the harms to their children, assisted 16 families
. . . . Youth Dual Diagnosis Program resulted in demonstrable clinical change for clients with evaluation showing a high satisfaction with service provided
. . . . The Kids in Focus program had 185 clients all with multiple and complex needs
At a glance
At a glance
Our Board
The GCDC Board ensures compliance with the organisation’s vision, mission and objectives, and guides the development, execution and modification of our organisation’s strategy.
Our Board consists of nine Directors who are independent Non-Executive Directors who bring a wealth of experience and expertise, including corporate stewardship.
Role of our Board
The Board is ultimately responsible for the strategic direction and operations of GCDC to achieve its objectives and for the sound management of its business and assets, now and into the future. The role of the Board is outlined in a Board and Governance policy, which is regularly reviewed and updated as necessary.
The Board must ensure that our mission is achieved in the most efficient and effective way possible, while preserving and promoting GCDC’s reputation.
How we are
governed
The Gold Coast
Drug Council
(GCDC) is
incorporated under
the Associations
Incorporation
Act 1981.
Ultimate
responsibility for
the governance
of GCDC rests
with its Board of
Directors.
Our Board and
governance
The key roles of the GCDC Board are to:
• be custodians of the assets of the GCDC
• establish a strategic plan for the GCDC
• appoint, evaluate the performance, establish the remuneration, and terminate the services of the CEO
• establish policies and approve procedures for the effective operations of the GCDC
• approve financial budgets and non-financial business targets
• monitor organisational performance and take action to achieve strategies and the financial and non-financial targets
• determine that the GCDC’s accounts are true and fair, and are in conformity with Australian Accounting Standards
• determine that satisfactory arrangements are in place for auditing the GCDC financial affairs and that the scope of the external audit is adequate
• Select and recommend Auditors to shareholders at general meetings
• review its own processes and effectiveness, and the balance of competence on the Board.
Board oversight
The Board oversees and monitors management’s performance by establishing an annual program of meetings and sub-committee meetings that is coordinated with management tasks and statutory requirements. This is also designed to provide a framework for recurring matters to ensure that they are properly sequenced and not neglected.
In 2011-12 the Board met 10 times receiving detailed financial and other reports at these meetings and additional information and input from management when necessary.
Chair’s Role
In addition to performing the duties of a Director, the role of GCDC’s Chair is to:
• chair meetings of the Board of Directors
• chair General Meetings of GCDC
• ensure the timely and efficient conduct of meetings
• provide leadership to the Board of Directors
• act as an official spokesperson and
representative of the Board of Directors and the GCDC
• maintain close contact with the CEO on strategic and operational matters
• hold an ex officio position on all Committees of the Board.
Directors’ Role
The role of GCDC’s Board of Directors is to:
• understand and apply the GCDC vision and values
• attend all meetings of the Board of Directors; or seek leave through the Chair
• attend all meetings of
Committees to which appointed
• act to fulfil the key roles of the Board
• undertake Board agreed activities and tasks to further GCDC s objectives
• observe the Director Code of Conduct
• maintain communication with stakeholders.
How are Directors selected
The Board should have a diverse range of qualities and experience amongst its members. Among the specific qualities that should exist are:• a will to pursue the objects of the GCDC
• the capacity to work effectively on a Board
• a ready observance of the Director Code of Conduct.
Directors should provide the skills and experience required to adequately direct the GCDC range of business drivers, and its operations generally. These will include:
• charitable operations
• health care service delivery
• human relations
• government relations
• legal
• finance and accounting
• external board experience.
How are Directors
appointed
Directors are appointed either by election at a General Meeting of Members, or by resolution of the Board to fill a casual vacancy. The Board reserves the right to make a short-term Director appointment to fulfil a specific need.
Management’s responsibility
The Board delegates responsibility for the day-to-day operations and administration of GCDC to the CEO and Executive management. GCDC’s Executive management team comprises the CEO, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Operating Officer and the Clinical Director.The CEO provides the leadership of the Executive Management Team and the organisation.
The CEO is also responsible for achieving the results set out in the strategic plan and is authorised by the Board to put in place policies and practices, take decisions and actions and initiate activities to achieve those results.
Risk management
The Board and CEO identify and assess the risks associated with the operations of GCDC and take appropriate steps to reduce and mitigate the risks.
The CEO is responsible for with the monitoring of risk in GCDC and reporting on a regular basis to the Board of the incidence of any new risks, or changes in existing risks.
Committees
The Board may establish Committees to assist in the governance of GCDC under Section 32 of the Rules of Association.
Audit
In 2011-12 GCDC engaged Grant Thornton, an independent external auditor under Rule 35.2 (d) of the Rules of Association.
Independent advice
The Board and Board committees have access to advice on legal, investment and taxation matters. In 2011-12 the Board engaged Hall Payne to advise on various matters including on the merger of GCDC with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland and Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council to form Live Life Well.
Director Code of Conduct
The Directors voluntarily and individually adopt a Board Code of
Conduct. This is specific to their activities when meeting as a Board and acting as a director; and is in addition to their observance of the GCDC Code of Conduct and the Values adopted in the Strategic Plan.
Board and its members are made aware of GCDC code of conduct and conflicts of interest policy during their induction to the organisation.
FIGuRE 1: GCDC Board Members 2011-12 as at 30 June 2012
Name
Position
Tenure
Barry Scott Chairman Appointed 27 April 2012
David Tapsall Vice Chairman
Damian Wright Treasurer Appointed 27 April 2012
Cheryl Herbert Director Appointed 27 April 2012
Allan Barbeler Director Appointed 27 April 2012
Dr Michael Bolton Director Appointed 27 April 2012 Dr Jeremy Hayllar Director Appointed 1 April 2012 Amelia Callaghan Director
Raylee Taylor Director
Mary Alcorn Director Resigned 27 April 2012
Peita Melville Director Resigned 27 April 2012
Andrew Moloney Director Resigned 27 April 2012
Barry Scott
Chairman
Barry has more than 40 years’ retail experience predominantly in senior or general manager positions with both the Coles, Myer and Woolworths groups, prior to being appointed Chief Executive Officer of both public and private companies.
He currently acts as Chairman for another significant Australian company- Crest Electronics, Australia’s dominant importer and distributor of
consumer electronic accessories and acts as an executive coach for senior executives and CEOs.
In recent times he has also chaired several other companies on both Management and Advisory Boards. These include the Vac Group, Bubs Baby Shops and Far Pavilions. Prior to his appointment as Chairman of Live Life Well, he was president of ADFQ for four years.
Appointed as Chief Executive of Freedom Furniture in 1997, he was seen by many to be the driving force in transforming the logistics, IT, and stores presentation of this public company over the next two years.
He left Freedom in 2000 and was approached to develop and ultimately head Cyberlynx as Chief Executive. Since that time, he has acted as Chairman of an e-commerce company in the hospitality industry and acted as Joint Venture Director for Lion Nathan and as Chair of TEC 23 (The Executive Connection) for three years, coaching and mentoring CEOs to enhance their lifestyle. He was awarded in two of those three years for excellence.
Barry has a rare combination of experience from grass roots retailer, to CEO of public and private companies. He has broad as well as specific experience in logistics, IT, ecommerce and hospitality. A capable
facilitator and team leader, he is driven to producing positive outcomes in large and small businesses. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors as well as Past President of the Rotary Club of Logan (Queensland).
David Tapsall
Deputy Chairman
David has worked in senior management with Qantas for more than 33 years and brings a diverse range of experience to the Board in the areas of human resources, industrial relations and finance. Prior to being appointed to the board of Live Life Well, he was a member of the GCDC board for two years.
Damian Wright
Treasurer
Damian is a chartered accountant and Audit Partner with BDO Chartered Accountants. He has been working in the accounting profession for some 20 years and provides services for a wide range of businesses in a variety of industries. He also provides professional services for a large number of not for profit organisations.
Prior to being appointed to the Live Life Well board, he was a member of the ADFQ board for five years.
Previously, he was Chair of Holyoake – an organisation that provides counselling services to family members affected by drug and alcohol issues.
Prior to being appointed to the board of Live Life Well, he was Treasurer of the ADFQ board. He was a member of the ADFQ board for six years.
Allan Barbeler
Director
Allan has recently retired after more than 40 years’ experience as a practising lawyer.
His interest in alcohol-related issues commenced with his membership of the St Vincent de Paul Society, initially in connection with the operation of a hostel for homeless persons in Margaret Street, Brisbane and, subsequently, at a new premises at South Brisbane.
In his capacity as chair of a committee that established and managed a half-way house for recovering alcoholics at Auchenflower, Brisbane, he was a participant in the consultation process relating to the overhaul of the strategies and facilities for the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related illnesses in Queensland.
Dr Michael Bolton
Director
Michael’s involvement in health care commenced almost 50 years ago when he graduated in medicine from the University of Queensland. He worked as a GP in Chinchilla Western QLD from 1967 to 1978. After that, he became a Medical Officer and subsequently Director of Alcohol and Drug Dependence Services in the Queensland Department of Health until 1989. Staying with the Department, he took up the role of Director of Rural Health from 1989 to 1991 then became Assistant Regional Director of the Brisbane North Regional Health Authority from 1991 to 1995. He was a Medical Officer and subsequently palliative care physician at Mt Olivet Community Services, Brisbane, and the Medical Adviser at Damascus Alcohol and Drug Unit, Holy Spirit Hospital (later Brisbane Private Hospital) from 1995 to 2008. He is a specialist palliative care physician and has been doing palliative medicine locums in Australasia since 2008.
His qualifications/awards are: AM; MBBS; FAChPM; FAChAM.
Prior to being appointed to the Live Life Well board, he was a member of the ADFQ board for six years.
Amelia Callaghan
Director
Amelia is the State Manager, Queensland, Western Australia and Northern Territory at headspace – National Youth Mental Health Foundation Ltd, which is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing under the Youth Mental Health Initiative Program.
She worked as manager at headspace Gold Coast from December 2009 until she took up the state management position in July 2011. She was General Manager of headspace services from 2008 to 2009.
Amelia has acquired a Masters of Social Administration from The University of Queensland, a Graduate Diploma in Psychology from the University of England and a Bachelor of Social Science – Psychology from the Queensland University of Technology.
Dr Jeremy Hayllar
Director
Jeremy is the Clinical Director of the Metro North Mental Health - Alcohol and Drug Service. His interests include dual diagnosis and the growing prevalence of pharmaceutical opioid dependence.
Jeremy took up membership of the Live Life Well Board in April 2012. He grew up in the UK, completing a degree in law before he studied medicine, working for three years in Birmingham and four years at Northwick Park Hospital NW London. He came to Queensland with his wife in 1992, planning to spend a year working at Mt Isa Hospital before returning home. Instead he became Director of Medical Services and remained in Mt Isa for 10 years. In 2002, he relocated to Brisbane where he undertook a one-year, full-time course in professional photography, and also began part-time work at The Prince Charles Hospital. He was appointed as Clinical Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service in 2004. He has had a range of other roles including Government Medical Officer in Mt Isa
(1994-2002), Member of the West Moreton Community Corrections Board (2003-2006), Deputy Chair of the State Recognised Practice Committee (2006- ongoing) and Chair of the Primary and Community Clinical Council, Metro North Health Service District (2010-2012).
Qualifications/awards: BA(Oxon), MB (Hons), MSc, MD(Bham), FRACP, FRCP, FAChAM, DTM&H; Centenary Medal 2001.
Cheryl Herbert
Director
Cheryl was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission in September 2006 and has extensive health leadership and management experience.
Prior to that leading role, Cheryl had 10 years’ CEO experience as Executive Director of Spiritus Care Services, which comprised the merged St Luke’s Nursing Service, Anglicare and the Anglican Care of the Aged and was previously the CEO of St Luke’s Nursing Service.
Cheryl has qualifications in nursing and midwifery and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Nurses Australia, Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Care Executives and an adjunct Associate Professor of University of Queensland.
Cheryl has been noted as an innovative and collaborative industry leader. She has worked closely with some of Australia’s near neighbours to share skills and expertise, and has served on the following panels/Boards: Queensland Health Reform Panel, Forster Inquiry into Queensland Health, Australian Pharmaceutical Advisory Council, National Nursing Workforce and Education planning, Anglicare Australia, Anglicare NT, Bayside District Health Service Council, ACQI, and has accompanied the Australian Ministers for Ageing and Foreign Affairs in 1998, 2000 and 2002 to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan to showcase Australian aged care. She presently retains
membership on the board of the External Advisory Council, School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Queensland and ACHS State Advisory Committee. Prior to being appointed to the board of Live Life Well, she was Vice President of the ADFQ board.
Raylee Taylor
Director
Raylee is the Chair and founding member of Care For Life: Suicide Prevention Association. This association aims to equip people with the ability to assist in the prevention of suicide. It produces resources for young people and service providers and provides training to organisations and others in the community. Raylee has been a dedicated volunteer for suicide prevention for 17 years.
She also volunteers as Chair of the Gold Coast Youth Network, Advisory member on the Gold Coast Family Relationship Committee, a member of the Reference Group for the Expanded Horizons program and a member of the Heads Up Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Consortia on the Gold Coast. Raylee has overcome the tragedy of losing her son to suicide to work hard at suicide prevention and assisting families to work through their grief of losing loved ones. She was a facilitator of the Bereaved By Suicide support group with the Salvation Army for 14 years and is a support person for The Compassionate Friends.
Some of her achievements include producing the Youth Suicide Prevention Program for Queensland TAFE, which has since been distributed throughout Australia and New Zealand. In 2000, Raylee was invited by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to prepare a paper entitled Preventing suicide: How to Start a Survivors Group, she was subsequently invited to present a paper for the IASP international conference in India.
Raylee received a LIFE Award from Suicide Prevention Australia and a Premiers Award for Queensland Seniors, is an Honorary Rotarian and Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of her work in suicide prevention.
She is also a member of Suicide Prevention Australia and the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
She was a board member for GCDC and QDAC for three years.
Retirement of the
Executive Director
– Mary Alcorn
Mary Alcorn retired from her position as Executive Director of the Gold Coast Drug Council in May 2012 after 25 years of dedication and commitment in that role. As Executive Director, she led the growth of the GCDC, into a dynamic and innovative organisation, developing a wide range of new services.
During that time she also served a 13-year term on the Gold Coast District Health Council, two as Chair, and sat on the board of the Australian Therapeutic Communities association for 16 years. She was a member of the QNADA board since its inception in 2007.
Since taking over the reins in 1987, Mary was the driving force behind GCDC, which became the first community alcohol and drug service to gain accreditation nationally. Mary’s vision and drive saw the service grow to what it is today. The Gold Coast Drug Council is now recognised, as one of south-east Queensland’s premier alcohol and drug services. Throughout her long career, Mary has been consistently recognised for her commitment and excellence. In 2009, she was the Queensland winner of the Pride of Australia Medal in the Care and Compassion category for her dedication to GCDC. She has also received the Centenary Medal awarded by Prime Minister, John Howard for distinguished service as a Director of a Drug Rehabilitation Centre and the Australia Day Achievement Medallion from the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia in 2002.
She was nominated for Australian of the Year Award 2003 (Gold Coast Local Hero).
The Board, management, staff and clients of GCDC are proud of Mary’s achievement and appreciate her tireless efforts over the years.
The Gold Coast Drug Council Alcohol (GCDC) is led by a team
of executive managers with expertise in the broad range of
skills needed to effectively manage a peak non-government
organisation.
In May 2012 GCDC merged with the Alcohol and Drug
Foundation Queensland and the Queensland Drug and Alcohol
Council to form Live Life Well.
As part of the merger three new executive positions were
established - Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
Clinical Director. The team is led by the CEO, Mitchell Giles.
Our
Executive
Our
Executive
Mitchell Giles
Chief Executive Officer
Mitchell is the Chief Executive Officer of Live Life Well, incorporating the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland, the Gold Coast Drug Council and The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council. He was previously the CEO of the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland for six years.
He is a Registered Nurse, holding a Bachelor of Business and a Master of Health Science (majoring in Mental Health). It was, as a nurse in 1988 that he commenced work in the alcohol and other drugs sector within an inpatient Detox Unit. He later went on to manage another hospital-based drug and alcohol service for 12 years and has also managed services in the community.
Helen Barrie
Chief Operating Officer (Acting) Helen is a Certified Practicing Accountant with more than 17 years’ experience working in the not-for-profit sector in accounting and management roles.
Helen commenced with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland in May 2008 – her role encompassed finance and accounting, quality
Meet our executive team
assurance, workplace health and safety, human resources, information systems and communications systems. Since May 2012, she has been in the role of Acting Chief Operating Officer for Live Life Well. Prior to this she was Corporate Services Manager for the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland.
Mark Walsh
Chief Financial Officer (Acting) Mark Walsh held the role of Acting Chief Financial Officer from May 2012 to 30 June 2012 following the creation of the new position. A permanent recruit process will be conducted in the next reporting period.
Ivor Shaw
Clinical Director (Acting) Ivor completed his training at the University of Queensland and was registered as a
psychologist in 1980. Originally employed by the Alcohol and Drugs Programs Association of Queensland (now ADFQ) to establish and manage the first Interlock EAP in Townsville, Ivor returned to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland in early 2008 as a Clinical Consultant for Logan House.
In 1983, he was invited to become the Clinical Director of Mancare – a 40-bed residential alcohol and drug treatment facility operated by the Salvation Army.
In 1985, he worked within Queensland Health’s Alcohol and Drug Dependence Service. For the next 12 years, Ivor
worked in clinical, evaluation and research and policy areas within Queensland Health alcohol and drug services – the last eight of these in the Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Branch.
Our organisational
structure
clinical director chief financial
officer • Advocacy • Business Growth • Marketing and Communications • Budgeting • Financial Management • Accounts • Payroll • Programs • Treatment Services • Community Services Board of directors chief executive officer chief operating officer • HR • WH&S • Quality • Information Communications Technology • Corporate Services
GCDC
QDAC
ADFQ
Our History
In May 2012, the Gold Coast Drug Council, Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland and the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council merged to establish Live Life Well (LLW). LLW’s services extend across Queensland and include both residential and non-residential programs.
With a collective history of service provision spanning nearly 80 years, the LLW Group is a collection of well credentialed and experienced service providers, with over 130 staff and 40 volunteers working with clients throughout Queensland. Throughout our history we have
shared a purpose of delivering services to individuals and their families who experience difficulties arising from drug and alcohol use and/or mental health issues.
A bit about our
founding entities
Gold Coast Drug Council
The Gold Coast Drug Council Inc. (GCDC) had its beginnings as a voluntary organisation known as the Drug Referral Centre. It was established in 1971 as the first alcohol and drug service on the Gold Coast. In 1981 land was granted by the Gold Coast City Council at 191 West Burleigh Road to establish a centre for education, prevention, assessment, referral
and detoxification — this was called Mirikai (or ‘place of peace’).
In the 1980’s the GCDC focused on developing professional standards for treatment and education and in 1987 adopted a Therapeutic Community approach to treatment services for young people. Since that time the organisation has developed community services which assist young people and their families and include residential services and a wide range of out-client services.
Alcohol and Drug
Foundation Queensland
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation Queensland (ADFQ) has been providing services for those affected by alcohol and other
who we are
drug use, their families, and the wider Queensland community since 1974. A non-government organisation, ADFQ is dedicated to reducing the individual and social harms associated with alcohol and drug use and promoting health enhancing behaviour change.
ADFQ’s extensive experience and expertise means that it has the ability to develop and conduct dedicated programs for, and on behalf of, a variety of stakeholders including state and federal government departments, as well as large and small
organisational clients.
Queensland Drug and
Alcohol Council
Commencing service in 2010, the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Council (QDAC) is the ’youngest’ member of the LLW group, and was established to expand drug and alcohol services throughout Queensland.
QDAC established an assessment and referral Shop Front in Cairns in 2010, and in May 2012 opened a Therapeutic Community in Mareeba which provides residential treatment services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from Cairns and the surrounding regions.
Our shared vision
Lives lived well – by
promoting and supporting
health and wellbeing
Our story...
our mission, values
and strategic
Our story...
our mission, values
and strategic
Our united mission
We are united in our mission to provide services in the community that reduce individual and social harms by:
• addressing addictive behaviours
• building individual and community capacity
• advocating and supporting healthy lifestyles.
The values we live by
Our values are at core of who we are and about which we hold dear − we strive so that our decisions and actions reflect these values. We believe that by putting our values into practice, guided by our vision and strategic plan, we can create significant and meaningful benefits for our consumers, communities, staff and other stakeholders, not the least of which are our funders.
We act with
integrity
in all we do
Integrity is a consistency of actions, values, methods, principles and expectations. Integrity is the cement that binds our values together.
We provide
leadership
as an organisation and as individuals
Leadership is a process of social influence in which we enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task, including advocating for better outcomes around issues that fall within our sphere of concern.
We value the
trust
that is placed in us
Trust is placed in us by individuals and government; we strive to build confidence based on our work with our consumers, colleagues, partners and suppliers.
We accept
accountability
for all our actions and decisions
Accountability is reflected in our commitment to exercising sound stewardship over our reputation and resources and acting with diligence, honesty, reliability and transparency.
We are setting our goals high – what we
plan to achieve
We have identified five important goals which will support the
achievement of our vision, realise the opportunities and address some of the challenges that will arise in the next three years.
We aim to:
Provide evidence supported services that match or exceed
consumer and other stakeholder expectations
Build engagement and collaboration with the community
Grow and build our capability
Support commitment and engagement in our people
Develop integrated corporate systems that demonstrate a high level
of commercial efficiency and client satisfaction
Our services
– an overview of
what we do
Outreach Accommodation
Support and Integrated
Services
OASIS delivers safe and supported accommodation to young people in crisis, who have a history of illicit drug dependence, and sometimes with additional mental health problems. Residents are required to collaborate on a treatment plan designed to achieve their goals and exit the program within a six month period. However, length of stay is determined on an individual basis and may be extended in cases of complex needs.
Drug Court Program
This program is part of the Queensland Drug Court Program and helps drug dependent offenders to deal with their addiction(s) by combining treatment services, correctional programs, and frequent drug testing, with supervision by the Courts. This program provides case management; medical support; counselling; advocacy; court support; crisis intervention and social activities. Participants of the program are initially required to attend a regular living skills group with a gradual reduction in attendance as the participant progresses through the three-stage program.
Complex Needs
Assessment Panel and
Integrated Services
Complex needs assessment panel and integrated services (CNAPIS) brings government and community representatives in partnership to provide a coordinated approach when assessing and planning the needs of clients with complex needs, especially with regards to the complexities inherent in co-morbidity (AOD and Mental Illness). The CNAPIS function is to address identified issues and barriers by planning, implementing and reviewing the strategies and interventions required to support young lives at risk alongside their families/significant other.
Queensland Illicit Drug
Diversion Initiative
The program offers health interventions as an alternative to the criminal justice system. It affords clients an opportunity to address their illicit substance use through an early intervention that diverts eligible minor illicit drug offenders utilising the Police and Court diversion programs, in many cases, before incurring a criminal record.
Youth Outreach Program
This program promotes the well-being and health of young people who are experiencing interpersonal and social functioning problems related to drug use. The service includes counselling, psycho-education and arts-based therapeutic groups, all within a harm-minimisation model. It provides early interventions e.g. anger management, problem-solving, goal-setting and stress
management) and
psycho-education for young people around alcohol and drug misuse. The Program also embraces a solution orientation, where a young person’s strengths are recognized and encouraged.
Youth Outreach Drug and
Alcohol Team
YODA provides a flexible alcohol and drug outreach service in partnership with local youth agencies and programs. These services include 6 to 8 individual counselling sessions and educational early intervention programs. This service offers 6 to 8 individual counselling sessions focusing on education and counselling. Additionally, YODA will provide group educational programs designed to increase knowledge and insight into substance abuse issues.
Interurban Arts
Interurban Arts is an arts and life skills program with a focus on young people and mixed gender with complexities including AOD, Justice and social disengagement. The program creatively
co-ordinates, develops and produces sustainable opportunities and experiences for individuals and groups to make positive changes and promote good health in their lives and communities. Through the Inter Urban Arts program GCDC deliver therapeutic arts workshops, youth peer support programs, training workshops, public art projects, community consultation and Community Cultural Development Projects. The principles of social justice underpin all the work that is delivered through Inter Urban Arts.
Dual Diagnosis Support
Program
This program supports young people who have substance abuse and mental health problems (known as “dual diagnosis”). The dual diagnosis support program operates by assessment, specialist intervention and treatment planning.
Family Therapy Program
The Family Support Program assists family members, couples and partners as well as friends of young people with alcohol and drug-related problems. The aim of the program is two-fold: to help the clients support the troubled young person and to assist clients in self-care. The service offers individual, couple, family and group counselling sessions.
The family therapy program also facilitates the Family and Friends Support Group. This group runs once a week and is facilitated by an external provider. This group provides support for family/ friends of those with drug and/or alcohol problems.
Young Families
The Young Family Support Program assists any parents (with younger children, whose ages may range from newborn up to early teens) experiencing alcohol and/or drug related problems, or a dual diagnosis (both drug/alcohol and mental health problems). The aim of the program is to provide these parents with individualised support (treatment / counselling) and group education, focusing on the addiction/mental health problem, as well as the impact this problem has on their families.
Kids in Focus
The Gold Coast Drug Council leads a collaborative partnership with the Benevolent Society Early Years Centre and Wesley Mission Brisbane. This provides Kids in Focus with specialist wraparound services for families impacted by problematic substance use. Healthy attachment, resilience and adolescence issues can all be addressed while supporting parents within a dual diagnosis framework.
Clinical Liaison Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islanders
CLAIS (Clinical Liaison Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders) provides culturally competent counselling/ mentoring for clients, as well as other GCDC services, to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people and their families where a need has been identified. Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander young people and their families, within the Gold Coast region, who are experiencing problems with drug and alcohol and may be experiencing mental health disorders.
Diversion Services - Stop Pot
The Stop Pot course is an
educational and supportive group for current cannabis users, with clients accessing the service from across the community.
The course takes place on a weekly basis, running for five weeks. On average, ten people attend each Stop Pot group, so the groups are quite small, allowing participants to interact and develop social support
within the group. Typical Stop Pot clients can include individuals or couples where cannabis has contributed to the dysfunction of their interpersonal relationships.
Mirikai Therapeutic
Community
Mirikai is a specialist alcohol and other drug treatment program that works on a therapeutic community model. It’s goal is to enhance the capacity and commitment of clients to achieve, as well as maintain an optimal level of personal and social functioning free from harmful drug use. Mirikai’s goal is to assist residents to achieve and maintain a
personally satisfying and socially responsible lifestyle free from harmful drug use.
Banjara Medical Centre
Banjara Medical Centre offers medical and psychological interventions that help reduce the anxiety of clients with more complex needs. It is a “one stop shop” venue, providing a familiar and friendly atmosphere for consumers. Banjara is open daily for medical and allied health services. It also houses the Early Psychosis Unit of Queensland Health.
Outreach Programs
and Services
The Gold Coast Drug Council has numerous Outreach Programs and Services that address a wide range of needs in the community. These programs are vital to the health and wellbeing of people on the Gold Coast who are experiencing adversity in their lives either on a personal level or with someone they are close to. Outreach provides flexible service delivery that meets the consumer on their ‘turf’ in a safe environment. Outreach on the Gold Coast is unique – this comes from our many stakeholder partnerships and collaborative working
relationships in the sector. The following are great examples of how Outreach works with many and varied agencies working for improvement in the health and wellbeing of our community.
Complex Needs
Assessment Panel and
Integrated Services
(CNAPIS)
2011-12 has been a busy year for the Complex Needs Assessment Panel & Integrated Services program.
The CNAPIS team have provided case management support and advocacy for consumers with multiple and complex needs -
consumers that no one service could assist. The “It Takes a Village” statement is very true for these people. CNAPIS is a stakeholder-driven program with a core group of 15 community members over the past year. These members came from a range of diverse NGO’s and government agencies that came together for the common purpose of adding value to the primary agency that makes the referral to CNAPIS. The CNAPIS team consists of two full-time support workers – Adam Dreyer and Tristan Abba – and Tara Piggins who worked two days per week. Suzi Morris is the program’s coordinator.
CNAPIS provided intensive case support to 32 consumers during 2011-12. It built capacity in the community to continue to support these consumers and, through the Advisory Committee, set up by CNAP through the Youth At Risk Program of Wesley Mission Brisbane, was able to identify service gaps and report back to Queensland Health through the Primary Care partnership Council and Medicare Local.
Outcomes for our clients included better health, educational gains and a reduction in homelessness by supporting clients to retain their tenancy in the social housing sector.
Clients are referred through agencies who remain the primary case managers for that person. The added value of CNAPIS to this case management process by providing practical support, enabled case managers to assist their client in achieving their goals. As at June 30, 2012, CNAPIS was supporting 29 clients, all with multiple and complex needs, in the 17-30 age group and of mixed gender. Of these, 40 per cent were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
CNAPIS is funded by Queensland Health through the Primary Care Partnership Council.
Our achievements
Community
Young Families Support
Program
The Young Families Support Program is funded by the Queensland Department of Communities to add value to the Act for Kids program’s Rapid Assessment Intervention (RAI). It is a clinical role and has one clinician working 10.5 hours per week. This role is crucial to the Act for Kids program as it provides the education and support around parents with substance use issues and aims to reduce the harms to their children. This program works closely with other family programs of GCDC. In 2011-12, the program assisted 16 families.
“I would have lost my kids if I didn’t have someone like A advocating for me…she never lost faith in me that I could turn my life around.”
Family Therapy and
Support Program
The Family Therapy and Support Program is a therapeutic program that provides family therapy to parents, partners, friends and carers of young people with substance use issues. This is achieved through individual counselling sessions and a Family and Friends Support Group. During 2011-12, the group ran over 10 weeks and was a closed support/educational forum for those people who had a loved one experiencing substance use issues. The program ran two days per week and the group ran in the evenings one day per week. It had a part-time clinician, Matt McGregor, and a group facilitator.
Funded by the Department of Health and Ageing the program works with a number of other GCDC programs and services to help create a supportive
environment for families, especially those family members who have a loved one in Mirikai, GCDC’s therapeutic community. In particular in 2011-12 it worked with Kids in Focus, which offers intensive case support and counselling to the residents of Mirikai while they are in treatment and follows up with them on transition.
Youth Outreach Drug and
Alcohol
The Youth Outreach Drug and Alcohol (YODA) program operates as a mobile outreach service, with three dedicated specialist AOD youth counsellors who work closely with youth stakeholders on the Gold Coast. The program offers early and brief interventions as well as a longer term flexible service delivery for young people aged between 12 and 25 years and of mixed gender.
YODA has partnership
agreements with Youth Justice, Scisco Career Pathways for Youth, Youth At Risk Alliance (YARA) as well as Education Queensland. During 2011-12 YODA ran a series of workshops and educational groups that educated young people on the risks associated with substance use. It used a client-centred approach and assisted young people in building resilience as well as capacity building in the community.
YODA works under the Harm Reduction Framework and No Wrong Door Policy. Over the past year, the team actively engaged in community development within the youth sector and worked alongside other youth-centred programs in the area. Feedback included this positive comment:
“I always know that C will listen and not judge me or tell me what to do… it’s nice to have someone who cares”
YODA offers a range of activities all aimed at young people aged between 12 and 25 years, of mixed genders and ethnicity. During 2011-12, the mobile service was seen to be a “user” friendly option for these young people, many of whom were homeless or in care. Meeting these young people on their “turf” allowed GCDC counsellors to engage quickly and, in turn, were more effective in gaining rapport. YODA worked collaboratively with key stakeholders in the sector, including Youth Justice and YARA. The YODA staff also provided a training program called MAPS – Mentor & Peer Support for young people to be skilled in being mentors for other young people experiencing adversity. This was in partnership with Creative Inclusive (formerly Inter Urban Arts). Since the last report, this program has assisted more than 100 young people.
The YODA team consisted of a team leader, and one full-time and one 0.8 counsellors. The program is funded by Queensland Health.
Kids in Focus
The Kids in Focus (KIF) program is an initiative of the Commonwealth Government with the aim to reduce the harms associated with substance to parents and their children. Gold Coast Drug Council has had a KIF since 2010. During 2011-12, it had 185 clients come through the program all with multiple and complex needs. The KIF program is a collaboration between GCDC, The Benevolent Society and Wesley Mission Brisbane. GCDC heads the program, which employs two full-time staff to provide support and advocacy to clients in need. There are a number of stakeholders including but not exclusive to Child Safety, Youth Justice, Queensland Health’s Child and Youth Mental Health Service and Corrections. The team is led by Jo Haitana-Evans and has three other support staff from across the three agencies.
During 2011-12, KIF ran groups and workshops that educated and supported carers of children and focussed on the health and wellbeing of the family system. A comment:
“If J and S hadn’t advocated for me to reunite my kids and help me with housing, I don’t know what would have happened to me… but I know it would have been bad.”
This program is funded through FaCHSIA and is a member of Family Relationships Services Australia.
Youth Outreach Program
The Youth Outreach Program (YOP) runs an in-house counselling service as well as being mobile. It works closely with the other youth program YODA in being able to provide flexible and creative activities for young people. The program is run by senior Social Worker, Erin Hardie who has many years’ experience in working with this client group. As of June 30, 2012, the program was servicing 23 young people and running a group for community-based clients called Early Birds which is an open didactic group that covers topics on relapse prevention, anger management and communication strategies.
YOP has numerous partners in the youth sector and belongs to several youth networks. It provides advice to family members and friends if necessary as well as running educational workshops at Gold Coast schools. Over the past year, YOP’s flexible approach to service delivery meant that this program exceeded client expectations. It continues to use creative ways in assisting young people on the Gold Coast. A comment:
“E is great, she really gets me… always encouraging me to be assertive, and even when I mess up she still keeps helping me, and she’s really cool…”
This program is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.
Drug Awareness Course
The Drug Awareness Course (DAC) is a 10-week educational program that educates community members on the issues relating to drug effects, lifestyle; theories of treatment and resources available. During 2011-12, the program ran three times throughout the year and featured guest presenters that facilitated informative sessions once a week for 10 weeks. Evaluations only highlight the need for this service and show that the program is meeting the expectations of its participants. DAC is part of the GCDC culture and, while there have been a few changes in relation to speakers/presenters, DAC will continue next year.
This program is not funded.
CLAIS Program
Since the last annual report, CLAIS has continued to grow, seeing a total of 40 clients engage with the program, 21 of those were entered into the Mirikai Therapeutic Community. We had four clients graduate – two were being co-case managed alongside the Court Program. CLAIS delivered a presentation at the SEWB Workforce State Gathering and Regional Forum and World Suicide Prevention Day, and also provided Cultural Awareness Workshops for the Developing Partnerships with Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander people for the Beenleigh region.
Over the past year, 16 educational workshops, in conjunction with YODA, were delivered in various Gold Coast high schools and this continues to be of high demand. CLAIS worked alongside Yan-Coorara to deliver Reclaim Your Spirit, which is a relapse prevention and drug education workshop. CLAIS has and continues to provide cultural awareness information sessions and yarning circles to various organisations.
CLAIS continues to be a part of Karulbo Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and has established the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander DRASTIC in collaboration with Inter Urban Arts and Indigenous
Health. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander DRASTIC is an initiative established to provide support to youth aged between 12-17 years who are disengaging from school. CLAIS is also working in partnership with the Department of Communities on the Homes for Life project, which is a panel of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Stakeholders who assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients with complex needs to sustain tenancy through intensive case management.
Cairns Drug Court
Supported Accommodation
Program
In July 2011, the Gold Coast Drug Council, through its involvement with the Far North Queensland Department of Health and Ageing Project, was invited to assist with the facilitating of the Cairns Drug Court Supported Accommodation Program (CDCSAP) due to the closure of Lyons House in Cairns. At the request of the Department of Communities, and in an initial ‘care takers’ role, GCDC recruited two workers (Carla Wallace, Coordinator) and Maria Bridgeman (Support Worker) to fill the roles in facilitating a program that involved the management
of five houses in the Cairns community to support up to 12 clients (including families) through an Intensive Drug Rehabilitation Order (IDRO).
Eventually the program went to open tender which GCDC won. The program design ensures that an intensive outreach support model is coordinated and facilitated with the provision of practical and housing support to the clients by the CDCSAP workers.
During 2011-12, the program supported clients to attend appointments and provided counselling, advocacy and housing support and assistance with court matters among other initiatives.
The workers also provided intensive support to the clients in assisting with negotiating criminal and drug-related issues that have had clients incarcerated for periods of their lives - a significant challenge for a somewhat stigmatised and marginalised population.
Our achievements
Diversion Services
Drug Court Program and
Supported Accommodation
Program
The Drug Court Program was developed within southeast Queensland to help substance dependent offenders deal with issues related to addiction, criminal behaviour and mental health by combining treatment services, correctional programs and frequent drug screening with supervision through the Courts. During 2011-12, eight of the 40 beds at Mirikai were reserved for Drug Court participants. GCDC staff, who managed the Drug Court Programs, worked closely with Queensland Health and Queensland Corrective Services in the treatment planning and case management of these clients. The Mirikai Intensive Supportive Outreach (MISO) Program is a supported accommodation program facilitated in the community. MISO provides intensive support for clients referred through the Drug Court in support arrangements that include daily house visits; treatment planning and case management; medical support; counselling and advocacy; court support; crisis intervention and social activity. Drug Court participants, who have access to their own safe and stable accommodation and the
necessary social support in the community, participate in the Drug Court Out-client Program. This is also a three-phase program where participants are required to attend three days per week for group and/or individual therapy.
Queensland Illicit Drug
Initiative Program
The QIDDI Program offers health interventions as an alternative to the criminal justice system. The program design affords clients an opportunity to address their illicit substance use through an early intervention that diverts eligible minor illicit drug offenders utilising the Police and Court diversion programs, in many cases, before incurring a criminal record. Police Diversions divert cannabis offenders (possession of 50gm or less or possessing cannabis utensils) and Court Diversions divert other illicit substance users (one gram or less or possess drug using utensil) from the criminal justice system with referrals to health assessments and
education and further intervention if appropriate.
During 2011-12, QIDDI
appointments and support were offered at the Southport office each weekday and at the West Burleigh site on a Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Weekend appointments were made
available in order to increase accessibility to the service. QIDDI is funded through the Queensland Health Department. Clients were encouraged to access a wide range of services in respect of their presenting needs. Some QIDDI clients accessed Stop Pot among other GCDC programs.
Stop Pot
The Stop Pot Service is an educational and supportive harm reduction group for current cannabis users, with clients accessing the service from across the community.
Over the past year, Stop Pot was held on a weekly basis and ran for five weeks. On average, 10 people attended each Stop Pot group, so the groups were quite small and trust developed quickly, allowing participants to build relationships and develop social support within the group. Typical clients included
individuals or couples who had found cannabis had contributed to dysfunction in their daily lives. The group continues to be a popular choice of intervention for cannabis users.
In all, 64 clients participated in Stop Pot groups during 2011-12.
Stop pot is run as part of the Dual Diagnosis clinician’s initiative funded by Queensland Health under Chronic Diseases funding. It is a free service that accepts self-referrals and referrals from various government and non-government Services.
Youth Dual Diagnosis
Program
The Youth Dual Diagnosis Program at GCDC provides specialist, individual
psychological support for young people aged 12–25 years, who experience substance abuse and concurrent mental health issues. The program is also responsible for community education and up-skilling the local workforce in Dual Diagnosis issues. A further aspect of the program is the need for networking and developing effective partnerships with other agencies to aid in the management of young people with Dual Diagnosis.
During 2011-12, services were provided to a vast variance of clientele with complex needs and innovative measures were incorporated to engage the client group. There was demonstrable clinical change for clients as well as a high satisfaction with service provided. The service regularly collected standardised outcome measures to assess both of these areas in the work it does with individuals.
The program provided community education to non-AOD specific services including lectures to both local universities and
training for non-government and government organisations. This year in particular, the program worked with Queensland Health staff to facilitate six free sessions of training for workers across the district. All training sessions evaluated highly for both satisfaction and knowledge change. The outcomes were reported in the QNADA State Newsletter for June 2012. To aid in the networking and building of effective partnerships, the program’s coordinator Kim Wood chaired an Australian Psychological Society Peer Supervision Group focussed on CBT approaches to therapy (which meets monthly) and facilitated monthly meetings between GCDC psychological staff and private psychology providers (who work out of the Banjara Medical Centre). As part of workforce development initiatives, Kim Wood supervised Clinical Masters and Doctorate psychology externship students who worked part time within the therapeutic community for a placement period of about four months. During 2011-12, this expanded to Forensic Psychology students taking a placement in the GCDC Drug Court Program. This year, to June 30, Kim supervised 11 students in total. She also (for the second year running) supported four Griffith University fourth-year psychology students who did a week-long observational placement (trying to answer the question “what does a real psychologist do?”) as part of their “work integration learning” module.
The service benefitted a lot from the student placements as each of them had to do an organisational project. Therefore, as a rolling piece of research, an evaluation plan for the GCDC Drug Court program was started. Residents were interviewed about their expectations of treatment and family members of residents were interviewed about their expectation of treatment for their loved ones; a pathway was mapped for Dual Diagnosis services across the Gold Coast (this will hopefully be rolled out to all services across the District in 2013); the psychology referral form was evaluated and, as a result, changes have been implemented to this form; and the latest literature was reviewed on prognostic factors for dual diagnosis treatment.
Not only this, a review was
undertaken of the best practice for doing in-school alcohol and drug education and managing chronic pain and insomnia in addiction as well as the latest literature on ‘addiction as a brain disease’. These projects obviously help our staff to provide the best possible clinical practice they can to our clients.
All in all, 2011-12 year was a very successful one for the service.
