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Sector Reform
Alcohol and drug treatment reform
The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Wooldridge released New directions for alcohol and drug treatment services: A roadmap to guide the reform of Victoria's alcohol and drug treatment services in June 2012. Throughout July and August 2012, people working in alcohol and drug treatment services had the opportunity to hear more about reform directions through a series of regional roadshows. More than 100 people working in the sector attended these sessions, asking questions and providing feedback. VAADA has also worked with the government to pull together a number of advisory groups that will help shape the core service types. APSU played a critical role in helping garner consumer and family views about treatment reform and engaging consumer and family members to participate in the advisory groups. VACCHO and Ngwala have also helped us to design a treatment system that is more accessible for Aboriginal people and have also participated in the advisory groups.
Listed below are a series of 'briefing bulletins' to update you and your staff on some of the key reform projects.
Further information
Alcohol and Drug Treatment System Reform Ministerial Communique - March 2013
Alcohol and Drug Treatment System Reform Bulletin - October 2012
Q&A Alcohol and Drug Treatment Reform Bulletin - October 2012
New directions for alcohol and drug treatment services: A roadmap, June 2012
Alcohol and other drugs (AOD) treatment: Area-based service catchments
Sixteen service planning and delivery catchments will facilitate the commissioning and delivery of core alcohol and drug treatment services across Victoria. The catchments will help to determine the volume and alignment of services required to meet local population need and provide a more coherent basis for the equitable distribution of resources.
It is important that catchment boundaries for the alcohol and drug system align as far as possible with broader health and human services catchments. This will facilitate local area planning and support coordinated responses to people who need a combination of services.
To assist the alcohol and drug sector to prepare for the recommissioning process, the alcohol and drug service planning and delivery catchments will be based on Department of Health regions, each comprising between one and four catchment areas.
In metropolitan Melbourne there will be a total of nine catchments aligning closely with Medicare local boundaries, with variations to respect Department of Health regional boundaries.
The non-metropolitan area will be divided into a total of seven catchments, one each for Grampians, Loddon- Mallee and Gippsland regions, and two each in Barwon-South West and Hume regions.
It should be noted that all catchments are to be used primarily for planning and resource distribution and to make it easier for clients to navigate services. They will not be used to restrict client access and choice in service provider.
More detailed information on catchment boundaries for the alcohol and drug sector will be available shortly on the alcohol and drug reform website.
Alignment of catchments in this manner will:
- facilitate improved collaboration, planning and service coordination between alcohol and drug services and other health and welfare services
- help reduce system fragmentation and encourage integration with other services systems.
- It should be noted that catchments are to be used primarily for planning and resource distribution and to make it easier for clients to navigate services. They will not be used to restrict client access and choice in service provider.
AOD treatment catchments: metro
AOD treatment catchments: regional
Adult Alcohol and Drug (AOD) Screening and Assessment Tool
On 14 Feb 2013, Minister Wooldridge released the new Adult Alcohol and Drug (AOD) Screening and Assessment Tool to the AOD sector. The tool comprises three steps: Step 1: Self-complete initial screen, Step 2: Comprehensive assessment, Step 3: Review. Steps 1 and 2 will be required for use by AOD services under new service agreements commencing from 2014. Ten optional modules are available for use as required by services. A clinician guide has also been developed to support use of the tools.
Sector training workshops regarding the new AOD screening and assessment tool will be available from March 2013. Sector training will focus on familiarising the sector with the new tool and supporting service implementation. Information about the training workshops may be found at www.turningpoint.org.au/Education/Professional-Development.aspx.
Step 1: Self-complete initial screen for adults with AOD problems
Step 1: Preliminary case summary sheet (optional)
Step 2: Comprehensive assessment for adults with AOD problems
Optional adult assessment modules (10 modules)
Clinician Guide to the Adult AOD Screening and Assessment Tool
FAQ - The Adult AOD Screening and Assessment Tool
Optional modules as individual files:
Optional Module 1: Physical Examination
Optional Module 2: ABI Referral Tool for Neuropsychology Assessment
Optional Module 3: Mental Health
Optional Module 5: Quality of Life
