DPEC update August 2000 issue 3

Page content: Stage 1 report | Stage two | International prevention workshop | Regional & metropolitan consultations | Consultations with culturally & linguistically diverse communities | Treatment workshop & service sector consultations | Criminal justice & law enforcement | Community capacity building | The way forward

An occasional update of the activities of the Drug Policy Expert Committee, advising the Victorian Government on drug policy.

Stage one report

The Drug Policy Expert Committee released its report on the first stage of its terms of reference, entitled Drugs: Responding to the Issues, Engaging the Community, in April 2000. The report focuses on developing local drug strategies, particularly in the five municipalities identified as areas of high drug use.

Local drug strategies will vary according to local needs but may include primary prevention, support for users and their parents, linking of local services with treatment and rehabilitation, and strategies for handling open street drug use, of which injecting facilities may be a part.

To implement the recommendations of the Stage One report, a team has been set up within the Department of Human Services.  This team will work closely with local government to develop appropriate drug strategies for their local areas.  The strategies will be developed through local round table committees with representation from local government, Police, Government Departments, including Human Services and Education, Employment and Training, service providers and community groups.

The focus of the Committee has now moved on to Stage Two of its terms of reference, which will look more broadly at developing strategies to address drug abuse across the State.

Stage two

The Stage Two terms of reference require the Committee to report on drug prevention, treatment and control strategies, taking into account Government policy, national and international developments, and the mix of interventions required to achieve the Government's policy aims.

In addressing these issues, the Committee is focusing on four key themes - prevention, treatment, capacity building, and legal and enforcement issues.  The Committee's approach will continue to be based on wide consultation and developing strategies that are appropriate to individual communities.

International prevention workshop

The Committee has embarked on a process to assist it in developing a prevention framework built on a foundation of current research findings as well as practice based learnings. 

A highlight of this work to date has been an International Prevention Workshop held on 26 and 27 July 2000.  This workshop was attended by over 40 leading local and international prevention researchers and key stakeholders.  Workshop participants considered the current research base as well as a broad range of practical and implementation issues in the development of a prevention framework.

Other elements of the Committee's prevention work include a workshop on the role of schools in prevention and a series of Youth Round Tables, organised in partnership with the Office for Youth in the Department of Education, Employment and Training.

Regional & metropolitan consultations

As part of the consultation process on the issues to be considered during Stage Two, the Committee will be conducting 15 forums across rural and regional Victoria, and in Melbourne.  The forums will be conducted in partnership with local government, and will look at the range of issues that the Committee is currently considering. 

In consultation with local councils, representatives from a number of key sectors have been invited to the forums, including members of the general community, drug treatment and rehabilitation service professionals, and those working in the general health and education sectors.  Other invitees include those working in the areas of employment, regional development, law enforcement and policing.  Members of community groups such as parent groups and representatives of culturally and linguistically diverse communities have also been invited. 

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Consultation with culturally & linguistically diverse communities

Building on the consultations already conducted, the Committee will be holding three workshops with CLD communities.  The workshops will involve a range of key people who have expertise in matters of cultural diversity and/or drug related matters. Workshops will be held in Melbourne but may include representatives from regional Victoria. These workshops will provide an opportunity for participants to suggest possible changes to the current systems and to elaborate visions for the future.

The views of CLD communities will also be picked up through participation in the regional and metropolitan consultations outlined above, and through continued contact with the Victorian Multicultural Commission, which consults regularly with communities across the State.

Treatment workshop & service sector consultations

A key focus of the Committee's work on drug treatment issues has been how to ensure better outcomes for those accessing drug treatment.

Consultation processes have been undertaken with representatives from the drug treatment service sector and the broader services sector. 

A workshop for drug treatment service providers was held on 12 July, with over 150 people attending.  The workshop provided the Committee with an opportunity to hear about new models for service delivery, service gaps and how drug treatment agencies could be better linked to other services.

Given the need for better linkages between drug treatment and other service sectors, a forum was held on 19 July attended by representatives from the Acute Health, Juvenile Justice, General Practice, Acquired Brain Injury, Mental Health, Education and Housing sectors.  The forum enabled these groups to discuss how the service system currently responds to clients with multiple needs and how it can become more responsive.  A data collection instrument that seeks further input on how cross-sectoral linkages may be strengthened has been distributed to key personnel for dissemination and collation in each of the sectors.

Criminal justice & law enforcement

The Committee's work on criminal justice and law enforcement is focusing on three broad areas - courts and sentencing, custodial facilities, and policing.  An extensive program of consultation with key people in these areas is underway.

Two major forums are scheduled for late August.  The first will involve judges, magistrates, senior public servants and other key figures within the justice system.  The second will consist of representatives from Community Legal Centres and other community groups with an interest in these issues.  These forums will consider the effectiveness of the current system and opportunities for change.

Community capacity building

Underlying many of the issues and solutions identified in other areas of the Committee's work is the need to develop strong, healthy communities where the factors that increase the health of individuals within the community are maximised, and services are coordinated and able to respond effectively when problems do occur.  These communities may be geographical, but also include 'communities of interest', such as the Koori community and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The Committee's work on capacity building so far has consisted of a literature review and interviews with key people involved in the field.  The capacity building work will also focus on the areas of training and skills development, and research and evaluation.

The way forward

Over the next two months, the Committee has an extensive schedule of consultations planned, many of which have been outlined in this Update.  The issues to be considered in Stage Two are broad and complex, and the experience of those who deal with these issues on a daily basis will be a key source of information for the Committee in developing its recommendations. 

Following these consultations, the Committee will produce its report against Stage Two of its terms of reference, with recommendations for future action to address the issues raised.

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