Published Sunday, 22 July, 2007 at 02:00 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Warren Pitt
QUEENSLAND PILOTS PROGRAM TO TARGET ALCOHOL ABUSE
The State Government’s latest initiative to help Indigenous Queenslanders receive treatment for alcohol misuse is off to a flying start with 13 clients already referred to the new alcohol diversion program by the courts in the first three weeks of operation.
Premier Peter Beattie said the pilot program would be progressively ramped up over coming months and was expected to cater for up to 130 people when it reaches full capacity in October this year.
“The government has committed $36.4 million over four years for this pilot program to tackle alcohol abuse by helping people to improve their health and break the cycle of crime,” Mr Beattie said.
“These programs are operating out of Cairns, Rockhampton and Townsville, linking with Indigenous communities including those in Yarrabah, Palm Island and Woorabinda.
“Under the program, eligible Indigenous people are referred to the 20-week treatment program through either the criminal justice or child protection systems.
“A total of 130 treatment places will be made available — 40 each in Cairns and Rockhampton and 50 in Townsville. The full complement of treatment places will be available by October 2007.
“Already, 17 treatment places are available and courts have referred 13 clients to the program – two from Cairns, three from Woorabinda and eight from Townsville.
“We are determined to help Indigenous people with alcohol misuse issues by connecting them with support services and these figures are a great start to the pilot program.”
Mr Beattie said the program, announced in December last year, was a whole-of-government approach to tackling the problem of Indigenous alcohol abuse.
“It builds on the work that we have already undertaken through initiatives such as alcohol management plans and further demonstrates my government’s commitment to getting on with the job of addressing Indigenous alcohol abuse and associated problems such as child abuse,” Mr Beattie said.
“This program, with its focus on a more holistic approach to treatment and collaboration between relevant government agencies, is part of our approach to address this situation.
“Other elements of our approach include individually customised alcohol management plans for each Indigenous community, as well as the $13.97 million Alcohol and Other Substances Demand Reduction Program for Indigenous communities.”
Mr Beattie said there was no quick-fix solution to the problem of alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities.
“Real reform can only be achieved by the type of long-term commitments exercised by our Government.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Warren Pitt said the models of intervention applied through the program would be tailored to meet the needs of each participant.
“Eighty percent of the participants will be referred to the treatment program through the criminal justice system and 20 percent will be filled through the child protection system,” Mr Pitt said.
“In reality, these processes mean that we can provide intensive support to people charged with minor offences or parents with an alcohol problem, and help them through a targeted rehabilitation program.”
The alcohol diversion pilot is a major whole-of-government initiative involving the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Department of Communities, the Department of Housing, Queensland Health, the Department of Child Safety, the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Treasury, the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations and Queensland Corrective Services.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Pitt’s Office: Joe Begley 0408 701 379
22 July 2007
Premier Peter Beattie said the pilot program would be progressively ramped up over coming months and was expected to cater for up to 130 people when it reaches full capacity in October this year.
“The government has committed $36.4 million over four years for this pilot program to tackle alcohol abuse by helping people to improve their health and break the cycle of crime,” Mr Beattie said.
“These programs are operating out of Cairns, Rockhampton and Townsville, linking with Indigenous communities including those in Yarrabah, Palm Island and Woorabinda.
“Under the program, eligible Indigenous people are referred to the 20-week treatment program through either the criminal justice or child protection systems.
“A total of 130 treatment places will be made available — 40 each in Cairns and Rockhampton and 50 in Townsville. The full complement of treatment places will be available by October 2007.
“Already, 17 treatment places are available and courts have referred 13 clients to the program – two from Cairns, three from Woorabinda and eight from Townsville.
“We are determined to help Indigenous people with alcohol misuse issues by connecting them with support services and these figures are a great start to the pilot program.”
Mr Beattie said the program, announced in December last year, was a whole-of-government approach to tackling the problem of Indigenous alcohol abuse.
“It builds on the work that we have already undertaken through initiatives such as alcohol management plans and further demonstrates my government’s commitment to getting on with the job of addressing Indigenous alcohol abuse and associated problems such as child abuse,” Mr Beattie said.
“This program, with its focus on a more holistic approach to treatment and collaboration between relevant government agencies, is part of our approach to address this situation.
“Other elements of our approach include individually customised alcohol management plans for each Indigenous community, as well as the $13.97 million Alcohol and Other Substances Demand Reduction Program for Indigenous communities.”
Mr Beattie said there was no quick-fix solution to the problem of alcohol abuse in Indigenous communities.
“Real reform can only be achieved by the type of long-term commitments exercised by our Government.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister Warren Pitt said the models of intervention applied through the program would be tailored to meet the needs of each participant.
“Eighty percent of the participants will be referred to the treatment program through the criminal justice system and 20 percent will be filled through the child protection system,” Mr Pitt said.
“In reality, these processes mean that we can provide intensive support to people charged with minor offences or parents with an alcohol problem, and help them through a targeted rehabilitation program.”
The alcohol diversion pilot is a major whole-of-government initiative involving the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the Department of Communities, the Department of Housing, Queensland Health, the Department of Child Safety, the Queensland Police Service, Queensland Treasury, the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations and Queensland Corrective Services.
Media contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Pitt’s Office: Joe Begley 0408 701 379
22 July 2007