Published Thursday, 21 February, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Pilot program targets Indigenous alcohol abuse in Rockhampton
A landmark pilot program targeting alcohol abuse and crime among Indigenous Queenslanders is now officially underway in Rockhampton.
During the official launch of the program today Minister for Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Lindy Nelson-Carr and Attorney General Kerry Shine said Rockhampton was one of three locations trialling the $36.4 million Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP).
“QIADP is a three-year pilot program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with alcohol misuse issues who are involved in the criminal justice or child protection systems,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The aims of this whole-of-government trial are to improve health standards among Indigenous people and to reduce their over-representation in the justice and child protection systems, while ultimately keeping more families together.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the QIADP pilot was also being trialled in Cairns and Townsville.
“It’s hoped that this trial proves successful in helping to break the cycles of alcohol abuse and crime affecting Indigenous men, women and children,” she said. “It will not only improve health standards, but will also help to rebuild lives.”
Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the program would also make treatment and support – including supported accommodation – available to residents of the nearby Indigenous community of Woorabinda.
”Queensland Health has allocated $1.65 million to four local organisations to provide treatment and support in Rockhampton and Woorabinda,” Mr Schwarten said. “The Department of Communities is also in the process of securing a partner to establish and operate the supported accommodation component of the program, which will be funded up to $537,000 per annum and includes a $50,000 grant for start-up costs.”
Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and the Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland Kerry Shine said the program offered individual assessments, tailored intervention plans and case management to eligible offenders, and their families, as part of their bail conditions or as part of a child protection order.
“The program will be delivered in two streams, with 80 per cent of program places allocated via the criminal justice stream as referred by Magistrates, and 20 per cent referred through the child safety stream by the Department of Child Safety,” Mr Shine said.
“It provides Magistrates with the opportunity to offer detoxification and intensive support to offenders, instead of custodial sentences. In an effort to keep more families together, the program is also available to parents with alcohol misuse issues who may be referred through the child protection system.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said case management would provide the client with a single point of contact for health and social services to address issues associated with problematic drug use, including unemployment, educational support, homelessness, mental illness and family issues.
“The three trial locations are in operation and will be able to provide up to 130 people with treatment and support to beat alcohol misuse, including 40 treatment places in Rockhampton,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The Queensland Government has allocated $36.4 million to the program, including $26 million from the Department of Health for alcohol diversion treatment and support, and $4.5 million from the Department of Communities for supported accommodation.
Media contacts: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280, Minister Schwarten’s office 4927 5299, Minister Shine’s office 3239 3478
Notes to editors:
Queensland Health will establish Memoranda of Understanding with four local organisations in Rockhampton and Woorabinda to provide alcohol diversion treatment and support, including:
• the Gumbi Gumbi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation,
• Milbi Farm Hostel,
• the Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council, and;
• the Woorabinda Community Justice Group.
During the official launch of the program today Minister for Communities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Lindy Nelson-Carr and Attorney General Kerry Shine said Rockhampton was one of three locations trialling the $36.4 million Queensland Indigenous Alcohol Diversion Program (QIADP).
“QIADP is a three-year pilot program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with alcohol misuse issues who are involved in the criminal justice or child protection systems,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“The aims of this whole-of-government trial are to improve health standards among Indigenous people and to reduce their over-representation in the justice and child protection systems, while ultimately keeping more families together.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said the QIADP pilot was also being trialled in Cairns and Townsville.
“It’s hoped that this trial proves successful in helping to break the cycles of alcohol abuse and crime affecting Indigenous men, women and children,” she said. “It will not only improve health standards, but will also help to rebuild lives.”
Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the program would also make treatment and support – including supported accommodation – available to residents of the nearby Indigenous community of Woorabinda.
”Queensland Health has allocated $1.65 million to four local organisations to provide treatment and support in Rockhampton and Woorabinda,” Mr Schwarten said. “The Department of Communities is also in the process of securing a partner to establish and operate the supported accommodation component of the program, which will be funded up to $537,000 per annum and includes a $50,000 grant for start-up costs.”
Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and the Minister Assisting the Premier in Western Queensland Kerry Shine said the program offered individual assessments, tailored intervention plans and case management to eligible offenders, and their families, as part of their bail conditions or as part of a child protection order.
“The program will be delivered in two streams, with 80 per cent of program places allocated via the criminal justice stream as referred by Magistrates, and 20 per cent referred through the child safety stream by the Department of Child Safety,” Mr Shine said.
“It provides Magistrates with the opportunity to offer detoxification and intensive support to offenders, instead of custodial sentences. In an effort to keep more families together, the program is also available to parents with alcohol misuse issues who may be referred through the child protection system.”
Ms Nelson-Carr said case management would provide the client with a single point of contact for health and social services to address issues associated with problematic drug use, including unemployment, educational support, homelessness, mental illness and family issues.
“The three trial locations are in operation and will be able to provide up to 130 people with treatment and support to beat alcohol misuse, including 40 treatment places in Rockhampton,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
The Queensland Government has allocated $36.4 million to the program, including $26 million from the Department of Health for alcohol diversion treatment and support, and $4.5 million from the Department of Communities for supported accommodation.
Media contacts: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280, Minister Schwarten’s office 4927 5299, Minister Shine’s office 3239 3478
Notes to editors:
Queensland Health will establish Memoranda of Understanding with four local organisations in Rockhampton and Woorabinda to provide alcohol diversion treatment and support, including:
• the Gumbi Gumbi Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation,
• Milbi Farm Hostel,
• the Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council, and;
• the Woorabinda Community Justice Group.