Drug and Alcohol Strategic Directions Lead
(Ref. 5843)
Western Health is the largest provider of Drug and Alcohol Services in the West. Services currently encompass Adult and Specialist Services, Youth and Family Services, Community Residential Withdrawal Units, and Addition Medicine clinics.
The Drug and Alcohol Strategic Directions Lead will work with the Group Manager, Drug and Alcohol Services and other key stakeholders to develop a clear strategic vision and implementation plan for Western Health’s Drug and Alcohol Services.
The role will articulate and document a new vision for Drug and Alcohol services in the West.
The role will work as a part of Drug and Alcohol Leadership Team and Western Health colleagues to promote synergies and seamless service provision for clients / patients.
The role will also liaise with the Department of Health, and Drug and Alcohol sector representatives to advance Western Health as a key provider of Drug and Alcohol Services in Victoria. The twelve month, fixed term position will assist to advance Western Health’s Drug and Alcohol Community Programs as a best practice exemplar in Victoria.
This is initially a fixed term role until June 2012.
Enquiries: Sharon Desmond, Group Manager Drug and Alcohol Services,
Ph. 0435 658 493Closing Date: 10/06/2011
For more details and to apply online visit www.westernhealth.org.au
Applicants may be required to undergo a Police Records / Working with Children Check
Author Archives: James
Jobs: Senior Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor – Victoria
Senior Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor
· Port Phillip Prison
· Full Time Fixed Term until 30 June 2012
· Generous salary packaging benefitsMoreland Hall is a leading alcohol and other drugs (AOD) agency with 40 years experience in the not for profit sector in Victoria.
We currently have an excellent opportunity for a senior clinician to join the Port Phillip Prison team and deliver AOD counselling and education to prisoners.As an AOD Counsellor you will ensure the delivery of the Moreland Hall program within the prison environment. You will be responsible for providing counselling, psycho-educational group programs, and will work closely with prison officers. This position provides clinical leadership to the team and would be expected to provide general leadership in the absence of the Team Leader.
To be successful in the role you will have degree qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, or Allied Health Sciences, Cert 4 in AOD or have 4 key competencies, qualifications in dual diagnosis or willingness to undertake, a current Victorian drivers license, and experience working in the AOD sector, particularly with a forensic client base or in a corrections setting.
Applications should include a CV, cover letter and statement addressing the key selection criteria as outlined in the position description and forwarded to Carla Reid creid@morelandhall.org by 4pm 6 June 2011.
To download a copy of the position description please visit our website via the following link.
Strategy on Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse
As you may be aware, the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, through the Ministerial Council on Drugs (MCDS) has auspiced the development of a national Strategy on Pharmaceutical Drug Misuse. The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) is leading a Consortium that is undertaking the development of this new Strategy.
An extensive consultation process is being undertaken in the developmental phase of the Strategy. The consultation process includes a Call for Submissions. The Submissions process is open and Submissions can be made by any interested party.
The Call for Submissions closes on Friday 27 May.
Details about making a Submission are contained on the NCETA website.
For further information contact NCETA.
Winter School in the Sun
2011 Australian Winter School Conference
Concurrent Disorders – Current Discourses.Thursday 9 & Friday 10 June, 2011
Gold Coast International Hotel, Surfers Paradise.
This year’s Australian Winter School will run over two days on 9 and 10 June, 2011 at the Gold Coast International Hotel in Surfers Paradise.
Plenary speakers include:
Dr Ken Minkoff, one of the nation’s leading experts on integrated treatment of individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders, and on the development of integrated systems of care for such individuals.
Dr Christie Cline, who developed the design and format of the CCISC Change Agent Approach and the CCISC Change Agent Curriculum and is a co-author of the CCISC Co-occurring disorder system and services development and written book chapters on the ethics of co-occurring treatment.
And many prominent local and interstate speakers.
The conference will be preceded by a one-day workshop on Wednesday, 8 June entitled:
Integrated Strength Based Assessment, Intervention, and Recovery Planning for Individuals and Families with Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions
run by Dr Ken Minkov and Dr Christie Cline.
Full details on both the conference and workshop, including a registration form and conference program can be accessed on our web site at:
www.winterschool.info
Email: winterschool@adfq.org
Phone: 07 3834 0214
Jobs: Senior Policy Officer, Canberra ACT
SENIOR POLICY OFFICER
Package up to $90,000The Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation (AER Foundation) is seeking a senior policy officer to work in Canberra. The AER Foundation works to prevent the harms associated with alcohol misuse through advocating for population-based strategies.
The Policy Officer’s responsibilities will include:
• Undertaking high-quality research into current and emerging alcohol policy;
• Preparing policy positions, reports and submissions to government;
• Maintaining and developing strong working relationships with key stakeholders, including government representatives and community organisations; and
• Contributing to the development of advocacy strategies to further policy positions.Applicants must demonstrate the following capabilities:
• Proven experience in policy development;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated capacity to work with a diverse range of stakeholders; and
• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, manage and prioritise workload and work to tight timelines.The successful applicant will be able to access salary sacrificing options available to a health promotion charity. The AER Foundation is located in Deakin and offers a friendly, collaborative work environment.
Applicants will need to submit a letter/statement of no more than 500 words indicating their suitability for the position and a CV.
For more information call Caterina Giorgi on (02) 6122 8600. Email applications to aerf@aerf.com.au.
Applications close on 18 May 2011.
Sydney’s injecting room: Bob Carr’s thoughts
If you didn’t know, former NSW Premier Bob Carr has his own blog and he’s just put up a post on the King’s Cross based Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. It’s an interesting read though I’d have loved to have seen more written on what must have been a vigorous internal party debate. Have a read in full for yourself, but here’s the paragraph that stood out for me:
All this has happened, as we confirmed at a gathering of 400 supporters of the centre who gathered in Sydney last night. An estimated 90 lives have been saved and Kings Cross improved. Not the Sisters of Charity but the Kirketon Centre ended up running the centre and with their professionalism answered all the critics, or almost all.
I doubt the criticism will stop but is the general consensus that progress is being made in changing attitudes?
Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
Working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
Professional Workshop as an adjunct to the 2011 ATCA Conference
Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle, WAFRIDAY 3RD JUNE
9.00pm – 5.00pmWorking therapeutically with women with complex trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues
In this introduction to working therapeutically with women with complex trauma and AOD issues, we will start by providing an overview of special issues for women with AOD issues. We will then examine the impact of trauma and attachment trauma on multiple aspects of a person’s functioning including neurobiology, cognition, affect, behaviour, interpersonal relatedness, and sense of self. Finally we present a model of intervention that provides a safe way to work with these women. Activities will include lecturette, discussion skill demonstration, skill practice and case study. Participants will be able to supplement their learning from the workshop by referring to a recently produced guide: Marsh, Towers and O’Toole (2011) ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues’.Workshop Presenters: Ali Marsh and Tania Towers
Ali Marsh
Ali Marsh M.Psych (Clin); PhD is a clinical psychologist who has worked for over 20 years in the addiction area in multiple roles: as clinician, educator, consultant and researcher. She currently works as a clinical psychologist at Next Step Drug and Alcohol Service and in private practice. Her work as a clinical psychologist includes working therapeutically with clients, providing supervision for other clinicians, running workshops and writing treatment guidelines.Tania Towers
Tania Towers M.Psych (Clinical/Health) is a clinical psychologist who has worked in the addictions and trauma field for over 20 years. She has worked as a clinician, educator, consultant and manager. She currently works as the manager of the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) and works as a clinical psychologist in private practice.Both Ali and Tania have contributed to the literature on AOD use and trauma issues, and along with another colleague, Stephanie O’Toole, have recently written a guide for clinicians titled ‘Trauma-Informed Treatment Guide for Working with Women with Alcohol and Other Drug Issues”.
For further information, conference updates, registration and hotel booking information please refer to the ATCA website www.atca.com.au.
Any correspondence should be sent to conference@atca.com.au.
Jobs: Alcohol and Drug Clinician (NSW)
Alcohol and Drug Clinician
Applications Close: 5:00 P.M. Friday 13 May 2011
Location: St Vincent’s Hospital- Darlinghurst Campus Sydney NSW
Part time, 3 days per week fixed term – No shift work or penalties involved. Commencing May 2011 till 30th June 2012.
The St Vincent’s Hospital Alcohol and Drug Service require an experienced Alcohol and Drug Clinician to work in the Stimulant Treatment Program. We require a counsellor with extensive experience in counselling and case work with alcohol and drug dependent people, to work specifically with those experiencing significant issues related to their stimulant use.
Key responsibilities
To conduct psychosocial, mental health and welfare assessments for patients from diverse groups including people who identify as GBLT
To provide specialist, strengths-based counselling services
To deliver a stepped care approach to treatment
To provide assessment, counselling and support to a small group of patients on prescribed substitution medicationEssential Criteria
Relevant post graduate qualification and association/registration in same
Evidence of extensive experience in counselling and/or specialist alcohol and drug work
Demonstrated experience in the assessment & management of clients with drug & alcohol problems
Knowledge of harm reduction approach to drug & alcohol problems & willingness to work within this framework
Excellent demonstrated communication skills, written and verbal
Case management experience
Demonstrated evidence of an ability to work both as a team member and unsupervised
Personal integrity and demonstrated commitment to the Mission and Values of the Sisters of Charity and St Vincent’s Health Australia.Desirable
Demonstrated evidence of work with clients experiencing stimulant use issues
Group work experience
Computer literacy
Experience in the mental health field
Current NSW drivers licenceEnquiries
Brian Francis, Manager
Stimulant Treatment Program (STP)
St. Vincent’s Hospital Alcohol and Drug Service
P: 02 9361 8069
M: 0447 435 902
F: 02 9361 8031Level 2, O’Brien Centre
Cnr Burton and Victoria Sts
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
School drug education for teens: how effective?
мека мебелDrug and Alcohol Findings is a great service, summarising key issues in the ATOD field. This week they’ve taken a look at a 2003 study on how effective interactive drug educations can be in schools. Aside from summarising that study’s findings (which was that interactive lessons did have a positive impact), they also give some fascinating information on follow-up statistical analysis that contradicted the original findings.
Jobs: Clinician for Adult Drug Court Program (NSW)
Dear Colleagues,
A temporary full-time position exists within the South Western Sydney Local Hospital Network for a suitably qualified clinician. Please see below for a brief job description. On-line applications and full position descriptions can be found at the NSW Government Health website. The position is based within Drug Health Services located at George Street Liverpool.
All telephone enquiries can be forwarded to Kimberley Senior, Acting Team Leader of the Adult Drug Court Program on 0419 012 096 or 8778 0718.
The position closes on 29 April 2011.
Position Details
Reference Number
22084
Position Title
Social Worker/Counsellor/Registered Psychologist/Welfare Officer – Adult Drug Court Program – Temp F/T
Employment Status
Temporary Full Time (up to 29/06/2012)
Entity
Sydney South West
Geographical Location
Liverpool
Award Classification
Dependent on qualifications
SalaryNumber of FTE
1.00This position is Temporary Full-Time up to 29/06/2012 and is classified dependent on qualifications.
This position is located within South Western Sydney Local Health Network.
Purpose of Position
Provide assessments, evidence based interventions, case management and co-ordinatiion of clinical and welfare interventions to Adult Drug Court (ADC) clients. Provide written and oral reports for clients who remain under Court supervision throughout the program. Support cliniical operations of Court Diversion Programs across the LHN.
Selection Criteria
• Relevant tertiary qualifications.• Clinical skills in assessment, case management and counselling.
• Knowledge of the harm reduction approach to drug and alcohol problems and employed experience in the provision of interventions with drug dependent clients.
• High quality communication skills including the provision of quality written reports within a given timeframe.
• Demonstrated organisational and administrative competence including basic computer literacy and time management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as within a multidisciplinary team.
• Unrestricted NSW drivers licence (P2 licence acceptable).
Contact Person
Kim Senior
Contact Number
0419 012 096
Contact Email
kimberley.senior@sswahs.nsw.gov.au
Closing Date
29/04/2011