Author Archives: James

Jobs: counselling initiative in Pakenham, Melton and Werribee

Via Odyssey House:

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY

BE PART OF A NEW ENHANCED ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG (AOD) COUNSELLING INITIATIVE IN THREE OF MELBOURNE’S GROWTH CORRIDOR AREAS

PAKENHAM, MELTON AND WERRIBEE

MULTIPLE POSITIONS AVAILABLE

Stepping uP is a community-based drug and alcohol treatment programme operated by four not-for-profit agencies; Interact Australia, Odyssey House Victoria (lead agency), Task Force and Youth Projects.
Stepping uP will provide a range of clinical counselling and support interventions to reduce drug use and related harm, and to maintain therapeutic change. The service is for individuals and their family members/significant others, who are affected by severe alcohol and drug use problems and any co-occurring mental health conditions.
Our intent is to create three responsive and dynamic teams that provide triage, comprehensive psycho-social assessment and integrated treatment planning, deliver case management, individual counselling & psychosocial interventions, with a focus upon recovery, as well as responses to other factors such as housing, employment, training, child and family and social integration etc. Other activities will include discharge planning; workshops, referrals and follow-up for clients, and facilitation of group sessions.
We are seeking a full-time manager, three team leaders and nine AOD clinicians for the programme. We aim to recruit one psychologist and one family therapist per site.
Salaries ranging from $63,000 to $80,000 plus superannuation (and vehicle for manager and team leaders) are available, depending on the position applied for, qualifications and experience. Generous salary packaging is also available.
Ideal candidates will have experience working with clients from diverse backgrounds, providing high standards of therapeutic interventions, report writing, and collaborative practice, and may have a social work, psychology, child & family, nursing or other health background. Capacity to do some out of hours work (1 night per week) is desirable and applicants will need to undergo a Police Check and obtain a Working with Children Check.

The manager will oversee the development, implementation and ongoing operations of the programme. The manger will have at least 10 years of experience in health management and clinical service delivery, with expertise in clinical supervision, managing financial budgets, human resources and general administration. S/he will be a hands-on manager with strong analytical and communication skills and the capacity to work with a range of stakeholders.

Team Leaders will lead through example by maintaining an individual case load. In addition, they will provide secondary consultation and case review functions to a small team of multi-disciplinary staff. They will assist in the management of more complex client presentations, local cross-agency initiatives, and the maintenance of clinical standards. The successful applicants will have a relevant tertiary qualification with a post graduate qualification in an area of specialisation, and at least 6 years of clinical service delivery.

AOD Clinicians will provide a range of therapeutic interventions and case management that meet the needs of clients/families. The successful applicants will have a relevant tertiary qualification with at least 3 years of clinical service delivery along with experience in working with complex client presentations.
This is a real opportunity for people who are good at what they do, who want to expand their career and become part of an enthusiastic team of skilled professionals.

To obtain the full Position Descriptions or to apply, visit www.odyssey.org.au/jobs
Applications close Friday 3rd December 2010. For further information please contact Mr Neos Zavrou on 9420 7651.

Thailand Job

POSITION VACANT IN CHIANG MAI
——————————
The Cabin Chiang Mai, a private drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Northern Thailand, has a position open for an experienced addiction counselor. Knowledge of CBT or 12 steps is required.
Minimum 5 years experience. Position available for February 2011

Please send a cover letter and your CV to peter@thecabinchiangmai.com

Narconon hits the NT

The brilliant Paul Dessauer posted this fascinating piece to the ADCA update list:

The “Hubbard Detoxification Protocol” is employed by the deceptively named “Narconon”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narconon

Narconon is a subsidiary of the Church of Scientology (CoS).

CoS also promotes this protocol for “detoxifying” toxic chemical exposure and several “treatment” centres devoted to it have attracted Government funding in the US, despite a complete absence of scientific evidence for its effectiveness, and despite serious risks of adverse effects.

L. Ron Hubbard mistakenly believed that high doses of vitamins (in particular Niacin) and prolonged high temperature saunas could rid the body of toxins (and even radioactivity). From his writings it appears that Hubbard interpreted symptoms that are consistent with Niacin poisoning as evidence of toxins being flushed from the body.

In the US there are, amongst others, centres set up to “treat” the chemical exposures of “911 Firefighters” (in NYC) and “Meth Cops” (in Utah).

Critics state that such centres are actually CoS recruiting centres, that the “detox” is completely ineffective, and that the protocol is widely documented to have killed participants through overdose of vitamins and/or dehydration and overheating.

This risk is greatly elevated amongst people with liver or kidney disease- such as chronic alcoholics. Now read on…

http://www.news.com.au/national/scientologists-targeting-alcoholic-aborigines-with-killer-therapy/story-e6frfkvr-1225956836170

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/22/3072690.htm

Registrations closing soon: Research into Practice Conference

Outside In: Research into Practice Conference
Date: Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 December 2010
Venue: Novotel Manly Pacific, 55 North Steyne , Manly, NSW

The Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) and the Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) invite you to the Research into Practice Conference at the Novotel Manly Pacific in Sydney.

The conference will showcase NGO driven research in the area of working with clients with co-existing mental health and drug and alcohol problems, with a focus on the implications for practice. A highlight of the conference will be the diverse range of services, population groups and research partners that have been involved in the research.

The conference will be opened by the Hon Carmel Tebbutt MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Health.

Keynote presenters include:

– Julian Morrow, Executive Producer and co-founder of The Chaser
– A/Prof Michael Baigent, Department of Psychiatry Flinders University, Clinical Advisor, beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative, Clinical Director, Centre for Anxiety and Related Disorders
– Dr Katherine Mills, Senior Lecturer and NHMRC Research Fellow, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
– Readings and performance by young artists from the “Speak Out Speak Easy” program at South Sydney Youth Services.

Click here to download the conference flyer.
Click here to download the draft program.

Jobs: Regional Manager Alcohol and Drug Services:

Regional Manager Alcohol and Drug Services:
A strategic leadership role in a highly professional service that enjoys both political support and funding for Futures Direction Plan

Regional leadership role based in Hobart, Tasmania. Population in the Southern Region is approx 260,000.

Member of the State-wide Executive Team

Highly skilled team and the service offers the full range of addiction services

Strategic partnership arrangement in leading the service with the State Manager and the Regional Clinical Director

Focus on Clinical Governance, Service and Workforce Development

Represent the service on intergovernmental committees

8 Reports to this position

Essential qualifications: Nursing; OT; Psychology or Social Work

Six figure remuneration

Please obtain selection documentation from Hardy Group International prior to applying by emailing Rmiller@hardgroupintl.com quoting Ref H10-1768.

For further information contact :

Jean Fagan on +61 2 9964 9099

Draft of the National Drug Strategy 2010-2015 – call for submissions

The Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs (IGCD) is developing the next stage of the National Drug Strategy on behalf of the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy. A draft of the National Drug Strategy 2010-2015 has been developed based on an evaluation of the previous strategy and a round of consultations earlier this year.

Development of the Strategy represents a partnership between the Commonwealth Government, State and Territory governments, the non-government sector and the broader community. Public comment is now invited on the draft Strategy. These comments will be used to finalise a document that will steer Australia’s drug policy over the next five years.
You are encouraged to review the consultation draft and provide feedback to assist in the finalisation of the Strategy. The draft, as well as further information on how to be part of this consultation, is available at the National Drug Strategy website (www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au).

Submissions close at 8pm (AEDT), 10 December 2010.

Australia gets a preventative health agency

Would love to hear people’s thoughts on this – it seems logical, but will it end up a conglomeration of conflicting priorities?

THE HON NICOLA ROXON MP

Minister for Health and Ageing

MEDIA RELEASE

17 November 2010

Historic health prevention agency a reality

The fight against preventable diseases has been given a boost after the Parliament today passed the historic Australian National Preventive Health Agency Bill 2010, despite delaying tactics by the Opposition.

The Agency will lead Australia’s fight against preventable diseases through campaigns targeting obesity, along with alcohol, tobacco and other substance abuse.

Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said the Agency will be critical in combating preventable diseases, which affects the lives of millions of Australians.

“We know that preventative health measures work and that’s why we sought to establish the Agency so for the first time in Australia, we will have one independent body to coordinate prevention campaigns across the country.”

As part of the Gillard Government’s record $872.1 million commitment over six years towards the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health, the Agency will bring together some of the best expertise in Australia to gather, analyse and disseminate the latest evidence on ways to prevent chronic disease.

The Government has allocated $17.6 million to establish and operate the Agency which will be open from early next year and will be responsible for three specific programs under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health:

· National social marketing programs relating to tobacco and obesity ($102 million over four years);

· A preventive health research fund focussing on translational research ($13.1 million over four years); and

· A preventative workforce audit and strategy ($0.5 million over two years).

Quick facts:

· Potentially avoidable diseases account for around 20 per cent of Australia’s total health care expenditure.

· More than 60 per cent of Australians aged over 18 are overweight or obese.

· And more than 813,000 Australians aged 15 years and older were hospitalised for alcohol-related injury and disease between 1996 and 2005.

· Currently, smoking kills about 15,000 Australians each year and costs Australia $31.5 billion each year.

Indigenous Smoking Seminar

From NDRI:

The Centre for Behavioural Research into Cancer Control and the National Drug Research Institute invite you to

What’s needed to Close the Smoking Gap?

A free public seminar with
Tom Calma
National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking

3pm on Wednesday 17 November, 2010

National Drug Research Institute Seminar Room
Curtin University Health Research Campus
Level 2, 10 Selby Street, Shenton Park, WA

Tom Calma has been involved in Indigenous affairs at a local, community, state, national and international level and worked in the public sector for 35 years. He was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner for six years until early 2010 and has been Chair of the Close the Gap Steering Committee for Indigenous Health Equality since its inception in March 2006. As National Coordinator for Tackling Indigenous Smoking, his role includes leading and mentoring the tackling smoking workforce, advising on policy and program directions in Indigenous tobacco control, and advocating best practice approaches to reducing smoking in Indigenous families, communities and workplaces.

Dr Calma is an Aboriginal elder from the Kungarakan tribal group and a member of the Iwaidja tribal group whose
traditional lands are south-west of Darwin and on the Coburg Peninsula in the Northern Territory.

Please RSVP to NDRI Reception on (08) 9266 1600 or ndri@curtin.edu.au by Tuesday 16 November, 2010.

Graduate Certificate in Alcohol and Other Drug Studies

From Turning Point:

The 2011 course handbook for Turning Point’s Graduate Program is now out. The handbook and application form are available on the Turning Point website www.turningpoint.org.au, or from Student Administration, phone 8413 8700.

The courses comprise two core subjects, Perspectives in Drug Use and AOD Treatment, Assessment and Planning, and a choice of elective subjects from the following specialist streams: AOD counselling and clinical work, mental health, community/ policy, and AOD research and evaluation. Some subjects, including the two core subjects, can be studied online.

The closing date for applications for study in first semester 2011 is Friday 28 January 2011.

For more information please contact: Caroline Clark on 8413 8708 or carolinec@turningpoint.org.au

Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor – Forensic and Supported Accommodation

Alcohol and Other Drugs Counsellor – Forensic and Supported Accommodation

· Leading Alcohol and Other Drugs agency
· Part Time Fixed Term until May 2011
· Generous salary packaging benefits

Moreland 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 a maternity leave vacancy for 3 days per week until May 2011.

This is a dual purpose position covering both the forensic and supported accommodation programs. You will provide outreach, counselling and case management support to clients who live in our supported accommodation properties as well as providing forensic counseling services to mandated clients referred through the Community Offender and Treatment Services and Drug Diversion programs.

To be successful in the role you will have relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Nursing, or Allied Health Sciences, have 4 key competencies in AOD, qualifications in dual diagnosis or willingness to undertake, a current Victorian drivers license, and experience working in the AOD sector.

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

For further information please contact Rob Testro on 9384 8881.

Applications close 4pm Tuesday 23 November 2010.