AOD Shellharbour Hub
In August 2024, ACSO celebrated the opening of an alcohol and other drugs services hub in Shellharbour, New South Wales, which will deliver desperately needed alcohol and other drug services, empowering clients to make positive change.
Since 2021, ACSO has been providing specialist counselling and care coordination through its Forensic Treatment Services program in Victoria. These services offer vital treatment and care pathways for clients in high-risk circumstances needing Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AOD) support. Drawing on this expertise, ACSO was one of 12 organisations that received funding in 2024 in response to the urgent need to expand AOD services across New South Wales (NSW).
AOD Use and Incarceration
The links between AOD consumption and incarceration have been well documented within the criminal justice system. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Wellness has shown that the majority of individuals in Australian prisons consume illicit drugs in the year before their arrest, with this rate reaching 73% in 2022 (AIHW, 2022). These findings extend to alcohol use, with 44% of Australian prison entrants in 2023 consuming harmful levels of alcohol in the year before their incarceration (AIHW, 2023).
Recently, attention has been directed to the use of amphetamines and associated harms in NSW. Amphetamines are a highly addictive class of stimulant drugs often associated with crime and incarceration, the most common form being crystal methamphetamine (‘ice’) (Goldsmid and Willis 2016; Tait et al. 2018).
From 2020 to 2021, amphetamines were the most detected drugs among individuals detained by police in NSW (Voce & Sullivan 2022) and accounted for the second largest proportion of national drug-related arrests (AIHW, 2024).
NSW Government Response
In response to these growing concerns, the NSW Government launched a Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug Ice in 2018, highlighting the urgent need for better AOD support services. Numerous recommendations were made by the Commissioner, and 86 of these were granted funding of $500 million. This funding will be used to enhance the AOD workforce in NSW and deliver evidence-based prevention, treatment, support and early intervention services for priority populations, such as people in custody (NSW Health, 2024).
One of the inquiry’s focus areas for 2024 has been to enhance non-government organisations’ services, particularly in districts of high need. In line with this, the NSW government dedicated $33.9 million to establish 12 new AOD hubs across the state. Having a long-standing history providing AOD services, and a particular experience implementing new programs for people at risk in the Shellharbour and Nowra regions, ACSO was one of the key organisations which received funding to provide AOD treatment and support services, with a specific focus on the Illawarra Shoalhaven region.
“[The new AOD hubs] will provide welcoming, culturally safe environments and tailored treatment options to support people affected by alcohol and other drugs, and their families, to achieve enhanced quality of life”
– Ryan Park, Health Minister
Expanding ACSO Services
This funding enabled ACSO to expand its Forensic Treatment Services model to provide support to clients in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, NSW. The Shellharbour hub will provide a suite of specialist AOD services such as assessment, counselling, and care and recovery coordination. The team will work together with clients to support their ongoing recovery through collaborative treatment plans, aiming to reduce substance-related harms, and increase overall health, bridging support, access to other services, and social connections.
“It’s not just treating them as their drug and alcohol issue, but looking at their whole lives and what impacts drug and alcohol has had on their lives, and how can we work with them in creating change”
– Cath Williams, ACSO Chief Operations Officer
Collaborating with Purpose
Partnership is at the heart of the endeavour to expand access to AOD services in NSW. The Shellharbour Hub works closely with several local services to expand clients’ support networks, including Justice Health, South Coast Correctional Centre, Wollongong and Nowra Community Correctional Services, the Community Restoration Centre, and St Vincent de Paul Society.
“A lot of work has gone into this so far, and more work will go into this in partnership with the community to ensure we get this right”
– Chris Minns, NSW Premier
Reflecting this commitment to collaboration, the NSW Government will be holding a multiday drug summit in December 2024. The summit will provide an opportunity for medical professionals, police, individuals with lived AOD experience, community organisations, families, and other groups to come together and share their perspectives.
Ultimately, this will be a valuable milestone in building a way forward as ACSO work together with the NSW community to tackle drug-related issues and empower affected individuals to reclaim their lives.