The QNADA AGM was attended by over 30 members and friends of the NGO AOD sector, including special guests the Honourable Dr Chris Davis MP, Assistant Minister for Health, the Honourable Graham Perrott MP, Member for Moreton and Chair of the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee and a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee and Rachel Smith, Director, Advice Services at the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission Taskforce. 

From Left: Gerard Bryne (Clinical Director of Recovery Services, Salvation Army) Rebecca MacBean (Executive Officer, QNADA) The Hon. Graham Perrot, MP (Member for Moreton and Chair of the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal AffairsCommittee and a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee) David Pullen (Salvation Army)	From Left: The Honourable Dr Chris Davis MP, (Assistant Minister for Health) & Rebecca MacBean (Executive Officer, QNADA)	From Left: Trevor Halliwell (Program Manager Najarra) Ara Harathunian (CEO, Bundaberg Indiginous Wellbeeing Centre) & Hon. Graham Perrot, MP (Member for Moreton and Chair of the House of Representatives Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee and a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee)

QNADA members took the opportunity to ask a number of questions of Dr Davis in relation to a number of changes within the AOD sector recently announced by the Queensland Government.  The issues discussed included:

• The value of non medical models of care in the AOD Treatment sector;
• the impact of changes to Drug Court and diversion programs on individuals and for our services;
• the benefits that a strong and independent  Queensland Mental Health Commission can deliver to the NGO AOD sector;
• that it is necessary to consider the long-term implications of the withdrawal of prevention and early intervention services; and
• that NGO AOD treatment services support clients with complex needs including dual diagnosis and comorbid physical health issues.

Rachel Smith's presentation regarding the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission is available here. 

The AGM was also the perfect opportunity to launch the QNADA Strategic Plan 2012-15 and the Annual Report 2012.

During the AGM, the current Board was returned to office, with three new appointments.  All ten positions are now filled, with Anne Maree Callander of BYS, Genevieve Sinclair of YETI and Niki Parry of QuIVAA joining the team.  The expanded Board reflects the diverse nature of the NGO AOD sector with representation from youth services, Indigenous services, regional services, therapeutic communities, residential services, and services that deliver prevention and early intervention services and outreach services. 

Following the AGM, the newly appointed QNADA Board met for their first meeting and determined that the Executive would consist of:

• Trevor Hallewell (President)
• Dennis Young (Vice-President)
• Ara Harathunian (Treasurer)
• Mitchell Giles (Secretary)

"Test ideas in the marketplace. you learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the
support decisions need to be successfully implemented."
- Donald Rumsfeld

Click here to login to Members only section to comment

We appreciate the feedback that a number of you were able to provide into these discussions. You may have noticed that the Members Only section of the QNADA website contains information about our current policy consultations and also provides feedback that we have contributed on your behalf. If you're having trouble accessing the Members Only section of our website please contact Gunnar on (07) 3010 6504 or via i This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Marguerite is also our representative on the National Policy Officers Forum. The National Policy Officers Forum provides an opportunity for the AOD peak organisations to discuss the different approaches and policy challenges within their State or Territory.There'll be some interesting discussions at the Information session later this month and we'll pull them togetherafterwards for those who are unable to make it.

There's a range of policy and member issues that will arise between now and the end of the year and QNADA is committed to ensuring that we provide the easiest mechanisms for you to be involved in ongoing discussions.

But don't just wait until we ask for specific feedback. If there's something that your organisation is currently discussing, or if you're interested in other issues that are mentioned throughout our newsletter please pick up the phone and call us or drop us an email.

We’d love to hear about the issues affecting you!

In 2006, 22 per cent of people living in Australia were born overseas, and 16 per cent spoke a language other than English at home. Yet culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients are under-represented in alcohol and other drug (AOD) services

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Produced in partnership with Turning Point, the UK's leading social care organisation, this toolkit provides background information to the issues surrounding dual diagnosis and offers a practical guide to delivering services. It includes information about substance misuse, mental health and policy background and features current treatment modules along with case studies and exercises for individuals or group work.

On 11 October 2011, the Honourable Anna Bligh MP, Premier and Minister for Reconstruction, announced in Parliament that the Queensland Government would establish an independent Queensland Mental Health Commission (the Commission) from 1 July 2012 to drive improved performance, coordination and transparency in the delivery of mental health services in Queensland.

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Each year the Workforce Council produces the report providing industry profiles, training profiles, key drivers impacting on skilling and workforce development and key priorities for future workforce planning.

The 2011 report has been published in nine parts, including an introductory report and eight key sector reports: Health Industry, Community Service Industry, Aged and Community Care sector, Child Protection sector, Children’s Services sector, Community Mental Health sector, Disability sector and Youth sector.

Workforce Council will work with sector peak organisations and industry bodies over the next six months to validate the reports and identify strategic priorities for the next one to five years.

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At a meeting of the Community Services Futures Forum in March 2011,
it was agreed to develop a green paper around how the sector could
work better together in the face of significant and unprecedented change
in the state and national community service environment.

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Authors: Roche, A., & White, M.

Date: 2011

Publication information: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University

Publication type: Report

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To order hard copies of this publication from NCETA, click here.