The Australian Drug Blog

Jobs: Youth Worker, Sydney NSW

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 06:34:25 +0000

Position Title	Youth Project Worker
Employment Status	Permanent Full Time, Permanent Part Time
Entity	South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
Geographical Location	Kings Cross
Award Classification	Health Education Officers Determination – Health Educ Off Grad
Reference Number	77534
Salary	$25.97 – $42.32
Hours per Week	up to 38
Purpose of Position	The Kirketon Road Centre (KRC is a primary health care facility located in Kings Cross), is involved in the prevention, treatment and care of HIV/AIDS and other transmissible infections among “at-risk” young people, sex workers and injecting drug users. This position will take a lead role in the development, implementation and delivery of programs targeting “at- risk” young people. This position also participates in the delivery of needle syringe services, outreach, health and social welfare referral and KRC health promotion activities.
Selection Criteria	• Experience and interest in working with young people • Ability to develop, implement, deliver and evaluate health education programs • Experience working in the provision of services to socially marginalised populations • Demonstrated knowledge of health and social welfare issues affecting ‘at-risk’ young people, people who inject drugs and sex workers • Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to harm minimisation • An understanding and willingness to work within a professional model of health service delivery • Willingness to work day and evening shifts in the challenging outreach environment in the Kings Cross area • Current NSW driver’s licence
Contact Person	Wendy Machin 0421503740 wendy.machin@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Closing Date	20/05/2012

DANA Annual Conference

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:49:25 +0000

Event name: 2012 DANA Conference, In the Age of Complexity

Organisation: Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia

Event type: Conference

Date: 13 – 15 June 2012

Location: The Citigate and Sebel, Albert Park, Melbourne

Event Overview:

The 2012 DANA Conference – In the age of complexity will highlight issues around drug and alcohol nursing and will identify and examine the current issues and problems facing drug and alcohol nursing. It aims to:

· increase the knowledge of the delegates working in the specialist area of alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD)
· demonstrate innovative models of drug and alcohol nursing
· provide a collegial environment that promotes support and networking.

For more information: http://www.danaconference.com.au/

Contact: dana@rcna.org.au or 02 6283 3424

Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:40:59 +0000

Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients

ENDORSED by the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association

and INTRODUCING a day and a half workshop on

Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal Communities

In the following locations

MELBOURNE DARWIN BRISBANE ADELAIDE SYDNEY

WORKSHOPS ARE FILLING UP FAST – REGISTER NOW!

Dr Westerman is a recognised leader in Aboriginal Suicide Prevention and Mental Health. She is one of the most sought after trainers across the country with her workshops sold out each time they are delivered. She has personally trained over 9,000 individuals Australia wide. Dr Westerman is a descendant of the Nyamal people near Port Hedland, WA. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma (Science, UWA) in Psychology, a Masters Degree (Clinical Psychology, Curtin University) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical and Health Psychology). Her award winning Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research provided a much needed evidence base regarding the role of culture in the development, maintenance and treatment of mental illness for Aboriginal people. Her ongoing research and practice has continued to validate and develop a number of unique Aboriginal mental health training programs, psychological tests, assessment protocols, service delivery models and Whole of Aboriginal Community Mental Health and Suicide Intervention Programs. Click here for more information

Mental Health Assessment of Aboriginal Clients Learning Outcomes

The only workshop in Australia able to measure and develop Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competencies*

*Participants complete the Aboriginal Mental Health Cultural Competency Test (CCT) prior to the workshop. A profile is then generated which can be used as a cultural supervision plan. Dr Westerman’s training programs have demonstrated evidence of improving measured cultural competencies of participants Click here for more information
ACCREDITATION in FOUR psychological tests developed specifically for Aboriginal people including the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Youth aged 13-17 (WASC-Y) – the ONLY uniquely developed and validated psychological test for Aboriginal youth worldwide (Canadian Health, 2009)
Learn how to ensure ‘cultural compatibility’ with Aboriginal clients and how cultural differences translate with counselling and engagement skills
Assessing the difference between cultural and mental illness including:
Trauma and how it manifests in Aboriginal people
Attachment and Cultural Parenting Differences – addressing trauma from forcible removal
Culture bound depression and grief – evidence based treatments AND MUCH MORE…

Suicide Prevention in Aboriginal Communities Learning Outcomes

This training program has been developed from large scale (population) data collected via the Westerman Aboriginal Symptom Checklist – Youth (and Adults) which means that it is based on evidence regarding the different risk and protective factors that exist for suicidal behaviours in Aboriginal people. It is the only program in Australia specifically developed for Aboriginal people and on empirical evidence. As a result IPS has been highly successful in the development and delivery of Whole of Aboriginal Community Suicide Prevention Programs across 16 distinct Aboriginal communities over the past ten years.
Dr Westerman has been recognised as a world leader in Aboriginal suicide as a result of her unique approach to this highly complex and challenging area. Participants will walk away with a unique and practical understanding of the following
How to engage effectively with a suicidal Aboriginal client
How to translate differences in the nature of Aboriginal suicide into effective intervention strategies for the individual and communities
Cultural engagement skills and effective individual and communityinterventions.
Translating the different risk factors into a unique Suicide Risk Assessment Tool and MUCH more…

Click here for further information and registration form

OR register and pay online here

Jobs – Senior Research Officer, Sydney

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 09:41:24 +0000

SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER POSITION AVAILABLE

NSW BUREAU OF CRIME STATISTICS AND RESEARCH (Sydney)

Salary range: $85,928 – $93,870

Total remuneration package valued up to: $103,586

Conduct an evaluation of victim satisfaction with Youth Justice Conferencing (temporary full-time up to 30 June 2013)

Work performed:

Interviewing young offenders, victims and other participants in Youth Justice Conferences regarding their levels of satisfaction with Conferencing outcomes;

Writing research reports and briefing notes;

Evaluating and incorporating reviewer comments into written research reports;

Presenting seminars and conference papers;

Providing technical advice to Departmental staff and staff from other agencies on research methodology;

Reviewing research proposals and research papers by outside individuals and organisations;

Promoting Equal Employment Opportunity, the Ethnic Affairs Policy Statement and Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines policies.

Selection criteria:

Tertiary qualifications in social or behavioural sciences, with an honours degree or higher;

Ability to write research reports to a standard suitable for publication;

Demonstrated experience and/or training in conducting personal interviews;

Demonstrated understanding of multivariate statistical analyses and familiarity with statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS, SAS, Stata);

Ability to plan and organise work to meet tight deadlines for concurrent projects;

Good oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical concepts to a non-technical audience.

Applications close 11 May 2012 Applicants must obtain an information package and address all criteria in the advertisement. Applications should be lodged electronically via www.jobs.nsw.gov.au Information Packages and further information:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Craig Jones | Research Manager | NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Email: craig_jones@agd.nsw.gov.au | Phone: 02 9231 9176 | Fax: 02 9231 9187 | GPO Box 6, Sydney NSW 2001

Jobs: Practice Manager, Melbourne

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 12:02:18 +0000

Practice Manager [ Ref: 10591 ]

Melbourne’s West is one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse areas in Australia. Western Health is investing now to meet the demands of this growing population and improve the quality of care and access to services for people in the West.

Western Health’s Drug Health Services is the largest Drug and Alcohol treatment agency in Melbourne’s West. Our progressive service has recently undertaken an internal service planning process, and has identified private practice opportunities as an important strategic direction.

We are seeking to appoint a dynamic, innovative and experienced Practice Manager to manage our current Private Practice MBS clinics in Footscray. In addition, the Practice Manager will work with Drug Health Services managers and clinical teams to scope opportunities for additional medical and allied health private practice clinics in Footscray, and in other locations in the Western suburbs.

The successful applicant will work within, and lead a small team of administrative staff to provide reception and administrative support. A thorough knowledge of private practice operations (general practice and / or medical specialist) is required. An attractive salary package will be negotiated with the successful applicant.

For more information on the exciting employment opportunities at Western Health visit www.westernhealth.org.au

Jobs: Community Health Nurse, Melbourne

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:09:57 +0000

Community Health Nurse

Part time, ongoing, 30.4 hours per week

Western Region Health Centre, Health Works

, 30.4 hours per week

“To create healthy and connected communities in Melbourne’s West through

the delivery of high quality, accessible community and health services.”

The Western Region Health Centre (WRHC) provides a range of health and community

support services and are committed to innovation and quality in all we do.

Health Works, a program of the Western Region Health Centre (WRHC), aims to improve

the health and wellbeing of people who inject drugs in the western suburbs of Melbourne

using a holistic, social model of health. We aim to address the health inequities

experienced by people who inject in a way that is confidential, innovative, responsive and

based on a harm reduction framework.

We are seeking a committed and experienced individual to undertake community health

service provision and other health promotion activities. The successful applicant will have

a working knowledge of the social model of health, sound clinical skills and an interest

in developing and enhancing nursing skills in STI’s , Hepatitis C and HIV management.

Ideally you will have experience working within a community setting or harm reduction

model. You will also have a solid understanding of the clinical and psychosocial health

issues affecting people who inject drugs and the ability to devise care plans and health

promotion initiatives within a team setting.

The applicant is to be a Division 1 Nurse registered with the Australian Health Practitioners

Regulation Agency (APHRA). Post graduate qualifications in community health, public

health, BBV, STI’s, sexual and reproductive health are desirable. HIV and Hepatitis C

testing accreditation would be an advantage. Experience in working in community health

settings with marginalised groups is highly desirable.

Mandatory

• Division 1 Registered Nurse eligible for registration with Australian Health

Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and have an understanding of independent

nursing practice

• Demonstrated experience or interest in providing health services to people who

inject drugs

• A sound understanding and commitment to harm reduction especially in relation to

injecting drug use, health care access, blood borne viruses and other health risks

• A sensitivity to and understanding of the issues and needs of people from culturally

and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities who inject drugs

• Ability to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team

• Highly developed interpersonal and written communication skills

• Ability to develop harm reduction based health promotion activities to reduce health

risks associated with injecting drug use, and improve the general health of people

who inject drugs

• Computer literacy, including word processing and database skills

• A current driver’s licence

Desirable

• Credentialed in HIV and Hepatitis C Testing accredited and registered with the Victoria

Department of Health

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary workplace of similar setting

Wages and Conditions: Nurses (Victorian Public Sector) Multiple Employer Agreement

2007 – 2011, Registered Nurse Grade 3B. Attractive salary packaging available.

For a position description please visit our website at www.wrhc.com.au or for further

queries, please phone Rebecca McBurnie, HR Assistant on 03 9680 1138.

Closing date for applications is 5:00pm on Sunday 6th May 2012.

Please submit your application via email to jobs@wrhc.com.au, to the attention of

Bernadette Suter and include:

• current resume

• covering letter

• a separate response to the Key Selection Criteria (located within the position

description) – please note that applications will not be considered without this

A pre-employment criminal record check is mandatory.

WRHC is an equal opportunity employer.

Army probes drug use by soldiers in Afghanistan – San Jose Mercury News

admin — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 08:49:38 +0000

The U.S. Army has investigated 56 soldiers in Afghanistan on suspicion of using or distributing heroin, morphine or other opiates during 2010 and 2011, newly obtained data shows. Eight soldiers died of drug overdoses during that time.
While the cases represent just a slice of possible drug use by U.S. troops in Afghanistan, they provide a somber snapshot of the illicit trade in the war zone, including young Afghans peddling heroin, soldiers dying after mixing cocktails of opiates, troops stealing from medical bags and Afghan soldiers and police dealing drugs to their U.S. comrades.
In a country awash with poppy fields that provide up to 90 percent of the world’s opium, the U.S. military struggles to keep an eye on its far-flung troops and monitor for substance abuse.
But U.S. Army officials say that while the presence of such readily available opium — the raw ingredient for heroin — is a concern, opiate abuse has not been a pervasive problem for troops in Afghanistan.

See on www.mercurynews.com

Survey of Health Professionals’ Views of Cannabis Use Treatment Guidelines

admin — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:02:24 +0000

Via UNSW:

Are you a health professional who counsels individuals who use cannabis?

If so, the National Cannabis and Information Centre would like to invite you to participate in an online survey to find out about your views on cannabis use treatment guidelines. The survey takes less than 30 minutes to complete and participation is confidential. You will not be asked to identify your place of employment. Participants who complete the survey will be asked to provide an email address to enter a draw to win one of ten $100 AUD via PayPal.

To complete the survey, please follow the link:

https://www.surveys.unsw.edu.au/survey/156130/586a/

Contact Dr Melissa Norberg for enquiries (m.norberg@unsw.edu.au).

This research has been approved by UNSW Human Research Ethics Advisory Panel (HREA: 2011-7-47).

Jobs: Research Assistant, Sydney

admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:02:57 +0000

RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITION AVAILABLE

NSW BUREAU OF CRIME STATISTICS AND RESEARCH (Sydney)

Salary range: $59,705 – $65,376

Total remuneration package valued up to: $72,142

Assist with an evaluation of the alcohol Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment program (temporary full-time up to 30 June 2014)

Work performed:

Assisting with the collection of data;
Liaison with stakeholder groups and data providers;
Organisation of meetings with stakeholder groups;
Data coding and data entry;
Simple data analysis;
Identification and reviewing of relevant literature;
Assisting with drafting of research reports.

Selection criteria:

Tertiary qualifications in the behavioural sciences or equivalent experience;
Demonstrated understanding of inferential statistics;
Familiarity with statistical software packages (e.g. SPSS, Excel);
Experience working with sensitive datasets;
Highly developed written and oral communication skills;
Good interpersonal liaison skills;
Ability to plan and organise work to meet deadlines for concurrent projects.

Applications close 20 April 2012

Applicants must obtain an information package and address all criteria in the advertisement.
Applications should be lodged electronically via www.jobs.nsw.gov.au

Information Packages and further information:

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Craig Jones | Research Manager | NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

Email: craig_jones@agd.nsw.gov.au | Phone: 02 9231 9176 | Fax: 02 9231 9187 | GPO Box 6, Sydney NSW 2001

Community Alcohol Forum – Victoria

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:58:12 +0000

MAKE A TWO HOUR INVESTMENT IN YOUR KIDS’ WELLBEING

FREE COMMUNITY FORUM

Alcohol is by far the most commonly used drug among Victorian young people. Every week, it contributes to accidents, assaults and even deaths among our kids.

So how can you protect your own children in a world awash with alcohol?

Our free community forum will give parents practical, easy to use ways to talk to kids about alcohol, and plenty of ideas about how to keep them safe.

The forums will be presented by Geoff Munro, Australian Drug Foundation and Leigh Bartlett, Barwon Adolescent Taskforce.

Venue: Gladstone Park Secondary College, Performing Arts Centre

Address: Taylor Drive, Gladstone Park (Melways reference: 6 A10)

Date: Wednesday 18 April 2012

Time: 7pm – 9pm (tea and coffee from 6.45pm)

To register, visit the website: www.teendrinkinglaw.vic.gov.au