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Connections celebrates NAIDOC week

Image - Connections celebrates NAIDOC week
Date Published:
29 Jun 2016
Contact person:
Marion Downey
Phone:
(02) 9385 0180

The June 2016 edition of Drug and Alcohol Research Connectionsis out now. Connections is a free, bi-monthly, online newsletter published jointly by three of Australia’s leading drug and alcohol research centres: the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) in Sydney; the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) in Perth and Melbourne; and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) in Adelaide.

As we approach NAIDOC week in early July, a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements, we would also like to reflect on the challenges many Indigenous communities face in regards to substance use. This edition of Connections highlights some great work that has been done in that space working with communities in reducing harms related to alcohol and other drugs, which place disproportionately higher burden on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities compared with the general Australian population.

Our Research Focus looks at a trial of the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), an American-developed intervention which the investigating team adapted, in conjunction with local health care providers and community members, to make it relevant and acceptable to an Australian context,  in particular for Indigenous Australians. The early results are impressive. Author Professor Anthony Shakeshaft writes that the next step is a more scientifically rigorous evaluation of the effectiveness and costs of the Australian version of CRA. The article also makes extensive reference to the NDARC-developed training manual for both CRA and a related intervention Community Reinforcement Approach and Family Training (CRAFT).

In an opinion piece, Professor David Moore, NDRI Melbourne, reflects on the role of masculinities in alcohol-related violence and argues that the subject has not received sufficient attention but should be central to future policy debate. Given this issue of Connections focuses on interventions for Indigenous Australians it is significant to note that epidemiological evidence has identified that Indigenous women aged 30-44, for example, are 18 times more likely to be victims of violence or homicide than non-Indigenous women.

NDRI’s Adjunct Professor David Boffa has been recognised by the Australian Medical Association  Excellence in Healthcare 2016 for his contribution  to reducing harms from alcohol and improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal children Award. Associate Professor Boffa received the award with his with colleague from Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Donna Ah Chee. AMA President Professor Brian Owler said that Associate Professor Boffa and Ms Ah Chee had made a significant contribution to the health of Aboriginal people through their involvement with primary care, research, education and public health.

In our popular Conversation with…, article Professor Kate Conigrave shares a little bit about her work and life, including a weakness at ball games and a powerful encounter with an Aboriginal woman in remote Northern Territory.

Professor Conigrave is also an investigator on a study led by NDRI’s Professor Dennis Gray and Associate Professor Ted Wilkes aimed at improving the uptake of evidence-based care for unhealthy alcohol use in primary health care services targeting Indigenous Australians. Like the project described by Professor Shakeshaft in this issue, this cluster randomised uses a collaborative approach to select and implement service-wide changes to optimise care.

We hope you enjoy browsing through these articles as well as the latest news, new projects and publication highlights from across the Centres.

For more information on NAIDOC week, visit http://www.naidoc.org.au/.