Communique

Adelaide—November 2008

In 2004 the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) - which is the principal advisory body to government on drug and alcohol issues and the Federal Government recognized a need for specific and independent advice on Indigenous alcohol and other drugs issues across Australia and the most appropriate and effective approaches to address them.

As part of its commitment to provide high level advice to government, the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) auspices the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC). NIDAC comprises members from non-government and government organisations with specialist expertise and knowledge who provide advice to government on ways to address drug and alcohol misuse amongst Indigenous Australians.

NIDAC also gains valuable feedback from people working to address Indigenous alcohol and other drug issues across Australia.

At its November 2008 meeting in Adelaide, South Australia, NIDAC members discussed the following:

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

NIDAC is concerned about alcohol and drug misuse during pregnancy and breastfeeding, considering:

One in four (22.7%)Indigenous people drink at levels that put them at high risk of alcohol related harm in the long term; two in 5 (38.7%) drank at levels that put them at high risk of alcohol related harm in the short term1,
It is a lifelong disability that affects the child,
It has a lifelong impact on the family, parents or carer.

NIDAC recognises that Indigenous children are the most vulnerable group in Australian society today. FASD is entirely preventable however there is much work to be done to determine its prevalence and where and how to intervene.

NIDAC welcomes the work of the Prime Ministers Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC) Working Group on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, for their focus on alcohol misuse in pregnancy. NIDAC has highlighted the urgent need for further investigation and to provide the appropriate diagnosis, treatment and support. NIDAC will also be developing a position paper and recommendations on FASD.

Utilising the evidence

NIDAC believes that government programs and models, including those with an emphasis on alcohol and law enforcement, being implemented in Indigenous communities to address harmful alcohol use should look at existing evidence to ensure their success and sustainability. Over time, the impact of restrictions on supply diminishes without the implementation of interventions aimed at reducing demand. While, demand reduction strategies and education-based campaigns have their place, they been shown internationally to be the least effective and they should not be relied upon as a key demand reduction strategy.

Inclusion of mental health and alcohol and other drug workforce in building the capacity of the health workforce.

A competent health workforce is integral to ensuring that the health needs of Indigenous Australians are addressed, however recognition is also needed for an adequately funded, skilled and appropriate mental health and alcohol and other drug workforce to help deal with the complex issues of Indigenous health.

Community consultation and support for local designed and operated Indigenous community initiatives

It is important for Indigenous Australians to play a role in determining solutions to address alcohol and other drug issues. Indigenous consultation is critical in the development and operation of initiatives and therefore needs greater support. Broader strategies need to be developed to ensure consultation also occurs for urban areas where the majority of Indigenous Australians live.

NIDAC has included these recommendations to the Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board, the Inquiry into Alcohol Abuse in South Australia and in its Alcohol Position Paper.

The NIDAC Chair, Associate Professor Ted Wilkes and other ANCD members met with Ms Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and also Ms Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing, to discuss supporting Indigenous communities to address Indigenous alcohol and other drug issues.

National Indigenous Representative Advisory Body

NIDAC welcomes the federal government establishment of a National Indigenous Representative Advisory Body as an important step towards reconciliation and a voice for all Indigenous Australians.

Since addressing alcohol and other drug issues plays a significant role in the Indigenous community, NIDAC will be seeking a high level of representation on the representative body that can provide a considerable level of expertise in this area.

First Taste — how Indigenous Australians learned about grog publication by Maggie Brady

NIDAC acknowledges the work of Maggie Brady in First Taste — how Indigenous Australians learned about grog published by the Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation. Reportedly being utilised in South Australia as part of alcohol and other drug worker training, NIDAC recognises that the publication may be a useful tool across a broad range of areas where an historical perspective of alcohol use would be of benefit.

NIDAC Activities

For information on Indigenous specific alcohol and other drug issues, NIDAC priorities and activities, community consultation and links to other relevant sites are available. www.nidac.org.au

For more information on NIDAC www.nidac.org.au or contact the NIDAC Secretariat (02) 6166 9600