Time to Celebrate & Evolve
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SPRING NEWSLETTER 2020 Impact Time to Celebrate & Evolve 30 YEARS & BEYOND As the world around us experiences helped save the lives of over 3,000 strength in our vision. significant disruption, here at Sir David young Australians and had a positive The stories and success of our Martin Foundation we continue to impact on countless families. graduates drives our determination to navigate a steady course and work Thank you to all who have participated reach more young people seeking help, diligently to ensure our important work in our special 30th Anniversary especially as the economic, social and is maintained. celebrations and supported our recent health implications of this pandemic On the 10th August 2020 we events and activities. It has been take such a devastating toll nationally. humbling to read the many messages commemorated the life of Rear Admiral With your continued help and support of support, shared memories and Sir David Martin KCMG, AO, RAN, 34th we know we can make Sir David’s anecdotes and receive such generous Governor of NSW – remembering a dream of “safety hope and opportunity” endorsement for our future activities. man who embodied the essence of a reality for more young vulnerable service, leadership and humility. With renewed vigour our Foundation Australians than ever before. As we honour Sir David’s outstanding now harnesses these sentiments of Now that’s something worth celebrating! life and legacy, we also celebrate 30 celebration and optimism to fuel our future endeavours. years of the family foundation Above: Rear Admiral Sir David Martin KCMG, established in his name – which has We also look to the future to maintain AO, RAN, 34th Governor of NSW. Sir David Martin Foundation 1 martinfoundation.org.au Report reveals Foreword high demand About us Sir David Martin Foundation is a 30 year-old Family Foundation, helping young people in crisis. We enable best practice models of treatment for youth drug and alcohol addiction. Our vision of safety, hope and opportunity for all vulnerable young Australians has empowered them to independence with 92% engaged in education and employment. As the major philanthropic partner of Mission Australia, we have raised over $65 million since 1990 and are the primary funder of Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm, a best practice, holistic treatment centre for young people affected by drug and alcohol issues. EvolveOver 3,0002020: young people’s lives have been saved, with zero suicide attempts among and unmet need those we have reached. Are we doingIn enough2020 we celebrate 30 years for of supporting Triple Care Farm. An evaluation of Triple Care Farm published in 2015 found that the program has had a significant positive young peoplesocial andwith economic impactdrug on young people, their families and carers, Government and the wider alcohol and drug Executivesector. It has helped to change, if not save, summary the lives of That is because Triple Care Farm offers integrated care, is responsive to different contexts of young and peoplealcohol and their families,hundreds addiction? and of actively young involvesAustralians. young people in their care. Part of the success of Triple Care Farm is due to the fact we measure, monitor and report the On Wednesday 12th August our The report shows that almost outcomes of our young people, and translate findings from research into practice. Sir However,David there isMartin limited evidenceThere Foundationeither is frominsufficient Australia research or overseas into about the effectivenesswhat works to supportof treatment programs for young people with drug and 1 young people with problematic drugalcohol or alcohol addiction, use. Asboth a result, in Australia in 2019 and we commissionedoverseas. To bridgethis this gap in knowledge, Sir David Martin Foundation researchResearch to understand market needscommissioned Report across Australia research and toto establish identify: what published evidence exists of best practice treatment for young people who are using drugs and alcohol in a harmful way. Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable 40% (76,000) of all those This is the first such research report• bestinto the and youth emerging alcohol and practices other drug from sector Australia in Australia. and overseas A key learning of this work is that there• areas is continuing of demand high demand and unmet for programs need across in relation Australia, to treatment and programs for young people with with unmet need that is particularly highdrug in certain and alcoholgroups of addictionyoung people, in particularlyAustralia. in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This research has highlighted gaps in the service system and opportunities for future focus. Margaret Beazley AC QC, Governor of requesting help for drug and The research has shown we need to do more for these young people – some of the most vulnerable in the country. And while data is limited in Australia on the effectiveness of youth alcohol and other drug programs, the literature offers us a clear roadmap of the way forward. Sir David Martin Foundation is using this work with our partner, Mission Australia, to help develop New South Wales formally launched a alcohol addiction in Australia future strategies, refine programs and scale effective treatment models. We hope that the findings will be useful forHIGH others DEMAND: in the sector There to enable is a high us to demand work together for programs. to meet While use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs is declining the needs of more young people who are instruggling Australia, with 38% alcohol (76,000 and drugs.people) of thoseKey accessing findings alcohol and include:drug treatments were under the age of 30 in 2017-2018. each year are under the age of 3 new research report ‘Evolve 2020: Are GAPS IN FUNDING AND SERVICE CO-ORDINATION: There is inadequate funding and service coordination from all levels of government. Helen Connealy General Manager INADEQUATE RURAL AND REGIONAL OPTIONS: There are not enough treatment options outside larger cities. Sir David Martin Foundation 4 we doing enough for young people with 30. However, a lack of youth SIR DAVID MARTIN FOUNDATION RESEARCH REPORT 2020 LACK OF YOUTH SPECIFIC TREATMENT: There is a lack of youth-specific treatment, particularly residential withdrawal and rehabilitation programs. As a result, young people are being treated in adult programs. WIDESPREAD UNMET NEED: There is unmet need across the country, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres drug and alcohol addiction?’ specific treatment options leaves Strait Islander communities. those under youth justice supervision, lesbian, gay or bisexual. 7 Other priority cohorts include young people with co-morbid mental health conditions, LIMITED DATA: There is limited11 data collection in Australia, and there is also a need for better integrated many of these young people in adult 9 5 young people in rural and remote communities Commissioned by Sir David Martin measurement and evaluation. 6 programs not tailored to their needs. 10 and those identifying as Foundation, Evolve 2020 makes seven 8 key recommendations calling for a The report recommendations will now 2 SIR DAVID MARTIN FOUNDATION RESEARCH REPORT 2020 nationwide expansion of youth-specific be used as the basis for awareness, services to prevent vulnerable young collaboration and informing our future SIR DAVID MARTIN FOUNDATION RESEARCH REPORT 2020 people being caught in a debilitating funding. You can read the full report at and lifelong cycle of addiction. martinfoundation.org.au 4 3 SIR DAVID MARTIN FOUNDATION RESEARCH REPORT 2020 RECOMMENDATION 1 – Youth specific RECOMMENDATION 5 – Culturally 5 Develop youth-specific programs across appropriate programs prevention and harm minimisation, withdrawal, Provide more and improved access to culturally rehabilitation and aftercare. appropriate programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, that include connection to Country, family, kin and community. RECOMMENDATION 2 – System-wide Engage government, service providers and communities to develop systemic change. RECOMMENDATION 6 – Family focused care Develop therapeutic interventions through family RECOMMENDATION 3 – Integrated care focused therapy to address the risk and protective Develop and deliver holistic programs, involving factors in a young person’s environment that multiple services that address the complex needs affect their drug and alcohol use. of young people with drug and alcohol addiction. RECOMMENDATION 4 – Aftercare RECOMMENDATION 7 – Diverse care Provide aftercare to all young people following Provide a variety of supports to suit the individual withdrawal or rehabilitation treatment, directly or young person, their context and the complexity in partnership with other providers. of their needs. Sir David Martin Foundation 2 martinfoundation.org.au Meet Elli – our new Youth Ambassador High School Certificate, with a view to associated with before my recovery – starting a Forensic Science degree. and those conversations were hard to She also has an interest in law – and have. But the program teaches you hopes to one day embark on a career about accountability and good choices advocating for victims of crime. – and that’s what’s working for me at the moment. I’m building a new life.” Elli is a strong advocate of the “I do consider myself Aftercare program – crediting her to still be in recovery,” support worker Linda with setting her said Elli. up for success in the outside world. “Leaving Triple Care Farm