Message Stick an Orientation Manual for Koori Alcohol and Other Drug Workers in Victoria
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Message stick An orientation manual for Koori alcohol and other drug workers in Victoria Message stick Acknowledgements The artwork has been reproduced Jones, Gregory Sloan, Matthew Graham, Published by Mental Health and with the kind permission of Telkaya Alan Thorpe, Erryn Nundle, Ringo Hood, Drugs Division, Victorian Government Statewide Koori Alcohol and Other Lloyd Hood, Chrisy Charles, Shaun Department of Human Services, Drug Network and created by artist Stewart, Chastity Prior, Carl Braybon, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Joe Chatfield, descendant of the Sandra Neilson, Jim West, Nick Hayne, May 2009 Gunditjmara Nation in western Victoria. Dianne Press, Alan Miller, Thomas Marks, Neal Daly, Stephanie Bunce, © Copyright State of Victoria, The Department of Human Services Department of Human Services, 2009 acknowledges and respects Aboriginal Ronnie Burns, Lynne Parker, Phil Perry, Victorians as the first Australians and Ron Appo, Brian Thomson, Charmaine This publication is copyright. No part original custodians of the land. Clark, Chris Wallace, Frank Hassell, may be reproduced by any process Herman Oogjes, Janet Egan, Jesse Mac, except in accordance with the This manual is largely based on work Joshua Ramamurthy, Karen McGee, provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. conducted by Swinburne University of Katrina Neal, Kylie Quirk, Larry Taylor, Authorised by the State Government Technology and Ngwala Willumbong Mark Poplewell, Michael Grant, Michael throughout 2004. of Victoria, 50 Lonsdale Street, Wilson, Russell Owens, Sid Clarke, Melbourne. None of this manual would be possible Bernie Hoffmann, Lennie Anderson and Printed by Thaker Print, 19 Mill Ave, without the invaluable contribution and many more. Forest Hill 3131. input from current and former members Special thanks to Mr Kevin Coombs for of the Koori AOD Network, including: his lifetime contribution towards the John Murray, Jumbo Pearce, Craig establishment of Koori AOD services Holloway, Glenn Howard, Wayne throughout Victoria. Prior, Di Griffin, Donna Mansbridge, We would also like to acknowledge Rosemaree Jones, Tammy Sayers, De- the following organisations for their Joel Upkett, Lynette Walsh, Faye Thorpe, contribution towards the manual: Tony Williams, Stephen Edge, Frank Hassall, Mike Richardson, John Arber, Australian Drug Foundation (ADF) Mark Hammersley, Rondon D’Antoine, Ngwala Willumbong Brook Perry, Jeff Cuell, Andrew Green, Victorian Aboriginal Community Debra Cahill, Jeff Lyell, Jeremy Newell, Controlled Organisation (VACCHO) Joanne Dwyer, Joan Kirby, , Grant Drage, Vernus Mobourne, Lionel Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Buckley, Sarah Morris, Kay Tulloch, Languages (VACL). Ross Morgan, Francie Boundy, Wendy If you require any further information Rotumah, Hughie Pepper, Peter Luttrell, on the Department of Human Services Doreen Lovett, Joe Day, Troy Litster, Ray about the Message stick for Koori Meehan, Richard Thorpe, Brett Walker, alcohol and other drug workers, please David Dryden, Craig Edwards, Bootsie contact: Thorpe, Bev Hanley, Dickie Bedford, Department of Human Services Sydney Chilli, Krishna McCloskey, – Mental Health and Drugs Division Shawn Ilsley, , Trish Johnson, Maurice Level 17, 50 Lonsdale Street, McCleod, Len Harrison, Bea Edwards, Melbourne 3000 Chyvonne Aiello, Rod Norman, Derek Ph: (03) 9096 5631 or (03) 9096 0308 Message stick Abbreviations used in this document AAV Aboriginal Affairs Victoria ACSO Australian Community Support Organisation ACCHO Aboriginal community controlled health organisation ADF Australian Drug Foundation AOD alcohol and other drug AOD RC alcohol and other drug regional coordinator COATS Community Offenders Advice & Treatment Service DD dual diagnosis IDDI Illicit Drug Diversion Initiative ICAP Improving Care for Aboriginal Patients KCA&DW Koori community alcohol and drug worker KCA&DRS Koori Community Alcohol and Drug Resource Service KHSU Koori Human Service Unit KMHLO Koori mental health liaison officer NAIDOC National Aboriginal Islander Day Observance Committee NIDS National illicit drug strategy NSP needle and syringe program OATSIH Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Health VACCHO Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation YSAS Youth Substance Abuse Service Message stick Contents A message from Statewide Koori Alcohol and Other Drug Network. 4 Introduction. 5 Section 1: Aboriginal people in Victoria. 7 The history of policy and practice in Aboriginal affairs in Victoria. 7 Victoria’s Aboriginal people today. 11 Section 2: Alcohol and other drugs in Victoria . 15 Alcohol and other drug services. 15 AOD programs and services for Koori communities . 21 AOD and mental health issues. 29 Section 3: About your role in the community . 31 Your role as a worker in your community . 31 Your agency and your community. 35 Qualifications, training and professional development . 37 Section 4: Working as a Koori AOD worker. 39 Safety and duty of care . 39 Working with other services. 40 Working with clients. 42 Managing your workload . 44 Section 5: Resources. 47 Drugs and their effects. 47 Contact list . 85 Glossary. 96 References. 104 Message stick A message from Statewide Koori Alcohol and Other Drug Network A message stick is a form of The network meets a number of communication traditionally used by times throughout the year for the Aboriginal people. We have used it as same reasons as when it first began. a title for this manual to symbolise the The meetings provide an opportunity importance of communicating in a way for workers to come together, share that honours the culture of Aboriginal experiences and provide support people in your role as an alcohol and to one another. The meetings also other drug (AOD) worker for the Koori feature activities and presentations community. for professional development of the This orientation manual was developed workforce. We always encourage over a number of years by Swinburne workers to become formally qualified University and Telkaya (the official as we believe a professionally skilled name of the Statewide Koori Alcohol workforce will help to meet the needs of and Other Drug Network), and was the client and their community best. funded by the Department of Human All Koori AOD workers are welcome to Services. It contains information about attend our meetings. the requirements and responsibilities On behalf of Telkaya, we welcome you you take on when you become an AOD and encourage you to use this manual worker for the Koori community. The to help you get started as a Koori AOD manual also gives you information about worker in Victoria. some of the challenges and rewards that come with working with Koori Members of the Telkaya Executive Planning communities throughout Victoria. Group 2009 This manual is a great introduction to Victoria’s AOD services and will help you understand the activities you will be involved in when supporting clients and as well as when you assist your local Koori community. Telkaya forms part of the statewide AOD services in Victoria. Our history dates back to the late 1980s when a small number of Aboriginal health workers from different communities decided to hold regular meetings as a way to provide support, opportunities for debriefing and to share information. Since then, as the number of Koori AOD workers has grown, so has the network and now includes workers from Koori communities throughout the state. Message stick Introduction Welcome to the Message stick: An Community is about interrelatedness the Koorie Heritage Trust at orientation manual for Koori alcohol and belonging and is central to <www.koorieheritagetrust.com>. and other drug workers in Victoria. Aboriginality. Please note that this manual must be The purpose of this manual is to help For further information about Koori used in conjunction with your agency’s you understand your role as a Koori communities in Victoria go to the policies and procedures. If you have any AOD community worker, as well as to Department of Planning and Community queries about how things are done in become familiar with your agency and Development website at <www. your agency, always ask your manager other health services in your community aboriginalaffairs.vic.gov.au> or the visit for clarification. and throughout the state. the Koorie Heritage Trust website at We recommend that you use a diary or This manual also gives you information <www.koorieheritagetrust.com>. notebook to write important information about the history of Koori AOD services, you pick up from your manager/mentor the types of AOD services available How to use this manual and other AOD workers. That way you in Victoria for Koori people, together This manual is divided into sections that can refer to the notes until you are with useful tips from experienced Koori cover a range of topics that are relevant familiar with your role. AOD workers on how to manage your to your role as a Koori AOD worker in workload and working with clients. your workplace and in your community. A note on use of terms Some sections also include stories and tips from experienced Koori AOD related to Aboriginal workers that are useful to help you communities understand how to deal with certain The term ‘Koori’ is used throughout this situations in your workplace. document, reflecting and respecting the Each section contains activities broad usage across the community and that can be completed as you make government. While there are Aboriginal your way through the manual. We and Torres Strait Islander people in recommend