Federal member for Forde, Bert Van Manen MP, opened a new drug and alcohol treatment centre in Beenleigh for people wanting to overcome substance misuse and to break the cycle of alcohol and drug dependence on March 7, 2017.

Mr van Manen said the Government understood when it came to combating substance abuse, local knowledge was best.

“The Coalition Government is investing around $300 million over four years to improve treatment, after care, education, prevention, support and community engagement to tackle ice,” Mr van Manen said.

“That is why our local Primary Health Network has worked effectively with the community to determine what form of treatment will be most effective.”

Brisbane South PHN (BSPHN) CEO Ms Sue Scheinpflug said that the launch of the new centre was an important stepping stone for those recovering from drug and alcohol dependence.

“Brisbane’s southern suburbs are among the highest users of drugs such as methamphetamines in the state,” said Ms Scheinpflug, “that is why it is of the utmost importance that these fully funded services are made available to provide solutions for those in most need.”

The new centre in Beenleigh will be run by Lives Lived Well, who together with the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN), will provide services such as counselling, post rehabilitation support and relapse prevention.

In addition, the Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (QNADA) the peak body for non-government alcohol and other drugs treatment sector in Queensland has also been contracted to the reduce barriers and issues facing clients in Brisbane South through the sharing of information and expertise across service partners.

Lives Lived Well CEO Mitchell Giles thanked BSPHN for allocating funds for this new service, boosting alcohol and drug support in the region.

“We look forward to partnering with QuIHN in delivering these services to people in need across the Brisbane South region.

“Our free and professional community-based support includes tailored alcohol and drug counselling, case management, day programs and post rehabilitation support,” Mr Giles said.

QuIHN CEO, Geoff Manu, said that this new service will have a huge impact on local communities and take the burden off an already stretched system.

“We are focussed on delivering AOD services within the communities’ people reside, closer to their homes, and not relying on individuals having to travel to us for services.”

The new Beenleigh Service Hub is located at 94 George Street Beenleigh.

Learn more about Lives Lived Well Service Hubs.

For Lives Lived Well media enquiries contact:

Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer
e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au

More drug and alcohol treatment services are available in North Brisbane for people who need support to overcome methamphetamine (ice) and other forms of substance dependence.

An additional $5 million in Federal funding over three years will significantly increase the capacity of local service providers to meet demand for alcohol and other drug treatment services.

Brisbane North PHN’s Executive Manager for Commissioned Services Pauline Coffey said the new funding would help people to regain control of their lives and break the cycle of dependence.

“Treatment service providers and families of those affected have been calling for more help, so I am pleased we can now provide additional resources to support recovery,” she said.

The PHN has been working closely with the alcohol and other drug treatment sector to plan the services needed in North Brisbane and has selected three agencies to deliver these services.

“Lives Lived Well has been commissioned to deliver alcohol and other drug treatment services in the Moreton Bay region, where the greatest need was identified.

“The PHN has also commissioned the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) to deliver culturally-appropriate alcohol and other drug treatment services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, primarily across the Moreton Bay region,” Ms Coffey said.

“Additionally, we have commissioned the Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (QNADA) to support development of the alcohol and other drugs workforce.

“While we are careful not to underestimate the scale of the problem we face, I am confident the most capable services providers have been selected to address this challenge and I congratulate them on their successful tender applications,” she said.

Lives Lived Well CEO Mitchell Giles said today’s launch marks a significant boost to Brisbane north services, with free community-based alcohol and drug support being made available to the region for the first time.

“We expect that about 70 per cent of people seeking support at the new service will be experiencing problems with methamphetamines (ice),” Mr Giles said.

“Our counsellors are trained to support people who have problems with any kind of drug, including alcohol, and can offer flexible, intensive care involving counselling, day programs, group work and case management,” he said.

IUIH Chief Executive Adrian Carson said these new services will enable the IUIH to expand its existing substance misuse and mental health services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across one of Australia’s fastest Indigenous growing population.

“These services will be fully integrated with the comprehensive primary healthcare service already being delivered by the IUIH Members,” Mr Carson said.

QNADA Chief Executive Rebecca Lang said she looked forward to providing additional workforce support to professionals in the alcohol and other drug treatment sector.

“We are very pleased to see the opening of the Strathpine Lives Lived Well service, the first alcohol and other drug specialist service for Strathpine and the region which is great news for the community,” Ms Lang said.

Clients may access treatment services via self-referral, professional referral (e.g. GP, Hospital, Emergency Services) or through an outreach service.

On 6 December 2015, the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the Government would invest $241.5 million through the 31 Primary Health Networks to boost the alcohol and other drug treatment sector and reduce demand for ice.

Primary Health Networks took on responsibility for planning and funding additional alcohol and other drug treatment services on 1 July 2016.

Following comprehensive needs assessment, Brisbane North PHN identified there was significant need for alcohol and drug treatment services in the Moreton Bay north and Strathpine areas within the PHN region.

People experiencing drug or alcohol problems can call Lives Lived Well on 1300 727 957. Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people can call IUIH on 07 3648 9500.

For Lives Lived Well media enquiries contact:

Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer
e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au

(Pictured above, from left, Professor Leanne Hides, Lives Lived Well research manager Sandy Sacre and Lives Lived Well’s Clinical Director David Mooney.)

The effectiveness of treatments for addiction and mental health in Queensland will be explored in research to be conducted by a new Professor of Alcohol, Drugs and Mental Health.

The role has been created by Lives Lived Well in collaboration with The University of Queensland and this month Professor Leanne Hides commenced in the position.

Prof Hides will lead research seeking to increase current knowledge on what treatments are most effective for helping people overcome difficulties with substances and mental health and wellbeing.  She will also be working with clinical staff and postgraduate researchers to develop and test innovative new treatments.

It is anticipated that the findings will benefit Lives Lived Well and its various treatment services and programs, as well as the health sector more broadly.

The University of Queensland is currently recruiting two post-doctoral researchers to support this work.

Lives Lived Well CEO Mitchell Giles said our organisation was very excited to start a research-based partnership with The University of Queensland and have Prof Hides come on board. “We hope this is the beginning of a significant and enduring research partnership with the University of Queensland towards improving understanding of effective treatments of primary and comorbid substance use and mental health disorders.”

The University of Queensland’s Professor Christina Lee said: “The University is extremely happy to be solidifying our relationship with Lives Lived Well. The addition of Professor Hides will complement and increase our capacity to assist those who are facing obstacles in their life.”

Professor Leanne Hides said: “This clinical research partnership between The University of Queensland and Lives Lived Well will enable us to make a significant contribution to the evidence base for which models of service delivery and treatments for substance use and mental health issues work in the real world”.

About Professor Leanne Hides

Prof Hides is a leading Australian and international clinical researcher in the treatment of comorbid mental health and alcohol and substance use. She is a registered clinical psychologist with over 17 years of clinical and research experience in the mental health, substance use and primary care sectors. Prof Hides also holds a prestigious National Health and Medical Research Centre (NHMRC) Senior Research Fellowship at The University of Queensland.

About Lives Lived Well

Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit, non-government organisation. We support people to overcome obstacles to living their lives well – particularly those impacted by alcohol and drugs, and problems related to mental health. Our professional teams provide free counselling and support across Queensland and deliver youth outreach, family programs and low-cost residential treatment. For more information, visit www.liveslivedwell.org.au

For all media enquiries contact:

Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer
e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au or marketing@liveslivedwell.org.au

New alcohol, other drug and ice treatment services for the Gold Coast region to be delivered by Lives Lived Well and QuIHN were launched on Tuesday January 24 after extensive community consultation.

Gold Coast Primary Health Network CEO Matt Carrodus announced the two new services, which will provide treatment and support, with a focus on the growing northern Gold Coast region, and an Indigenous organisation to provide services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This follows extensive consultation to determine what services were required.

“Through the Commonwealth Government investment under the National Ice Strategy, the Gold Coast has received $3.56 million over three years, to commission treatment services informed by local needs and priorities,” Mr Carrodus said.

“We have completed extensive engagement activities, meeting with more than 500 individuals and 200 organisations and closely worked with targeted groups to design the services most effective to support residents and provide the foundation for a sustainable local drug and alcohol treatment system into the future. We want to ensure that patients receive the right care, at the right place, at the right time, by the right person.”

“Local residents are encouraged to contact these organisations to determine what support options are available and referrals are also welcome from GPs and health and community organisations,” Mr Carrodus said.

Geoff Manu, General Manager of QuIHN, one of the new service providers, said it will provide support and treatment for alcohol and other drug use for young people and adults and individuals and families with co-occurring mental health and substance-related disorders.

“QuIHN will provide an outreach service across the northern Gold Coast and Southport areas and provide alcohol and other drug information, early and brief interventions, pre and post rehabilitation, group/day programs, case management, care coordination and relapse prevention,” Mr Manu said.

“We believe these much needed services will assist the local community to reduce the burden attributable to alcohol and other drugs misuse and improve health functioning and social well-being of individuals and in turn the communities in which they reside, while also assisting to reduce avoidable and unnecessary hospital presentations.”

Lives Lived Well CEO Mitchell Giles said their new service based at Nerang Neighbourhood Centre would give Gold Coast’s growing northern corridor community access to flexible care including individual and group therapy.

“People can drop-in rather than commit to a long rehabilitation program. They will receive person-centred support to help them ease into treatment, start tackling their problems, or get ongoing help post-treatment,” Mr Giles said.

“This stepped care approach allows us to help a broader range of people, particularly adults, to deal with alcohol and drug problems and mental health concerns­ – the aim is to customise services to people’s needs.”

Kalwun CEO Kieran Chilcott said Kalwun, together with Krurungal, are excited about providing a new Indigenous alcohol and other drugs (AoD) service.

“Kalwun and Krurungal will work collaboratively to meet the needs of the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. This one-of-a-kind service has been co-designed with the local community, and provides a clinical and community-based AoD treatment response for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” Mr Chilcott said.

New Gold Coast Alcohol and Other Drug Services

QuIHN and Lives Lived Well will be providing professional drug and alcohol treatment and support services for people living in the northern Gold Coast region. (From Nerang, Southport and north to Ormeau)

This includes:

• Mobile outreach service options
• Improved linkages
• Face-to-face support, therapy and drop in opportunities.

Contact Lives Lived Well Nerang service hub

Phone: 1300 727 957

Address: 29 Martin Street, Nerang (Located at the rear of the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre)

For all media enquiries contact:

Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au or marketing@liveslivedwell.org.au

headspace Southport Making a Difference to thousands of young people on the Gold Coast

headspace Southport believes it is making a strong difference to the lives of hundreds of young people on the Gold Coast each year, as a vibrant and active service.

Following the results of a recent University of NSW study, which has found headspace facilities on average are delivering only a “small” benefit to the mental health care of young people, headspace Southport manager Philip Williams says that is not what we are experiencing at headspace Southport.

Providing services for over 8 years on the Gold Coast, headspace Southport has over 23 private practitioners, 2 GPs and benefit from co-located drug and alcohol and employment services. headspace Southport is one of only six specialist centres around Australia providing early psychosis specialty services.”

“I believe that the headspace Southport centre is performing very well and is making a significant difference to the lives of many young people and their families,” Mr Williams said. “Our data supports that view.”

Over 2016, at headspace Southport:

• Over 1600 young people accessed care
• Of all young people accessing the centre over 2016:
  • 17% of young people identify with the LBGTIQAP+ community
  • 7% identify as New Zealand citizens (the largest ethnic minority group on the Gold Coast is the New Zealand Maori population)
• Over 80% young referred to the employment specialist position were successful in gaining employment or education.

“We also strongly believe that working in partnerships is key to providing high quality services for young people and so we work with the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, the Multicultural Network, sports clubs, schools, non-government based community mental health services and other non-government services.

“We have developed a range of services to support young people to actively engage and influence how the centre runs.  Two of these programs are your Youth Advisory Council and our peer workforce that has over 30 young people actively engaged in shaping and delivering our services.”

For more information about headspace Southport call 1300 727 957.

ENDS

For all media enquiries contact:

Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer
e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au or marketing@liveslivedwell.org.au