2006-07 Federal Budget Measure

Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Counselling Services within

Universities

Background

• $19.8 million to support a network of non-government counselling services to assist students who have problems with substance abuse, mental illness and/or need family support assistance.

Background

• Intent is not to replace existing services but augment these services to ensure they are adequately supported

• Alcohol and other drugs awareness raising component of the measure- drawing on resources from the National Drugs Campaign and others

Background

Background

• First step – situational analysis of the nature and extent of counselling services currently provided.

• Map how services are funded and utilised and characteristics of clients using these services.

• Results of these extensive consultations, summarised in a discussion paper.

• Also likely to establish a Expert Reference Group to allow further consultation and advise on possible funding models.

Situational Analysis Counselling services in universities

• One of Australia’s leading social research firms.

• Highly experienced study team with considerable research and practitioner experience in the university, counselling and broader health sector.

• Examples of previous work in related areas:

– National Review of Young People and Mental Health

– Evaluation of National Suicide Prevention Strategy

– A National Review of Sexual Assault Prevention Education in Tertiary Settings

– Numerous reviews of drug and alcohol programs, policies and initiatives and family support services

About Urbis Keys Young

The Team

• Main team:

– Urbis Keys Young Director: Alison Wallace – over 25 years experience in social policy and research; diverse research experience in mental health, drug and alcohol and family support services

– Urbis Keys Young Director: Dr Roberta Ryan: social policy and social work academic; student counsellor; member of the National Education Policy Committee for Education, Policy and Support in the Tertiary Sector

– Project manager: Frances Haynes, MAASW,12 years social research experience; social work supervisor; ongoing private practice; 5 years team leader adult mental health counselling services

Purpose of project

• Information gathering

• Ideas generation based on consultations

Aims of project

• Map current counselling services

• Specific focus on:

– substance abuse

– mental health

– family support

Aims of project

• Identify key resources:

– people

– programs

– resource material

• Identify gaps, barriers

• Identify service linkages

• Seek ideas about how Australian Government money can be best invested across university counselling services

Aims of project

• Develop a discussion paper:

– Describing the nature and scope of current services

– Identifying key issues

– Identifying strengths, resources, gaps

– Identifying options for consideration by the Reference Group and the Department

Our approach

• Initial scoping -review of background documentation, initial stakeholder consultation, develop final project plan

• Stakeholder consultations – in-depth interviews with 20-25 stakeholder groups

• Survey of services and select follow up interviews with counselling services

• Online survey of students OR focus groups

• Development of discussion paper

Survey of counselling services

• Can be completed by email or mail

• Key issues:

– Who uses student counselling, and presenting problems

– What is known about mental health, substance use and/or family relationship issues among university students (eg research)

– Impact of these issues on students’ well-being, performance, attendance, retention

– Demand, quality, accessibility, affordability of services – including for groups such as Indigenous, CALD, regional, remote students

– Practice standards

– Impact of VSU amendments

– Identify gaps, resources, links with other services

– Emerging trends

– Identify drug and alcohol, mental health prevention early intervention activities

Survey of students

• Draft online survey to be piloted before implementation

• Will ensure representation from a range of State and Territories and Universities

• Will seek a survey response from 300-350 students

Timeline

• Initial scoping: Nov-Dec

• Stakeholder consultation: Dec - Feb

• Survey of services: completed by Jan 27

• Follow up interviews with services: February

• Survey/focus groups students: Feb 26-Mar 9

• Finalise discussion paper: March 31

How this group can help

• Assist with initial scoping

• Broad understanding of how services are structured

• Identification of stakeholders

• Identification of programs, initiatives, resources

• Identify key contacts to complete survey

• Identify what data is likely to be available and in what format

• Advice re practicalities of surveying services and/or students