rachael wargent the cairns institute, james cook university
TRANSCRIPT
The value of embedding culture in to Therapeutic
Communities for alcohol and other drug dependencies
Rachael WargentThe Cairns Institute,
James Cook University
Shanty Creek TC
• Community commenced March 2012
• north of Cairns near Mareeba
• Currently 19 residents• Both men and women• Adults over 18 years• Length of stay up to 9
months
Nationally, alcohol and cannabis remain the most common principal drugs of use.
It is highest among those aged 35-44 years. In 2008, 17% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people aged 15 years and over reported chronic drinking and 37% reported binge drinking, in the previous 12 month period.
Hospital admission rates of Indigenous people for conditions caused by drugs other than tobacco and alcohol are over twice those among non-Indigenous Australians.
Some Evidence
Discussion started in 2010 JCU developed a methodology to evaluate a
TC in north Queensland Partnership JCU, QDAC and Lives Lived Well Identified as a highly needed service for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the north
Background
Most of staff are Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Island Clinical, Case workers, grounds men, cooks, cleaners administration
On country Men’s and women’s spaces Art and craft Local AMS
Shanty Creek TC
Modified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Contribute to the social, economic and wellbeing of people
Contribute to the evidence base for culturally appropriate D&A treatment services
Purpose
MethodologyMultifaceted research frameworks:
Participatory Action ResearchQualitativeQuantitative• GEM Growth and Empowerment
Measure• Client Satisfaction Survey
EthicsThis project has been allocated ethics approval Number H4452
Developed an evaluation framework for CQI with staff 4 main Indicators:
1. Cultural Domain2. Wellbeing Gain3. Health Gain4. Governance and Management
3 rounds of CQI, 1 done next one due this month
Continuous Quality Improvement
Measuring Wellbeing
• GEM developed to measure empowerment and wellbeing
• Family Wellbeing Program
Client Feedback
Service enhancement◦ Daily Programs◦ Staff evaluation
Improve facilities
Improve Wellbeing of Clients
Where to next….?
Implications for results
References:• D Gray & Wilkes, 2010• Bailie, Si, O'Donoghue, & Dowden,
2007; Cornwall & Jewkes, 1995.• Haswell, M., Kavanagh, D., Tsey, K.,
Reilly, L., Cadet-James, Y., Laliberte, A., Doran, C. (2010).
• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2010.
Thank [email protected]