A National Workforce Development (WFD) Strategy is currently under development, which will include specialist AOD treatment, policy and prevention workers in scope. It also includes all those with a role in reducing AOD harm in Australia, such as generalist health and welfare workers, policy and other emergency services, correctional officers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation.
Project leaders: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University
Funder: Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs
Project duration: Completion by June 2014
The development of the WFD Strategy involves a number of facets, including a literature review and the development of a discussion paper which will form the focus of a national consultation process. NCETA is also undertaking a mapping process to better understand the current status of WFD. There will be several facets to the national consultation process including forums to be held in each jurisdiction and a call for written submissions via the NCETA website.
The scope of the project includes specialist treatment, policy and prevention workers. It also includes others with a role in reducing harm in Australia, such as generalist health and welfare workers, police and other emergency services, correctional officers and Indigenous organisations. The scope also extends well beyond the availability of education and training programs and includes issue such as:
- Recruitment and retention
- Workforce development policies
- Information management
- Clinical supervision, mentoring and support
- Leadership
- Knowledge transfer, research dissemination and the implementation of evidence-based practice
- Workforce wellbeing
- Managing organisational change
- Professional and career development
- Service / provider accreditation
- Career structures and remuneration
- Clinical standards and quality assurance
- Ways to work more effectively with other organisations to meet the needs of clients with multiple morbidities and complex needs.
Project contact:
Roger Nicholas
Senior Project Manager
National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction
Flinders University
Phone: (08) 82017545
Email: roger.nicholas@flinders.edu.au
- ATODA received a letter from NCETA dated 14 August 2013 requesting preliminary jurisdictional information.
- ATODA consulted with its Board, the ACT ATOD Specialist Executive & Workers Groups, and the ACT Grant Recipients on its response, submitted 6 September 2013. Download ATODA’s response here.
- A consultation with ACT stakeholders was facilitated by NCETA on Friday 8 November 2013.
- ATODA and the State and Territory alcohol and other drug (AOD) peak bodies presented submissions to reiterate their support for the development of the National Workforce Development Strategy. Download ATODA’s submission and the State and Territory AOD peak bodies’ submission.
[note]ACT Status and Action
- ATODA will continue to support ACT stakeholders to participate in the national consultation processes. ATODA has also expressed interest in participating in a key stakeholders interview with NCETA.
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Last updated 16 April 2014