In November 2013, the Australian Government de-funded the national peak body, the Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA). On 1 March 2014, the organisation ceased to operate with paid staff and funding. The volunteer Board remains in place and continues to operated unfunded. ATODA Executive Officer Carrie Fowlie remains an elected Board member of ADCA.
The ADCA Board has invited key stakeholders to be a part of an independent committee that will identify the requirements for the establishment of a national alcohol and other drugs peak body. ATODA is a member of this Committee.
The role of the ADCA Board is to provide support to the committee. Once a proposal for a national peak body is finalised by the committee, it will be presented to the ADCA Board and ADCA members for an indication of support, providing ADCA with the mandate to support the progression of the proposal.
In the first half 2015, the Committee will consult with the sector. This consultation will be the basis of the proposal upon which the new national peak body will be based. ATODA plans to support ACT based stakeholders to engage in these processes.
For further information please contact:
- About ADCA: Alison Ritter, Vice President, on ritter@unsw.edu.au
- About the Committee: Co-chairs Larry Pierce, larry@nada.org.au, and Rebecca MacBean, Macbean@qnada.org.au
- About ACT engagement: Carrie Fowlie, ATODA, on carrie@atoda.org.au