This initiative is part of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health (2006-2011).  The project is funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

There are two key components of the Improved Services Initiative:

Capacity Building Grants Program for NGO ATOD organisations
Grants were provided to ATOD organisations (including 5 ACT services) to undertake a range of service improvement activities to enhance the organisation’s capacity to respond to comorbid clients.

Cross Sectoral Support and Strategic Partnership (CSSSP) project
ATODA and other State and Territory ATOD Peaks received funding to support the Improved Services grant recipients and to coordinate a statewide approach to the project. ATODA works closely with grant recipients to provide support in four key areas: building partnerships and linkages, service improvement activities, identifying workforce development and training opportunities and disseminating targeted information and resources.

The Comorbidity Project established the Improved Services Grant Recipients Network (Grant Recipients Network) to:

• Provide coordinated support, guidance and targeted information to the five ACT Improved Services Grant Recipients;
• Provide an opportunity for ACT Improved Services Grant Recipients to provide project updates, discuss shared issues, successes and challenges;
• Support opportunities for ACT Improved Services Grant Recipients to develop collaborations in shared ventures and activities; and
• Provide an opportunity for ACT Improved Services Grant Recipients to participate in broader Comorbidity Project activities and evaluations.

The Grant Recipients Network includes the appointed Improved Services Project Officers, from each of the five ACT Grant Recipients, and ATODA. These five services are:

• Alcohol and Drug Foundation ACT (ADFACT);
• Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA);
• Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation (CAHMA);
• CatholicCare Canberra and Goulburn;
• DIRECTIONS ACT; and
• Ted Noffs Foundation ACT.

The National Improved Services Initiative Newsletter is circulated quarterly and some of the great work that has been occurring under the Improved Services Initiative funding.

The National Improved Services Newsletter: Spring / Summer Edition 2011 incorporates an ACT article on ACT Comorbidity Bus Tours.

On the 7th and 8th of October 2010, the State and Territory ATOD Peak Bodies (or equivalent), in partnership with the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction, held a Forum for services who were recipients of an Improved Services Initiative (ISI) Capacity Building Grant, in Adelaide, South Australia. The Forum was funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA).The aims of the Forum were to:

• Showcase examples of best practice in capacity building
• Hear from experts across the sector
• Discuss outcomes, successes and challenges experienced
• Explore and discuss opportunities to sustain advances made to date.

The Forum was attended by 169 participants including ACT agencies.

An Improved Services Initiative Forum Report was then collated with information on 2 main areas:

• The forum itself, and participants feedback; and
• The Improved Services Initiative and reflections from participants (including recommendations for consideration by DoHA and other key stakeholders).

This report has been provided to Department of Health and Ageing and will help inform future discussions between the ACT ATOD peaks and the Department.