Despite shaky evidence, advertisements around drug and alcohol use, and its impact on health and safety, tend to use scare and shock tactics.
Here is a new ad from New Zealand, whilst it seems quite light hearted it still leaves an impression.
Video sourced from MaoriTelevision's YouTube Channel 2013 http://youtu.be/P8KAaf45g5U
Hopefully, we'll see a good evaluation of this ad campaign and its impact to add to the research of what is effective in prompting behaviour change.
The official blog of the Drug ARM Australasia, Mental Health Association QLD, and Australian College of Community Services' library.
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Friday, 13 September 2013
Webinars and online talks for AOD and mental health professionals
Here are 5 places you can go to view webinars and talks on AOD and Mental Health. Webinars and online presentations can be an easy and convenient way to get information on the latest research and keep abreast of developments in your professional field.
1) InSight have an archive of their presentations held at Biala in Brisbane. You can also sign up for their webinars and participate in future presentations
Talks include:
2) Australian Drug Foundation's YouTube channel, which includes a seminar on ICT and counselling
http://www.youtube.com/user/AustDrugFoundation?feature=watch
3) Talking Point's YouTube channel, including items on:
4) Mental Health Professionals Network series of webinars including:
5) Dovetail videos including:
and another bonus one;
TED talks on mental health including:
Have another suggestion for your colleagues? Comment below.
1) InSight have an archive of their presentations held at Biala in Brisbane. You can also sign up for their webinars and participate in future presentations
Talks include:
- DBT in the treatment of borderline personality disorber
- Speeding towards disaster - Amphetamine-Type Stimulants
- Achieving and measuring AOD and other outcomes in among Indigenous people involved in the Boystown Program
- and more...
2) Australian Drug Foundation's YouTube channel, which includes a seminar on ICT and counselling
http://www.youtube.com/user/AustDrugFoundation?feature=watch
3) Talking Point's YouTube channel, including items on:
- Resilience based practice
- Exploring drug and alcohol harms across health settings
4) Mental Health Professionals Network series of webinars including:
- A collaborative approach to supporting people at risk of suicide
- Working together: working better to support families living with parental mental illness
- Perinatal mental health
- Complex trauma
- and much more...
5) Dovetail videos including:
- Harm minimisation in Australia
- Tips for frontline workers: Dual Diagnosis
- Bad trip guidelines
and another bonus one;
TED talks on mental health including:
- The voices in my mind
- Toward a new understanding of mental illness
- A tale of mental illness from the inside
Have another suggestion for your colleagues? Comment below.
Friday, 6 September 2013
National Child Protection Week
Tomorrow is the final day of National Child Protection Week (1st-7th September).
The event is organised by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). Visit their website here: http://napcan.org.au/
The website has a Resources Hub, which has a good selection of resources including a number of helpful brochures.
Brochures include, but are not limited to: "Alternatives to smacking", "Use words that help not hurt", "When a child feels sad", and "Keeping children safe from sexual abuse".
On the topic of child protection, there is still the video file from the "Child Protection for Workers" seminar (held in April this year) available on SiteMap. Click on the Training Resources link from the front page of SiteMap. This item is an internal file and you'll need to be connected to the appropriate server for access.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies provides links to numerous studies, facts and statistics from their website.
The following guidelines regarding child protection are available through their site
Please comment if you have other resources you'd like to share with your colleagues.
The event is organised by the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN). Visit their website here: http://napcan.org.au/
The website has a Resources Hub, which has a good selection of resources including a number of helpful brochures.
Brochures include, but are not limited to: "Alternatives to smacking", "Use words that help not hurt", "When a child feels sad", and "Keeping children safe from sexual abuse".
On the topic of child protection, there is still the video file from the "Child Protection for Workers" seminar (held in April this year) available on SiteMap. Click on the Training Resources link from the front page of SiteMap. This item is an internal file and you'll need to be connected to the appropriate server for access.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies provides links to numerous studies, facts and statistics from their website.
The following guidelines regarding child protection are available through their site
- The application of motivational interviewing techniques for engaging 'resistant' families: resource guide for workers in intensive home-based family support programs May 2013
- Parent-skills training in intensive home-based family support programs May 2013
- Planning for safety with at-risk families: resource guide for workers in intensive home-based family support programs May 2013
- Responding to children and young people's disclosures of abuse September 2011
Please comment if you have other resources you'd like to share with your colleagues.
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Adult learners' week
It's adult learners' week this week and this year's theme is "Pathways".
Learning and access to education are vitally important, particularly at this time when technology rapidly changes and information is in an overwhelming abundance. Being able to read, write and utilise technology is essential, and people without these skills are increasingly becoming disadvantaged in their ability to participate in society. The disparity between those who have access to ICT, and skills to use it, and those who don't is commonly referred to as the "digital divide". This may have significant impact for the clients that our organisations support.
Further, it is important that we understand the necessity for lifelong learning in our own roles (and lives!). It is no longer likely that a 3-4yr qualification will be sufficient to last you a career. As information, research and technology expands and increases so too does the need to continue learning and expanding knowledge in your chosen area. The importance of lifelong learning is reflected in clinical governance statements, organisational and professional ethical charters, and certification/accreditation processes for various professions.
The official webpage for adult learning week is here:
http://adultlearnersweek.org/
Under the further resources tab there's a really useful list of online resources for:
Literacy resources
Digital literacy
Emotional literacy
Financial literacy
Health literacy
Information literacy
These may be useful for yourself or a client. Also be aware that local and state libraries commonly run computer and internet skills programs to help bridge the "digital divide".
The Reading and Writing Hotline also provides numerous resources.
Also worth a look for your information is the Adult Learning Australia website. Find information on learning theories, adult learning principles, and learning styles.
For suggestions for your own learning you could read up on MOOCs, discussed here a couple of months ago. It may be useful to consider how you evaluate your learning needs and where you record your learning activities - I will promise a blog topic on this one day, but if you have any suggestions about this please let your colleagues know about them in the comments below.
Learning and access to education are vitally important, particularly at this time when technology rapidly changes and information is in an overwhelming abundance. Being able to read, write and utilise technology is essential, and people without these skills are increasingly becoming disadvantaged in their ability to participate in society. The disparity between those who have access to ICT, and skills to use it, and those who don't is commonly referred to as the "digital divide". This may have significant impact for the clients that our organisations support.
Further, it is important that we understand the necessity for lifelong learning in our own roles (and lives!). It is no longer likely that a 3-4yr qualification will be sufficient to last you a career. As information, research and technology expands and increases so too does the need to continue learning and expanding knowledge in your chosen area. The importance of lifelong learning is reflected in clinical governance statements, organisational and professional ethical charters, and certification/accreditation processes for various professions.
The official webpage for adult learning week is here:
http://adultlearnersweek.org/
Under the further resources tab there's a really useful list of online resources for:
Literacy resources
Digital literacy
Emotional literacy
Financial literacy
Health literacy
Information literacy
These may be useful for yourself or a client. Also be aware that local and state libraries commonly run computer and internet skills programs to help bridge the "digital divide".
The Reading and Writing Hotline also provides numerous resources.
Also worth a look for your information is the Adult Learning Australia website. Find information on learning theories, adult learning principles, and learning styles.
For suggestions for your own learning you could read up on MOOCs, discussed here a couple of months ago. It may be useful to consider how you evaluate your learning needs and where you record your learning activities - I will promise a blog topic on this one day, but if you have any suggestions about this please let your colleagues know about them in the comments below.
Friday, 30 August 2013
International Overdose Awareness day
Tomorrow, Saturday 31st, is International Overdose Awareness day. The day is an opportunity to remember those who have died or been permenantly injured due to overdose, and acknowledge the hardships of friends and family who have lost a loved one.
The official website has information on:
The following ad is form the Overdose Awareness website. There are further videos available from the site.
The official website has information on:
- Facts and stats around overdose,
- Overdose basics, including concepts like half-life and tolerance
- Downloadable resources, including a brochure on overdose and a factsheet on Naxolone (Narcan)
The following ad is form the Overdose Awareness website. There are further videos available from the site.
Tuesday, 27 August 2013
"Be the influence" campaign
Over the coming weeks the Australian Preventative Health Agency will launch their "Be the Influence - Tackling Binge Drinking" campaign. The campaign targets 16-25y/o and aims for a cultural shift encouraging young people to be more responsible in their attitude towards drinking.
You can view the website here:
http://www.tacklingbingedrinking.gov.au/internet/tackling/publishing.nsf/content/home-1
The "Help/Links" tab leads to some useful websites around drinking including:
SayWhen
http://www2.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/saywhen
Information and resources for making decisions about drinking
and Hello Sunday Morning
http://hellosundaymorning.org/?utm_source=BeTheInfluence&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BeTheInfluence
A free online program that helps people take a break from drinking and assess their relationship with alcohol.
 |
| Image: ANPHA website 27/08/13 |
http://www.tacklingbingedrinking.gov.au/internet/tackling/publishing.nsf/content/home-1
The "Help/Links" tab leads to some useful websites around drinking including:
SayWhen
http://www2.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/saywhen
Information and resources for making decisions about drinking
and Hello Sunday Morning
http://hellosundaymorning.org/?utm_source=BeTheInfluence&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BeTheInfluence
A free online program that helps people take a break from drinking and assess their relationship with alcohol.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Quality Assurance
Quality Assurance (QA) audits are looming and you may be wondering what quality management is all about and what an audit may look like. Here are some introductory resources that may help explain what QA is, why its important, and how it affects you.
Firstly, here are two items that have been published by the Queensland government. They deal with the Disability Sector Quality System specifically, but all quality systems have common themes that make the information applicable to our situation.
Section 2: An introduction to Quality Management
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/disability/publication/quality-section-2-intro.pdf
Some key points:
- QA is focused on outcomes
- It's about establishing systems and measuring progress (e.g. policies and procedures are documented, internal audits, reporting systems)
- Continuous improvement of processes and systems are core (e.g. fix-it diary, feedback collection and analysis, evaluations)
- QA should be embedded in the organisational culture and advocated by management (e.g. everyone uses the appropriate policies and procedures - we do what we say we do, everyone identifies opportunities for improvement, top level management supports, enforces and is accountable for maintaining quality standards)
Section 3: Implementing the Quality System
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/disability/publication/quality-section-3-implementing-process.pdf
A good introduction about what goes into implementing quality systems; worth a read if you'd like to get your head around the "how" of quality assurance
If you're interested in the specific standards that the organisation is audited against (ISO9001:2008) Wikipedia had a nice overview article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9000
Note the points in the auditing section:
- Quality audit asks: Tell me what you do? Tell me where it says that? (documented procedures) Prove to me you do that (show me a file, report etc. that demonstrates you use the procedure)
- The 9001 standard is also about identifying the most effective way to do something. Will this way of doing it (the documented way) get you to meet your outcomes? Have you tried to improve this process/ documented ways to improve this process (e.g. used the fix-it diary)? What happened when you tried to improve it?
- Essentially, policies and procedures are followed. If they are not effective, steps are taken to improve them. An individual worker or work team wouldn't stop using a policy or procedure if it didn't work for them, they would pass on suggestions so the whole organisation could benefit.
Factors that influence the effectiveness of ISO9001
1) Senior management commitment to monitor, control and improve quality
2) Integration of ISO and current practice
3) How well the system focuses on improving customer (client) experience
4) How well auditors and others in the organisation identify and communicate areas for improvement
Additional reading:
Sousa-Poza, A., Altinkilinc, M., & Searcy, C. (2009). Implementing a functional ISO9001 quality management system in small and medium sized enterprises. International Journal of Engineering, 3(3), 220-228.
http://tinyurl.com/k95xfk3
This item steps through the process of implementing QA and emphasizes the point that it won't be effective without management commitment and employee involvement.
Many thanks to Bronwyn and Sarah (now gone!) for their amazing work in QA!
Firstly, here are two items that have been published by the Queensland government. They deal with the Disability Sector Quality System specifically, but all quality systems have common themes that make the information applicable to our situation.
Section 2: An introduction to Quality Management
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/disability/publication/quality-section-2-intro.pdf
Some key points:
- QA is focused on outcomes
- It's about establishing systems and measuring progress (e.g. policies and procedures are documented, internal audits, reporting systems)
- Continuous improvement of processes and systems are core (e.g. fix-it diary, feedback collection and analysis, evaluations)
- QA should be embedded in the organisational culture and advocated by management (e.g. everyone uses the appropriate policies and procedures - we do what we say we do, everyone identifies opportunities for improvement, top level management supports, enforces and is accountable for maintaining quality standards)
Section 3: Implementing the Quality System
http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/resources/disability/publication/quality-section-3-implementing-process.pdf
A good introduction about what goes into implementing quality systems; worth a read if you'd like to get your head around the "how" of quality assurance
If you're interested in the specific standards that the organisation is audited against (ISO9001:2008) Wikipedia had a nice overview article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_9000
Note the points in the auditing section:
- Quality audit asks: Tell me what you do? Tell me where it says that? (documented procedures) Prove to me you do that (show me a file, report etc. that demonstrates you use the procedure)
- The 9001 standard is also about identifying the most effective way to do something. Will this way of doing it (the documented way) get you to meet your outcomes? Have you tried to improve this process/ documented ways to improve this process (e.g. used the fix-it diary)? What happened when you tried to improve it?
- Essentially, policies and procedures are followed. If they are not effective, steps are taken to improve them. An individual worker or work team wouldn't stop using a policy or procedure if it didn't work for them, they would pass on suggestions so the whole organisation could benefit.
Factors that influence the effectiveness of ISO9001
1) Senior management commitment to monitor, control and improve quality
2) Integration of ISO and current practice
3) How well the system focuses on improving customer (client) experience
4) How well auditors and others in the organisation identify and communicate areas for improvement
Additional reading:
Sousa-Poza, A., Altinkilinc, M., & Searcy, C. (2009). Implementing a functional ISO9001 quality management system in small and medium sized enterprises. International Journal of Engineering, 3(3), 220-228.
http://tinyurl.com/k95xfk3
This item steps through the process of implementing QA and emphasizes the point that it won't be effective without management commitment and employee involvement.
Many thanks to Bronwyn and Sarah (now gone!) for their amazing work in QA!
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