FARE Annual alcohol poll 2015

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education has released the 2015 Annual alcohol poll today.  See the full report here:

http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ALCOHOL-POLL-2015-REPORT-27032015.pdf

Some of the key findings:

• 75% of Australians think we have a problem with alcohol
• 73% of Australians think more needs to be done to reduce the harms of alcohol and 71% think that the situation is going to get worse of stay the same in the future
• 50% believe alcohol advertising should be banned from sports grounds
• 81% support bars closing at 3am or earlier and 60% think health warnings should be placed on alcoholic products
• 20% of parents say their children have been harmed or put at risk of harm from another person's drinking

More findings on the FARE website can be found here: http://www.fare.org.au/AlcPoll2015/
or follow #AlcPoll2015 on social media.

May PD Opportunities

Some of the professional development opportunities available in May.  As always, comment or contact the library if you have something to add.

Write – presentations and papers

Second National Complex Needs Conference – 17-18^th November, Canberra

Abstract submissions are now open for the November conference.  Abstracts can be submitted under the following themes:

• Building stronger linkages in NGO service provision
• Prevention and social determinants of health
• Comprehensive case management and/or care coordination – service providers working together
• Strengthening individual and family capability
• Engaging communities in designing responses and building community capacity
• Breaking down structural and systemic barriers, providing integrated services
• Cross-sectoral and cross-portfolio approaches
• Collaborative Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug service delivery
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services
• Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities
• Family, Housing and Community Services
• Partnerships with the private sector
• Consumer/peer worker perspectives
• Improving throughcare for people transitioning out of adult prison or youth detention
• Research, evidence, evaluation and establishing best practice

Spots are available for oral and poster presentations
Submissions close: 12^th June, 2015
https://phaa.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/second-national-complex-needs-conference/2ncncwebsite
 

Read – professional reading

Maksimovic, L., Shen, D., Bandick, M., Ettridge, K., & Eckert, M. (2015). Evaluation of the pilot phase of the “Give up smokes for good” social marketing campaign. Health Promotion Journal of Australia.

http://www.publish.csiro.au/?act=view_file&file_id=HE14066.pdf

Loree, A. M., Lundahl, L. H., & Ledgerwood, D. M. (2015). Impulsivity as a predictor of treatment outcome in substance use disorders: review and synthesis. Drug and alcohol review.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dar.12132/epdf

Galvani, S. (2015). Alcohol and Other Drug Use: The role and capabilities of social workers. Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester.

http://www.smmgp.org.uk/download/guidance/guidance037.pdf?utm_source=ADF+Master+List&utm_campaign=e4136c17e3-DrugInfo_15_April4_15_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fe135ee49e-e4136c17e3-297991729

 

Attend – informal learning sessions, journal club, seminar series

Journal club (available to Healthy Options workers only)

This internal professional development session is held both in the library and on the Queensland teleconference line.  May’s session is being presented by the South Australian team with the topic to be confirmed.
When: Thursday, 21^st May, 2pm (AEST)

Slide presentations from the 2015 VAADA conference are now available to view

The VAADA conference was held in February this year and the presentations are now available to view through a hyperlinked program.
Presentation titles include items such as:

• Moving beyond tokenism: Looking at the challenges and exploring key considerations in servicing transgender clients
• Walking a tightrope: AOD usage and violence, a guide for workers
• SMART recovery Australia: Innovations for a new era of community mutual-aid

Open hyperlinked presentation titles to view the presentation
http://www.vaada.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Final-conference-program-2015-PDFs.pdf

Indigenous studies: Australia and New Zealand – Short course

Online short course exploring the history and contemporary issues facing Māori, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 
Requires 2-4 hours study per week, for four weeks.  Students completing the course receive a Certificate of Achievement  
Starts: Late May – check website for new dates
https://www.open2study.com/courses/indigenous-studies
 

Attend – conferences, symposiums

National Methamphetamine Symposium

Responding to methamphetamine use using the best and most recent research

Cost: $195

When: Tuesday 12 May, 2015 - Register by 8th

Where: Melbourne

http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/nceta/events/methamphetamine-symposium/

Walk on the wild side 7: Harm maximisation

A one-day symposium for health professionals examining substance use and society
Includes:

• Steroid education: A users perspective;
• Change the things I can: serenity for the humble health worker;
• The War on Drugs;
• and, three workshop options.

Where: Education Centre - Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital
Cost: $100 Early bird (by 30^th April), $150
When: Friday, 15^th May
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/metronorth/events/wows/wows-program.pdf
 
Addiction conference
The conference will address the treatment and recovery of alcohol, other drugs and behavioural addictions and is hosted by the Australian and New Zealand Mental Health Association
Streams include:

• Prevention
• Addiction professional support/training
• Treatment & recovery
• and much more…

Our own Joanne Mazzola, National Prevention Officer, will be presenting Thursday morning on the new MyAOD Prevention website – discussing putting theory into practice.
Where: Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Cost: See registration details
When: 20-22^nd May
http://addictionaustralia.org.au/

 

Listen – podcasts, webinars

Being tech savvy and ‘appy – ReachOut Pro webinar series

“Learn to use technology safely and effectively through this “How To” webinar series from the field. From negotiating your ‘virtual’ boundaries to advocating for change in your workplace, these webinars will offer practical, ‘tried and tested’ tips to help support you in using technology with young people.”
E-self care: Self care, virtual boundaries and professionalism
              When: Tuesday 5^th May, 11am (AEST)
Tech tips: Practical tips on how to use technology in day-to-day practice with young people
             When: Tuesday, 12^th May, 11am (AEST)
Navigating change: Ideas and examples of how to advocate for the use technology when working with young people
             When: Tuesday, 19^th May, 11am (AEST)
http://au.professionals.reachout.com/webinar-sign-up

Understanding methamphetamine webinar - Dovetail

There continues to be increasing community concern about the use of methamphetamine, particularly crystal methamphetamine.  In response to this, Cameron Francis from Dovetail will be presenting a webinar on Tuesday the 5th of May, from 9am - 10am.  The presentation will help increase workers' knowledge about methamphetamine and some of the unique issues this substance presents.  The presentation will provide an overview of the history of amphetamine both globally and in Australia, as well as an overview of how it works, the risks and harms, strategies to reduce the harms and information on treatment interventions
When: Tuesday 5^th May, 9am (AEST)
http://www.dovetail.org.au/latest-news/2015/april/dovetail-webinar-understanding-methamphetamine-friday-1st-of-may-9am-10am.aspx
 

Insight webinars for May

Amphetamine Use in Australia: Barriers to Treatment and New Interventions

Presented by Eliana Hirakis, Griffith University.
Rates of amphetamine use in Australia have stabilised; however, people are increasingly using more potent forms of amphetamines and thus are at greater risk of harm. As amphetamine users are difficult to engage in treatment, investigation into barriers to treatment is vital in order to develop and tailor interventions to better engage this population. The latest research on barriers to treatment and online interventions will be presented.
When: Wednesday, 6^th May, 9am (AEST)

Measurement – The Key to Improvement Metro South ATOP Experience

Ellenora Staunton-McKenzie, CNC, & Lan Wu, CN, Metro South Addictions Service
As the current treatment outcome measurement tool in Metro South Addictions Service, ATOP has been implemented since June 2013. This presentation will discuss two topics: the nine months experience at Inala ADS since the implementation of ATOP (data collection and data analysis); and incorporating treatment outcome measurement into the quality improvement experience across Metro South Addictions Service.
When: Wednesday, 13^th May, 9am (AEST)

Adolescent alcohol misuse: Be mindful of your mechanisms

Dr Matthew Gullo, NHMRC Early Career Fellow, Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, University of Qld
Progress in reducing adolescent alcohol misuse has been modest. A key problem is the lack of clear evidence regarding the causal mechanisms of risk and of behaviour change.  This presentation will discuss a new program of research aimed at disentangling causal factors in adolescent drinking and the unique effects of different techniques to reduce it (eg belief modification vs mindful meditation.)
When: Wednesday, 20^th May, 9am (AEST)

http://www.dovetail.org.au/insight/webinars.php

 

Assessed learning – short courses, certificates, diplomas, bachelors, post-grad

Assessable unit - Drugs, Policy and Public Health 5001 on offer at Curtin University.

“Alcohol and other drug use are amongst some of the greatest contemporary public health challenges. Effective alcohol and other drug use policy development requires a high level of background knowledge of the area, knowledge of key population groups impacted by drug use, and awareness of the policy development framework at various levels of government.”
This is a one week post-graduate level intensive class including presenters from the National Drug Research Institute and other international experts.  See the program here http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/local/docs/pdf/seminars/dpph_draft_program.pdf
Enrolments close: 19^th June
Class dates: 20-24^th July in PERTH
http://ndri.curtin.edu.au/students/dpph5001.cfm

April PD Opportunities

Find below some of professional development opportunities available in April.  As always, please comment or contact the library if you have something to add.

Write – presentations and papers

International Mental Health Conference at the Gold Coast

Abstract submissions are still open for the International Mental Health conference
The conference program will be designed to challenge, inspire, demonstrate and encourage participants while facilitating discussion. The program will include an extensive range of topics with keynotes, concurrent sessions, workshops and posters. Topics will include:

• Early intervention and treatment advances
• Recovery oriented practice
• e-Health, technology and social media
• Suicide prevention and support
• Child, youth and family mental health promotion and services
• Demands for an ageing population
• Targeted services for vulnerable groups
• Indigenous mental, social, emotional and environmental health
• LGBTI mental health promotion and resilience
• Workplace health and wellbeing
• Mental health in the custodial and forensic setting
• Consumer and carer participation and opportunities
• Offering hope: stories from the front line and lived experience
• Open topic

Abstract submissions close 10^th April, 2015
http://www.anzmh.asn.au/conference/abstracts.html
 

3^rd NCPIC Conference in Melbourne

Organisers are still taking abstract submissions for the 3^rd NCPIC conference.
There are specific instructions on the format and style of the abstract which can be found here:
http://mers.vpweb.com.au/upload/CALL%20FOR%20ABSTRACTS.pdf

The NCPIC Conference Scientific committee is calling for submissions on a range of issues including:

• cannabis use and intervention approaches particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• cannabis use and mental health
• interventions for the prevention and reduction of cannabis use
• treatment approaches for cannabis use disorder
• the role of genetics in cannabis use and dependence
• cannabis and driving
• toxicology and evidence-based pharmacological applications of cannabinoids
• the relationship between cannabis, tobacco and other drugs
• synthetic cannabinoids
• cannabis and comorbid mental health conditions.

Abstracts can include empirical research (group and single case studies), topic reviews, clinical issues and initiatives
Abstract submissions close 1^st May, 2015
http://mers.vpweb.com.au/3rd-NCPIC-Conf.html
 

 

Read – professional reading

Kelly JF, Wakeman SE, Saitz R. (2015). Stop talking “dirty”: clinicians, language, and quality of care for the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. The American journal of medicine, 128(1), 8-9.

http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(14)00770-0/pdf

Van Den Abbeele, J., Penton-Voak, I. S., Attwood, A. S., Stephen, I. D., & Munafò, M. R. (2015). Increased facial attractiveness following moderate, but not high, alcohol consumption. Alcohol and Alcoholism, agv010.

http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/content/alcalc/early/2015/02/25/alcalc.agv010.full.pdf
This article is included due to the high levels of media coverage

Posselt, M., Procter, N., Galletly, C., & Crespigny, C. (2015). Aetiology of coexisting mental health and alcohol and other drug disorders: Perspectives of refugee youth and service providers. Australian Psychologist, 50(2), 130-140.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap.12096/epdf
Access for Healthy Options staff, volunteers and students provided by Healthy Options Library

Schifano, F., Orsolini, L., Duccio Papanti, G., & Corkery, J. M. (2015). Novel psychoactive substances of interest for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 14(1), 15-26.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4329884/pdf/wps0014-0015.pdf
 

Attend – informal learning sessions, journal club, seminar series

Journal club (available to Healthy Options workers only)

This internal professional development session is held both in the library and on the Queensland teleconference line.  April’s session is being presented by Monica Reitano and Rebecca Sion of the Creating Options Program with the topic to be confirmed.
When: Wednesday, 15^th April, 10am
 

Online course - Social Entrepreneurship

In this course you will learn how to create societal impact through Social Entrepreneurship (S-ENT). S-ENT describes the discovery and sustainable exploitation of opportunities to create social change. We will introduce you to S-ENT examples and guide you through the process of identifying an opportunity to address social problems as well as outlining your idea in a business plan.
Free online course, participants receive a verified certificate
Duration: 12 weeks
Time commitment: 4-6 hours/week
Enrol before: 7^th April
https://www.coursera.org/course/socialentrepeneur

Online course – eHealth Opportunities and challenges

KIeHealthX will introduce students to the field of eHealth and its opportunities and challenges. During the course you will get to know the different concepts that are used in the field and learn how it developed historically. This basic knowledge will help you to understand the opportunities and challenges of the field. You will meet different stakeholders from various countries and get to know their views on the opportunities and challenges of eHealth. We will introduce you to eHealth strategies and frameworks for developing and analyzing them. You will get to know methods for eHealth service development and discuss basic requirements that are necessary to achieve sustainable eHealth applications for both clinical professionals and patients.
Free online course with opportunity to earn an Honor Certificate.
Duration: 6 weeks
Time commitment: 6hr/week
Enrol before: 22^nd April
https://www.edx.org/course/ehealth-opportunities-challenges-kix-kiehealthx#.VQJwArccSUk

 

Attend conferences

Grey matters conference

Adelaide
NCETA are hosting this national conference on identifying, preventing and responding to alcohol and other drug problems among older Australians.
Date: 1^st April, 2015
http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/workforce/projects_and_research/alcohol-and-drug-use-ageing-populations/events/

 

Listen – podcasts, webinars

Disruption beyond adoption: In conversation with Julie Selwyn

In this podcast, Julie Selwyn talks about a study conducted with colleagues on UK adoption disruptions involving severely abused children adopted from care. She paints a picture of complex cases and the need for child participation and preparation, ongoing therapeutic support for children and adoptive parents, support and training for foster parents, and the importance of open communication about a child’s history and other ongoing issues.
http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/disruption-beyond-adoption/.
Duration: 45min

Fostering Professional Resilience: The Professional Resilience Paradigm

http://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=162
In this episode, Ellen Fink-Samnick describes the core components, building blocks, and practical strategies associated with the Professional Resilence Paradigm. This framework provides an operationalized context and a specific set of behaviors that foster professional and personal growth as well as resilience for health and human services professionals.
Duration: 45mins

Developing therapeutic responses to methamphetamine use and dependence.  Presented by Associate Professor at NCETA, Dr Nicole Lee

http://www.regen.org.au/iaod14
Duration: 2hr 40min
 

Insight webinars for April

Trauma, substance use and well-being in a young population

John Kelly, Allied Health Manager/Psychologist at Youth and Biala specialised clinical service – Presentation of research that examined prevalence rates of trauma among young people attending an AOD youth service in Brisbane, and examined the links between trauma, patient characteristics, patterns of substance use and levels of psychological well-being
Date: 1^st April, 9am

The hidden harm: Alcohol’s impact on children and families

Sarah Ward, Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education - This research, funded by FARE, examines in detail the impact of alcohol’s harms from others on women, children and families.
These harms are often hidden, occurring in the home.
Date: 8^th April, 9am

Demon weed or wonder drug? The science of medicinal cannabis

Iain McGregor, Prof of Pharmacology/NHMRC Principal Research Fellow School of Psychology, University of Sydney. - Until recently, attitudes towards cannabis have centred around possible links between cannabis use and schizophrenia, and adverse effects on the adolescent brain. New understanding shows that cannabis contains many cannabinoid molecules in addition to THC and that many non-psychoactive cannabinoids have major potential health benefits. This talk will explore the current state of play with medicinal cannabis at this exciting time of major scientific advances and political change.
Date: 15^th April, 9am

An introduction to EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing)
Anthony Bligh Psychologist, Metro North Mental Health, Alcohol and Drug Service. - EMDR therapy has demonstrated effectiveness for the treatment of PTSD. However, controversy exists as to whether the therapy is any different to CBT. It has also been suggest EMDR therapy may be effective in the treatment of substance use disorders. This presentation will outline the basic EMDR processes, model, and evidence for the therapy, and discuss the suggested applications to the treatment of substance use disorders.
Date: 22^nd April, 9am

Functional Imagery Training: A new way to support self-management of AOD issues

Professor David Kavanagh, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology. - Motivational interviewing shows strong effects, but is largely used to engage people in AOD treatment rather than teaching a skill for everyday use. Nor is it based on recent cognitive research and theory. Functional Imagery Training addresses these issues adopting an MI style to help people use vivid imagery to support behaviour change in the natural environment
Date: 29^th April, 9am

To register or join an Insight webinar see: http://www.dovetail.org.au/insight/webinars.php 

Alcohol's harm to families and children - report

The Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE) have released a report this week looking at the harm alcohol causes to families and children. 

"The Hidden Harm: Alcohol's impact on children and families" has received a fair bit of media attention this week, especially around reported findings of the relationship between alcohol use and domestic and family violence.

Data for the report was compiled from the 2008 Harm to Others survey and 2011 Harm to Others follow-up survey and information from alcohol and other drug treatment, child protection, police and family violence services.

Some of the findings:

• Past harm was the strongest predictor of future harm for children and families, as well as the number of adult heavy drinkers in respondents' household and among their relatives, girlfriends, boyfriends and ex-partners. Half (50 per cent) of adult respondents harmed in 2008 were also harmed in 2011 and 35 per cent of children harmed in 2008 continued to be harmed in 2011.
• In 2011 there were 29,684 police-reported incidents of alcohol-related domestic violence in Australia
• Children are being verbally abused, left in unsupervised or unsafe situations, physically hurt or exposed to domestic violence because of others’ drinking. Many were also witnessing verbal or physical conflict, drinking or inappropriate behaviour.
• Over a million children (22 per cent of all Australian children) are estimated to be affected in some way by the drinking of others (2008). 142,582 children were substantially affected (2008), and more than 10,000 Australian children are in the child protection system because of a carers drinking (2006-07).

You can read reflections from one of the researchers here: http://drinktank.org.au/2015/02/hidden-harm-research/

You can also find FARE's "Policy Options Paper for preventing alcohol-related family and domestic violence" here: http://www.fare.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/FARE-Policy-Options-Paper-Preventing-alcohol-related-FDV.pdf

Health on the Internet

Two new developments that may be of interest when searching about health on the internet.

Medicare Local, Mater Health Services, University of Southern Queensland and a number of other partners have come together to develop a health website for refugee women.  The Community Health Hub provides health information in French, Swahili, Kirundi, Arabic and English.  Be aware that people with very low English literacy may still need help navigating the site's English menu options.

See: http://www.communityhealthhub.com.au/index.html


Google are adjusting their search algorithm to help deliver factual information to those searching health information online.  Due to the nature of the internet, some of the information you may come across is... less than reliable.  Google statistics suggest that 1 in 20 searches performed are health related, and more people are searching symptoms and illnesses as a part of assessing their own health.

To ensure that factual information from evidence-based sources is prominently featured when a user searches, a "Knowledge Graph" will appear with information such as symptoms, treatments, how common the ailment is, and whether it is contagious.  Information is sourced from reliable websites and from doctors involved in the project.  However, Google are quick to state that search results are not a replacement for visiting a doctor.

Image: Google 2015 http://bit.ly/1Aba7Fl

The changes came into place on the U.S. site from the 10th February and will be rolled out through all the sites.  You should start to see the Knowledge Graph appear when you do a medical search in the future.

For more information see:
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2364942?p=medical_conditions&rd=1
http://googleblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/health-info-knowledge-graph.html

March PD Opportunities

Find below some of professional development opportunities available in March.  As always, please comment or contact the library if you have something to add.

Write – presentations and papers

International Mental Health Conference at the Gold Coast

Abstract submissions are now open for the International Mental Health conference
The conference program will be designed to challenge, inspire, demonstrate and encourage participants while facilitating discussion. The program will include an extensive range of topics with keynotes, concurrent sessions, workshops and posters. Topics will include:

• Early intervention and treatment advances
• Recovery oriented practice
• e-Health, technology and social media
• Suicide prevention and support
• Child, youth and family mental health promotion and services
• Demands for an ageing population
• Targeted services for vulnerable groups
• Indigenous mental, social, emotional and environmental health
• LGBTI mental health promotion and resilience
• Workplace health and wellbeing
• Mental health in the custodial and forensic setting
• Consumer and carer participation and opportunities
• Offering hope: stories from the front line and lived experience
• Open topic

Abstract submissions close 10^th April, 2015

http://www.anzmh.asn.au/conference/abstracts.html
 

3^rd NCPIC Conference in Melbourne

Organisers are now taking abstract submissions for the 3^rd NCPIC conference.
There are specific instructions on the format and style of the abstract which can be found here:
http://mers.vpweb.com.au/upload/CALL%20FOR%20ABSTRACTS.pdf

The NCPIC Conference Scientific committee is calling for submissions on a range of issues including:

• cannabis use and intervention approaches particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• cannabis use and mental health
• interventions for the prevention and reduction of cannabis use
• treatment approaches for cannabis use disorder
• the role of genetics in cannabis use and dependence
• cannabis and driving
• toxicology and evidence-based pharmacological applications of cannabinoids
• the relationship between cannabis, tobacco and other drugs
• synthetic cannabinoids
• cannabis and comorbid mental health conditions.

Abstracts can include empirical research (group and single case studies), topic reviews, clinical issues and initiatives

Abstract submissions close 1^st May, 2015
http://mers.vpweb.com.au/3rd-NCPIC-Conf.html
 

Read – professional reading

Fitzpatrick, J. P., Latimer, J., Carter, M., Oscar, J., Ferreira, M. L., Carmichael Olson, H., ... & Elliott, E. J. (2015). Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in a population‐based sample of children living in remote Australia: The Lililwan Project. Journal of paediatrics and child health.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jpc.12814/abstract

Keane, C., Magee, C. A., & Lee, J. K. (2015) Childhood trauma and risky alcohol consumption: A study of Australian adults with low housing stability.  Drug and Alcohol Review, 34(1), 18-26.

Request from the library

Khanjani, Z., Mosanezhad Jeddi, E., Hekmati, I., Khalilzade, S., Etemadi Nia, M., Andalib, M., & Ashrafian, P. (2015). Comparison of Cognitive Empathy, Emotional Empathy, and Social Functioning in Different Age Groups. Australian Psychologist, 50(1), 80-85.

Online access for Healthy Options workers:  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ap.12099/pdf

Petitjean, S. A., Dürsteler-MacFarland, K. M., Krokar, M. C., Strasser, J., Mueller, S. E., Degen, B., ... & Farronato, N. S. (2014). A randomized, controlled trial of combined cognitive-behavioral therapy plus prize-based contingency management for cocaine dependence. Drug and alcohol dependence, 145, 94-100.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871614018511

 

Attend – informal learning sessions, journal club, seminar series

 

Journal club (available to Healthy Options workers only)

Journal club for March will be included as part of the Healthy Options national workshop program.  Presenter and topic to be announced.
Date: TBC
 

Online course - An Introduction to Global Health

Online course facilitated by the University of Copenhagen. Modules include: Global Health Governance and Health Systems, Epidemiological Transition and Global Burden of Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Environment, Sanitation and Climate Change, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Mental Health and Injuries, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Migration, Disasters and Emergency Health.
Free online course: Participants receive a “Statement of Attainment”
Duration: 6 weeks
Weekly time commitment: 3-5hrs
Enrol before: 13^th April
https://www.coursera.org/course/globalhealthintro
 

Online course – Leadership: Identity, Influence and Power

Offered by the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, this free online course examines recent research into leadership and its practical application in the workplace. Modules include: the romance of leadership, leadership theories, leader and followers, and the practice of leadership.
Free online course: Participants receive a “Certificate of Achievement”
Duration: 4 weeks
Weekly time commitment: 2-4hrs
Enrol before: Check website for March dates
https://www.open2study.com/courses/leadership-identity-influence-power
 

Attend - conferences

Australasian Drug and Alcohol Strategy Conference

The conference is organised by the Queensland Police Service and Australian Federal Police and covers research and initiatives addressing the harms of AOD.  There is also a focus on shared experiences and forming interagency partnerships.
Conference is held in Brisbane.
Date: 17^th-20^th March
http://event.icebergevents.com.au/adasc-2015

 

Listen – podcasts, webinars, presentations

 

Network MindOUT! webinar

Topic is yet to be confirmed.  Details will be provided as soon as possible.  Network MindOUT! is a national LGBTI suicide prevention project.
Date: 11^th March
http://www.lgbtihealth.org.au/mindoutwebinars

 

It Just Crept In: The Digital Age and Its Implications for Social Work Practice
Dr. Faye Mishna discusses her research examining social workers' experiences and how communication technology has entered their daily practice. Existing literature has highlighted the risks involved, but Dr. Mishna recommends that social workers rethink the restrictions and attempt to maximize the potential that may be present. Based on her research, she makes practical suggestions and discusses practice implications of embracing this technology.
Duration: 25mins
http://www.insocialwork.org/episode.asp?ep=160
 

Improving lives through virtual reality therapy

Advancements in virtual reality technology have not only led to improved experiences for people who enjoy video games but they are also treating very serious psychological and physical disabilities. In this episode, psychologist Albert “Skip” Rizzo, PhD, discusses research into the effectiveness of virtual reality therapy and how this technology can improve the therapist-client relationship.
Duration: 12mins
http://www.apa.org/research/action/speaking-of-psychology/virtual-reality.aspx

Busting the charity overhead myth

Juanita Wheeler busts the overhead myth in this powerful talk around her journey from high-powered for-profit marketing exec to non-for-profit overhead.
Duration: 11mins
http://youtu.be/0diX8EHOKZE

Insight Webinars for March
Down and out in Paris and London
Dr Jeremy Hayllar, Clinical Director of Metro North Mental Health - Alcohol and Drug Service, discusses "methadone buses" in Amsterdam and other innovative models of service in Europe.
Date: Wednesday, 4th March, 9am

Cultural, social and trauma perspectives of AOD
Dan Nguyen, Capacity Building Officer at QPASTT, discusses issues around AOD and cultural, social and trauma perspectives.  Recovery model and working with Vietnamese clients will also be discussed
Date: Wednesday, 11th March, 9am

A novel approach to harm reduction
Dr. David Caldicott, Consultant Emergency Physician at Calvary Hospital ACT, discusses his most recent findings in relation to novel psychoactive substances and strategies to reduce harm for people using psychoactive substances.
Date: Wednesday, 18th March, 9am

Resilience based practice in AOD services
Andrew Bruun, Director of Research, Education. Advocacy and Practice at Youth Support and Advocacy Service, examines contemporary resilience research and how this can inform practice to help address AOD problems and co-occurring behavioural issues.
Date: Wednesday, 25th March,  9am

To register or join an Insight webinar see: http://www.dovetail.org.au/insight/webinars.php 

Dovetail Good Practice Guide

Dovetail have released a fourth component to their Good Practice Guide series.

The new issue Learning from each other: Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people examines the historical and contemporary contexts, which impact on young ATSI peoples.  The guide covers engagement, assessment and intervention in AOD services.  It details practical strategies and directs workers to a number of useful tools.  The guide also looks at worker and organisational capacity, and provides guidance on improving cultural awareness and inclusivity.

You can view all of the Dovetail Good Practice Guides here
http://www.dovetail.org.au/i-want-to/open-the-good-practice-toolkit.aspx