Abstract
In 2024, the Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum (KAHPF) initiated an Aboriginal-led Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) plan to address longstanding community concerns about substance misuse. Chaired by KAHPF members and regional stakeholders, the Steering Committee oversees this initiative.
This report marks the initial phase of the plan's development, aiming to inform the Steering Committee on current laws, policies, and programs related to AOD misuse in the Kimberley region. It begins by contextualizing AOD issues, tracing back to historical discriminatory approaches that still impact Aboriginal AOD practices today. Comparatively, Aboriginal AOD consumption patterns nationally show higher rates of abstention alongside increased risk and harm.
Locally, Kimberley exhibits doubled state average rates of risky drinking and heightened harm indicators, despite historical community efforts mostly reliant on underfunded local plans. Comprehensive regional planning remains absent, as highlighted by recent inquiries and submissions revealing systemic barriers.
Reviewing legislative and policy frameworks underscores a disjointed landscape lacking coordination, funding, and data consistency, despite minor improvements from the current state Mental Health and AOD plan (2015-2025).
Service provision, largely under a commissioning model by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations and WA Country Health Service, faces funding shortages and workforce challenges, limiting effectiveness.
Effective responses, per evidence, require addressing both health determinants and direct AOD intervention strategies. However, current interventions lack impact measurement frameworks and community-led regional AOD plan examples.
The report concludes with Critical Considerations for the plan's development, identifying key thematic areas crucial for effective implementation.
This report marks the initial phase of the plan's development, aiming to inform the Steering Committee on current laws, policies, and programs related to AOD misuse in the Kimberley region. It begins by contextualizing AOD issues, tracing back to historical discriminatory approaches that still impact Aboriginal AOD practices today. Comparatively, Aboriginal AOD consumption patterns nationally show higher rates of abstention alongside increased risk and harm.
Locally, Kimberley exhibits doubled state average rates of risky drinking and heightened harm indicators, despite historical community efforts mostly reliant on underfunded local plans. Comprehensive regional planning remains absent, as highlighted by recent inquiries and submissions revealing systemic barriers.
Reviewing legislative and policy frameworks underscores a disjointed landscape lacking coordination, funding, and data consistency, despite minor improvements from the current state Mental Health and AOD plan (2015-2025).
Service provision, largely under a commissioning model by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations and WA Country Health Service, faces funding shortages and workforce challenges, limiting effectiveness.
Effective responses, per evidence, require addressing both health determinants and direct AOD intervention strategies. However, current interventions lack impact measurement frameworks and community-led regional AOD plan examples.
The report concludes with Critical Considerations for the plan's development, identifying key thematic areas crucial for effective implementation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Broome, Western Australia |
| Publisher | Kimberley Aboriginal Health Planning Forum |
| Number of pages | 61 |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Jan 2025 |
