National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

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Major Sponsors

Supporter

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Local ACT Families program announced as Finalist in the 2008 National Drug and Alcohol Awards

The Karralika Family Program in the ACT has been nominated as a finalist in the 2008 National Drug and Alcohol Awards (NDAA) Excellence in Treatment and Support award.

Karalika’s unique approach deals with alcohol and substance addiction treatment in a whole of family manner. Drug treatment facilities have a male to female ratio of 3:1, partially because females have a lack of childcare options. The Child and Family Welfare Association has reported that parental drug use is one of the most serious issues facing the child welfare sector.

The Family program supports families to stay together in their rehabilitation facility. Children participate in an award-winning early childhood development program with targeted interventions while the affected parent undergoes drug withdrawal.

External evaluations have found the Karralika project to be multifaceted, with each intervention complementing or extending the other. The Stronger Families Project was found to be successful in bringing a shift of emphasis towards a more family-centred approach, with an early intervention focus. Results showed a clear awareness that creativity and flexibility were required to implement the program, and that these characteristics are just as necessary when looking at ways of sustaining it into the future.

The study also found the Stronger Families Project to be highly valued by clients, staff and partner agencies, who share a commitment towards long-term improvements in the lives of families with complex needs.

The Stronger Families Project regularly evaluates all policies and practices as part of the accreditation process. Appropriate changes are made to ensure the highest quality of care is provided to the children and families in care.

The winner of the Excellence in Treatment award will be announced at a gala dinner at The Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne on 27 June 2008.

“It is a great privilege to support the national alcohol and other drugs sector in celebrating the achievements of their unsung heroes, said Daryl Smeaton, CEO of the AER Foundation. As the major sponsor of these awards, AER congratulates all the winners, finalists and nominees.”

The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative effort of the Ted Noffs Foundation, The Australian Drug Foundation, The Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian National Council on Drugs.

It is estimated around 10,000 Australians now work directly in drug and alcohol treatment across Australia with a further 8,500 in associated sectors.

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (major sponsor); VIC Department of Human Services (major sponsor), The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (major sponsor), VIC Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (sponsor) and NSW Health — ActNow (supporter).

To interview the finalist please contact Sam Hunt on 02 6122 8600. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/