National Drug and Alcohol Awards

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

Principal Sponsor

Category Sponsor

Supporters

Collaborating organisations

The Opal Alliance, Alice Springs ‘finalist’ in National Award for Excellence in Drug Prevention

The Opal Alliance, Alice Springs, is a finalist in the Excellence in Prevention category at the 2007 National Drug and Alcohol Awards

The Opal Alliance successfully advocated for the widespread introduction of Opal fuel throughout Central Australia, replacing the often misused petrol fuel. By working constructively with the Federal Government, and consulting with other stakeholders, The Opal Alliance greatly reduced the harm caused to individuals and communities through petrol sniffing.

By commissioning a cost benefit analysis of the benefit of rolling out Opal fuel, The Alliance was able to identify that petrol sniffing in the Rollout Region was estimated to cost $78.9 million annually. This evidence made the extension of the subsidy for Opal commercially viable and played a key part in influencing the change of Government policy. Since the rollout, local research has identified a 60% reduction in the prevalence of petrol sniffing in some regions due to the reduced availability of sniffable petrol.

The Opal Alliance represents a unique combination of private sector and non-government organisations. The Alliance members include The GPT Group, the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Women’s Council and the Central Australian Youth Link-up Service (CAYLUS).

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. They aim to support and encourage people working to prevent drug problems in Australia. 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. Winners will be announced in Sydney on Friday 22 June 2007 at a gala dinner to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel..

“Every day of the week I see the ravages of drug and alcohol abuse on good Australians and their families. As a nation we lose about $1.2 billion and 7.5 million working days due to the effects of alcohol abuse alone. The emotional cost of drug and alcohol abuse to families includes domestic violence, suicide, depression, plus health issues such as brain, liver and heart damage. To meet the devastation brought on by drug and alcohol abuse are thousands of dedicated professionals, researchers, organisations and volunteers doing work that is world leading throughout all States of Australia. These Awards go some little way to recognizing the fantastic, innovative work they do with such passion and conviction. We applaud them,” says Wesley Noffs, Chair of the NDAA 2007 Awards.

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (major sponsor); Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (major sponsor) and NSW Health — ActNow (supporter)

“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.”

To interview the finalist please contact Charlotte George or Johanna de Wever on (03) 9278 8122 or (0432) 915 383. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/

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