Consultations for the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Drug Strategy
The report on the consultations conducted by NIDAC to inform the development of the National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Drug Strategy is now available online.
Background
The National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) was engaged by the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Drug Strategy (NATSIPDS) Working Group to undertake consultations in six locations in Australia to inform the development of the NATSIPDS.
The consultations conducted by NIDAC built on work that has been undertaken by the NATSIPDS Working Group and feedback from the evaluation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan (The CAP) and the Yarning Circle, conducted at the 2nd National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Conference held in Fremantle, WA in June 2012.
The consultations were held at the following locations:
| Location | Date |
| Port Augusta, SA | Monday 20 May 2013 |
| Sydney, NSW | Tuesday 21 May 2013 |
| Mt Isa, QLD | Thursday 23 May 2013 |
| Perth, WA | Monday 27 May 2013 |
| Broome, WA | Tuesday 28 May 2013 |
| Alice Springs, NT | Thursday 30 May 2013 |
Background to the NATSIPDS
The Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Drug Strategy (NATSIPDS) Working Group
This Working Group consists of experts from around Australia from both the government and non government sector with the Assistant Secretary, Drug Strategy Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing filling the role of Chair and the Chair and Co Chair of the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee as the Co Vice-Chairs.
The NATSIPDS will:
- be aimed at minimising alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related health, social and economic harms among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities;
- cover urban and metropolitan areas as well as rural and remote communities;
- take a harm minimisation approach which encompasses the three equally important which will become a sub- strategy of the National Drug Strategy 2010 -2015;
- build on the longstanding partnerships between the health and law enforcement sectors and seek to support the health-law enforcement partnership and strengthen linkages across other sectors as appropriate;
- recognise the importance of working within a holistic and culturally appropriate framework; and
- offer a clear policy framework that will guide current and future efforts to minimise the harm of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Drug Strategy will replace the current National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Complementary Action Plan (The CAP) (http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/publishing.nsf/Content/indigenous-drug-strategy-lp) and will have links to other relevant documents, including the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention Strategy.