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65
Data collection on alcohol and other drug use
That if Aboriginal people identify it as a priority (and ATSIC is well placed to make such a judgement) the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, as the body which manages the NCADA, act to develop and implement, in conjunction with Aboriginal people and organizations, an ongoing program of data collection and research to fill the many gaps which exist in knowledge about Aboriginal alcohol and other drug use and the consequences of such use.
Particular areas of need are:
a. Information about alcohol consumption among urban Aboriginal groups;
b. Information about alcohol consumption among Aboriginal youth;
c. Longitudinal data in all areas;
d. An emphasis on good quality data utilising standard methodology and definitions; and
e. Evaluation research which assists in developing improved Aboriginal prevention, intervention and treatment initiatives in the alcohol and other drugs field.
Data on alcohol and other drug use among Aboriginal people in Victoria is still limited. It’s not comprehensive, and persistent gaps in data collection and reporting hinder the ability of our organisations and communities to fully understand the scope and patterns of use, and develop or maintain effective, culturally appropriate policies, programs and services.
Aboriginal Justice Caucus Assessment
The intent of Recommendation 65 was to establish and implement a research and data collection program to address the gaps in knowledge regarding Aboriginal alcohol and other drug (AOD) use.
Several data collection initiatives have been implemented. The Victorian Population Health Survey captures data relating to AOD use and service access. However, the annual survey sample size is not large enough to provide reliable estimates for the Aboriginal population. Every three years a much larger sample is used to produce more robust information for Aboriginal adults.
Since 2018–19, the Department of Health has funded VACCHO to work with member organisations to collect and submit AOD service data to the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Collection. Despite these efforts, data on AOD use among Aboriginal people in Victoria is still limited. It’s not comprehensive, and persistent gaps in data collection and reporting hinder the ability of our organisations and communities to fully understand the scope and patterns of AOD use, and develop or maintain effective, culturally appropriate policies, programs and services.
There are significant issues in areas such as the Latrobe Valley, where AOD use is reportedly high across age groups, and local services that previously supported affected individuals have been discontinued.
It’s becoming really problematic, businesses are closing, and people are afraid to walk in the streets. The situation is probably at its worst. We used to have a drug and alcohol service, which would pick people up and provide support, but it was discontinued because our numbers were deemed too low. About ten years ago, one person did a brief evaluation and collected some data, but it wasn’t enough…it’s really concerning that these services were stripped away, and the problem has now reached a critical level. (Nicole Le Sage, Executive Officer, Gippsland RAJAC).
Priority for Further Work:
High
Relevance and potential impact | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low (0-2) | Moderate (3-4) | High (5-6) | |||
Extent of action taken and evidence of outcomes | High (5-6) | ||||
Moderate (3-4) | |||||
Low (0-2) | |||||
Potential Actions for Further Work
Strengthen local Aboriginal-led AOD services and data collection
Develop and fund sustainable, Aboriginal-led alcohol and other drug (AOD) services (including sobering-up services) in areas with high unmet need, such as the Latrobe Valley. Ensure these services are supported by consistent data collection and evaluation to monitor patterns of use, service access and outcomes.
Background
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found there was limited data regarding the nature and extent of Aboriginal alcohol use compared to non-Aboriginal alcohol use which had been extensively researched across many disciplines.
The Commission suggested that the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy work in collaboration with relevant Aboriginal organisations to develop a data collection and research program addressing the various gaps in knowledge. The RCIADIC highlighted that although alcohol misuse affected the wider community, Aboriginal peoples’ experiences of over 200 years of injustices resulted in social, physical, environmental and economic conditions that contribute to harmful alcohol use.
Actions Taken Since Last Review
Department of Health
Since 2018-19, the department has funded the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) to work with member organisations to deliver AOD services while supporting their capacity to meet data requirements, including Victorian Alcohol and Drug Collection data submissions.
The Victorian Population Health Survey also captures data relating to AOD use. This survey, first undertaken in 2001, contains several items related to AOD usage and service access. The annual survey sample size of 7,500 Victorian adults (18 yrs+) does not allow reliable estimates to be calculated for the Aboriginal population, so every three years (2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023) a larger sample size of 34,000 is used. This allows for robust estimates to be calculated for the Aboriginal population in Victoria.
Impact
Outputs
- Victorian Population Health Survey findings.
- VACCHO support for its member organisations to collect and submit AOD service data to the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Collection.
Outcomes
Department of Health
Require VACCHO to continue to support all 26 of its ACCO members that provide AOD services. This requirement continues to be upheld by VACCHO.
Data on AOD use among Aboriginal people in Victoria remains severely limited. The lack of comprehensive and reliable information is compounded by the broader deficiencies in AOD data collection and reporting across the state. These gaps in data not only hinder the ability to fully understand the scope and patterns of AOD use within Aboriginal communities but also impede the development of effective, culturally appropriate policies and interventions.
Community Views
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association
In their submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VADA) highlighted that data on AOD use among Aboriginal people in Victoria remains severely limited. They emphasised that the lack of comprehensive and reliable information is compounded by the broader deficiencies in AOD data collection and reporting across the state. According to VADA, these gaps in data not only hinder the ability to fully understand the scope and patterns of AOD use within Aboriginal communities but also impede the development of effective, culturally appropriate policies and interventions. This inadequate data infrastructure, they argued, contributes to ongoing challenges in addressing health inequities and supporting evidence-based decision-making for Aboriginal populations