SANDAS has been committed to ongoing advocacy and representation as part of the Commonwealth Government’s National Ice Action Strategy. This includes our submission to the National Ice Taskforce , and representation at a number of forums and hearings in relation to the concerning rise in harms associated with the use of crystal methamphetamine.

The final report of the National Ice Taskforce has resulted in a commitment by the federal government of $241m for drug and alcohol treatment services, to be commissioned by the Primary Health Networks. SANDAS continues to work with the two South Australian Primary Health Networks, representing the needs of the Alcohol and Other Drug NGO sector in consultation processes.

The Alcohol and Other Drug Peak Bodies in each state work together to achieve national representation on a number of issues affecting the AOD Treatment Sector. Joining SANDAS on this network are:

Australian Capital Territory – Alcohol Tobacco & Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA)

New South Wales – Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (NADA)

Northern Territory – Association of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies NT 

Queensland – Queensland Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies (QNADA)

Tasmania – Alcohol, Tobacco & other Drugs Council Tas Inc (ATDC)

Victoria – Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)

Western Australia – Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (WANADA)

The Peaks Capacity Building Network forms part of the ongoing collaboration between the Australian State and Territory AOD peak organisations, who have been funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and to build the capacity of their members, in particular around the issue of responding to co-morbidities of AOD and Mental Health.

The group is intended to facilitate collaboration, knowledge and information sharing on an ongoing basis with the view to strengthen NGO sector capacity, reduce duplication and further common strategic interests. The network acts as a forum to discuss issues and provide input into the future directions, funding and activities of capacity building actions in the NGO AOD sector.

The intended aims of the PCBN are to:

• Respond to opportunities where collaboration adds value to national capacity building activity
  • Support relevant program and operational interests between the peaks
  • Foster innovation and unique solutions to national capacity building activity
  • Contribute to maintaining a long term relationship between the peaks

An evaluation of the Peaks’ Capacity Building Activities was undertaken in 2014 and published in May 2015. The Final Report can be downloaded here.

The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has undertaken a strategic, whole of system review of the drug and alcohol prevention and treatment services sector.

The review, headed by Professor Alison Ritter and completed in 2012, was intended to achieve the following:

• clarity as to the range of services currently funded, their distribution and the demographic groups targeted by these services
• a common understanding amongst governments and the sector of current and future service needs and where there may be service gaps, either in relation to service type, geographic area and/or demographic groups
• clarity as to the type and timing of drug and alcohol funding activities undertaken by governments
• the development of a resource/tools to help focus future government funding activities to ensure existing levels of resources (and any growth funding) are used as efficiently and effectively as possible to deliver quality, sustainable drug and alcohol services that respond to the needs of individuals, families and communities.

The AOD peaks were heavily involved in this process, facilitating forums and focus groups to provide information to the review and were represented on the advisory committee by QNADA and ATDC.

The final report was published in 2015, and is available for download here.