HealthInfoNet ‘s work on the misuse of alcohol and other drugs assisted by new Reference Group

The alcohol and other drug web resources

Development of four web resources – in the areas of alcohol misuse, inhalant misuse, illicit drug use, and the misuse of other drugs – has been funded by the Alcohol and Harm Reduction Initiatives Section of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing’s Drug Strategy Branch.

The first of the four web resources – addressing inhalant misuse (including petrol sniffing) – is now available online. The web resource is still under development but we have decided to make available the information we have already compiled (view Indigenous inhalant misuse web resource).

Function of the Reference Group

The Reference Group, comprising Indigenous and non-Indigenous people working as practitioners, policy-makers and/or researchers in the area of alcohol and other drug use among Indigenous peoples, will provide advice on:

• content of the web resources, including the co-opting of people for expert advice
• priorities for future development of content areas
• promotion of the resource and of the HealthInfoNet ‘s work among people and organisations involved in the area of the use of alcohol and other drugs among Indigenous peoples (including development and enhancement of linkages with relevant organisations/agencies)
• aspects of the associated ‘yarning places’ – electronic networks based on the ‘community of practice’ (CoP) model – in their area(s) of interest (including how to promote their use, providing contact details for potential members, etc)
• appointment of HealthInfoNet Consultants in the area of the use of alcohol and other drugs among Indigenous peoples

Members of the Reference Group

Members of the Reference Group, which will normally meet by teleconference, are:

• Wendy Casey, Principal Advisor, Aboriginal Alcohol and other Drugs Program, Western Australia Drug and Alcohol Office, Perth.
  View profile: Australian National Council on Drugs

• Dr Alan Clough , NHMRC Postdoctoral Fellow, Menzies School of Health Research, Institute of Advanced Studies, Charles Darwin University , Darwin
  View profile: Menzies School of Health Research

• Associate Professor Kate Conigrave, Disciplines of Medicine and Psychological Medicine, and School of Public Health , and Staff Specialist, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital , Sydney
  View profile: University of Sydney

• Kim Gates , Director, Council for Aboriginal Alcohol Program Services Inc., Darwin
  View profile: Australian National Council on Drugs

• Associate Professor Dennis Gray , Associate Professor and Deputy Director, National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology , Perth
  View profile: National Drug Research Institute

• Superintendent Frank Hansen, Manager of Drug and Alcohol Coordination, NSW Police Service, Sydney
  View profile: Australian National Council on Drugs

• Associate Professor Ted Wilkes , Professorial Fellow in Aboriginal Health, School of Developmental Health, Curtin University of Technology, Perth
  (Due to other commitments Associate Professor Ted Wilkes has subsequently resigned from this reference group)
  View profile: Australian National Council on Drugs

• Professor Neil Thomson, Director of the Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet .

The Group meetings will also involve the HealthInfoNet ‘s Research/Project Officers working on the development of the resources on alcohol and other drugs, and a representative of the Alcohol and Indigenous Programs Section.

The HealthInfoNet is grateful to the Alcohol and Indigenous Programs Section for funding development of the resources and for the special funds that enabled the June meeting.