Playing a Part in Recovery and Reintegration: The Koori Drug
Diversion Forensic Coordinator
Presenters
Belinda Baker- Koori Forensic Drug Diversion Coordinator ACSO
Heather Carmichael- COATS Manager ACSO
Amanda Bladen- Senior Manager Clinical Services
Our VisionA safe and inclusive community, freed of crime and prisons.
Our MissionWe help people transition from prison, assist them in the community, stop them from re-offending and divert others
from committing crime.
Our Ethos“Create another chance”
ACSO- Australian Community Services Organisation
Justice System
COATS
Treatment Agency
COATS- Community Offenders, Advice and Treatment Services
The Link Between the Justice System and Drug Treatment Services
Key Pathways through the justice system
The principal points of referral into the forensic AOD system are marked one through to four.
Arrest
Charged
Bail 2
Sentencing
Incarceration
Parole 4
Exit
Caution Issued 1
CREDIT / CISP Bail 2 Remand
Community Disposition 3
No Conviction or Sentenced without
Treatment
Towards a New Framework for Forensic Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment in Victoria
Under reported Over represented!
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission report Unfinished Business, finds the number of Koori women in jail has doubled over the past five years
Koori women now comprise the fastest growing segment of the Victorian prison population.
Indigenous persons make up 26 per cent of the prisoner population yet only constitute 2.5 per cent of the Australian population
It costs over $652 per day (or $237,980 annually) to imprison one young person, it costs $1000 for an episode of Drug Counselling
Country
What am I trying to do?
• Keep Aboriginal clients out of prison• Break the cycle• Strengthen community• Identify gaps in the system• Improve capacity of mainstream services to work
with Aboriginal clients• Improve Service delivery for Aboriginal clients
Whose making a difference?
• Department of Health funded drug treatment services
• Justice Services• KDDW- Koori Drug Diversion Workers• Koori Court (2002)• Aboriginal co-op’s• Aboriginal Specific Drug Treatment • Telkaya
Our Partners
How is it working?
• Victoria Police- Drug Diversion• Workforce development• Identifying gaps• Linking the networks• Building the bridge – connecting services
Leanings and Opportunities?
• Removal from country• Access to Drug Treatment• Reporting and data collection
– Penelope
• System silos
Questions?
www.acso.org.au
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