This message was posted on the Australian discussion list, UPDATE last night - apologies for any cross-posting:

Over forty years in the entertainment industry in Australia has seen Ronnie Burns emerge as a household name in many areas of television and ‘live’ entertainment. His talents surfaced in the pop recordings of the 60’s & 70’s, stage acting - and he has appeared on almost all major television shows throughout Australia since 1963.

During this time he won numerous industry awards including a double Gold record award for ‘Smiley’ (1970) the anti-war protest song about Australian military involvement in Vietnam. His other hits included: ‘Age of Consent’, ‘The Prophet’ (by Johnny Young), ‘Coalman’ and ‘Exit Stage Right’ - the latter two penned for Ronnie by the Bee Gees.

Tomorrow, however, Ronnie will take on another role as he opens a gathering of drug treatment professionals from across Australia and New Zealand who are meeting in Launceston this week to discuss new ideas and developments in treatment for those with alcohol and other drug problems.

The Symposium is being organised by the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA), the peak body representing Therapeutic Communities in Australia and New Zealand.  Therapeutic Communities provide a wholistic approach to treatment and rehabilitation, working to address the underlying causes of alcohol and other drug abuse, all of which impact on the person’s ability to recover.  Therapeutic Communities have been established in Australia for more than three decades.

The 63 Therapeutic Communities in Australia and New Zealand, which are part of the ATCA, successfully treat more than 34,000 people annually in both prison and community-based therapeutic community settings, and through a variety of outreach and community services. In Launceston, Missiondale is a member of the ATCA and provides treatment using the therapeutic community model.

Associate Professor Lynne Magor-Blatch, Executive Officer of the ATCA believes this week’s symposium will provide new ideas and directions in the treatment of substance use, particularly addressing the barriers which prevent people accessing effective help.

 “The theme of this year’s symposium, Stigma, and other Barriers to Treatment, focuses on the importance of providing treatment through appropriate referral regardless of cultural, social, mental health or justice issues.  Creating an inclusive system provides challenges – this year’s theme explores the barriers to treatment, addressing stigma and discussing the need for change within the broader treatment environment”.

“Therapeutic Communities (TCs) are unique in their treatment method, in that the community itself is the main method of treatment.  While staff play a vital role in guiding treatment, there is an important emphasis on self-help and mutual help.  TCs also traditionally work with people who have more entrenched, complex and chaotic behaviours than many other treatment services”, A/Prof Magor-Blatch said today.

TCs are reporting an increase in people presenting with alcohol-related problems, with more than 50 percent of clients in TCs there because of alcohol-related issues.  Amphetamines and cannabis are the next most prevalent drugs, often resulting in significant mental health problems.

In recognition of the concern relating to treatment barriers, the symposium will bring together seven keynote speakers and hear from more than 20 others working with clients with acquired brain injury; gay, lesbian and transgender clients; people from culturally diverse backgrounds; and those with mental health and other unmet needs.

“On Tuesday, Dr Nicole Lee and neuropsychologist Mark Lambert will address the issues of acquired brain injury and the way in which we need to alter our treatment interventions to work more effectively with this group”, A/Prof Magor-Blatch stated.

“These papers will then be followed on Wednesday by Rodney Croome, who will discuss the issues of homophobia, mental health and inclusion, and by Connie Donato-Hunt, whose particular focus is on the needs of clients from culturally diverse backgrounds”.

Wednesday and Thursday’s programs will also focus on research with presentations by Dr Richard Chenhall and Dr Peter Kelly and then return to a current discussion of the role of recovery through presentation and panel session featuring Associate Professor David Best.

 “We are particularly delighted to have such a strong field of speakers, including more than 20 referred papers from clinicians and practitioners in the field”, A/Prof Magor-Blatch added.

The ATCA Symposium will take place at The Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston from Tuesday 28th to Thursday 30th August, following a site visit to Missiondale on Tuesday morning.

Information on the Symposium can be found on the ATCA website or by emailing [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>



R. Yates
Senior Research Fellow
Scottish Addiction Studies
School of Applied Social Science
University of Stirling
Scotland
 
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