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 Vision A safe and inclusive community, freed of crime and prisons. Our Mission We 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. ArrestCharged 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?