We have established an initiative to prevent, raise awareness and reduce harm associated with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
Why is this important?
Queensland has a large culturally and linguistically diverse population, with over one in five Queenslanders born overseas. Communities with culturally diverse backgrounds across the state face unique challenges that can influence experiences of AOD issues.
Migration-related stressors, pervasive stigma around substance use, and health literacy barriers highlight the importance of AOD interventions that are responsive to the specific needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
What we did
We are funding $500,000 over two years for two community-focused projects to develop resources and culturally-based programs that aim to reduce and prevent AOD related harms to culturally diverse communities.
The two successful applicants are:
- World Wellness Group―Multi-cultural AOD Engagement and Access program
- Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) working in partnership with the Ethnic communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ).
The projects will contribute to building understanding of and improving access to culturally safe AOD resources, programs and services. This work will also contribute to meeting the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse individuals and communities supported by AOD services.
About each project
World Wellness Group
World Wellness Group is a multicultural health service and social enterprise founded to reduce health inequity and to support the principle that health is a human right.
The Multicultural AOD Engagement and Access program will seek to reduce stigma, increase awareness, and facilitate early intervention by improving access to AOD and support services and increase the capacity of AOD services to work more effectively with multicultural communities.
The approach will be led by a strong culture-based model guided by lived-living experience at every stage. A unique feature of this project includes a focus on enhancing the role of the Multicultural Peer Support Workforce, which represents over 60 ethnic and language groups. They will work alongside AOD services to foster cultural understanding, therapeutic engagement and trust-building. The project will also include upskilling and AOD training to build the workforces’ AOD capability so they can work effectively with AOD services and support clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Multicultural Peer Support Workers will be critical to the success of the program, as their role will be to facilitate authentic consumer and community engagement in the co-design of the program, provide input, and to bring cultural support and lived experience to AOD services.
The project will be rolled-out in five phases which will include:
- community engagement and co-design workshops
- upskilling of Multicultural Peer Support Workers
- capacity building with AOD providers through training
- resource development, and
- a comprehensive project evaluation.
Learn more about World Wellness Group.
Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) and Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland
QuIHN brings substantial AOD expertise and is a respected leader in the provision of a wide range of AOD programs that encompass harm reduction, testing and treatment services and primary care. ECCQ, with over 20 years of experience, has been dedicated to meeting the health and wellbeing needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities through its multicultural health programs.
Both organisations have a diverse workforce, many of whom bring their lived-living experience to cultivate strong relationships and trust with the communities they serve, including culturally diverse communities and people who use drugs.
This partnership aims to address barriers around culturally diverse community engagement and access to AOD programs, by fostering and broadening culturally relevant, evidence-based supports for people from diverse cultural backgrounds experiencing AOD concerns. QuIHN and ECCQ will co-design tailored training programs and resources for AOD service providers, community leaders, parents, and young people across Queensland.
As part of the project, the collection of culturally-specific data will be trialled through QuIHN’s needle and syringe program. By collecting culturally-specific data, it will help to identify important trends and assist with future co-design of harm reduction materials and other resources relevant to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The project will be implemented in key locations including Brisbane, Logan, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Townsville.
Learn more about QuIHN and ECCQ.
How does this support reform?
These initiatives respond to Queensland Government commitments under Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategic Plan 2022-2027 (Achieving balance).
Strategic priority 1 – Prevention and early intervention:
- Provide resources and community-based programs tailored to culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Improve shared understanding of alcohol and other drug related harm and protective factors from the early years through to older people.
Further information
For more information, please contact aod@qmhc.qld.gov.au
