Download this fact sheet: South Coast Aboriginal Holistic Healing Service (substance use) [PDF: 81 KB]
Introduction
The South Coast Aboriginal Holistic Healing Service (Substance Use), or AHHS, was established as a regional service in June 2002 for Aboriginal communities along the South Coast of New South Wales (NSW)—from Wollongong to the Victorian border. The service was established after three years of community consultations. It is auspiced by the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, with direction from a consortium of Aboriginal community controlled organisations and the Aboriginal Community Drug Action teams on the South Coast .
Vision, goals and aims of AHHS
The AHHS works in partnership with mainstream services to provide quality drug prevention and treatment programs. Its vision is grounded in the Aboriginal holistic view of health, which involves healing of the physical, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of life. It is based in the healing of the individual, his or her family, community and country.
Goals
- To be a service of excellence, in provision of regional quality substance misuse services to Aboriginal people and communities on the South Coast of NSW
- To focus on healing within families—women, men, young people, children and elders—as central to Aboriginal community and cultural life
- To provide a community based and controlled outreach service which enables Aboriginal people to choose from a range of prevention and treatment options that suit their needs
- To act as a networking and collaborative service that is committed to the building of partnerships which strengthen the successful operation of the service
Aims
- To provide specific, accredited training for Aboriginal people in relation to substance misuse and related areas
- To prioritise the employment of Aboriginal people throughout the Service
- To ensure the ongoing quality and community assessment of the Service
- To collate and develop resources which can assist staff in the carrying out of their duties and community members in their healing
- To be an accountable and ethical service that is responsive to community needs and provides a quality work environment, and that is supportive of staff and all community members
A family centred service
The primary focus of the AHHS is to be family centred and to provide early intervention and prevention of substance use-related problems within families and communities. The Service places high priority on working in partnership with other community organisations and with government to ensure our communities receive the best standard of service provision available. The service is staffed by Aboriginal people from the local area.
Community initiatives
To date, the AHHS has been involved in the following community initiatives:
- Regional Women’s Business Gathering Jervis Bay , 2002
- Marumali Program to support Aboriginal health workers in addressing the needs of our people from the Stolen Generations
- Women’s and Men’s Business Forums along the coast
- South Coast Bus Campaign for Koori Students
- Certificate III in Aboriginal Studies (Drug and Alcohol Work) in partnership with Nowra TAFE
- Provision of community education programs around overdose and family support
- The Shoalhaven Aboriginal Safe Community Partnership, whose goal is to become the first Indigenous community in Australia designated as a Safe Community by the World Health Organization
The AHHS recently received a major grant to work in partnership with Youth Solutions to facilitate Youth Forums for Shoalhaven Koori Youth on drug and alcohol issues.
Evaluation
All programs initiated by the AHHS are evaluated on an ongoing basis through participant and community evaluations which are built into the process of program development:
- Programs are evaluated against the business plans of both the AHHS itself and the South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation.
- Regular reports are given to the Aboriginal Community Drug Action Teams, other relevant services and funding bodies, and are published in the local media such as SKIN Magazine (Shoalhaven City Council magazine for Aboriginal people) and through program reports such as the Report on the Regional Women’s Business Program.
- Staff also attend regular training to maintain their skills, and are very active in statewide and national forums of Aboriginal drug and alcohol workers such as the National Consultation on the Complimentary Strategy to the National Drug Strategy and the New South Wales State Network of Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Workers.
- Continuous interaction with Aboriginal communities along the coast is our greatest source of feedback about how the service is developing in response to community needs.
Staff
Current staff of the AHHS include Sylvia Campbell, Female Substance Use Worker/Educator; Ted Braddick, Male Substance Use Worker/Educator; Rachel Brown, Administrative Officer/Resource Library Manager; and Marilyn Pittman, Service Manager.
The service continues to be actively involved in supporting its communities to address the harmful effects of substance misuse among Aboriginal people. As Marilyn Pittman says, “At AHHS, it really is true that “Our community is our strength”.
For information about AHHS, contact Marilyn Pittman, Service Manager, South Coast Aboriginal Holistic Healing Service Substance Use, 52a Worrigee St
( PO Box 1163 ) Nowra NSW 2541
Tel. (02) 4422 3577 Fax (02) 4422 6577
Email: marilyn@southcoastams.org.au or ahhs@southcoastams.org.au
Acknowledgement
With thanks the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) for permission to reproduce its artwork.
For information about drugs and drug prevention, contact the Information Officer on
tel. 1300 85 85 84 ( Victoria only).
email druginfo@adf.org.au or