Importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Staff and Services

Mainstream (general population) alcohol treatment services can reduce barriers to treatment access and improve the cultural appropriateness of care by employment of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander staff. Where possible (and acceptable to the patient ) non-Indigenous health professionals, should work in partnership with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health professional to increase understanding of the patient and their context, and ensure quality and secure care. 

There are many pressures on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health professionals, including service and community expectations. To develop and maintain a skilled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drug and alcohol workforce, there is need for secure funding, job security, pay equity and ongoing opportunities for training and support. 

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) offer culturally acceptable, accessible and comprehensive healthcare to local communities. They have been shown to improve broad health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Accordingly, ACCHSs have great potential to provide alcohol screening, brief interventions (Chapter 6), and onsite treatment for Alcohol Use Disorders. However, there are many pressures for these services, including the complex health and social needs of their clients. Support for these services may be needed to make this possible. Partnerships between mainstream specialist services and ACCHSs can result in 2-way learning. However, such partnerships need sufficient time and funding to mature.  

Where specialist services are available, support may be needed for clients to attend those, because of the many barriers to service access, such as stigma, or lack of transport.