Alcohol Mandatory Treatment

Alcohol Mandatory Treatment

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Jo Wright Acting Executive Director Strategy and Reform NT Department of Health

AMT Act  

Commenced operation on 1 July 2013 Will be reviewed over the coming months 

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3 protective custody episodes in 2 months -> transfer to AMT Assessment 4 days to Senior Assessment Clinician to prepare a report 4 days from when lodged for Tribunal to hold a hearing Tribunal = lawyer + health + community members   

Residential Treatment Order up to 3 months Community Treatment Orders up to 3 months Income Management Order up to 12 months

Assessment Detoxification and management of withdrawal  Loss of liberty  Dealing with the health issues  Reconnecting to family  Preparation of report to Tribunal 

Treatment Continuing acute care  Continuing primary health care  Sub-acute care  Rehabilitation  Preparing for meaningful activity, work readiness, participation  Link to external agencies and potential employment 

Aftercare Case Management and follow-up of clients for 12 months  Link to housing, Centrelink, other support agencies  Ongoing community support for their addiction management  Ongoing medical support for their addiction management 

Reports Phase I first 6 months 206 people referred to the Tribunal  166 persons given orders for treatment, the majority being residential treatment orders  40 persons release orders  108 persons on aftercare 

Challenges Establishing a new program, with a challenging and difficult clientele  24 hour, 7 day a week service for people who in the main have been excluded from other residential programs  Advocacy is a concept that AOD staff not familiar with  Community Visitor Program plays a key role, again new to the AOD environment  Service model has been evolving as a result of continuous evaluation and review by management  Recruitment has been challenging, but is improving 

Future AMT Act review  Phase II infrastructure roll-out to Katherine, Tennant Creek, and relocating of the Darwin service to the Living Skills Unit at Berrimah when it is vacated by Corrections  AMT Service evaluation is under development, and will commence in new financial year 