While many of us begin to wind down at the end of another year, others are starting to feel stressed as we finish projects, attend celebrations, and contemplate how best to deal with tricky family relationships over the holidays. Fortunately, many employers participate in employee assistance programs, which offer free counselling to employees who need it.

Many WANADA members choose to be part of the EAP we have negotiated with Davidson Trahaire Corpsych (DTC). Staff members and their significant others are then able to access free, confidential counselling 24 hours a day, seven days a week through DTC. WANADA encourages management at our member agencies to remind staff of this benefit at staff meetings, via e-mail or during supervision.

If you have any questions about WANADA's EAP, please contact Isabelle Lee on (08) 6365 6365 or via isabelle.lee@wanada.org.au.

The December 2012 Issue of Drugspeak, a partnership newsletter of the Drug and Alcohol Office, WANADA and the wider alcohol and other drug sector in WA, is available now in print and online.  This issue features articles on the WA AOD Sector Excellence Awards, a new partnership between Cyrenian House and Milliya Rumurra in the Kimberley, training for alcohol and other drug sector volunteers, the launch of the Standard on Culturally Secure Practice (AOD Sector), and the Deadly Divas No Grog campaign. Download your copy of Drugspeak December 2012.

WA Alcohol and other Drug Sector Q&A
Thursday 24 January 2013
9am - 10.30am
Bentley Technology Park.

We invite participation by board members, management and staff from our member agencies. For more information, or to reserve your free tickets please e-mail drugpeak@wanada.org.au or call (08) 6365 6365 by Monday 7 January 2013 at the latest. More information, is also available in the WA AOD Sector Q&A Flyer and the WANADA Commitment Statement.

Stolen Generations Alliance Forum and AGM
14 -�17 December 2012
Trinity College, UWA

WA is privileged to be hosting the National Stolen Generations Alliance Forum and AGM in mid-December. Thirty delegates from around Australia will be in attendance for a weekend of decisions and sharing stories. To ensure the gathering runs smoothly and is a positive experience for everyone involved, Bringing Them Home WA is seeking volunteers to help with a variety of tasks including; airport shuttles, cooking (BBQ), serving at meal times, room set up and other general tasks.

South Metropolitan Health Service - Mental Health Strategy & Leadership Unit Mental Health Seminar Series
Negative Body Image and Eating Disorders
Presenter: Ulrike O'Sullivan, Eating Disorders Program, PMH
Wednesday 6 February 2013
12noon - 1.30pm
Kirin Centre Board Room 1, 15 Ogilvie Rd, Mount Pleasant

The overarching theme of "Drugs, Communities & Families!", together with strong supporting daily themes, have been agreed for Drug Action Week (DAW) 2013.

A 12-month review of WA's cannabis laws shows positive uptake of education sessions and that participants find education sessions useful. For more information, read the State Government media statement of 7 December 2012 at:
http://tinyurl.com/b7gvgok

Chairman of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD), Dr John Herron and other ANCD Executive members met with Police Commissioners at their recent Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) Board meeting to discuss the impacts of drug and alcohol-related harm on our communities.

An important outcome of the meeting was the commitment made by both organisations to work together where possible to address the issues associated with drug and alcohol misuse. Strengthened relationships between public health and law enforcement agencies were agreed as being an integral part to the solution.

Read the full ANCD / ANZPAA joint media release of 7 December 2012 at:
http://www.ancd.org.au/images/PDF/LatestNews/Joint_Media_Statement_ANZPAA_ANCD.pdf
 

CREIDU brings together researchers, policy-makers and community-sector representatives working in the fields of alcohol and illicit drugs, blood-borne virus transmission, justice health, mental health, and policy research.

The latest Alcohol Advertising Review Board Quarterly Report was released last week. Director of the McCusker Centre for Action on Alcohol and Youth, Professor Mike Daube, said, "During the AARB's first six months, we received 105 complaints and commented on 76. By contrast, during this period the alcohol and advertising industry's process published 19 determination reports. The report and media release can be downloaded from:
http://www.alcoholadreview.com.au/news/
 

A new Hepatitis Queensland film launched this month confronts hepatitis and HIV discrimination in healthcare using personal stories and interviews with healthcare professionals. Infectious Personalities explores the emotional and physical impacts of stigma experienced by four Queenslanders and the barriers this can create to accessing healthcare.
 

A report released today by the Cancer Council Victoria, Cancer in Victoria: Statistics and Trends 2011, reveals that men are over-represented in new cancer data. Todd Harper, CEO of Cancer Council Victoria has highlighted that the difference can largely be explained by the historical prevalence of cancer risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption amongst men.  

The FARE 2011-2012 Annual Report is now available on the FARE website at:
http://www.fare.org.au/about-us/annual-report/

Holyoake have developed an interactive flyer that provides information about the services and programs it offers to individuals, families, and groups. Download the flyer from:
http://www.wanada.org.au/Download-document/538-Holyoake-Interactive-Flyer.html

Families4FamiliesWA is a peer-based, recovery, education and support group for families dealing with co-occurring mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues. This group is run by families for families within a partnership between  Mental Health Matters 2 and Cyrenian House. Participation is free and the group will meet on alternate Tuesdays from 7pm - 8.30pm, followed by coffee and a chat, at The Carer Centre, 182 Lord Street, Perth (venue kindly supported by ARAFMI).

ST284 An introduction to Motivational Interviewing
Presented by Heather Jacobson, Workforce Development, DAO
Wednesday13 February 2013
9am - 4.30pm

Discover Recovery - Thursday 13 December 2012
What is it like to hear voices? Introduction to the Hearing Voices Approach - Saturday 15 December 2012
Manage Conflict in the Workplace - Thursday 20 December 2012
Free Hearing Voices Information Session - Thursday 13 December 2012 or Thursday 24 January 2013 or Thursday 21 March 2013

Managing Conflict Resolution in Your Workplace
Wednesday 12 December 2012
9.30am - 4.30pm
West Perth
Cost: WACOSS Members: $160 | Non-Members: $230

One-Week Intensive Course Level 1 in Family and Relationship Therapy
21 - 25 January 2013
9am - 5pm
William Street Family Therapy Centre, 544 William Street, Mount Lawley (cnr Chelmsford Rd)

The Workforce Development Branch, Drug and Alcohol Office is pleased to offer the Semester 1, 2013 Training@DAO calendar. This calendar provides a range of alcohol and other drug (AOD) knowledge and skills-based training events conducted by experienced professional trainers.  The Semester 1 2013 calendar provides a mix of new training and popular repeat events.

The Systemic Consultation Centre  is now receiving applications for next year's first year course. This postgraduate, accredited course in Systemic and Family Therapy has been running since 2004, offering eight places per level.

2013 Contemporary Drug Problems
21 - 23 August, 2013
Aarhus University, Denmark

Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA) 2013 National Conference
Changing Settings: liveable, vibrant, healthy places
17 - 19 June 2013
Sydney

Alcohol and other drug related news this week includes stories about the introduction of plain packaging, an LSD-related death in NSW, the influence of alcohol advertising and promotion through social media on young people, and the sale of illicit drugs over the internet.

Job opportunities this week come from Ngnowar-Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation and the Injury Control Council of WA (ICCWA). For more information, please visit AOD Jobs.

"Problems are not the problem; coping is the problem."

Virginia Satir