Consumption of alcohol is linked to many chronic conditions and is a major contributor to injury, trauma, violence and self harm.  It impacts socially and economically on individuals, families and communities at all levels.

The Australian Government's Alcohol Treatment Guidelines for Indigenous Australians provide guidance for health professionals who work with Indigenous Australians who are affected by alcohol-related problems.

The Guidelines support a co-ordinated and integrated approach to reduce alcohol and drug related harm among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

This program presents the Guidelines and discusses how they will assist health professionals to manage and treat Indigenous clients in a culturally sensitive and appropriate way.

At the end of this program viewers will:

• Have increased understanding of the scope and patterns of alcohol use of Indigenous clients.
• Recognise the implications of history and culture on alcohol treatment strategies.
• Be able to identify how the Guidelines and associated Toolkit can be used as enablers for alcohol treatment.
• Identify positive examples of effective and culturally sensitive ways for non-Indigenous persons to work with Indigenous peoples.

- Chair: Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
- Professor Charlotte de Crespigny, Project Director, Guideline Development, Professor of Nursing (Alcohol and Other Drugs) Drug and Alcohol Services SA and Flinders Consulting, Flinders University.
- Mr Leon James, Executive Manager FORWAARD, Darwin NT.
- Ms Bev Hansel, Aboriginal Woman and Supervisory Manager, Local Substance Use Service, South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation, NSW.
- Dr Anthony Shakeshaft, NHMRC Fellow, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) University of NSW.
- Dr Lara Wieland, General Practitioner, Mareeba AMS QLD.
- Click here for more details about the presenters.

66 minutes.

This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 27 March 2007 and was repeated on Friday 30 March 2007.

You can see details of the case studies that are discussed during the program.

This program is accredited for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association. Click here to evaluate this program and earn professional development points.

Visit our resources page for more Alcohol Treatment resources.

Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

- 807 Across the Lifespan: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Checks and Lifescripts
- 714 "Ice" - Out in the Cold
- 710 Indigenous Mental Health: An Interview with Professor Ernest Hunter
- 708 Drinking for Two?
- 614 Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
- 607b Grow Strong
- 607a Start Strong
- 606 Keep Safe
- 509b Growing Healthy Aboriginal Kids - The Early Years: 1-5
- 509a Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care
- 506 Injury Prevention in Aboriginal Communities
- 402 Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Problems