The value of embedding culture in to Therapeutic

Communities for alcohol and other drug dependencies

Rachael WargentThe Cairns Institute,

James Cook University

Shanty Creek TC

• Community commenced March 2012

• north of Cairns near Mareeba

• Currently 19 residents• Both men and women• Adults over 18 years• Length of stay up to 9

months

Nationally, alcohol and cannabis remain the most common principal drugs of use.

It is highest among those aged 35-44 years. In 2008, 17% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander people aged 15 years and over reported chronic drinking and 37% reported binge drinking, in the previous 12 month period.

Hospital admission rates of Indigenous people for conditions caused by drugs other than tobacco and alcohol are over twice those among non-Indigenous Australians.

Some Evidence

Discussion started in 2010 JCU developed a methodology to evaluate a

TC in north Queensland Partnership JCU, QDAC and Lives Lived Well Identified as a highly needed service for

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the north

Background

Most of staff are Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Island Clinical, Case workers, grounds men, cooks, cleaners administration

On country Men’s and women’s spaces Art and craft Local AMS

Shanty Creek TC

Modified for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Contribute to the social, economic and wellbeing of people

Contribute to the evidence base for culturally appropriate D&A treatment services

Purpose

MethodologyMultifaceted research frameworks:

Participatory Action ResearchQualitativeQuantitative• GEM Growth and Empowerment

Measure• Client Satisfaction Survey

EthicsThis project has been allocated ethics approval Number H4452

Developed an evaluation framework for CQI with staff 4 main Indicators:

1. Cultural Domain2. Wellbeing Gain3. Health Gain4. Governance and Management

3 rounds of CQI, 1 done next one due this month

Continuous Quality Improvement

Measuring Wellbeing

• GEM developed to measure empowerment and wellbeing

• Family Wellbeing Program

Client Feedback

Service enhancement◦ Daily Programs◦ Staff evaluation

Improve facilities

Improve Wellbeing of Clients

Where to next….?

Implications for results

References:• D Gray & Wilkes, 2010• Bailie, Si, O'Donoghue, & Dowden,

2007; Cornwall & Jewkes, 1995.• Haswell, M., Kavanagh, D., Tsey, K.,

Reilly, L., Cadet-James, Y., Laliberte, A., Doran, C. (2010).

• Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 2010.

Thank you!Rachael.Wargent1@jcu.edu.au