“The announcement that 87 alcohol and drug treatment services will benefit from the allocating of grants totalling $29.9 million is recognition that the sector needs additional financial support,” said David Templeman, ADCA’s Chief Executive Officer.

“While the alcohol and other drugs sector is performing to the best of its ability, the sector continually needs additional funding to improve the health of many Australians who require professional care and support.”

Mr Templeman said the issue of mental health and addictions needs a coordinated approach to ensure appropriate service delivery between alcohol and other drugs and mental health workforces.

“There needs to be greater recognition and understanding that the combination of alcohol and drugs contributes directly to mental health problems,” he said.

“The AOD sector certainly needs to see the partnering of service providers, and carers to ensure an integrated recovery process is available for mental health consumers. The fact that this funding will provide services for Indigenous communities and people from different cultural backgrounds is a positive outcome for the sector”.

The funding aims to support a variety of service improvement activities such as revising internal policies or procedures, workforce training, professional development and clinical support, developing sustainable partnerships with the wider health network, and data collection to support continuous improvement.

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28 September 2007