BCHS Quality of care 2024 digital - Flipbook - Page 25
ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS
Harriet’s specialised support
BCHS welcomed Harriet Storrar to
the role of specialist alcohol and
other drugs (AOD) family violence
advisor at the end of 2023. The
role, based out of our beautiful new
building Wanyanimbik Wayawan,
encompasses supporting AOD
practitioners across the whole of
the Loddon region to identify and
respond to family violence.
The year’s highlights saw Harriet
present at the Victorian Alcohol and
Drug Association (VAADA) AOD
Regional Forum to talk about her
role; be involved in a working group
to review AOD assessment tools;
promote resources on substance
use coercion; and provide secondary
consults with both AOD and family
violence practitioners.
With a background in the family
violence sector, Harriet focused
on learning about, building
relationships with and making
regular visits to AOD services
around the region. Harriet has
identified some challenges that
both the AOD and family violence
systems face when working with
family violence and co-occurring
substance use.
Harriet Storrar – specialist AOD family
violence advisor
Collaboration partners for the last year have included,
but are not limited to:
•
The Salvation Army
•
Bendigo District Aboriginal Co-operative (BDAC)
•
The Orange Door
•
Centre for Non-Violence
•
Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health
•
Maryborough District Health Service
•
Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO)
•
Annie North.
Pharmacotherapy
welcomes new
practitioners
The hope is to improve
collaboration between
local services so we
can better support
our clients and reduce
the devastating harm
family violence is having
in our communities.
The 2023-24 year saw 187 clients helped, with the team also
welcoming two talented practitioners – Dr Michael Pearson
and Nurse Practitioner Nomusa Napier. On-site Hepatitis C
testing and treatment is now available for clients after we
completed a one-year project with the Burnet Institute.
Our long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) numbers
have increased from last year and are now at 78.
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