NCETA is working with WANADA to identify ways to enhance opportunities to develop the Western Australian workforces that have a role in responding to AOD issues. This is occurring against a backdrop of a number of key developments in Western Australia and nationally. These include:
- The formation of the Western Australian Mental Health Commission
- The development of Better Choices. Better Lives: The Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drug Services Plan 2015–2025
- The development of the National Alcohol and other Drug Workforce Development Strategy 2015-2018
- Increasing recognition of the need for a broad approach to workforce development which incorporates systems, organisational and individual factors.
In undertaking his project, NCETA and WANADA will collaboratively:
- Conduct a wide-ranging consultation process to help develop a comprehensive understanding of the extent and nature of AOD-related workforce development activities currently being undertaken in Western Australia
- Map this understanding against the Outcome Areas and Potential Actions contained in the National Alcohol and other Drug Workforce Development Strategy 2015-2018
- Identify areas where Western Australian approaches are consistent with the National Strategy and where gaps exist (taking into account jurisdictional differences)
- Identify potential areas for enhancing AOD-related workforce development activities in Western Australia
- Identify approaches that could be used to bring about enhancements
- Identify potential measures to determine the extent to which those approaches have been successful.
NCETA and WANADA will prepare a report outlining the findings from the project. The findings will provide an important insight into the strengths and challenges of current approaches to workforce development and will be used as a foundation to identify new approaches to enhancing AOD workforce development in Western Australia.
