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NCETA continues to collaborate with agencies and organisations to enhance the treatment and services provided to women and families attending AOD services. Services need to respond appropriately to the unique experiences often encountered by women seeking AOD treatment. Women seeking treatment for AOD problems often present with high rates of mental health issues, complex trauma due to sexual assaults and/or family and domestic violence, pregnancy and childcare issues, and greater social and economic disadvantage. 

In conjunction with NDARC and NDRI, the AOD peak bodies, and other stakeholders, NCETA has been involved in developing innovative resources to support the provision of best practice interventions for women entering AOD treatment, as well as enhance the ability of AOD service providers to respond to family and domestic violence and implement child and family sensitive practices. 

Jane Fischer, a Senior Research at NCETA, was a member of the Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies (NADA) Women’s AOD Services Development Program Expert Advisory Group. The Advisory Group also contained A/Prof Lucy Burns and Dr Courtney Breen from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC). This group informed the development of NADA’s practice resource, Working with Women Engaged in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment. The resource aims to support the provision of best practice interventions for women accessing AOD treatment and to effect organisational change around becoming gender responsive, family inclusive, and trauma informed.