Current Turning Point sector support activity
The department funds Turning Point to deliver priority projects, practical tools, guidelines and resources to support the AOD sector in the delivery of evidence-based care and activities improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the AOD treatment system.
In 2017-18, Turning Point reviewed scientific literature and worked with existing working groups, clinicians and consumers to inform the development of refreshed AOD withdrawal guidelines and new methamphetamine treatment guidelines for clinicians, as well as a new series of booklets on withdrawal for clients.
In response to feedback, the following products and activities for 2018-19 are currently underway:
- Online search portal for peer support/mutual aid groups held throughout Victoria to be hosted on the DirectLine. This service finder function will enable consumers, family members, AOD treatment providers and other health care professionals etc. to search for meetings based on preferences such as location, meeting type, and special focus/interest groups. This will facilitate access to peer support groups that are matched to peoples preferences.
- Guidelines for managing cognitive problems and acquired brain injury (ABI) in AOD treatment. This user-friendly guide will help clinicians:
- identify, screen, respond to and manage cognitive problems
- identify when a referral to neuropsychological assessment is needed
- by providing tips and strategies for addressing cognitive difficulties and drawing on cognitive strengths to optimise treatment engagement.
- Discharge Planning and Aftercare tool. Turning Point previously worked closely with the sector to refresh the intake and assessment tools, which identified a need for a discharge planning tool, summarising a clients' goals, non-AOD service engagement, need for further support and aftercare on completion of their episode of formal AOD treatment.
- Reducing 'did not attend' (DNA) rates: a pilot study. Non-attendance is a major cause of healthcare inefficiency worldwide. DNAs at AOD services are notoriously high, and contribute to increased wait times, as well as adverse treatment outcomes, treatment drop-out and relapse to substance use. In collaboration with BehaviourWorks Australia, as well as several AOD treatment services, Turning Point is conducting a multi-site study testing the impact of including a behaviour change "nudge" SMS added to appointment reminders, to determine whether this simple, low-cost intervention can change non-attendance rates among AOD outpatients.
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