The Drug and Alcohol Office is the government agency responsible for drug and alcohol strategies and services in Western Australia.
The agency provides or contracts a state-wide network of treatment services, a range of prevention programs, professional education and training and research activities.
It coordinates whole-of-government policies and strategies in conjunction with state and commonwealth agencies.
DAO is a statutory authority (Western Australian Alcohol and Drug Authority) within WA Health and is accountable to the WA Minister for Mental Health.
DAO has four directorates with a responsibility and budget for provision of services to the community. They include:
Corporate Services Directorate provides support for the core activities of DAO.
What does the Drug and Alcohol Office Do?
Treatment Services
DAO contracts 12 community drug service teams throughout the state. These provide counselling and treatment services to youth, adults and families and also support local communities to prevent drug and alcohol problems.
DAO supports a comprehensive range of outpatient counselling and residential rehabilitation services, including specialist youth, women’s and family services provided by non-government organisations that are members of the Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies.
DAO manages Next Step Drug and Alcohol Services which comprise: a specialist clinic in East Perth providing outpatient clinical programs for youth and adults; residential detoxification service; including dedicated beds for Aboriginal people; clinical services throughout the metropolitan area that are being integrated with community service teams ands support for a state-wide network of general practitioners providing pharmacotherapy.
The WA Diversion Program, also managed by DAO, aims to reduce crime by diverting drug-using offenders into treatment so that they can break the cycle of offending and address their drug use.
ADIS
The Alcohol and Drug Information Service is a 24 hour confidential telephone service for people in Western Australia. It provides information, counselling, referral and advice to anyone concerned about their own or another person’s drug use.
PDIS
The Parent Drug Information Service is a 24 hour confidential telephone service for parents and families in Western Australia. Callers have the option of talking to a professional counsellor, a volunteer parent or both.
Prevention and Community Action
DAO, in partnership with the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies and the Injury Control Council of WA, delivers public health campaigns and initiatives to reduce risky alcohol use and prevent illicit drug use. The Drug Aware campaign focuses on illicit drugs while the Enough is Enough campaign encourages and supports communities to achieve a safer drinking culture in WA.
DAO supports a state-wide network of local drug action groups that deliver preventive activities and education for youth and support families.
DAO supports School Drug Education and Road Aware (SDERA) to provide resilience and drug education aimed at keeping young people safer. SDERA provides professional development services and support resources to school based staff, parents and community agencies to develop effective drug and road safety education programs within their school community. SDERA works across State, Catholic and Independent schools and services both metropolitan and regional areas.
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Aboriginal Programs
The Aboriginal programs area at DAO provides culturally secure workforce and organisational development programs for human services agencies and staff to respond effectively to Aboriginal people affected by drug and alcohol use.
This involves policy advice; professional education and training including nationally recognised qualifications; as well as strategic support and planning for treatment and prevention programs.
Workforce Development
The Workforce Development Branch provides professional education and training; workplace and organisational support and resource development to help government, non-government and community sectors to respond effectively to people affected by drug use.
Workforce development activities include:
• Training@DAO calendar
• Lunchtime seminars
• Conferences & Symposia
• Nationally Recognised Training
• Agency Training & Resources
• Volunteer Training
• Clinical Training and Placements
Monitoring, Evaluation and Research
DAO undertakes monitoring, evaluation and research to identify trends and emerging problems, improve treatment and prevention services and measure progress.
Published reports cover state and national drug use trends, strategic performance indicators and analysis of key issues.
Library and Resource Centre
DAO houses WA’s specialist library and information service for drug and alcohol publications. It has a wide range of books, journals, reports, acts of parliament, training manuals, videos and on line resources for use by WA Health agencies and members of the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies
Members of the public, tertiary students and staff from other government agencies are welcome to use the library for reference purposes.