Social Policy Research Centre
Outcomes
This study sought to generate evidence to enable better decisions by policy makers regarding funding and purchasing of alcohol and other drug treatment in Australia. We developed and implemented an online survey for alcohol and drug treatment providers (n=207) and linked the responses to the survey (which were about their funding, contract arrangements and workforce) with more than 70,000 episodes of care for alcohol and drug treatment. Using advanced statistics (multi-level modelling) we tested whether the ways in which services were funded (such as under competitive tendering) and their workforce characteristics mattered for treatment outcomes. The most important variable was the client-to-staff ratio – more staff makes a difference. Competitive tendering was not associated with treatment outcomes. Type of profession also did not matter. We also studied the perceptions of service providers about their funding arrangements, as well as looked at performance monitoring of services. Together, all these aspects have provided valuable information for government officials who purchase alcohol and other drug treatment across Australia.
Research Centre
Research Area
Drug Policy Modelling Program
- Publications
- Funding agency
- Collaborators
- Alcohol and other drug (AOD) staffing and their workplace: examining the relationship between clinician and organisational workforce characteristics and treatment outcomes in the AOD field
- Perceptions of funding and commissioning models for alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in Australia: a qualitative study of service providers and policymakers (in press)
- Ritter, A. van de Ven, K., Vuong T., Chalmers, J., Dobbins, T., Livingston, M. & Berends, L. (2021). Are market mechanisms associated with alcohol and other drug treatment outcomes? Addiction https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15681
- Podcast
- van de Ven, K., Ritter, A., Vuong, T., Livingston, M., Berends, L., Chalmers, J., & Dobbins, T. (2022). A comparison of structural features and vulnerability between government and nongovernment alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment providers. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 132, 108467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108467
- van de Ven, K. Ritter, A., Berends, L., Chalmers, J. & Lancaster, K. (2020) Perceptions of purchasing and payment mechanisms in alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services in Australia: a qualitative study involving AOD service providers and purchasers of treatment. Drug and Alcohol Review, 39, 189-197 https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.13027
- Ritter, A. & van de Ven, K. (2019) Is health or social welfare the right question? Response to commentaries. Drug and Alcohol Review, 38,129-130 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dar.12900
- Ritter, A. & van de Ven, K. (2019). Alcohol and other drug treatment commissioning and purchasing: Is it health care or social-welfare? Drug and Alcohol Review, 38, 119-122. https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12871
- van de Ven, K., Ritter, A., & Roche, A. (2020). Alcohol and other drug (AOD) staffing and their workplace: examining the relationship between clinician and organisational workforce characteristics and treatment outcomes in the AOD field. Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy, 27(1), 1-14. doi:10.1080/09687637.2019.1622649
NHMRC
Co-investigators
- Timothy Dobbins (NDARC)
- Jennifer Chalmers (NDARC)
- Michael Livingston (La Trobe University)
- Lynda Berends (Trace Research)
- Harvey Whiteford (The University of Queensland)
The project is supported by an Advisory Group, which includes the following members:
- Sam Biondo – CEO, Victorian Alcohol And other Drug Association (VAADA)
- Helene Delany – Manager, Alcohol and other Drug Policy, ACT Health
- Adrian Dunlop – Addiction Medicine Specialist, NSW Ministry of Health
- Moira Hewitt – Head, Tobacco Alcohol and Other Drugs Unit. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Rebecca Lang – CEO, Queensland Network of Alcohol and Drug Agencies (QNADA)
- Ann Roche – Director, National Centre Education and Training on Addictions (NCETA)
- Ross Broad, A/Director, Drug Policy and Reform, Community Based Health Policy & Programs Branch, Department of Health and Human Services
- Helen Taylor, A/Director, Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategy, Planning & Partnerships Unit, Mental Health Alcohol & Other Drugs Branch, Department of Health
- Chris Killick-Moran, Director, Research and International Policy, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Branch, Population Health and Sport Division, Department of Health
