Evaluating the capacity building roles of the state and territory peak bodies in the Australian alcohol and other drug sector

Abstract

The Australian alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector has a diverse range of actors, including the nongovernment (NGO) service providers. Representing these services in each of Australian states and territories are AOD sector peak bodies. Their national network commissioned an evaluation of their capacity building (CB) activities and outcomes. The network and the evaluator developed a working definition of CB: Capacity building is a strategy that improves the ability of AOD workers, services and/or the broader AOD system to achieve better AOD health and social outcomes. The utilisation-focused evaluation (UFE) model was adopted for this project. The evaluation found that sound outcomes have been produced by the peaks’ CB work, and that includes valued changes in the service delivery work of the NGO sector. The CB strategies that are particularly important for attaining the desired outcomes were identified. The CB strategies and activities have been implemented well, and have delivered value for money, though sustainability remains a concern. The evaluation concluded that the peak bodies are ideally placed to deliver CB initiatives. The evaluation’s recommendations have been implemented, and process utilisation of the evaluation has been observed among its participants.

The non‐government alcohol and other drug workforce in Australia: Findings from a national survey

“…Given differences identified between NGO and government workers, and changes in service delivery load distribution, there is an increased role for NGO peak bodies in supporting capacity building to ensure national consistency in evidence‐informed approaches to treatment and workforce development more generally [4]. To this end, for instance, the recent NSW NGO Service Treatment Specifications resource [35] was developed as part of an organisational agreement between funders and service providers to provide a common understanding of performance, competence and skill sets.…”

“…The proportion of episodes of care provided by the NGO sector increased incrementally from 61 to 71% from 2009/2010 to 2018/2019 [3]. In part, this trend may reflect the increased outsourcing of the provision of AOD services by the Australian Government to local commissioning bodies such as the Primary Health Networks [4].…”

“…These activities are also central to NGOs that provide AOD services. Diverse efforts have been subsequently directed to building the capacity of AOD workers in the NGO sector [4].…”

The ongoing role of a peak body for rural and remote health in Australia

“…Two of the ways third‐sector bodies achieve this are by supporting sector development and providing recommendations to the government 4 . The National Rural Health Alliance as a peak body, and therefore a part of this third sector, continues to bring value to the sector through the role it plays in developing the sector and by advocating to the government for actions to improve the health outcomes of people living in rural and remote Australia 4–6 . This remains the central role of the Alliance, and it will need to continue to evolve to support and respond to the changing context in rural and remote Australia.…”

Understanding the research capacity of alcohol and other drugs services in New South Wales, Australia

“…While capacity building initiatives in the AOD sector have been effective at supporting organisational and workforce development [9], there has been no assessment of research capacity within the AOD sector in NSW. In NSW, AOD services are mainly provided across public health organisations (local health districts/networks [LHD/N]) and non‐government organisations (NGO) [10].…”