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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 6 Hansard (22 June) . . Page.. 1655 ..

Mr Stanhope asked the Minister for Health and Community Care, upon notice, on

20 April 1999:

In relation to alcohol and drug services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) people in the ACT:

(1) How many ATSI people live in the ACT.

(2) Are there specific directed alcohol and drug services for ATSI people in the ACT, if so

� What are the services;

� how many specialist staff do they employ; and

� What is the level of funding allocated.

(3) What is the comparison between funding for ATSI and non ATSI drug and alcohol services.

(4) What proportion of ATSI people with a drug and alcohol abuse problem are assumed to access mainstream drug and alcohol programs.

(5) What consultation has been undertaken with ATSI people or organisations in the ACT about the adequacy of ATSI drug and alcohol programs.

Mr Moore

(1) According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), there were estimated to be 3 058 ATSI people in the ACT in 1996. The ABS has also estimated a maximum of 3 377 and a minimum of 3 161 in 1997 and 3 723 and 3 266 in 1998. Both high and low estimates have been made by the ABS because of the deficiencies in the quality of ATSI births, deaths and migration data available from which to derive population estimates.

(2) There are two health services targeted at ATSI people in the ACT which incorporate drug and alcohol services.

Gugan Gulwan Aboriginal Youth Corporation provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people access to information on education and health service resources relating to drug and alcohol use focussing on the following areas:

� education and prevention activities,

� early intervention and management, and

� counselling/tertiary intervention.

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