ADAN The journey from a network to a Corporation
The creation of ADAN was an outcome from the NSW ‘Talking About Grog Summit’ held in Sydney in 2003. The summit recognised that Aboriginal alcohol and other drug workers in NSW are specialists within the sector and often work in isolation in a challenging field, and have little opportunity to network or share ideas and resources with other workers.
ADAN was auspiced by the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council in NSW who core business is Aboriginal health is peak body for NSW Aboriginal Medical Services. ADAN has been able to develop a network to support Aboriginal AOD workers to maintain standards that have been introduced by Government bodies. ADAN has been in operation for 17 years which the membership has increased by 300% in the past 3 years.
Since inception we have achieved:
- Annual Symposium
- Development of Cultural Audit Tool
- Input into Government Policy and Development
- Strong links with the Local Health Districts (LHDs) Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOS), and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) to support Aboriginal AOD Workers
- Input into research reviews and participate in Research into Drug treatment options
- Participated into the NADA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Treatment Guidelines in non-Aboriginal Settings project
- Input into the NSW Health Drug and Alcohol treatment guidelines and contributed to the handbook for Aboriginal Alcohol and Drug Work
ADAN decision to incorporated commenced 5 years ago. Incorporation became a reality in April 2020. ADAN is now established as the peak body for Aboriginal Alcohol and Other Drug sector in NSW.