June 2004

Students survey drug diversion services

Second-year Welfare Studies students at South West Institute of TAFE in Warrnambool are surveying awareness of the Drug Diversion Initiative (DDI) in the area.

More than 20 local welfare and health services, legal practitioners and educators have been sent a questionnaire.

Familiarity with the DDI, the number of referrals and amount of support for the programs will be presented in a report to be compiled by the students.

The report will be distributed to organisations and individuals who participated in the survey.

After the report’s release, a professional and community forum will discuss the findings.

Aim of the forum is to promote enhanced collaboration between local agencies to support and use drug diversion programs.

The students have invited relevant professionals to take part in the proposed forum, including local practitioners and those instrumental in the developing the DDI, now being replicated nationally.

Students are motivated by current research that reflects high compliance with the requirements of the drug diversion programs.

‘Drug diversion aims to turn users away from the criminal justice system and into drug counselling and treatment,’ said student Debbie Cobby.

‘It was found that 73.3 per cent of offenders involved with the DDI pilot program had not re-entered the criminal system.

‘This suggests that diversion may provide a critical opportunity to break the cycle of drug-related criminal behaviour.

‘DDI programs offer a more cost-effective outcome and higher protection for our community.’

The DDI pilot program—a joint initiative of Victoria Police and the Department of Human Services—was trialled in Melbourne’s northern and north-western suburbs of Melbourne from late 1998 before Statewide implementation.

The Warrnambool TAFE project is being conducted in collaboration with the Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD) under the Local Alcohol and Drug Action Plan.

• For more information contact WRAD project officer Jean Wyldbore on 5560 3207, fax 5560 3200 or email jeanw@wrad.org.au.