2022 stop addictions, drugs and alcohol

2019 Indigenous stop addictions, drug & alcohol substance misuse Conference

25th – 27th September 2019 Darwin NT

calling for papers now closed

ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO COUNTRY

In Australia, the protocol is to recognise the Traditional Owners of the land to which we are gathering. Therefore, all presentations must begin with an acknowledgment to country and to local Traditional Elders: “We wish to acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we are to meet upon. We acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of Aboriginal peoples to Country. We also pay respects to the cultural authority of Aboriginal peoples visiting / attending from other areas of Australia who are present here”.

Indigenous Conference Services acknowledges and pay our respect to the Traditional people of the Country. "Welcome to Country" ceremony and "acknowledging the traditional custodians" of the land shows respect for Aboriginal people as Australia's First Peoples. Ceremonies and protocols are a fundamental part of Aboriginal cultures.

THE CONFERENCE

The 2019 Indigenous Stop Addictions, Drug & Alcohol Substance Misuse Conference aims to bring together AOD workers, community mental health workers and Aboriginal & Torres Straits Islander Emotional and Social Well-being workers from Indigenous and Non-Indigenous organisations throughout Australia and presents unique opportunities for Alcohol and drugs workers to meet and discuss issues specifically centered on addictions and substance misuse in First Nations communities. The ongoing alcoholism and drug addictions in our communities leads to severe co-morbid mental health and well being issues throughout Indigenous Communities which has reached a crisis level through the length and breadth of this country. However this is not news to Indigenous peoples. Communities have proclaimed the need for action to address the needs of the many First Nations peoples with addictions and substance abuse issues.

This year’s conference theme will be based upon the principles of we all have a role to play in healing wherein range of issues brought to the forefront by our communities will be examined and as such, will endeavour to heighten the need for Australian Government, Non-Government, Health and Community organisations to refocus on their duty of care to all Aboriginal Peoples.

CONFERENCE AIMS

The conference aims to:

Provide an open and frank forum for discussions
Highlight inspiring initiatives, successes and challenges faced by mental health workers and Aboriginal & Torres Straits Islander social and emotional well-being workers.
Lend support to individuals and groups working in the field of Indigenous Mental Health & Wellbeing
Help grow a network for the sharing of information and resources
Bring together both government and non-government agencies working in the field of Indigenous Health
Show that poor health is no longer tolerated or acceptable in today’s society
To bring together organisations as a united voice in closing the gap
Exchange information regarding the successes of community projects in the field of Indigenous Health in general
Reduce incidence of poor health at all levels within the community
Strategies for linking holistic policy with health interventions
Explore methods for improving accountability at all levels to ensure sustainable progress
Provides opportunity to network and meet face to face to exchange ideas, valuable information and successful programs in place in their communities.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Before European settlement and the introduction of foreign diseases, alcohol and other determinants, the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander culture was vibrant and strong with spiritual and family lores that were guiding principles to a way of life that for centuries has now succumb to bright lights and the trappings of modern day society.

Throughout the decades we have seen the erosion and destruction of our language, custom and spiritual well being. The dynamics of contemporary Australia showing seventy percent (70%) of Indigenous people live in urban setting. A question we ask you to consider - What if Captain Cook didn’t land on the shore of the East Coast of Australia, but in a far more remote area? Would Australia’s east coast be what it is today?

The backbone of our existence is family, custom & spirituality. During group discussions, we would like to explore past and present experiences and therefore leading into future strategies & goals to empower our men to be strong leaders in their communities. We believe that through sharing of experiences and knowledge, we become stronger as a collective. This opportunity to discuss First Nation’s issues in an open, transparent and culturally sensitive forum has become a vital networking source to develop collaborative approaches for the betterment of First Nations communities.

CALLING FOR PAPERS

Guidelines in Submitting Paper:
• Papers should not contain offensive language and take into account cultural sensitivities of Australian first nation people.
• Papers must treat the themes in a manner that contributes to further discussion of conference aims.
• Conference papers must be presented in the finish format not less than 60 days prior to the event.
• First round of calling for papers is now open with closing date will be on Friday 14 June 2019; with a second round closing on August 14th 2019 if required.
• Papers MUST be submitted in Microsoft Word format. Papers other than this format will NOT be considered.
• Authors of papers presented at the conference will be formally notified of their acceptance in writing.
• Registration fee of $650 will apply to all persons submitting papers payable within 7 days upon notification acceptance of papers.
• Papers should explore ways in which the themes show up in the philosophy of the conference.
• All papers must be presented in a positive and informative light.

TO SUBMIT A PAPER, COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORM AT THIS LINK: SUBMIT-A-PAPER

THE CONFERENCE AGENDA (DRAFT)

(PLEASE NOTE: This draft agenda may change without prior notice and is only published to guide those submitting papers)

DAY 1

8:00am REGISTRATION

8:30am Master of Ceremony - Welcome & Safety Announcement.

9:00am Welcome to Country & Traditional Performance Jeanneen McLeannan, Larrakia Nation.

9:45am Formal Opening of Conference, Hon. Ms Ngaree Ah Kit, Member for Karama and Assistant Minister for Health Northern Territory Government of Australia.

10:30am MORNING TEA & NETWORKING

11:00am Exploring Best Practices for Indigenous Youth Suicide Prevention, Dr. Joseph B. Stone, Clinical Psychologist Indigenous Development Specialists Napier Family Centre.

11:45am Water and Rock: The Journey of Healing, David Cole, Executive Director Balunu Foundation.

12:30pm LUNCH BREAK & NETWORKING

1:30pm Beyond the Emergency: How ambulance records are helping us tackle suicide, Prof Dan Lubman, Director of Turning Point National Addiction Treatment Centre.

2:15pm Doing It Our Way

3:00pm AFTERNOON TEA & NETWORKING

3:30pm Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network (ADARRN) Norm Henderson, Chairperson of Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation, Allan Bennett, Orana Haven Aboriginal Corporation Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network Limited

4:15pm Transformation Beyond Greed: Native Self-Actualisation - Healing Historical Trauma Dr. Sidney Stone Brown, Director & Professional Psychologist Northern Navajo Behavioural Health.

6:30pm CONFERENCE NETWORKING DINNER

DAY 2

8:30am Registration of Delegates

9:00am Indigenous clients and access to the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) at North Richmond Community Health Centre Dr Nico Clark, Director North Richmond Community Health Centre.

9.45am The Glen - Culture as Healing, Joe Coyte CEO of The Glen, Alex Lee, Chris Mason,

10:30am MORNING TEA & NETWORKING

11:00am E-mental health resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities Heidi Sturk, Deputy Director Queensland University of Technology Centre for Children’s Health Research.

11:45am Social Emotional Well-being Workers in mainstream work force Donna-Maree Elliott, Aboriginal Social Emotional Well-Being Worker Neami National.

12:30pm LUNCH BREAK & NETWORKING

1:30pm Support the Family - Improve The Outcome, Chrissie Kelly, QLD State Manager Family Drug Support.

2:15pm Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Elizabeth (Anne) Russell, Founder & CEO Russell Family Fetal Alcohol Disorders Association.

3:00pm AFTERNOON TEA & NETWORKING

3: 30 pm New approach in New Zealand towards Methamphetamine Use and Depression, Dr Amber R. Logan, Clinical Psychologist, Doctoral Fellow Indigenous Development Specialists, University of Auckland, Otago University.

4:15 pm In proving Mental Health for Aboriginal Consumers in Northern Adelaide, Angkuna Connelly, Aboriginal Mental Health Worker, Joel Tessman, Northern Community Mental Health.

4:30 pm END OF CONFERENCE WITH CULMINATION LUNCH: Distribution of Certificates

DAY 3

For 2019, we offer new and exciting innovation for our conferences. Day 3 is devoted to professional development workshop or masterclass. As such, we have introduced several exciting networking and professional development innovations which is an extra cost for your chosen masterclass. Day Three is optional so please make sure you complete your registration form with the masterclass included if you intend to attend.

POST-CONFERENCE MASTERCLASS A - MANAGING INTER-GENERATIONAL TRAUMA & BECOME AN INTERVENTIONIST TO SUICIDE

Worrying about how your team, family and community effectively assist and manage clients experiencing intergenerational trauma? Indigenous peoples around the world endured several generations of trauma and other neurological effects and compromised behavioural immunity which leads to behavioural indicators such as substance-abuse and suicide. Our current generation is impacted by structural violence, poverty, racism, governmental neglect and ongoing hostilities, and unfortunately our mob have learned our lessons in traumatisation as well where in many situations, we have internalized the trauma imposed on ourselves and turned onto our own families, communities, and selves.

This workshop will teach you:

The strong benefits of recapturing and revitalizing our languages, cultures and spirituality
How to become an interventionist to suicide in your communities
Understand and utilise trauma-informed care to heal ourselves, our clients, and our communities.
Strategies in managing clients and families affected by inter-generational trauma and break the cycle of suicide in our communities.

In Just One Day You Can Learn Strategies how to become an interventionist to suicide and work effectively with your clients who are experiencing inter-generational trauma and their families.

THE PRESENTERS:

Dr. Joseph B. Stone, PhD, an Anasaki-pikuni ceremonialist and traditionalist and member of the OKKAN (Sundance), the Last Star Thunder Medicine Pipe and Beaver Lodge. He is a clinical psychologist and with his partner, Amber Logan, owner of Indigenous Development Specialists of Havelock North, New Zealand. Dr. Stone works at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga – a Kaupapa Maori Health Provider; Awhina Whanu Family Services, and the Napier Family Centre all located in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand. He has clinical experience with adult prisoners and corrections and juvenile justice in both New Zealand and USA. He is affiliated with the National Center on Trauma and Project Making Medicine – Indian Health Service Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse at Oklahoma State University. He has presented too and served as consultant to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of Native Youth Suicide. Dr. Stone’s publications include articles on trauma, suicide, and other cultural / behavioural issues.

Dr. Amber R. Logan is a traditional Kahungunu Maori Whine and a New Zealand Health Psychologist and Doctoral Fellow in Public Health at Otago University. She teaches health psychology course work at the University of Auckland and Otago University and is well-known in New Zealand for her work in Methamphetamine education and community activism. Amber Logan is a consummate grant writer, health services evaluator and health services program designer. She has presented extensively in Australia, Canada, and the USA at Harvard University, the University of Washington, and to the US Federal Government.

This Masterclass is strictly limited to 30 people only. Cost is $330 per person.

Call or email us to register for this workshop or CLICK TO BOOK YOUR PLACE HERE.

CONFERENCE DINNER

As they say, all work and no play, makes for a dull conference. So to overcome this, the conference secretary has organised a conference dinner to be held on the first night of the event. This dinner with give delegates the opportunity to further network whilst lets your hair down in an informal setting. The conference dinner will be at a cost of $150 per person for a three course meal. The conference dinner is additional to the conference fees and bookings must be made prior to the event. For those who wish to see more of the area the conference secretary has also negotiated a special rate for those delegates who may be interested. Delegates can avail themselves of these offers.

REGISTRATION

(Register early to get a discount!) Please note that registrations are set out in an affordable way for organisations which changes on a monthly basis. Hence, the earlier you register the more savings for your organization. Registration fees include all day access to the event, available conference papers, daily lunch and refreshments, for registered delegates only. Fees do not include travel costs or accommodation. Registration fees must be received within 7 DAYS of from being issued an invoice. Otherwise, bookings will not be considered. To register, please click on the registration page and complete the form or you can also request for a conference brochure and the registration form to be sent to you by email at adminics@iinet.net.au

MONEY SAVING IDEAS

The event secretary has come up with some great ideas on how to save money for you and your organisation.

1. ACCOMMODATION: We have negotiated a special room rate for delegates at the venue. Contact us to avail for the delegates rate

2. TRAVEL: We have engaged First Nations Travel Agency to negotiate with all the relevant airlines for special or discounted airfare rates.

3. CONCESSION: A special rate for university students is being offered for a flat rate of $650.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING FOR THE EMPLOYER

As an employee we are asked to present valid reasons why we should attend. Listed below are valid points that can be raised with your employer to justify your attendance.

Staff attending conferences regularly tends to become long term employees,
An event such as this adds to the positive moral of staff,
Conferences are a great way of providing ongoing training,
Provides the opportunity to further enhance the organisation knowledge base,
The opportunity for saving organisations money because of the shortness of the event,
Allows delegates to showcase the organisation nationally and internationally,
May provide organisations with new ideas,
Gives organisations a showcase and voice at a national level,
Provide an opportunity to evaluate various programs,
Because this event is conducted over a short period, staff are only absent for a minor amount of time.

SPEAKER'S PROFILE - coming soon

This conference is blessed with the abundance of the highest calibre Indigenous First Nations speakers. The speaker's list will be updated once all photos and biography are completed. Please watch this space as it will be updated regularly.

HOST CITY & CONFERENCE VENUE

From the sparkling harbour and WWII history to the city's Asian-influenced food and tropical outdoor lifestyle, Darwin is an adventurers' paradise. Treat your tastebuds and indulge your sense of fun and adventure in the Territory’s tropical capital city.

Darwin is world famous for its fabulous food, colourful outdoor markets and a diverse bag of adventure activities. Darwin is the capital of Australia's Northern Territory and a former frontier outpost. It's also a gateway to massive Kakadu National Park. Its popular waterfront area has several beaches and green areas like Bicentennial Park. Also near the water is the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, displaying Southeast Asian and Pacific art, plus a pearling lugger and other seafaring vessels.

Indigenous Conference Services is proud to announce that we established a partnership with First Nations Travel Australia. First Nations Travel Australia (FNT) is the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander travel agency operating a full range of travel and accommodation services. As we are aware the hidden cost of attending a conference is travel and accommodation, First Nations Travel Agency specialises in providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and individuals the lowest available airfares and accommodation to delegates attending Indigenous conferences throughout Australia.

As the old saying goes the bigger the group, the lower the cost. This principle especially applies to travel and accommodation. In many areas of Australia, choice and selection of flights are limited due to the monopoly of regional airline companies operating in remote communities. Hence, we cannot do much in bringing the airfare costs down however, First Nations Travel Agency strives to make bookings as seamless and hassle-free for your organization. Moreover, upon arriving at your destination you then have to organise accommodation, and this is where the costs are starting to add up.

First Nations Travel business plan based upon the principle that at any one time there are more than one Indigenous person / organisation requiring travel and accommodation as such First Nations Travel have negotiated and secured special rates with all of the major players within the travel and hotel industry.

First Nations Travel secured unbelievable special rate with the host venue for those delegates who wish the convenience of staying onsite. Your accommodation costs can now be added to your conference registration fees, reducing the amount of administration work in your accounting and acquittals.

It needs to be noted that your accommodation must be paid within seven days of the invoice. As for flight bookings, First Nations Travel only recommends that you obtain your own quote and either call 07 41945168 or email adminfnt@iinet.net.au or visit the website firstnationstravel.org

Find your best price then First Nations Travel will see if they can match or beat it. Indigenous Conference Services and First Nations Travel highly recommends that your airfares component should be booked as a open changeable ticket and if it’s an international travel, that you take out travel insurance to protect your travel.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION

One of the prohibitive factors in attending a conference is the airfare component. Our company strives in making our event a lesser burden on the individual or organisation by negotiating competitive and affordable travel packages. We also negotiated with Hilton Hotel for delegate's special room rates .

To book, please click this link: https://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/D/DRWHDHI-GINDA-20190922/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG
Group Name: International Indigenous Addictions, Drug, Alcohol & Mental Health Conference
Group Code: GINDA
Check-in: 22-SEP-2019
Check-out: 30-SEP-2019
Hotel Name: Hilton Darwin
Hotel Address: 32 Mitchell Street Darwin, Australia 0800
Phone Number: 08 8901 0705

Indigenous Conference Services (Australia) also recognises that some NGO’s or other agencies will need to seek additional funding to attend, therefore First Nations Travel quotation can be made out to either pay ASAP or to take into account the time that is required to obtain funding. Further advantage to using a Travel agent for your airfares is that if something goes wrong, you have greater access to your travel agent if required.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Flexible sponsorship packages are available. Sponsorship opportunities are only open to businesses and private enterprise, not individuals. Indigenous Conference Services (Australia) will be of further assistance in tailoring your sponsorship arrangement. Please phone us on +61 4557 76 668 or send us your expression of interest by e-Mail: adminics@iinet.net.au

ICS-MEES Pty Ltd

Indigenous Conference Services (Australia)

Postal Address: 8 Kiwi Court, Pt Vernon QLD 4655 Australia

Web: www.icsconferences.org

Email: adminics@iinet.net.au

Phone: 07 4194 2803, +61 4557 76 668

Please note this website is continually being updated.