This is the report on an external evaluation of the capacity building work undertaken by the Australian state and territory alcohol and other drug (AOD) peak bodies, focusing on the period from July 2012 to March 2015. Jointly, the state and territory peak bodies, through their national Peaks Capacity Building Network, resolved that the work that they undertake with the aim of building the capacity of the non-government (NGO) AOD sector, including improving capacity in the area of AOD/mental health comorbidity, would be evaluated. A mid-term Progress Report of the evaluation was submitted in February 2014 and this is the Final Report of the evaluation. The peak bodies[1] are as follows:
Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Association ACT (ATODA)
Alcohol Tobacco and other Drugs Council (Tasmania: ATDC)
Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT)
Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NSW: NADA)
Queensland Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (QNADA)
South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS)
Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA)
Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (WANADA).
In brief
All but the Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT) have been fully involved in commissioning, oversighting and contributing data and information to the evaluation. The limited involvement of AADANT reflects the fact that the Association is at an early stage in its development. A short definition of capacity building has been developed for the purposes of this evaluation: 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 evaluation has identified a wide range of activities, undertaken by the seven participating NGO AOD peak bodies, aiming to build the capacity of member organisations and the broader AOD sector to anticipate and respond appropriately to the AOD needs of the Australian community. Commonwealth funding under the Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grants Fund (SMSDGF), and the Improved Services for People with Drug and Alcohol Problems and Mental Illness Initiative (ISI) that preceded it, has been critically important to this work, along with funding from other sources, particularly the state/ territory governments and member contributions.
