Working with diversity in AOD settings: resource launch with contributors (AUSLAN interpreted)

How can AOD services become more inclusive for older people, Aboriginal communities, sexuality diverse people, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities? Panellists with lived experience of accessing AOD services from these communities responded to two important questions in this webinar. Firstly, they responded to the query: ‘what are the barriers to AOD treatment for your community/ies?’. Secondly, they responded to the question: ‘what supports can AOD services provide to assist you and your community/ies in the AOD treatment journey?’.

Panellists included:

Gail, a Gumbaynggirr and Wiradjuri woman and caseworker
Basem, who brought a queer, Middle Eastern perspective to AOD accessibility
Kevin, an advocate who spoke about improving inclusivity for older people
Ahmad, an advocate who discussed improving inclusivity for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The session was hosted by NADA’s Project Coordinator Hannah Gillard, and was AUSLAN interpreted by Lizzi Price. We apologise that due to tech issues, the visuals of the speakers didn’t show up alongside the AUSLAN interpreter Lizzi, who is spotlighted in this webinar for accessibility purposes.

This webinar is part of a larger NADA project which involved developing a guide entitled, ‘Working with diversity in alcohol and other drug settings (2nd edition)’. This guide focuses on the ways AOD services can improve accessibility for: older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with disabilities, sexuality and gender diverse communities, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This guide will be uploaded to the NADA website shortly.