ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs – Mental Health Alliance

The ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs – Mental Health Alliance (ATOD-MH Alliance) was established in 2023 by the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT (ATODA) and the Mental Health Community Coalition ACT (MHCC ACT), and is supported by the ACT Health Directorate.

 

The Alliance aims to set out a comprehensive strategy to address the fragmentation and gaps in the ATOD and mental health services within the ACT, to create a well-coordinated service system that fosters innovation, ensures trauma-informed and culturally safe practices, and improves outcomes for individuals and families in the ACT.

 

The Alliance achieves these goals through working groups, a community of practice accessed through an online portal, and professional development opportunities.

 

There are different membership criteria for the Alliance (including working groups) and for the community of practice. 

Community of practice online portal

Become a member

Alliance membership

Membership of the Alliance and its working groups is open to:

  • Non-government providers of alcohol and other drug treatment and harm reduction services in the ACT region
  • Non-government providers of mental health services in the ACT region
  • ACT Government:
    • Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (Canberra Health Services)
    • ACT Health Directorate
  • Members of MHCC ACT who have demonstrated experience in relation to people experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use issues in the ACT region
  • Members of ATODA who have demonstrated experience in relation to people experiencing co-occurring mental health and substance use issues in the ACT region
  • Capital Health Network
  • Consumer representatives nominated by the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA) and the Mental Health Consumer Network
  • Carer (as defined by Carers Recognition Act 2021 (ACT)) representatives nominated by Carers ACT and Family Drug Support
  • Other organisations representing priority population groups.
 
For more information, or if you would like to become a member of the Alliance, please contact alliance@atoda.org.au

Online community of practice

The ATOD-MH Alliance online community of practice (CoP) is designed to foster collaboration across the ACT ATOD and mental health sector workforce through the sharing of knowledge, techniques and developing practice.

The online portal is available to:

  • ACT community-sector ATOD and mental health sector workforce, including peer workers
  • ACT Government ATOD and mental health sector workforce, including peer workers
  • ACT Government policy decision-makers in ATOD and mental health
  • Practitioners in the ACT with appropriate accreditation (such as AASW / AHPRA)
  • Researchers with ORCID accreditation exploring topics related to the Alliance
  • Employees of registered NDIS providers with services related to the Alliance.

Members are bound by the CoP Rules of use and Code of Conduct.

To log into the portal or apply to join, see the ‘Portal login’ section on the top right of this page.

Alliance working groups

Our work is primarily delivered through three working groups. If you would like to become a member of one of the working groups, please contact alliance@atoda.org.au