NGO Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeship Program

In July 2009, NADA received NSW Health funding to roll out a three year Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeship Program in the non government sector.   NSW Health has appointed a State Wide Drug and Alcohol Traineeship Coordinator, Steve Ella, who will be working in partnership with NADA Project Manager, Heidi Becker, to establish and roll out this exciting new program across the sector.   This program is based on the successful Aboriginal Mental Health Trainee Program currently being implemented state wide through area health services. It is hoped that the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeship Program will extend to area services state wide in the near future.

The program offers three NGOs the opportunity to host an Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Trainee from 2010 to 2012. Namatjira Haven Drug and Alcohol Healing Centre, Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service and The Lyndon Community were successful in each gaining a trainee position in a highly competitive selection process. 

Trainees will undertake a relevant undergraduate degree while gaining invaluable work experience within the host organisation and other work placement settings. The program will give the trainee a holistic learning experience across the many facets of drug and alcohol health promotion and service provision, including mental health.

A comprehensive undergraduate degree has been developed in partnership with the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Centres’ Aboriginal Health College and the School of Indigenous Health, Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Wollongong for this program.  The trainees will undertake all study at the Aboriginal Health College through flexible delivery mode that includes block teaching and e-learning. Study is combined with the provision of a robust support network that focuses on learning and development, cultural mentoring and work place learning for the trainees in their host organisation and local community.

The NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, launched the Non-Government Organisation Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Traineeships Program on the 4th February 2010 at the Aboriginal Health College, Little Bay.

The Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, Dept Premier, and Minister for Health with Trainees (Left to right) Alan Lockwood (Durri Aboriginal Corp. Medical Service), Erin Stanley (The Lyndon Community) and Greg Jarret (Namatijira Haven Drug and Alcohol Healing Centre)

For further information please contact Heidi Becker, Project Manager on (02) 8113 1317 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it