FAQs

The development of the Draft Framework is a result of the South Australian government’s commitment to partner with the non-government AOD sector on workforce strategy and planning to address critical workforce shortages.

In South Australia, the publicly funded specialist AOD workforce comprises of a mix of government and non-government services. The Draft Framework identifies current and emerging workforce needs and provides a guiding document to inform workforce development planning, priorities, and potential areas for collaboration across the specialist AOD sector in South Australia over the next eight years.

The development of the Draft Framework was led by SA Health through Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA), with oversight from the Department for Health and Wellbeing, and informed by consultation with the non-government sector. This involved:

• meeting with key stakeholders to discuss workforce needs, gaps and opportunities
• bringing together a sector workshop to identify workforce development priorities
• reviewing relevant literature, submissions and reports relevant to workforce development needs for the AOD sector
• commissioning a census of South Australia's publicly funded AOD specialist workforce.

A Project Reference Group, comprised of key stakeholders across the AOD sector, provided input and guidance in the development of the Framework, including priority areas, objectives and actions.

The focus of the Draft Framework is the publicly funded, specialist AOD workforce in South Australia who provide AOD services as a core part of their role across the AOD treatment workforce, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, and the rural and remote workforce.

Specialised AOD workers most commonly include counsellors, case managers, Aboriginal AOD workers and clinicians, nurses/nurse practitioners, doctors, addiction medicine specialists, allied health workers, and peer/lived-living experience workers employed in designated roles.

Recognising that there are many workers who are employed in the broader health sector who frequently respond to people with substance use presentations, the importance of capacity building and collaboration between the specialist AOD workforce and the broader health system is also a key consideration in the Draft Framework.

Although an integral part of the AOD workforce, workers in administrative roles, prevention, population health, drug policy, research, or private AOD services are not within the scope of the Draft Framework.

The Draft Framework identifies the following key priority areas for workforce development in the AOD sector in South Australia:

1. securing new workforce for the future
2. developing a capable, skilled, and collaborative workforce
3. supporting workers who provide AOD treatment
4. promoting a digitally and technologically enabled workforce
5. promoting a culturally safe and competent workforce.

Each priority area is underpinned by strategic objectives and actions that are designed to address identified workforce challenges and opportunities.

There is no current national AOD workforce strategy following the lapse of the National Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce Development Strategy 2015-2018. In other jurisdictions, NSW, WA and NT have a current or drafted AOD workforce strategy or framework. Queensland and Victoria have previously published workforce development strategies.

The Draft Framework provides a conceptual framework to guide the implementation of workforce development priorities over the short, medium, and longer term. AOD services can identify and implement those actions that best fit their workforce composition and capacity, while partnering across the sector to increase collaboration.

Addressing the workforce development priorities outlined in the Draft Framework requires leadership from across the AOD sector.

Regular workforce data collection can support workforce planning and monitoring over time.

Your feedback on the Draft Framework will be considered when finalising the South Australian AOD Sector Workforce Development Framework 2024-2032. 

You can provide feedback by completing our survey or providing a written submission via email. If you provide a submission, this may be made available publicly unless you request it remain confidential. All submissions are subject to Freedom of Information laws.