Association of Participating Service Users
The Association of Participating Service Users (APSU) is a Victorian consumer representative body at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC).
APSU believes that people who use drug and alcohol services have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
APSU has been set-up to ensure that people who use alcohol and other drug services opinions, ideas and experiences contribute to policy, research, service provision and professional development. APSU draws guidance and direction from an advisory committee made up mostly of consumers.
APSU’s membership is free and both consumers and service providers are encouraged to join. APSU has conducted research, developed and disseminated written information materials and newsletters, conducted awareness raising.
APSU’s Vision
A supportive and inclusive democratic society where people impacted by drug dependency are treated with respect and dignity, free of stigma and discrimination, and where their needs, strengths and expertise inform and drive the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service system, policy and research.
Our Mission
To ensure the voices, opinions and experience of consumers are heard, respected and integrated into service and policy development by:
- Training consumers to develop the skills they need to be involved in participation and other lived experience activities within the AOD sector.
- Working with key stakeholders to increase consumer impact on relevant policy development and implementation at the local, state and national levels.
- Building capacity within the AOD sector to support and promote consumer involvement in the design and delivery of services
- Advocating and creating opportunities for systemic change on behalf of AOD consumers to better meet their needs and improve their quality of life.
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Resources
We have a great collection of resources to assist you.
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Consumer Participation
Consumer Voice
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APSU Become A Member
We invite you to join us in having a say.
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Speaker Bureau
Join Speaker Bureau
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Request Speaker
Speaker Request Form
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Codeine & SafeScript Survey
Your Feedback Matters
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Podcasts
Podcasts
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Contact Us
Have a question? Please don't hesitate to contact us.
CARE Ideas Exchange
The CARE Ideas Exchange is a key outcome of the Consumer Participation Training project, which took place at the ibis Melbourne Hotel & Apartments on Thursday 4th May 2017. Over 90 people, from across Victoria and interstate, attended this full day event focusing on the role and future of consumer participation in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector.
Following are the PowerPoint presentations from the day:
Overview of Project
MC, Heather Pickard, Chief Executive Officer, SHARC
Power and Passion: Why Your Experience Matters and How to Drive Change in the AOD Service Sector
Keynote by Jacqui Gibson-Roos, consumer & Darlene Cox, Executive Director of Health Care Consumers Association Inc.
Presented by Jacqui Gibson-Roos
‘The Big Toolbox’ Guide to Starting a Consumer Group Russell Chilcott & Richard Gornall, the former Southern Region Consumer Advisory Council (SRCAC)
Russell Chilcott & Richard Gornall, the former Southern Region Consumer Advisory Council (SRCAC)
High Quality Care in the 21st Century
Professor Jane Burns, Professor of Innovation and Industry at the University of Sydney
‘Let Love In’ Fostering Family Participation Workshop
Edita Kennedy, APSU Project Worker & Marg Quon, family member
Creating an Effective Inter-professional Network of Leaders in Mental Health
Jo Stubbs, Project Manager at Victorian Mental Health Interprofessional Leadership Network
Advocating for Change from Within
Wayne Wright, Manager of Southern Dual Diagnosis Service
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Consumer Participation Training Resources
Training Resources for Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Services in Victoria
A project funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Substance Misuse Service Delivery Grant Fund
APSU has delivered numerous Consumer Participation Training in each of the AOD cathcments in Victoria.
The practical training courses aimed to teach AOD workers how to improve the participation of consumers in the sector and more specifically in their own organisations. Participants had ample opportunity to discuss and develop an action plan for participation and were then supported to bring this training back to their own organisations.
These Consumer Participation training resources are here to assist you and your organisation in successfully implementing and embedding consumer participation into your organisation’s culture, processes and procedures. APSU staff are more than happy to assist you with any questions about the training materials or even if your considering a training session for your organisation. We can be contacted on apsu@sharc.org.au
Consumer Participation Training Course Outline
Consumer Participation Training Course Instructor Kit
Consumer Participation Course Workbook
Consumer Participation Management Course
Consumer Participation Action Plan Template
Consumer Participation Board presentation
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"Better Practice" Resources
APSU Sample Consumer Participation Plan
Remuneration-Position-Paper- APSU Oct 2017
SHARC-Consumer Participation-Policy
Community Advisory Committees (CAC) – Six Steps
CAC example questions for Interview
Want to share your organisations Better Practice in consumer participation? Just complete the form below and attach your document as a pdf.
Resources
APSU and VMIAC Regional Roadshow Project
Sitting on the outside, looking in- Report on the 2018 APSU and VMIAC Regional Roadshow Project
APSU Forum on Prescription Monitoring and Codeine Legislation Changes
APSU Summary of Safe Scripts Forum 2017
Safe Script Forum – Supports for Consumers
So you want to start a consumer group? – The story of SRCAC
This publication has been developed by the members of The Southern Region Community Advisory Council (SRCAC).
A practical guide to family participation in the Victorian alcohol and other drug sector.
A practical guide to consumer participation in the Victorian alcohol and other drug sector.
A step-by-step practical guide to the three APSU training modules:
- Peer Helper Training
- Experts by Experience
- Speaker Bureau
Experiences of AOD consumers with a criminal record accessing employment and education.
Position paper on remuneration and reimbursement of consumers of alcohol and other drug services.
A wealth of consumer participation resources including training materials, handouts, exercises and the instructor toolkit.
Consumer Participation
Consumer participation is broadly defined as the process of involving health consumers in decision making about health service planning, policy development, priority setting and quality in the delivery of health services. A consumer is someone who uses, has used, or is eligible to use alcohol and other drug services.
Consumer participation in the alcohol and other drug sector consists of including consumers (as defined above) in the decision making processes around:
- their own treatment
- service planning, development, delivery and evaluation
- AOD policy
- AOD research
- education and training of AoD professionals.
We invite you to scroll down and explore the consumer participation resources, activities and better practice examples. (selecting the heading or picture will open a new tab)
Want to share on our website your organisations”Better Practice” in consumer participation resources?
Simply fill in the fields and upload/send your pdf documents and we will upload them to our “Better Practice” page.
Straight from the Source, developed by APSU, is a practical guide to consumer participation in the Victorian alcohol and other drug sector.
Broadening the Source, developed by APSU is a practical guide to family participation in the Victorian alcohol and other drug sector.
Training Resources
These Consumer Participation training resources are here to assist you and your organisation in successfully implementing and embedding consumer participation into your organisation’s “culture, processes and procedures.
This page provides examples of Better Practice in consumer participation. From this page you can upload/send us any examples your organisation would like to share.
CARE Ideas Exchange– May 2017
The CARE Ideas Exchange is a key outcome of the Consumer Participation Training project, which took place at the ibis Melbourne Hotel & Apartments on Thursday 4th May 2017. Over 90 people, from across Victoria and interstate, attended this full day event focusing on the role and future of consumer participation in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
News
Gambling Harm Awareness Week event at SHARC
Posted: 29 August 2019SHARC is hosting a Gambling Harm Awareness Week lunch and presentation, including the launch of our new interactive website for Family Gambling Help and guest speakers. There is also a forum for affected family members. The mayor, Cr Jamie Hyams, will open the event. When: Thursday October 10th 12.00-2.30pm Where: SHARC, 140 Grange Rd, Carnegie To register, please call Angela Ireland – 03 9573 1706 More details about Gambling Awareness Week are available at www.responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au….
Read moreInternational Overdose Awareness Day event at SHARC
Posted: 13 August 2019In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, SHARC is hosting its annual reflection event and warmly invites friends, family, staff, volunteers, members and the wider community who have been impacted by the loss of a loved one due to substance use. A light brunch will be shared afterwards. When: 11am – 1pm on Friday 30th August 2019 Where: Gordon Storey Memorial Hall, 140 Grange Road, Carnegie Please RSVP by August 22nd through the Eventbrite event…
Read moreSHARC Peer Worker Training - November 2019
Posted: 1 August 2019Duration: 5 days Dates: 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 12th of November 2019 Summary: Peer workers, like in any professional discipline, need quality, standardised training and ongoing professional development. Through extensive research and co-design, SHARC has developed Peer Worker Training. This comprehensive training provides a vital knowledge base for peer workers, and ensures that the peer workforce has a discipline-specific framework. Audience: This training is designed for current peer workers, emerging peer workers and…
Read more“I’m not in control anymore and I do things over and over that break my own heart”- A quote from the latest episode of Straight from the Source which is available now.
Posted: 26 July 2019A new episode of ‘Straight From the Source’- the APSU Podcast is now available. In the latest episode of ‘Straight From the Source’ we speak to Matt Nettleton about his experience with trauma, addiction and his journey learning not to run away from himself. This episode is insightful and informative as we go deep discussing the nature of trauma. ‘Straight from the Source’ looks at a range of different issues relevant to those impacted by…
Read moreFlipside
2019 Summer/Autumn – “High” on the career ladder
2018 Spring – Food
2018 Winter – Love is love
2018 summer – Harm reduction
2017 winter – Relationships
2017 autumn – Stigma
2016 spring – Opportunities
2016 autumn/winter – The anniversary edition
2015 winter – This one goes out to the ones we loved
2015 autumn – Privacy, confidentiality, anonymity
2014 spring – Ice
2014 winter – Education
2014 autumn – It’s the little things…
2013 spring – Change
2013 winter – Out of the red & into the black
2013 summer – Consumer participation
2012 spring – Prescription drugs
2012 autumn/winter – Recovery and peer support
2011 spring/summer – Criminal records
2011 winter – Home sweet home
2011 autumn – Smoking
2010 winter – Love
2010 autumn – Gambling and other addictions
2009 summer – Hep C and other stuff
2009 winter – Parenthood
2009 summer – Peers
2008 spring – The black and white of waiting times
2008 autumn – Before it comes to this – teeth and other health issues
2008 summer – Songlines and footprints
2007 spring – Pissed
2007 autumn/winter – Drugs for drugs
2007 summer – Boulevard of broken dreams
2006 spring – Dual diagnosis: under pressure
2006 winter – Centrelink: welfare law turns nasty
Become A Member
Speaker Bureau
APSU is inviting expressions of interest from people with a lived experience of alcohol and/or other drug (AOD) misuse and family members affected by a loved one’s AOD misuse to become members of our Speaker Bureau.
APSU’s Speaker Bureau members are people who are willing to speak publically at forums, meetings, presentations, conferences and other community or corporate events. Speaker Bureau members nominate themselves for this role and they choose what topics they are prepared to speak about.
Speaker Bureau members are remunerated as participants (as well as trained and supported by APSU) and are empowered in their endeavor to help raise awareness, overcome stigma and shame, and educate people about addiction, recovery and hope.
The vast majority of evaluations over the years demonstrate that Speakers Bureau members have an immediate, positive, and often transformative effect, on their audience members.
If you would like to become a Speaker Bureau Member simply join APSU. Membership is free. Join Here
Request Speaker
Codeine & SafeScript Survey
Codeine legislation and Safe Script Survey -APSU
Have you been impacted by the Codeine legislation changes and/or the SafeScript system? We would love for you to share your experience by completing our quick survey.
We would love to hear from any consumers who have been impacted by the Codeine legislation changes or SafeScript (prescription monitoring) system which were implemented last year. We have designed a quick, straightforward survey that you can fill out to share your feedback on the legislation changes with us.
The survey can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RYGDG3S
The survey is a way to better understand your experience with the roll out of SafeScript and the codeine legislation changes, which we will then use to advocate for any necessary changes to the system and legislation.
SafeScript is computer software that allows prescription records for some high-risk medicines to be transmitted in real-time to a centralized database which can then be accessed by doctors and pharmacists during a consultation. This includes all schedule 8 medicines such as strong opioid painkillers, strong medicines for anxiety or sleeping tablets (benzodiazepines), other strong sleeping tablets, stimulants for ADHD or narcolepsy and other high-risk medicines. SafeScript commenced implementation in October 2018 with an initial focus on the Western Victoria Primary Health Network catchment area. The focus then shifted to the rest of Victoria in April 2019. Changes were also introduced by the Commonwealth Government, that meant from 1 February 2018, all medicines across Australia that contain codeine required a prescription. Codeine products that are Schedule 8 medicines have been monitored from the commencement of SafeScript implementation and other codeine containing medicines will be included in SafeScript at a later stage.
*If you need more information about SafeScript you can find it at: https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/…/drugs-and-poiso…/safescript or to discuss any part of this survey further you can contact APSU on 03 9573 1778 or apsu@sharc.org.au
Podcasts
‘Straight from the Source’ looks at a range of different issues relevant to those impacted by drug and alcohol use from varying perspectives and talks real, honest stories, straight from the source.
The podcast broadcasts stories which challenge stereotypes around addiction and substance use and opens up conversation around the areas of life where substance use intersects such as mental health, homelessness, family violence, parenting issues and the criminal justice system.
Through hearing peoples stories we hope to increase awareness, challenge stigma and open up the space for multiple perspectives around substance use, self-growth and recovery.
These stories assist individuals and communities to feel heard and less alone. They also incite discussion around Australian Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) systems and the challenges within them.
We will have more guests and more stories coming to you monthly.
Straight from The Source is the voice of the Association of Participating Service Users (APSU), a service of the Self-Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). APSU is a Victorian consumer representative body, which believes that the needs, strengths and expertise of people who use drugs and alcohol should drive the system and their voices should be heard.
Podcast episodes and further information on APSU is accessible through APSU online, APSU Facebook Spotify ITunes and all major podcast apps.
Just a reminder that the views expressed by our guests are not necessarily reflective of those of APSU and SHARC.
*Warning- the podcast discusses challenging topics which may be triggering for some individuals. If listening brings up any issues for you, and you would like to speak to someone, in Australia you can call Directline 24/7 for drug and alcohol help on: 1800 888 236 or Lifeline for 24/7 crisis support on: 13 11 14
Podcast Music is from Jimmy Loops and can be found through Facebook at Big Jimmy Loops or YouTube at Mr Jimmy Loops.
© 2019 Association of Participating Service Users, a service of Self Help Addiction Resource Centre Inc. (SHARC). All rights reserved. For permission to reproduce or republish this material, please contact APSU at apsu@sharc.org.au
Contact Us
Association of Participating Service Users
(Please note this form is for general enquiries/feedback only. If you are applying for a student placement or a volunteer please use the relevant forms in the ”About Us’ section on the SHARC home page.)
Address: 140 Grange Road, Carnegie, 3163
Phone: 9573 1700
Email: apsu@sharc.org.au
Latest News
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Gambling Harm Awareness Week event at SHARC
SHARC is hosting a Gambling Harm Awareness Week lunch and presentation, including the launch...
Read More -
International Overdose Awareness Day event at SHARC
In recognition of International Overdose Awareness Day, SHARC is hosting its annual...
Read More
