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 Mission
- To work collaboratively with key stakeholders to increase community (consumer), participation in drug treatment and care provider systems.
- To increase service user impact on relevant policy development and implementation at the local, state and national level.
- To promote, encourage and assist service users in the development of service user run programs and activities at the local level.
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Resources
We have a great collection of resources to assist you.
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Consumer Participation
Consumer Participation
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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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"Your Feedback Matters"
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.
Click here to view and join our mailing list for the ‘Consumer Participation in Action‘ e-Newsletter
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
SHARC Peer Worker Training - February 2019 - Registrations Open
Posted: 5 December 2018Peer workers, like 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 in the AOD sector, and ensures that the peer workforce has a discipline-specific framework. The SHARC Peer Worker Training seeks to: Educate peer workers around core concepts and skills within the peer work discipline Assist peer workers to practically…
Read moreSHARC acknowledges Peer Worker contributions
Posted: 26 November 2018SHARC would like to highlight the outstanding work of Craig Payne, Peer Worker with Turning Point, Eastern Treatment Services. Craig recently presented at SHARC’s Annual General Meeting, inspiring stakeholders and the local community. His message regarding the value of lived experience work was delivered with authenticity, passion and commitment. Craig has been part of the Peer Projects community at SHARC since his employment. He has been a valuable participant in the AOD Peer Workforce Community…
Read moreSHARC 2018 AGM and Annual Report
Posted: 20 November 2018The SHARC AGM is a highlight of our year and is a vibrant community event. The 2018 AGM (held Monday 19th Nov) was no exception, with over 80 people attending. This year’s theme of Peer Connection and the difference it makes to people’s lives underpinned the keynote address and the presentations from the great people who participate in our programs. The 2018 Annual Report is now available, click image to download.
Read moreThe report from the APSU and VMIAC 2018 Regional Roadshow Project is available
Posted: 26 October 2018The report from the APSU and VMIAC 2018 Regional Roadshow Project, is now available. Sitting on the outside, looking in- Report on the 2018 APSU and VMIAC Regional Roadshow Project This report documents the Regional Roadshow Project, which took place in the first half of 2018 across regional Victoria. This project was run in partnership between APSU, the peak Victorian AOD consumer representative body (a service of the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre) and VMIAC,…
Read moreFlipside
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
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
"Your Feedback Matters"
This quick survey is a way to better understand your experience in accessing the Victorian Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Treatment system. By gathering your experiences APSU can work with the AOD treatment sector to make continuous improvements to the system in the future. Alternatively if you would like complete the survey and provide feedback in person with someone at APSU phone:
1300 442 552
Monday – Friday 9 am -5 pm.
(Leave a message for a callback if unattended, engaged or outside business hours).
THIS SURVEY IS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS AND PEOPLE WHO USE/HAVE USED VICTORIAN AOD SERVICES.
THIS SURVEY IS NOT DESIGNED FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS.
Start Survey – Click Here (opens new window)
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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SHARC Peer Worker Training - February 2019 - Registrations Open
Peer workers, like any professional discipline, need quality, standardised training and...
Read More -
SHARC acknowledges Peer Worker contributions
SHARC would like to highlight the outstanding work of Craig Payne, Peer Worker with Turning...
Read More