Presenter Name: Tuong Nguyen

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Benjamin Flynn
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1 Vietnamese illicit AOD treatment counselling service should be maintained to provide for the general Vietnamese community AOD treatment counselling, an essential service of the Australian Vietnamese Women s Association for the Vietnamese community in Victoria Presenter Name: Tuong Nguyen

2 Summary Introduction Vietnamese population - ABS Census 2011 Education & English skills Justice Issues Some unique features of AVWA AOD program Outcomes A successful case

3 Vietnamese population - ABS Census 2011 Vietnamese population - ABS Census 2011 Total Vietnam born in Australia: 185,032 (0.9% of Australian population) Total of people in Australia speaking Vietnamese at home: 233,888 persons (1,1%) Total Vietnam born in Victoria: 68,335 (1,3%) Total of people in Victoria speaking Vietnamese language at home: 86,596 persons (1.6%)

4 Education & English skills 41.7% speak English not well and not at all Level of education: 56.6% School education between year 1-12 and 7% no education The majority of our clients are disadvantaged in both education and English language fluency.

5 Justice Issues The percentage of Vietnamese offenders in Victorian prisons is very high in proportion with the Vietnamese population in Victoria: Male prisoners: #250 (6% of total male prisoners or nearly 4 times 1,6% of the population) Female prisoners: 50 (#15% of total female prisoners or more than 9 times the percentage of Vietnamese females in the Victorian population )

6 Justice Issues A high proportion of Vietnamese prisoners receive sentences relating to drug issues such as using, trafficking and cultivating cannabis. These people need specific AOD services which are culturally & linguistically appropriate during their stay in prisons and after release. In addition, a large number of Vietnamese drug related offenders receiving Community Court Orders are referred to our service.

7 Some unique features of AVWA AOD program The program is for both men and women, across the whole of Melbourne. The counselling team includes me, a male worker of the first generation, Kim, a female worker of the first generation also and Tania, a female worker of the 2 nd generation. Our team which includes workers of Vietnamese background of both genders and generations, can discuss difficult cases, share ideas and debrief each other.

8 Some unique features of AVWA AOD program In addition, AVWA being a multiservice agency, we can refer clients with multiple needs to appropriate colleagues viz. someone wanting to do a course to our training coordinator or a mother with a toddler to one of our many playgroups etc

9 Some unique features of AVWA AOD program All 3 of us are bilingual, academically qualified and culturally competent. We have a: Thorough understanding of the role of the family, family meaning the extended family and the relationship stress and generational conflict resulting from the migration process and past traumas

10 Some unique features of AVWA AOD program Full awareness of traditional attitudes and prejudices and ability to deal with them viz. Disclosure of difficulties outside the family being seen as losing face and honour, we make time and effort to explain our commitment to confidentiality and the very good reputation of our organisation in the community as evidence of the professionalism of our staff.

11 Some unique features of AVWA AOD program Commitment to help clients reconnect with their family and get back their good name since personal failure or misfortune within a family is seen as failure of the whole family and having. a good name is seen by many as more important than material possession.

12 Outcomes During 2014 we served a total of 111 clients : 14 went on to do training, 24 obtained employment and 30 got reconnected with their family.

13 A successful case A 28 yrs old male client came to Australia in 1992 with his mother under family re-union status. He had had a long history of on and off drug use ( in particular heroin and cannabis) for 13 years and very recently ice (for the first time using this substance recently in MAP). He had been living in a rented flat in a Western suburb with some financial support from his mother.

14 A successful case The client attended AVWA 4Cs (Counselling, Consultancy and Continuing Care) program for around 3 months. An Individual Treatment Plan was developed and the significant treatment goals of the Treatment Plan were achieved before the program finished. He sometimes came with his mother to counselling sessions. The mother confirmed that she would like to help her son quit his heroin using habit.

15 A successful case Although the client was living separately, the mother disclosed that she regularly provided material and psychological support to her son. This is a positive point in helping him to change his drug use behaviour.

16 A successful case Since attending AVWA AOD counseling program, he acknowledged the need for change. He regained his strength following the treatment program, maintained his heroin free state and continued his full-time study of year 11 at Footscray TAFE College. At the last session, he stated that he was happy with himself as he had made good progress in reshaping his life.

Sentencing outcomes for trafficking drugs in the Magistrates Court of Victoria

February 2009 Barry Woodhouse Sentencing outcomes for trafficking drugs in the Magistrates Court of Victoria Summary Contents Summary 1 Introduction 2 Trends 2 People sentenced 3 Overview of sentencing