Taking action – North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network

From reception to the coordination of complex care, everyone has a role. Working together to raise the subject of alcohol and other drugs in a supportive way means every interaction can nurture connection and promote wellbeing.

Now playing

Start with normalising treatment

- Angelo Pricolo, pharmacist

Up next We can’t fix everything – and that’s OK

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Now playing

We can’t fix everything – and that’s OK

- Ann-Marie Power, practice nurse

Up next From little things, big things grow

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Now playing

From little things, big things grow

- Dr Paul Grinzi, GP specialising in AOD

Up next Start with normalising treatment

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See the elephant

Understanding issues and impacts are the first steps to raising it. Hear from local health providers and experts about changes to support better AOD care, and discover what you can do. Even the smallest of things can make a difference.

Ask for training

There are many ways to learn about AOD and your role in the field. Here you’ll find tools and support, training modules, and online guides that help you ask questions and provide good answers.

Raise awareness

Raising it can take many forms. Just having more conversations can make a difference to the awareness of AOD issues. Talking can inspire curiosity, reflection and change in your workplace or practice. It can help build a more supportive network in your area, or even the opportunity to mentor others.

Change our practices

Working with your practice or pharmacy team helps build collective understanding, increases awareness, and improves standards. Collaboration helps you know what actions to take regarding AOD stigma. For fresh ideas and inspiration visit the tools and support page or read the research report.

Working together

This region contains many organisations, experts, peer networks and other social services that can provide AOD advice and support. Working locally with your neighbouring pharmacy and practice is a great start to providing more consistent, sustainable care. If you have a question, you can raise it with our team, too.

Leading by example

Change happens when leaders or peers raise the standard. If you are passionate about change, then advocating, reporting and mentoring can help make sure AOD care is part of everyday business.

What helps is a network. It is practical and tangible and helps service system navigation for health care providers, whether welfare, courts, family violence or emergency department.
GP

Only once trainees have had some placement in AOD do they gain interest.
AOD expert

We had training as a group about how to have conversations when people are heightened due to substance use, and the conflict resolution skills helped.
Practice manager

Harm minimisation is about recognising that partnership approach to care. It’s about ensuring that a person feels supported, and that their decisions matter.
Pharmacist

Our support network

A range of resources, practical guides, education, and activities are available, so you can raise it.

Browse tools & support