YOUTH DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICES

In reply to the Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (17 July 2012).

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation): The Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse has been advised:

1. Life Without Barriers has been contracted to provide 720 two-hour counselling appointments per annum (this equates to 1,440 hours of counselling per annum). These services can be accessed by youth and adult clients.

2. Life Without Barriers is a 'not-for-profit' organisation that commenced operation in 1995. It currently has 85 support centres nationally providing services to the community. Life Without Barriers met all the tender criteria and demonstrated capacity for service mix, value for money and the location of service provision across the state.

3. There has been no savings. The total pool of funding for drug and alcohol treatment services under the Drug and Alcohol Services Program and the Police Drug Diversion Initiative has remained the same.

4. The service agreement with Life Without Barriers is for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2015.

5. No young person in the South East will be worse off as a result of the tender process as there are sufficient interventions available to provide a range of services that can be accessed by young people.

In 2011-12, 19 young people (up to 19 years of age) were provided counselling services under the Drug and Alcohol Services Program.

In 2011-12, 22 young people (10 to 17 years of age) were diverted by the South Australia Police under the Police Drug Diversion Initiative.

The number of available appointments for these services from 2012-13 to 2014-15 will be more than able to accommodate this level of service utilisation by young people.