2025 Update: Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘ice’ (Ice Inquiry)

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The Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAOD) is responsible for the implementation of the health recommendations supported in the Government’s response to the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Drug ‘ice’ (Ice Inquiry).  In total, the Commissioner made 109 recommendations. Of those, 86 were supported by the government with approximately $500 million over four years in funding pledged for Healt​h and Justice to deliver targeted reforms. The final Government response provided an overview of how the funding will address treatment gaps and improve health and social outcomes through a suite of cross-government initiatives, including:  

  • Evidence-based prevention, treatment, support and early intervention services, especially in regional and rural areas for key priority populations.
  • Integrated care for people with multiple and complex needs.
  • Enhancing digital capability, system navigation and virtual healthcare.
  • Enhancing the AOD workforce, including Aboriginal health practitioners and peers (new jobs, traineeships, career pathway development and skills building).
  • Better utilisation of data and evidence to inform system priorities, management, monitoring and evaluation.
  • Expanded justice initiatives including: MERIT, Drug Court, Circle Sentencing, Justice Reinvestment, Youth Koori Court.

​​This report is an overview of the key achievements and implementation progress since the government response. 

Below is a high-level summary of the report. The download button allows you to view or download the full report. 


Last updated: 27 June 2025
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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Purpose of this report 

This report provides detail on progress in implementing the health recommendations from the Ice Inquiry. Many of the improvements address multiple recommendations; therefore, this update will be structured by key themes.  Regular monitoring and reporting on the new services and progress on each of the recommendations is undertaken. This report draws from that information as well as updates on other projects that are underway within the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs (CAOD).  Appended to this report is a list of new or enhanced services presented by the local health district region (LHD), giving a snapshot of the spread of services across NSW. ​


Summary: New approaches under the Ice Inquiry response 

Whilst we continue to work hard on our journey towards realising and maintaining a responsive, integrated AOD service system we would like to pause to reflect on progress to date:

  • There are more options for people seeking support for AOD-related harm, including for the family, friends and carers of people using AOD. This means more choice and easier access for many people.
  • Priority groups have better access to specialist care. This means reduced barriers and increased support for people who were previously most under-served by the system.
  • New models of care have been developed and launched both in hospital settings and in the community for example, Safe Assessment Units and AOD Hubs. These new services will contribute to reducing pressure on Emergency Departments (EDs) and we expect to see better consumer and staff experiences.
  • NSW is improving the sustainability and skills of the ​AOD workforce, with measures to attract and retain staff, clearer career pathways and more training. This means many people seeking treatment will receive better quality care from a more supported workforce for the long term.
  • We are reducing barriers to accessing care by funding more services that can do outreach, inreach, telehealth, virtual care and transport support. This means there will be more choice and opportunity for many people to access the care they want, when they want it.
  • Care for people seeking AOD treatment is becoming more holistic. This means that services are encouraged to understand the broader context of each consumer’s needs, for example primary health, dentistry, housing and social care and develop pathways to address them. ​
Current as at: Friday 27 June 2025
Contact page owner: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs