In June 2016 the NSW Government announced the $75 million NSW Drug Package to tackle drug misuse in our communities. Over four years, the investment focusses on supporting more young people, more people into treatment and more families.

As part of the NSW Drug Package, funding of $8 million over four years has been provided to help build the evidence base for early intervention models to support people at risk with a particular focus on young people with problematic alcohol and other drug use. The fund consists of two grant schemes.

Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Evaluation Grants Scheme (EGS)

Grants under this scheme focus on building the capacity of NGOs to evaluate existing programs to build the evidence base and ultimately improve program delivery. Grants are for $30,000 to $150,000 over two years. The NGO EGS follows a one-stage application process - expression of interest only.

AOD Innovation Grants Scheme (IGS)

Grants under this scheme are for NGO's and their partners, including the NSW Health system to specifically drive early intervention innovation with a specific focus on vulnerable young people. Grants of $50,000 to $1 million over two years are awarded with the purpose of testing innovative approaches to prevention, early intervention, harm reduction and aftercare / relapse prevention.

The AOD IGS follows a two stage application process: expression of interest and then full application development upon invitation only.

NSW Health has conducted 2 rounds of the NGO Evaluation Grants and AOD Innovation Grants Schemes to date.

Round 1 grant recipients

NGO Evaluation Grants (Round 1)

Chief investigator Host organisation Project title ​Status/ Expected Completion Date 
Mark Ferry Ted Noffs Foundation Evaluation of Ted Noffs Foundation Street University Program ​Completed
Mark Buckingham Kedesh Rehabilitation Services Client directed care: an evaluation of the new client centred care model used at Kedesh Rehabilitation Services ​Completed
Sarah Lambert ACON Supporting best practice for sexual and gender minority AOD clients: Evaluation of ACONs Substance Support Service ​Completed
Gabriella Holmes Mission Australia Evaluating the effectiveness of a modified Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group program in treating adolescents and young adults experiencing substance misuse ​Completed
Julie Babineau Odyssey House Program evaluation - Odyssey House ​Completed

 

AOD Innovation Grants (Round 1)

Chief investigator Host organisation Project title Status / Expected Completion Date
Ryan McGlaughlin SMART Recovery Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) plus feedback in SMART Recovery Australia: a feasibility study examining SMART ROM ​2020 TBC
Julaine Allan

Lives Lived Well

(formerly Lyndon Community)

 Feasibility of adolescent AOD interventions in headspace centres ​Completed
Gerard Byrne The Salvation Army (NSW) Property Trust A randomised controlled trial of a continuing care telephone intervention following residential substance abuse treatment ​June 2020
Adrian Dunlop &​ Kate Hall Hunter New England Local Health District ERIC (Emotion Regulation and Impulse Control): a sustainable program for vulnerable young people with AOD mental health issues ​August 2020

Round 2 grant recipients 

Round 2 is now closed and the following organisations have been successful

NGO Evaluation Grants (Round 2)

​Chief Investigator ​Host Organisation ​Project Title ​Status / Expected Completion Date
Jim Finnane​ ​Building Trades Group Drug and Alcohol Program ​An evaluation of a workplace alcohol and drug harm reduction program ​June 2020
​Mindy Sotiri ​Community Restorative Centre NSW ​Exploring the efficacy of specialist long-term community based AOD outreach support for people leaving prison ​December 2020
​Anna Thomspn (Former CI: Julaine Allan) ​Lives Lived Well ​An evaluation of Computerised Cognitive Remediation Therapy for people in residential treatment for substance dependence ​June 2020
​Mardi Diles (Former CI: Kate Fitzmaurice) ​Weave Youth and Community Services Inc. ​Speak Out - an independent evaluation of the Speak Out Dual Diagnosis Program at Weave Youth and Community Services ​May 2020
  

AOD Innovation Grants (Round 2)

​Chief Investigator ​Host Organisation ​Project Title Status​ / Expected Completion Date​
​Nadine Ezard ​St Vincent's Health Network

​Feasibility and efficacy of the S-Check App: A harm reduction and early intervention smartphone application for methamphetamine use

 ​June 2020
 

Other research funding

Round 5 of the Translational Research Grants Scheme (TRGS) is currently open and funds research projects that will translate into better patient outcomes, health service delivery, and population health and wellbeing.

The scheme provides grants to staff within local health districts, speciality health networks, NSW Ambulance and NSW Health Pathology. The Scheme is designed to build research capacity and accelerate evidence translation within the NSW public health system.

Round 5's research priorities include; Aboriginal health, Alcohol and other drugs, Integrated Care, Potentially preventable hospitalisations, Pregnancy and the first 2000 days, Value Based Health Care and locally identified priorities.

Click NSW Health & Medical Research here for more details about other NSW Health medical research related information.

More information

All enquiries should be directed to MOH-AODGrants@health.nsw.gov.au

Current as at: Monday 13 August 2018
Contact page owner: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs