Presentation at ReGen's 2015 Innovation in Action seminar. Live seminar video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euF5UnP3KCs. For more detail on the event see our website: http://www.regen.org.au/more-events/582-2015-innovation-seminar-30-april-10am-1pm.

1. UnitingCare
ReGen
Education and
Training

2. Education and Training Unit
National Education and Training Unit
RTO
Suicide Prevention
First Aid
People who use our services
• Caution with Cannabis
• Alcohol Considering Change
• Methamphetamine Personal Education
Program

3. Methamphetamines
Family First Aid
2.5 hour group education program
First response education program for family
members
• What do they need to know?
• Where can they go?
• What can they do?

4. Training Resource Development
1. Research
2. Clinical Wisdom
3. Draft Developed
4. Stakeholder Input

5. Development for Family Methamphetamine –
First Response Training
1. Focus group on what should we include?
2. Development of educational materials
3. Focus group on draft one
4. Draft two developed
4. Focus group on draft two
5. Focus group on the design of the draft program
6. Support materials and handouts
7. Trial both metro and regional areas

6. Focus group response:
…What do you know of methamphetamines?
“It is moving through the regional areas
like a tsunami.”
“The impact is diabolical…depression,
psychosis…financial…relationships…
homelessness.”
“People are lying and cheating family, friends
and employers.”
“There is a wave of it (methamphetamine use)
out there.”

7. Focus Group Response:
What are some of the risks and concerns for families?
“…..hocked everything in the house. Anything of
value it was all sold. If I went away (for) a
couple of days I would come back to things of
value being sold. The lies the fines, the
infringements and the toll - they were just
outrageous. ….
X was using my vehicle and it was clicking over
thousands of km’s. There was police
involvement with (their) associates.
One day there was a knock on the door and this
fellow barged through screaming and it was in
the middle of the day – I thought he was going
to kill x…….police called…tyres
slashed…violence…ABO…damage done to
bodies and minds.”

8. Focus Group Response – Con’t:
What are some of the risks and concerns for families?
“Loss of logic and reason. Plenty of
shame….”
“The violence, the craziness and once
they are in it - don’t know how to get
out of it.”

9. Focus Group Response:
…What comes to mind – First Aid education program?
“When I read the title – that started my question
about what is first aid. To give people some
knowledge about how to deal with the
situation that is probably an emergency type
situation that might happen.”
“Just to prepare people…how to prepare
themselves when exposed to a person who is
addicted to meth. The lies and the theft and
the betrayal, all those things that you
actually push back that don’t allow you to
know what is going on. I would have liked to
know more information about.”

10. Focus Group Response:
…What comes to mind – First Aid education program?
“A short term solution to a long term problem,
once we look at the problem we put in place
processes and procedures to address the
problem.”
“Educating the family on how to manage the
situation. Having information around side
effects and stuff like that. Having the
contacts. Educating people not to give up.
To make them safe as well.”

11. Focus Group Response:
…What should be included in this program?
“The most difficult thing to learn is to
separate yourself, that you can’t just fix
it….How do I separate her life and wait
for that to happen? You can’t just fix it as
a mum. Can’t love them to death and
hope it goes away.”
“Knowing where you can talk to someone.”
“The education of looking after yourself,
because if you can’t look after yourself
then you can’t look after anyone else.”

12. Focus Group Response con’t:
…What should be included in this program?
“Sleep, hygiene, diet, exercise…do not judge
and you will not find a miracle cure.”
“Take it back to basics- which is how to detach
yourself from the young one who is going
through addiction”
“The support that is there when ready to give up
– a little kit maybe or stuff like that.”
“Knowing you can talk to someone.”

13. Family Methamphetamine
First Aid – Topic Areas
1. Drugs and their effects
2. Process of withdrawal
3. Looking after yourself and others
4. Developing a safety plan
5. Anger and aggression
6. Mental health issues
7. Creating boundaries
8. Support system

14. Conclusion
I would like to acknowledge ReGen – who
by funding this program allowed this
important program to be developed
I would like to acknowledge the families,
siblings and loved ones that have given
so generously of themselves, their lives
and their experiences.
In future, we will be constructing many of
our client programs.