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2 Dec. 2019

National Quality Framework for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services

Published 2 December 2019, this framework sets a nationally consistent quality benchmark for providers of drug and alcohol treatment services. It includes strong clinical governance requirements and a list of accreditation standards that drug and alcohol specialist treatment service providers must meet.

Many organisations provide treatment for alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in Australia. Until now, the AOD treatment system has not had a consistent approach to:

  • minimum quality standards
  • continuous quality improvement

The Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum endorsed the National Quality Framework for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services on 28 November 2019. It is the next step in improving quality in drug and alcohol treatment services. 

The Framework includes a transition period of 3 years. During this time treatment service providers must work towards meeting the requirements. The transition period started on 28 November 2019 and will finish on 28 November 2022.

The Framework is part of the work of the National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS). Through the NIAS, governments agreed to implement a quality framework to support consistent treatment in line with best practice.  

Please read the National Quality Framework for Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services here.