On Tuesday 5th April, the Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT) held the second annual NT AOD Awards Night in Darwin. 

On this night, AADANT presented 7 awards to the sector. 

Congratulations to all the recipients and their organisations!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developing Practice Award 
Sponsored: Pragmatic Practice

This award will be presented to an AOD worker in the NT working for an NGO or partnered with an NGO who shows commitment, drive, perseverance, and dedication to the role.

Recipient: Anna Lewin, Banyan House

Anna has shown her dedication to the program and clients. She has a great connection with the clients. As a support worker Anna develops a rapport with the clients, working closely with the team continuing to help with the client’s recovery. Anna is a valuable member of the Banyan House team.

 

Outstanding Contribution to Youth AOD
Sponsored: Star College Australia

This award will be presented to an AOD worker in the NT working for an NGO or partnered with an NGO who shows commitment, drive, perseverance, and dedication to Youth AOD.

Recipient: Maddy Mackey, Mala’la Health Service with Qynesha Olsen

She does amazing work with young people in Maningrida and gets very little recognition. Maddy shows genuine love, empathy, and commitment into helping young people of Maningrida. She’s worked with AOD clients as young as 8 years old and many 12–18-year-olds. Maddy has provided follow up to young people and families even months after they have left community.

 

Excellence in Harm Reduction
Sponsored: Alcohol and Drug Foundation

This award will be presented to an AOD worker in the NT working for an NGO or partnered with an NGO who is working towards minimising the harms of AOD on the NT/their own community.

Recipient: NTAHC Hep C Clinic, accepting the award is Anngie Everett and Sal-Amanda Endemann who run the Hep C Clinic

The Northern Territory Aids and Hepatitis Council holds a weekly clinic for those who want to get tested for Hepatitis C. This clinic is run by a nurse and peer worker. The program is flexible to the clients needs and shows a commitment to eliminating Hepatitis C from our communities in the NT through testing and treatment in a non-judgemental space.

 

Excellence in Indigenous AOD Programs
Sponsored: Indigenous HealthInfo Net

This award will be presented to an NGO in the NT with an AOD program specifically for Indigenous Australians. This program must have been operational in the last year and shows innovation, excellence and contribution to the health and safety of the community/NT.

Recipient: Mala’la Community Wellbeing Program, accepting the award on behalf of Mala’la is Maddy Mackey

This program successfully combines culturally safe and secure AOD interventions with individual psychotherapy, family therapy, wellness education and advocacy. It encourages reconnection with family and community, re-engagement with education and employment and participation in traditional ceremonies and other forms of culturally appropriate meaningful activity as part of the recovery journey. The workers are passionate and committed; it is obvious they genuinely care for the AOD clients we refer to them. Mala’la Community Wellbeing Program has helped numerous individuals, families and the Maningrida community achieve many positive and long-lasting outcomes.

 

NT Drug & Alcohol Treatment Program of the Year
Sponsored: 360Edg

This award will be presented to an NGO in the NT showing innovation, excellence and contribution to the health and safety of the community through an AOD program.

Recipient: Strong Steps, accepting the award is Anupa Mathew and Elisabete Pinto

Strong Steps is a flexible drop-in counselling service in Darwin’s rural area. Strong Steps is a satellite service of CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation which provides counselling, assessment and screening, brief intervention, and referral to their clients. All Strong Steps counsellors are highly experienced and qualified in providing AOD services with a culturally diverse approach. This is funded through the Northern Territory Primary Health Network under the National Ice Action Strategy (NIAS)

 

Significant Contribution Award
Sponsored: Community Business Bureau (CBB) 

This award will be presented to an AOD worker in the NT working for an NGO or partnered with an NGO. This person has achieved great outcomes, success and change for the NT community through direct service delivery or research and evaluation.

Recipient: Brian McDonald, DASA Accepting the award on behalf of Brian is DASA CEO Eloise Page

Brian is an Aboriginal Outreach Worker of Arrente descent. Brian is the only remaining language speaker amongst DASA staff. Brian started with DASA as an Outreach Team Member back in May of 2008 and has been a constant support to DASA clients and the Alice Springs community since then. Brian has supported the development and delivery of cultural awareness training for staff, has delivered programs to underserviced prisoners at Alice Springs Correctional Centre, facilitated Drink Driver Education in both regional and remote settings and adapted to and supported every DASA program over the years, adding his cultural knowledge and advice as an invaluable overlay to the work we do.

 

NT AOD Worker of the Year
Sponsored: Darwin Private Hospital

This award will be presented to an AOD worker in the NT working for an NGO or partnered with an NGO who shows commitment, drive, perseverance, and dedication to the role.

Recipient: Rose Dos Reis, Banyan House

Rose has been working in the Therapeutic Community for 8 years and has worked in a variety of jobs at Banyan House. She is now the Program Manager, working with her team to ensure a relevant Therapeutic Program is on offer to our clients. Rose has attended other Therapeutic Communities, sharing programs and bringing new ideas into the Banyan community. She works with external service providers to enrich the program and works with our clients and staff, getting feed back to improve and adjust our program. Rose has shown her ongoing excellence and dedication to the AOD sector over the past 8 years.