Summary

The Australian Government and state and territory governments fund non-government and government organisations to provide a range of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services. Services are delivered in residential and non-residential settings and include treatment such as detoxification and rehabilitation, counselling, and pharmacotherapy.

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS) contains information on publicly-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies.

Number of agencies

  • In 2015–16, 796 publicly-funded AOD treatment agencies reported to the AODTS NMDS. This represents most (90.9%) agencies in-scope of the AODTS NMDS. The number of agencies in each jurisdiction ranged from 15 in the Australian Capital Territory to 287 in New South Wales (Figure Agency 1).
  • Over the last 10 years, there has been an increase nationally in the number of participating agencies—from 633 to 796. The increase has been largely driven by Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.
  • While there has been an increase in agencies over the last 10 years, the number of agencies decreased from 843 in 2014–15 to 796 in 2015–16. This is largely a result of system issues in certain states.

Figure Agency 1: Publicly-funded AOD treatment agencies providing data, by states and territories, 2015–16

aodts-2015-16-agency-figure1

Source: AODTS NMDS. Data cube [Profile of drug treatment agencies by SA2].

Service sector

A mix of government and non-government agencies deliver government-funded AOD treatment services. In 2015–16:

  • Nationally, over half (57%) of AOD treatment agencies were non-government, and these agencies provided almost two-thirds (64%) of closed treatment episodes. The proportion of non-government agencies has remained stable since 2006–07—at 52% (Figure Agency 2).
  • In New South Wales the majority (73%) of AOD treatment agencies were government agencies.
  • In the remaining states and territories the ratio of non-government and government- funded agencies varied, although in most jurisdictions agencies were non-government agencies—ranging from 55% in South Australia to 100% in Victoria (See Data cube [Profile of drug treatment agencies by SA2]).

Figure Agency 2: Publicly-funded AOD treatment agencies providing data, by service sector, 2006–07 to 2015–16

aodts-2015-16-agency-figure2

Source: AODTS NMDS. Data cube [Profile of drug treatment agencies by SA2].