The Commission established the Community AOD Primary Prevention Program in 2024 to support community-driven initiatives that prevent alcohol and other drug (AOD) harms and strengthen wellbeing across Queensland.
Round 1 of the funding saw $400,000 allocated to two 18-month projects to develop community-focused AOD prevention resources aimed at improving health literacy across Queensland. Information about the Round 1 initiatives is available below.
You can find out more information about the program and Round 2 here.
Round 1 initiatives
Queensland Positive People (QPP)
QPP is co-designing AOD primary prevention resources specifically for people living with HIV (PLHIV). These resources aim to enhance AOD health literacy, promote positive behaviour change, and improve understanding of AOD-related harm and safety.
Approximately 6,000 people are living with HIV in Queensland, encompassing diverse identities, including LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and First Nations peoples.
Research confirms that PLHIV are at an elevated risk of problematic substance use and mental health issues compared to the broader population―highlighting the importance of prevention and intervention. However, PLHIV face specific barriers to accessing mainstream information and education on these issues.
Research confirms that PLHIV in Australia continue to encounter HIV-related stigma and discrimination. The day-to-day experience of HIV stigma can adversely impact the mental, physical, social and economic wellbeing of PLHIV. The impact of stigma and discrimination for PLHIV is twofold:
- Firstly, the experience of stigma and discrimination in and of itself has been found to contribute to social isolation, substance use and mental ill-health.
- Secondly, stigma deters engagement with mainstream mental health or AOD education and interventions due to fear of discrimination.
In regional and rural areas (where 50% of PLHIV are located), these issues are compounded.
As such, there is a demonstrated need for PLHIV to have access to specialised AOD primary prevention programs that are HIV competent.
Follow the AOD prevention project for PLHIV at https://www.qpp.org.au/.
Queensland Remote Aboriginal Media (QRAM)
QRAM is co-designing culturally appropriate AOD awareness resources for 19 First Nations communities in remote Queensland. This community-driven initiative uses local voices and cultural knowledge to reduce stigma and foster better attitudes towards people who use drugs.
First Nations peoples in remote communities have greater exposure to life stressors, traumatic events and associated drug and alcohol use, which are factors that influence social and emotional wellbeing.
Self-harm, homelessness and incarceration can both precede and be a result of drug and alcohol use in these communities, with harmful levels of alcohol and drug use also linked to suicide.
Community-based awareness-raising programs and interventions that are culturally safe, closely involved with local communities and delivered by Indigenous community-controlled organisations are effective in addressing these issues.
Follow the AOD awareness in First Nations communities in remote Queensland project at https://qram.com.au/
