Strengths, challenges, and future directions for the non-government alcohol and other drugs workforce

ABSTRACT

Objective

To identify strengths and challenges faced by alcohol and other drug (AOD) non-government (NGO) workers in New South Wales (NSW), Australia to inform future workforce planning initiatives.

Methods

An online survey assessed workers’ demographics, organizational characteristics, health and wellbeing.

Results

Respondents (N = 294) were mainly female (66.7%), 15.3% identified as lesbian, gay, homosexual, or queer, 8.4% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and 42.5% reported AOD lived experience. A third (34.4%) were ≥50 years, 40.3% had <5 years AOD-related experience, 42.0% had clinical supervision access, and half (55.1%) reported that their organization provided professional development support practices. Satisfaction working in the AOD NGO sector (66.0%) and work/life balance (58.5%) was high, as was turnover intention (31.4%), job insecurity (30.3%), and dissatisfaction with remuneration (67.8%). Most (76%) full-time workers earned below the national average wage.

Conclusions

Large proportions of older workers and young/inexperienced workers necessitate specific workforce planning and development action. Professional development and supervision access are priority areas for remediation. High turnover intention rates, potentially reflecting job insecurity or remuneration dissatisfaction, require strategies to increase workforce attraction, and retention in this sector.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol and drug workforce
• workforce development
• occupational health

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and a grant from the Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies.

Disclosure statement

None to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Government Department of Health; Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies.