Cracks in the Ice: resources developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

In July last year, Cracks in the Ice launched the first national website providing trusted, evidence-based, and up-to-date resources about crystal methamphetamine ('ice') for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The development of the website was led by an expert advisory group including Aboriginal elders, researchers, and health workers together with input from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from across Australia.
 
Cracks in the Ice aimed to combine it’s new and existing content to support and empower communities who are working to address ice use and related harms. Today, the website includes a variety of culturally appropriate resources and information for people who use ice, their families and friends, community groups and health workers.

Resources for Health Professionals

Cracks in the Ice provides access to a range of evidence-based resources for professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who may be affected by crystal methamphetamine ('ice') either through their own drug use or loved ones. These resources are designed to support professionals working across a range of sectors, including:

• General Practitioners
• Frontline workers in hospital settings and emergency departments
• Frontline workers in alcohol and other drug settings
• Mental health practitioners (e.g. psychologists, social workers and counsellors)
• Paramedics
• Police Services

You can find a range of factsheets, guidelines, quick tips and online training packages. Visit https://cracksintheice.org.au/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/health-workers to access these resources. Below are just some examples of content freely available via the website:

Tips for health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

This factsheet provides some suggestions that may help guide you when discussing crystal  (‘ice’), alcohol and other drugs with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. These include:

• Learning about the region you are in, and their specific services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Being aware of your own cultural bias and behaviour.
• Ask a community member or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander colleague who is familiar with the community whether it is appropriate to take a male or female worker if doing home or community visits.
• Using person-centred language in conversation.
• Include Elders and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders in key decisions.

Concept of Social and Emotional Wellbeing for Health Workers

Social and emotional wellbeing is an important wholistic understanding of health. As a health worker, it can be very valuable to understand these concepts when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This factsheet covers what social and emotional wellbeing is, factors that can affect it, and what health workers can do to promote it.