Services that Manage the Care Needs of Drunk - Scottish Government

2 SOBERING-UP SERVICES IN AUSTRALIA
Introduction and description of the evidence
2.1 There was a great deal of robust information available from the literature on
the provision of sobering-up services in Australia, and this literature included
in-depth evaluations, government reports and other formal research studies.
In addition, a formal system of monitoring and annual reporting on the use of
sobering-up centres has been established in one state (Western Australia) and
annual statistical reports are available. The findings presented in this chapter
are taken from the following sources:
• An in-depth evaluation of an 18-month pilot of a sobering-up shelter in
Canberra (Australian Capital Territory) (Allen-Kelly & McArthur, 2005 and
Allen-Kelly et al, 2006)
• An inquiry into public drunkenness carried out by the Drugs and Crime
Prevention Committee of the Parliament of Victoria. This substantial report
includes an appendix (Part D) which presents a detailed discussion and
case studies of sobering-up services in New South Wales and the Northern
Territory (Parliament of Victoria, 2000)
• An analysis of statistics from Victoria Police on indigenous people arrested
for public drunkenness (Gardiner & Mackay, 1998)
• A retrospective case study of a rural sobering-up centre in South Australia
for the years 1991 – 2000 (Brady et al, 2006)
• A government statistical report from Western Australia presenting data on
the utilisation of sobering-up centres in that state in the period 1990-2005
(Government of Western Australia, 2007)
• A Policy Directive from New South Wales Department of Health regarding
the Intoxicated Persons Amendment Act 2000 and Proclaimed Places:
Protocol (New South Wales Department of Health, 2005)
• An evaluation of a community-based intervention to reduce harm during the
annual school leavers’ celebrations on Rottnest Island (Queensland)
(Midford et al, 2001)
• A review of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent
substance use, risk and harm in Australia (Loxley et al, 2004)
• A review of alcohol, tobacco and other drug services in Tasmania
(Healthcare Management Advisors Pty Ltd, 2008)
• The findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal
Deaths in Custody (1991)
Background
2.2 Australia has a well-established system of sobering-up services. These began
to be developed in the 1980s partly as a result of the decriminalisation of
public drunkenness, which took place at different times in different states, and
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