Review into the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force ...

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Chapter 8: Midshipmen and Cadets are Young People and Future Leaders – Recommendations 16-18• Banning of drinks with high alcohol, caffeine or guarana content 59• Undergraduates have undertaken steps to clarify how to manage intoxicated persons,including creation of an ‘Actions on Suspected Intoxicated Person’ flowchart and ‘ACM BarIncident Log’ 60• Direct liaison with local nightclub and hotel managers• Direct liaison with ACT Beat Police• Liaison with the Australian Drug Foundation – Good Host and Good Sports programs.Audit findingsRecommendation 18 a)This holistic approach to alcohol management at ADFA is vital in achieving meaningful change in theuse of alcohol. The comprehensive approach outlined above and the steps implemented evidence aconcerted effort on the part of ADFA to address the problem of excessive alcohol consumption. 61Prices have been reviewed and most have been increased. Whether this measure in and of itselfminimises risk is still open to question and should be carefully monitored.This is particularly important in light of undergraduate and staff comments during the Audit’sconsultations at ADFA. The Audit commonly heard that the price changes are ineffective becauseundergraduates are paid highly and have few expenses, which means they are able to easily afford thehigher prices. The Audit was told thatyou could charge [undergraduates] $10 a beer, they’d still have enough money to get drunk. 62The increase in price hasn’t really changed it that much. They’ve increased it, but we’re all ona decent salary here. 63Further, the Audit heard that price changes do not necessarily address the problem as undergraduateswill choose to drink alcohol off base where their drinking is more difficult to monitor or supervise. Forexample, the Audit heard that:One of those unintended consequences is that people drink outside the Academy and thenyou’re not really under the supervision of all the security people that they have around, andstaff. 64Increasing the alcohol prices at the messes doesn’t make any huge difference because it justpushes the problem elsewhere because [city establishments] will then lower their prices and havehappy hour so they all go there first. 65While the Audit commends ADFA on its comprehensive response to this issue, ADFA should continue tomonitor whether the increased prices are minimising risks associated with over consumption of alcoholand develop further strategies if required.Recommendation 18 b)Prior to 2011 alcohol testing was conducted infrequently however in 2012 ADFA increased testing toa level that is unparalleled in previous years.The increase in alcohol testing is significant as shown by these figures:• 2010 – 28 Targeted tests 66• 2011 – 824 Random and Targeted tests• 2012 – 5,006 Random and Targeted tests. 6774
This increase in testing is clear demonstration of ADFA’s commitment to this issue and has been notedby undergraduates and staff. 68The Audit heard that alcohol testing statistics are now being recorded by Service and Year. 69Comprehensively recording such information provides great benefit to alcohol management at ADFAand should be maintained.Related to the increased frequency of testing, ADFA has:• increased the number of qualified alcohol testers from 7 to 24• increased the number of testing devices from 2 to 7 70• reviewed and widened the area in which testing may be conducted. 71These are essential ingredients of a comprehensive testing regime.As part of the alcohol management program at ADFA, there is now ‘a single coordinator for the programwhich ensures the program is managed and remains active.’ 72 This ongoing management is of criticalimportance to ensure that testing does not regress to the figures in 2010, either due to lack of will or byneglect. 73In respect of the number of staff qualified to conduct alcohol testing, while the number as at3 September 2012 was 24, at the end of 2011 there were only two. 74 The number of qualified testersmust therefore be monitored to ensure that testing can be adequately conducted. The Audit has beenadvised that the ‘plan at ADFA is to have all Divisional NCOs qualified as testers.’ 75 As mentioned above,the appointment of a coordinator will ensure the consistency of the testing program.The Audit has encountered some difficulty in determining the exact number and details of positiveresults for tests conducted in 2012 and in previous years. The results are stored as hard copies and ina format such that ‘extraction into a useful readable format would be extremely time consuming.’ 76 TheAudit was advised that ‘a non-identifying spreadsheet could be developed and maintained with minimaloverhead once established.’ 77 Recording the information in a manner that is easily accessible and ina way which lends itself to analysis and reporting will strengthen ADFA’s ability to combat excessiveconsumption of alcohol and develop plans to address trends as patterns emerge from the data. 78The Audit has been advised that the positive readings as at September 2012 were less than 1% of thosetested. 79 While less than 1% is a low reading in percentage terms, in over 5,000 tests the raw number ofundergraduates who tested positive is significant.PresentationsADFA has implemented enhanced training on drugs and alcohol for staff and undergraduates duringstaff induction and YOFT. The training is predominately delivered by the coordinator, referred toabove, who is aware of the risks of excessive consumption of alcohol at ADFA and the connectionwith unacceptable behaviour. 80 These sessions, and the quality of the presenter, indicate that ADFA iscommitted to vigorously addressing these issues and the Audit congratulates ADFA on these efforts.ConclusionADFA has undertaken substantial work in response to Recommendation 16. ADFA facilitated acomprehensive feasibility study which developed and explored options for a single Service workplacement for all Services. However, each Service decided not to implement any of the optionsdeveloped on the basis that they were not feasible.The feasibility study also addressed parts b) and c) of the Recommendation. The Services decided notto amend the minimum entry age due to negative consequences for recruitment. The Audit recommendsAudit Report: Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Force Academy • 2013 • 75
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Review into the Treatmentof Women a
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Audit Report:Review into the Treatm
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ContentsA Message from the Commissi
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A Message from the CommissionerADFA
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Chapter 1:Audit ApproachThe Report
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Chapter 1: Audit ApproachThe Audit
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Chapter 2: Summary of Audit Finding
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Chapter 3: MethodologyQuantitative
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Chapter 4:Implementationof ReviewRe
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Organisational PressuresDefence is
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Further InformationAustralian Human
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