COPE (Community Overdose Prevention and Education) Victoria

Lead Organisation

Penington Institute

Other Organisations Involved

Early Adopter (EA) agencies in COPE pilot: ReGen, The Salvation Army - Access Health, Barwon Health, South City Clinic (Bayside Medicare Local), Odyssey House Victoria, Stepping Up, Eastern Health, Turning Point, CoHealth, Peninsula Health, North Richmond Community Health, Ballarat Community Health, Grampians Community Health, Royal District Nursing Service

Participant Target Group

COPE provides overdose response training and support to primary health and community organisation staff. These trained staff will provide education to individuals who may be opioid users or potential overdose witnesses.

Sites for Training Delivery

COPE will work with Early Adopter (EA) site organisations:

• Needle and syringe programs (NSPs)
• Alcohol and drug treatment services
• Opioid pharmacotherapy program providers
• Prison post-release programs
• Primary health care providers; and
• Crisis and supported accommodation services.

Scripting and Dispensing Arrangements

N/A

Delivered By

The COPE trainer holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (BBV) counselling, Diploma of Community Development and Diploma in Dental Assistance. The trainer has worked in Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) sector for 20 years in various state and local government roles, inclusive of frontline harm reduction, educational, policy, operational, planning and advocacy.

Training Duration

Orientation to Management: 1hour. COPE training to frontline workers: 2.5 hours.

Evaluation Methodology

Evaluation and formal analyses to be carried by Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. COPE is being evaluated in 3 different areas.

1. Quantity and quality of training developed and delivered by Penington Institute to the frontline workforce.
2. Pre- and 3 month post evaluation for awareness raising activities provided to GP’s, pharmacists, other health and AOD related professionals.
3. Training and awareness raising activities conducted and recorded by EA agencies.

The data from the three forms of evaluation will be reported quarterly to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, by the Community Overdose Prevention and Education (COPE) Project.

The (COPE) project will collect the data for the evaluation but will not be involved in the analysis and evaluation to establish whether the project has produced results. The analysis and evaluation of the project will be conducted by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

An individual’s or organisation’s identifying details will remain confidential and will not be used in the data collection provided to the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services.

Program Contacts

Belinda McNair  [email protected]

Wendy Dodd  [email protected]

More Information

www.copeaustralia.com.au