DASSA's Community Partnership Program

A chance to have your say

Would you like to provide a compliment, suggestion or complaint? DASSA has a process for clients, their families and other community members to provide feedback to DASSA. For more information, please read the:

A way to be involved

The Community Partnership Program (CPP) aims to partner with Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) Consumers that receive services provided by Drug and Alcohol Services of South Australia. Partnering with our consumers and community is fundamental to providing the best possible service and care. Knowing our consumers’ experiences is essential to ensure we have our consumers at the focus of health care safety and quality improvements and influencing and informing the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of service design and care delivery.

Our Community Partnership program representatives participate in various ways to bring consumer and community insights and issues for discussion. They provide a non-clinical “lived experience” perspective to assist DASSA to improve services offered. Community Representatives add value and integrity to DASSA’s clinical and leadership’s decision making. They ensure that the diversity of consumer’s and their community is acknowledged, respected and represented.

Participants can choose their level of involvement:

Community Network membership: join to receive monthly newsletters, provide feedback, and participate in forums.
Community Representatives (when opportunities/vacant positions are available):
A Community Representative (requires a current National Police check, and some mandatory training) will participate on DASSA Committees, governance meeting, working groups and or project teams. Their role is to:

  • Advocate for the consumer voice
  • Bring consumer insights and issues to meetings, advisory groups, and working groups
  • Provide a non-clinical perspective to ensure meetings, advisory groups, and working groups reflect Clients and families/carers experiences.
  • Provide consumer input on matters that relate to community/consumer experience and engagement
  • Contribute to future service planning delivery ensuring that DASSA has a consumer focus.
  • Review and contribute to Consumer information sheets, brochures and other information i.e. websites etc.
    (requires a current National Police check, evidence of COVID-19 vaccination and some mandatory training).

How to get involved

To find out more, or be actively involved in DASSA, please contact our Community Partnership Program on 0466 480 811 or at Health.DASSACPP@sa.gov.au

Participants can choose their level of involvement

Options include:

  • Community Network
    • A register of community members who are contacted regularly to be informed of DASSA business, given opportunities to provide feedback or share their experience, and offered opportunities to participate in time limited activities. Expressions of interest for a Community Representative position will be open to all members of the Community Network. No National Police Check is required to fully participate in the online forum or attend a single event that is supported by staff.
  • Community Representative
    • Recruited to a specific role/function or committee, and partners with DASSA in the planning, design, delivery, evaluation and improvement of care and services. This role requires applicants to undergo an interview, show evidence of a recent National Police Check and COVID-19 vaccinations, and complete a statement of interest, confidentiality agreement and five online training modules.

DASSA values the contributions of community members and offers reimbursement payments for time given and out-of-pocket costs, as outlined in the SA Health Sitting Fee Policy.

How to request a member of DASSA's Community Participation Program

Are you a worker at an alcohol and other drug service?

Members of the Community Network are available to present their experience or provide advice to your organisation. If you are interested in such an opportunity, please contact the Community Partnership Program with relevant details via email Health.DASSACPP@sa.gov.au.

Resources for community members

Resources for community representatives

Resources for SA Health services/staff, and forms to request a participant