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BACKGROUND Remoteness within the Australian population leads to poorer health outcomes. Challenges arise in rural and remote areas such as increased risky alcohol consumption, particularly for males and youth within the community of Rockhampton (Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network Region). Although this region is reasonably large, comprising a population of 841 119 (Australian Government Department of Health, 2018), the Primary Health Network Needs Assessment identifies a concern especially for alcohol consumption for young and disadvantaged individuals due to low socioeconomic status (Australian Government Department of Health, 2019). Harmful levels of consumption is a major health issue as it intertwines with leading chronic health conditions (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2018).The selected community has a slightly higher percentage of females (50.58%) to males (49.42%) with a median age of 36 years old. A percentage of 80.2 people who reside in this PHN are born in Australia and just under a quarter have a household income of less than $650 per week. Over half work full time however there is a significant difference of unemployment of 8.7% compared to the Australian population of 6.9% unemployed. An increase of significant alcohol consumption is a contributing factor to the poor health outcomes seen within the community of Rockhampton and connecting regions, because of the underlying socioeconomic status’ as well as the strong Australian drinking culture and habits (DrinkWise Australia, 2017), (Australian Department of Health, 2019).

Method: The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Primary Health Network (PHN) have been the primary sources of credible information to obtain fundamental data regarding the Health Risk Factors of Risky Alcohol and Drug consumption. The information collected evidently outlines important ascribed data to distinguish the demography within the community of Rockhampton (Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network Regions). The Primary Health Network was used to expose the health risk of alcohol and drug consumption, PHN was able to narrow down this demographic to males within the catchment community of Rockhampton, being the foundation of our statistical information. Results: on poster

Discussion: Describe if/how existing health services meet the needs of the community for your health issue. If the health needs of the community are not being met, describe where the gaps exist and comment on how this may impact the community. For example – The data represents a high prevalence of [health issue]

It is prevalent that in Rockhampton there is drug and alcohol problem as the selected community has a slightly higher percentage with drugs and alcohol with females (50.58%) to males (49.42%) with a median age of 36 years old. Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (AODS) provides innovative solutions to reduce the harmful impact of drug use. AODS works closely with Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) referring clients for continuing support. AODS provide a range of services including assessment, referral, counselling, information, case management, dual diagnosis and group programs. ("Alcohol and Other Drugs Service (AODS) - Rockhampton | ADIS", 2021) NGOs is a non-profit group that functions independently of any government. NGOs, sometimes called civil societies, are organized on community, national and international levels to serve a social or political goal such as humanitarian causes or the environment. ("Alcohol and other drugs services in Queensland | Queensland Health", 2021) Lives Lived Well is a not-for-profit organisation which works with people to help them get their lives back on track by delivering a wide range of services. These services include; screening, assessment, treatment planning individual and group counselling, family support, psychotherapy referrals for detoxification or residential rehabilitation opioid treatment program Needle and syringe program. This organisation already has a strong presence in Rockhampton, having provided support in the region for approximately 5 years. Lived Lives Well has been actively involved in planning for the new suite of services in Rockhampton, including opportunities for community engagement and consultation. ("New residential rehabilitation centre—Rockhampton | Queensland Health", 2021) There are plenty of Alcohol and Drug Services available in the Rockhampton region with 20 drug & alcohol services that come up in the search directories. However access to health services for young people was often impeded by their limited access to transport, lack of confidence in attending services and lack of their own Medicare card. Costs may vary. Young people living in out of home care require information and communication about how to look after their health. Strengthening health assessment pathways for young people is required ("Drug and alcohol rehabilitation", 2021)

Conclusion/Recommendations Australians who are of a young age, male and living within the community of Rockhampton (Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network Region), are more likely exceed the weekly recommended alcohol intake of no more than 10 standard drinks per week (National Health and Medical Research, 8 December 2020), (Figure 2). Substantial and shocking figures suggest the need for action within the community to improve the quality of life for these individuals. The main reasons people living in rural and remote communities participate in risky alcohol consumption include: 1. Less access to education services and less ‘things to do’ in their town. 2. People living in rural and remote areas are more likely to be from low socioeconomic backgrounds or experience unemployment, which is considered a risk factor for alcohol consumption. 3. Harmful levels of alcohol consumption can leave to long term chronic illness, such as liver conditions including Liver cirrhosis. In Rockhampton, there are many services available to prevent risky alcohol consumption. However, it has been reported that these services have been underutilised. This is due to limited access to transport, lack of confidence to attend services and lack their own Medicare card ("Drug and alcohol rehabilitation",2021). It is recommended the town implements: 1. Education services for people to explain the requirements and how to get a Medicare card. 2. Subsidies for cost of transport to related services 3. Provided education about services that are available which will increase service utilization Education will result in less consumption of alcohol and will reduce the burden of disease. It also promoted health, therefore, increasing people’s capacity for employment. If people have been provided with education and access to their own Medicare card, they are more likely to use the services that are available to them (Positive choice, 2021).

https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-alcohol-guidelines-revised 9 Tips for Cutting Back on Drinking (verywellmind.com)

Positive Choices. (2021). Drug and alcohol education. https://positivechoices.org.au/resources/

-Main points: what are they? 1. People living in rural and remote areas are more likely to participate in alcohol consumption – one sentence on why = less access to education services, less ‘things to do’ 2. People from low socioeconomic backgrounds more likely to consume alcohol – one sentence on the impacts this may have... unemployed=more time 3. Harmful levels of alcohol consumption can leave to long term chronic illness – what chronic illness? (Think Liver cirrhosis) Recommendations: can’t really do this until you have written the discussions you need to address the service gaps. This may be things like Education, lockout laws, sale of alcohol only within certain hours. Then you can talk about how this will improve the health of your community: e.g. education will result in less consumption of alcohol and will reduce the burden of disease. It also promotes health, therefore increasing peoples’ capacity for employment. More health services? Pill/drug testing at festivals?

REFERENCES DrinkWise Australia. (2017). Australian Drinking Habits 2007 vs 2017. https://drinkwise.org.au/our-work/australian-drinking-habits-2007-vs-2017/# Australian Government Department of Health. (2019). Primary Health Network Needs Assessment Reporting Template. https://www.ourphn.org.au/wpcontent/uploads/200604-HNA-2019-20.pdf Australian Government Department of Health. (2019). Alcohol in rural and remote communities. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/alcohol/alcohol-throughoutlife/alcohol-in-rural-and-remote-communities Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Central Queensland. 2016 Census QuickStats. https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/q uickstat/308?opendocument

Australian Government Department of Health. (2018, January). PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast. Snapshot. (https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/central-queenslandwide-bay-sunshine-coast-primary-health-network-phn-fact-sheet-central-queenslandwide-bay-sunshine-coast-phn-fact-sheet.pdf) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018, December 13). Alcohol OverviewAustralian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reportsdata/behaviours-risk-factors/alcohol/overview Queensland Health. (November 2020). The Health of Queenslanders 2020. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1011286/cho-report-2020full.pdf Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (22 July 2021). Alcohol risk and harm. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/alcohol-risk-and-harm Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Alcohol Consumption. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/alcoholconsumption/latest-release

Queensland Health. (2020). Our Lifestyle Risk and Protective Factors. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/1011441/cho-report-2020-05our-lifestyle.pdf

DrinkWise Australia. (2017). Australian Drinking Habits 2007 vs 2017. https://drinkwise.org.au/our-work/australian-drinking-habits-2007-vs2017/# Australian Government Department of Health. (2019). Primary Health Network Needs Assessment Reporting Template. https://www.ourphn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/200604-HNA-201920.pdf Australian Government Department of Health. (2019). Alcohol in rural and remote communities. https://www.health.gov.au/healthtopics/alcohol/alcohol-throughout-life/alcohol-in-rural-and-remotecommunities

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2016). Central Queensland. 2016 Census QuickStats. https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/ce nsus/2016/quickstat/308?opendocument Australian Government Department of Health. (2018, January). PHN Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast. Snapshot. (https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2021/03/centralqueensland-wide-bay-sunshine-coast-primary-health-network-phn-factsheet-central-queensland-wide-bay-sunshine-coast-phn-fact-sheet.pdf) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2018, December 13). Alcohol Overview- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/behaviours-riskfactors/alcohol/overview Queensland Health. (November 2020). The Health of Queenslanders 2020. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/1011286/choreport-2020-full.pdf Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (22 July 2021). Alcohol risk and harm. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/alcohol-risk-andharm Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Alcohol Consumption. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/alcoholconsumption/latest-release Queensland Health. (2020). Our Lifestyle Risk and Protective Factors. Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland. https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/1011441/choreport-2020-05-our-lifestyle.pdf...