FOI Request No.16 17 039 Jackson Gothe Snape SBS CDC Trial Progress Report SA information only Redacted.pdf

Cashless Debit Card Trial
Progress Report
28 October 2016

Contents
Content
Slide
Content
Slide
Executive Summary
3

s
4
Key Points Ceduna
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7
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6


F
CEDUNA
7


Crime – Ceduna
8

Crime – Eyre Local Service Area
9

s
Poker Machine Revenue
10
4
7
Clients supported by Specialist Homelessness Services
11
F
Public Intoxication Act Apprehensions - Ceduna
12
Emergency Department Admissions - Ceduna
13
Sobering-Up Unit Admissions – Ceduna
14
Mobile Assistance Patrol
15
Anecdotal Feedback – Ceduna
16
Support Services - Ceduna
17

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2

Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Executive summary
The objective of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) is to reduce the social harm caused by welfare-fuelled alcohol and drug abuse, and
gambling, by reducing the cash available in a community to pay for these products. Participants receive 80 per cent of their welfare
payments into a mainstream debit card account that cannot be used to purchase alcohol and gambling products, or withdrawn as cash.
The trial commenced in Ceduna, South Australia on 15 March 2016 and the East Kimberley (Kununurra and Wyndham),  Western
Australia on 26 April 2016.
In 2013-14, presentations to the hospital emergency department due to alcohol and drug use in Ceduna exceeded 500 (in a population
of 4,227), amounting to more than one presentation per day. The Ceduna sobering up facility had 4,667 admissions. Hospitalisations
due to assault were 68 times the national average.
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Community leaders in both regions supported the introduction of the CDC trial in their community to address some of the devastating
harm caused by alcohol and drug abuse. Every element of the trial has been designed in conjunction with the community leaders in
Ceduna and the East Kimberley, including a tailored package of support services. This constituted an investment by the Australian
Government of over $1 million in each region to fund drug and alcohol services, 24/7 mobile outreach, mental health services, family
support services and financial counselling.
All levels of government recognise it is going to take a targeted, sustained and collaborative effort, in partnership with Indigenous
people, to change these statistics.
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Executive Summary cont.
The trial is being implemented as part of a broader suite of initiatives across both South Australia and Western Australia.
In South Australia, the Ceduna Service Reform Initiative has been operational for close to 18 months. The Ceduna Service Reform
brings together service providers in the region to share knowledge and make the most of existing skills and resources, with the aim to
achieve a service system that is coordinated, responsive, active and culturally competent.
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The CDC trial runs for 12 months and is subject to a full, independent evaluation conducted by ORIMA Research. The evaluation will
measure the impact of the trial on social harm directly associated with alcohol and drug use, and gambling. The evaluation will also
measure factors such as school attendance rates, child protection substantiations and incidents of disruptive behaviour.
The evaluation is due to be completed in June 2017.
The full evaluation will be supplemented by ongoing data collection from state and Commonwealth government agencies and
community organisations throughout the trial period. This interim report collates early data from these sources, as well as anecdotal
evidence.

Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Key Points#

Ceduna

•
Poker machine revenue in the Ceduna area between April 2016 and August 2016 was
15.1 per cent lower than for the equivalent period in 2015.

•
Monthly apprehensions under the Public Intoxication Act 1984 (SA) were 54 per cent lower
between March 2016 and June 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.

•
Compared to February 2016, the proportion of people discharged from the Ceduna Sobering-Up
Unit while still at risk fell from 14 per cent at trial commencement to 2 per cent in June 2016 (most
recent data available).

•
There has been a strong uptake of financial counselling and capability services in the Ceduna
region. The A Better Life (ABLe) drug and alcohol support workers programs in Ceduna is on track
to meet its projected usage, with 50 referrals to the service as at the end of September 2016.

•
Feedback from various service providers in Ceduna is that people are becoming more familiar
with using the card, they know where to go to get help and appreciate the flexibility in being able
to get a replacement card quickly (Source: Local service providers).

•
Representatives from the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation have observed noticeable
improvements in the community, including more children walking around with cleaner, newer
clothes and a significant decline in individuals requesting basic supplies (like milk and sugar) from
the Koonibba Community Shopfront.
# Caveat: All figures quoted are drawn from the most recent available data
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Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report

Key Points#
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Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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CEDUNA
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Crime – Ceduna#
Key takeaways

• There are mixed trends in crime
statistics for Ceduna since the trial
Trial began 15 March 2016
began.
• Since trial commencement in March
2016, Ceduna has seen a decrease
in robberies and driving under the
influence of drugs, to the point that
there have been no reported
robberies since April 2016 and no
reports of drug driving since May
2016.
• Drink driving on the other hand
appears to have increased slightly
since the trial began.

# Caveat: Due to privacy concerns, domestic
violence, sexual assault and homicide data is
not available for Ceduna.
Source: SA Attorney-General’s Department
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Crime – Eyre Local Service Area (LSA)#
Key takeaways

• Sexual assault, robbery and other
offences against the person have
Trial began 15 March 2016
been generally decreasing since trial
implementation in March 2016,
although ‘other offences against the
person’ rose sharply in August 2016.
• Other offences against the person
includes acts such as harassment,
threatening behaviour or dangerous
or negligent acts.
• Despite an initial sharp decrease in
April 2016, following trial
implementation, sexual assault in the
Eyre LSA has returned to levels seen
earlier in the year.
• A statistical increase in sexual
assault could be a reflection of
victims being more willing to report
cases.

# Caveat: This crime data is for the Eyre Local
Service Area, which is an area larger than
Ceduna. Due to privacy concerns, domestic
violence and homicide data is not available for
Source: SA Police
Ceduna.
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Poker Machine Revenue – Ceduna#

Key takeaways

• Revenue for August 2016 is six per
cent lower compared to the August
CDC Trial began
average from the previous two years,
15 March 2016
falling to $409,350 in 2016 from
$434,302 in 2015 and $437,646 in
2014.
• Although there are often large
fluctuations in spending from month to
month, revenue traditionally reaches
its peak in July/August and then
gradually decreases until
January/February.
• Poker machine revenue in the Ceduna
area between April 2016 and August
2016 was 15.1 per cent lower than for
the equivalent period in 2015.

# This data is for the grouped Local Government
Areas of Ceduna, Streaky Bay, Le Hunte, Elliston
and the Lower Eyre Peninsula. Trial participants
make up approx. 30% of the population of this
area and approx. 30% of the area’s poker
machines are located in Ceduna.
Source: SA Attorney-General’s Department
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Clients supported by Specialist Homelessness
Services

Key takeaways

• The number of clients supported by
specialist homelessness services in
Ceduna has decreased by 42 per
cent in the quarter since trial
implementation in March 2016.
• In the third quarter of 2015/16, 427
people were supported by
Trial began 15 March 2016
homelessness services. This fell to
249 in the fourth quarter.
• This is 46 per cent lower than Q4 of
2014/15, when 461 clients were
supported.
• This decrease is also reflected in the
number of cases where drug and/or
alcohol issues were identified.
• The number of clients with
drug/alcohol issues fell by 25 per
cent from 12 in Q3 to 9 in Q4.
• This is 31 per cent lower than Q4 of
2014/15, when 13 client with
Trial began 15 March 2016
drug/alcohol issues were supported.

Source: SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Public Intoxication Act Apprehensions – Ceduna
Key takeaways

• Other than a decline in May 2016,
the number of apprehensions under
Trial began 15 March 2016
the Public Intoxication Act 1984 (SA)
has been steadily increasing.
• In February 2016, 15 people were
Liquor restrictions began
apprehended under the Act. In June
28 August 2015
2016, this increased to 38
apprehensions.
• Despite this, the number of
apprehensions since the trial
commenced is significantly lower
compared to the same period in
2015*.
• The period from March 2016 to June
2016 saw an average 54 per cent
fewer apprehensions per month
compared to the same period in
2015.
Note: Liquor restrictions introduced in Ceduna limit the amount of takeaway alcohol an

individual can purchase and records the details of anyone purchasing two or more bottles of
* 2014/15 data is only available for March 2015
spirits. Additionally, takeaway alcohol cannot be sold to anyone living in Oak Valley, Maralinga
to June 2015 to provide a baseline for the trial
Tjarutja Lands, Yalata Reserve, Tjuntjunjara, Umoona Community, APY Lands, Ngaanyatjarra
period.
Lands and Tjuntjuntjura Lands.
Source: SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Emergency Department Admissions – Ceduna

Key takeaways

• Other than a large drop in May 2016,
the number of people admitted to the
Emergency Department at Ceduna
Hospital for reasons relating to
Trial began 15 March 2016
alcohol has remained stable since
the trial began in March 2016.
Source: SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Sobering-Up Unit Admissions – Ceduna

Key takeaways

Trial began 15 March 2016
• The number of people admitted to
the Sobering-Up Unit (SUU) in
Ceduna has generally been
increasing since the trial began in
March 2016.
• While the number of admissions
remains high, the rate at which
Liquor restrictions began
people are being discharged while
28 August 2015
still at-risk* has decreased
significantly. This could indicate a
lower level of intoxication.
• In February 2016, 14 per cent of
Trial began 15 March 2016
people admitted were discharged
while still at risk. As at June 2016,
this figure is 2 per cent.

Liquor restrictions began
28 August 2015

• *Where a person is discharged before they
are sufficiently sober as to no longer present
Source: Ceduna/Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service
a risk of harm to themselves or others.
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Mobile Assistance Patrol

Key takeaways

• The Mobile Assistance Patrol
provides transport for individuals
affected by alcohol or other drugs
Trial began 15 March 2016
who are at risk of harm to
themselves or others.
• In the four months since trial
implementation (from March 2016 to
June 2016), the Mobile Assistance
Patrol has picked up an average 570
clients per month.
• This is a 35 per cent increase from
the four months immediately
preceding trial implementation (from
Liquor restrictions began
28 August 2015
November 2015 to February 2016),
when an average 422 clients were
picked up per month.
Source: SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Anecdotal Feedback – Ceduna#
•
Feedback from various service providers in Ceduna is that people are becoming more familiar with using the card,
they know where to go to get help, appreciate the flexibility of being able to get a replacement card quickly, and
children are better dressed and eating more (Source: Local service providers).

•
Ceduna merchants claim there has been a reduction in intoxicated persons coming into their shops.

•
Local police based in Yalata have noticed a reduction in cash and alcohol coming into community, and a perceived
reduction in violence as a result (6 May).

•
Representatives from the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation have observed noticeable improvements in
the community, (27 May) including:
•
shorter parties with less alcohol consumption (parties are finishing at around 10pm instead of late at night,
presumably because there is less alcohol);
•
more children are walking around with cleaner, newer clothes (jumpers, pants/shoes for winter and school
uniforms); and
•
a significant decline in individuals requesting basic supplies (like milk and sugar) from the Koonibba
Community shopfront.

•
Representatives from the Tullawon Health Service in Yalata have advised since the implementation of the trial,
weekends have been the quietest in recent memory (11 July).

# Caveat: All anecdotal statements are individual opinions or unverified data sets. The underlying cause of each claim has not been
independently verified, tested for statistical significance, or placed within its wider context.

Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Support Services – Ceduna

Ceduna’s Cashless Debit Card Trial support services include:

•
Drug and Alcohol Support Workers – This service provides non-clinical support to people suffering from
mental illness, including alcohol and drug misuse, and problem gambling, to ensure they are connected with
appropriate services. This service is tracking to meet its projected usage.

•
Alcohol and Drug Outreach Workers – The uptake for this service fluctuates from month to month, and
demand is susceptible to external factors. For example, demand for this service increased when the
community experienced a significant amount of Sorry Business.

•
Mobile Outreach Street Beat – This service provides a mobile outreach service to support vulnerable people.
Due to the nature of this service, some clients may require multiple interactions with the Mobile Outreach
teams who patrol the streets on fulltime basis. Their primary contact is with people engaging in risky and anti-
social behaviour, removing them from the situation and the possibility of causing harm to themselves and/or
the community.

Cashless Debit Card Trial Progress Report
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Support Services – Ceduna
•
Alcohol and Other Drugs Brokerage Fund - The Brokerage Fund was established to provide rapid
assistance to people with substance misuse problems who have immediate needs unable to be met by
existing services. Government continues to work with the provider on a communication strategy to encourage
more applications.

•
Family Violence services - This service provides funding for workshops and targeted support, such as legal
help, sexual assault counselling and child protection support, to address family violence and related issues in
families and communities. Family violence workshops have been scheduled over the next six month period, in
consultation with the community

•
Financial Wellbeing and Capability services - Funding under this service is being utilised to expand the
capacity of existing financial management services and offer intensive one-on-one support to assist people
transition to the Cashless Debit Card. The take-up rate for this service has been strong so far.

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