Centre for Remote Health A joint centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University Evaluation Of AFL Central Australia Living With Alcohol 2005

Centre for Remote HealthA joint centre of• Flinders University and• Charles Darwin University

Evaluation OfEvaluation OfAFL Central Australia Living With AFL Central Australia Living With

AlcoholAlcohol

2005 – 20072005 – 2007

Presented by Ricky MenthaPresented by Ricky Mentha

Evaluation Stakeholders Evaluation Stakeholders CollaboratorsCollaborators

• Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Alcohol Education Rehabilitation Foundation (AERF)Foundation (AERF)

• Australian Football League Central Australian Football League Central Australia (AFLCA)Australia (AFLCA)

• Centre for Remote Health, a joint Centre for Remote Health, a joint centre of Flinders University and centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin UniversityCharles Darwin University

• National Drug and Alcohol Research National Drug and Alcohol Research Institute. Curtin UniversityInstitute. Curtin University

• Tangentyere CouncilTangentyere Council

BackgroundBackground

• The evaluation documents the The evaluation documents the impact of the AFLCA living with impact of the AFLCA living with alcohol program on anti-social alcohol program on anti-social behavior at AFLCA football games:behavior at AFLCA football games:

• 2005-20072005-2007

• Alcohol strategyAlcohol strategy

• Transport strategyTransport strategy

• Healthy lifestyles strategyHealthy lifestyles strategy

AFLCA Alcohol Reduction AFLCA Alcohol Reduction StrategyStrategy

Perceived OutcomesPerceived Outcomes

• Increase crowd numbers & canteen salesIncrease crowd numbers & canteen sales

• Eliminate antisocial behavior at matchesEliminate antisocial behavior at matches

• Eliminate binge drinking at matches Eliminate binge drinking at matches

• Promote the living with alcohol message Promote the living with alcohol message

• Show AFLCA as proactive & responsibleShow AFLCA as proactive & responsible

Transport StrategyTransport Strategy Perceived Outcomes Perceived Outcomes

• Decrease number of people staying Decrease number of people staying in town following major eventsin town following major events

• Provide remote communities a Provide remote communities a subsidized transport strategysubsidized transport strategy

Healthy Lifestyle StrategyHealthy Lifestyle Strategy Perceived Outcomes Perceived Outcomes

• Aus-kick and Kick-start programs in Aus-kick and Kick-start programs in remote Indigenous communities and remote Indigenous communities and major Townsmajor Towns

• Increased participation in sportIncreased participation in sport

• Football Camps for remote children Football Camps for remote children to develop skills and encourage a to develop skills and encourage a healthy lifestylehealthy lifestyle

Evaluation MethodologyEvaluation Methodology

Mixed methods Approach! Mixed methods Approach!

Utilizing Multiple data sources and triangulationUtilizing Multiple data sources and triangulation

Data sources:Data sources:

• AFL Central Australian routine dataAFL Central Australian routine data

• Police custody & general disturbance dataPolice custody & general disturbance data

• Alice Springs Hospital injury dataAlice Springs Hospital injury data

• Key informant interviewsKey informant interviews

• Security dataSecurity data

• Direct unobtrusive observationsDirect unobtrusive observations

ResultsResults

Assault*

Other incidents**

Arrests

Totals

PROMIS items 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Footy season 6 5 1 3 2

Not footy season 2 1 1 3 2







* Assaults include aggravated assault

**This category comprises: general disturbances, drunkenness, and vehicles interfered with..

Police Data Shows a Decrease Police Data Shows a Decrease in Incidents and Arrests Since in Incidents and Arrests Since

the Implementationthe Implementation

Police data incidents and arrests 2002-2006

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Num

ber o

f Inc

iden

ts a

nd A

rres

ts

AFLCA season

Out of season

Alice Springs Hospital Injury Alice Springs Hospital Injury Admission DataAdmission Data

• Alice Springs Hospital data included selected ICD10 injury codes relevant to this evaluation.

• Each episode related to the admission of one patient. Injuries sustained during the in-season (April-September) and off-season (October-March) was stratified by Indigenous and non-Indigenous status for the period 2002-2006.

• We selected data for weekends, which consisted of Friday-Monday inclusive.

Alice Springs Hospital Injury Admissions 2002-2006 by Football

Season & Indigenous StatusIndigenous

Status Season Total

In Season

Off season

Indigenous Year Pre Intervention 2002 366 436 802

2003 723 822 1545

2004 833 1060 1893

Post Intervention

20051079 1151 2230

2006 1109 1341 2450

Total 4110 4810 8920

Not Indigenous Year Pre Intervention 2002 535 443 978

2003 1036 868 1904

2004 1041 959 2000

Post Intervention

20051037 1061 2098

2006 1082 1100 2182

Total 4731 4431 9162

Injury Admissions to Alice Injury Admissions to Alice Springs Hospital, 2002-2006 Springs Hospital, 2002-2006

by Indigenous Status and by Indigenous Status and Football SeasonFootball Season Football Season

• For the non-Indigenous data there was a significant positive year effect, there is an increasing trend in the number of hospitalisations.

• However the season effect is non-significant, there is no strong evidence that the number of hospitalisations differs between in and off seasons.

• It was very similar for the Indigenous data: a significant year effect showing an increasing trend over time.

• However not enough evidence to show a difference between seasons. The season effect was closer to being significant in this data though, with p=0.06.

Seas on

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Year

1,250

1,000

750

500

250

Count

1,250

1,000

750

500

250

Indigenous

Non- Indigenous

Cases weighted by Episodes

O f f s eas o n I n Seas o n

Seas on

2002-2006 AFLCA Alcohol 2002-2006 AFLCA Alcohol SalesSales

• Alcohol sales decreased 91% in the number of units of alcohol sold for full strength beer between the 2003 and 2004 AFLCA seasons.

• The number of units of alcohol for mid-strength beer has increased over the time period shown.

• Sales of light strength beer have remained fairly stable at a relatively low level.

AFLCA Alcohol Sales 2003-AFLCA Alcohol Sales 2003-20062006

Individual ContainersIndividual Containers

Units of alcohol sold at AFLCA events by type of beer; 2003, 2004,2005 & 2006 AFCLA seasons

•-

•5,000

•10,000

•15,000

•20,000

•25,000

•30,000

•2003 •2004 •2005

•Year

• Sta

nd

ard

Dri

nk

Un

its

•Full strength

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

Stan

dard

Drin

k U

nits

200

3-20

06Light strength beer

Mid-strength beer

Full strength beer

Total

AFLCA Spectator Attendances

• Decreasing spectator attendances

• 2005 $165,827

• 2006 $121,064

• Increased gate entry fee $5.00 to $7.00 plus $5.00 vehicle fee

2005-2006 AFLCA Retail Sales

• Canteen revenue 2005 $192,412

• Canteen revenue 2006 $121,064

• Alcohol sales inclusive in these figures

2005-2006 AFLCA Sponsorship

• Total sponsorship 2005 $196,729

• $86,168 awards & advertisements from local business

• $110,561 grants & sponsorship from AERF & AFLNT

• Total sponsorship 2006 $109,690

• $49,865 awards & sponsorship from local business and advertisements

• $59,834 grants & Sponsorship from AERF & AFLNT

AFLCA Alcohol Evaluation Key AFLCA Alcohol Evaluation Key Informant SurveysInformant Surveys

• We conducted 44 key informant interviews in the off-season (September-April 2006 & 2007). The surveys generated both qualitative and quantitative data that reflected on the previous seasons. Key informants included:

• AFLCA administration/officials.

• Umpires.

• Security employees.

• Five town-based club representatives.

• Six remote community-based club representatives.

Survey ResultsSurvey Results

• 95.5% (n =42) of the respondents were were aware that alcohol restrictions existed.

• 54.5% (n=24) of the respondents described all of the alcohol restrictions.

• 86.4% (n=38) of the respondents stated they felt extremely safe at all AFLCA events, 9.1% (n=4) stated they felt reasonably safe and only 4.5% (n=2) of respondents felt unsafe while attending AFLCA events and fixtures.


• 84.1% (n=37) of the respondents believed there has been an attendance shift.

• Most 72.7% (n=32) answered that there were less people attending when asked to estimate numbers attending.

• 61.4% (n=27) thought that on a weekly basis between 100-500 less spectators were attending AFLCA events and fixtures since the implementation of the alcohol reduction strategy.


• 63.6% (n=28) of the respondents did not witness any alcohol related anti-social incidents.

• 68.2% (n=30) of the respondents said that there were, on average, less than one incident at each game since 2004.

• 93.2% (n=41) of the respondents said fewer incidents have occurred since the alcohol reduction strategy was implemented.

Qualitative Survey Responses

“As we prevent intoxicated spectators from entering the ground we cop a fair bit of abuse & are threatened a lot. Intoxicated people were being abusive and fighting. There were 1-2 incidents throughout the whole season”.

(Security personal 2006).


“In the remote community competition people won’t risk drinking & fighting because their clubs might get kicked out of the competition”.

(Remote community football club representative 2006).


“AFLCA are giving Aboriginal communities responsibility to manage people and educate people about going to the football drunk. We are providing local knowledge with the night patrol and community police to ensure public safety”.

( Remote community football Club Representative 2007).


“Prior to the restrictions there were common alcohol related incidents. Those days were most uncomfortable due to the abusive language and expected violence fuelled by alcohol. Being a women, I have felt extremely safe since the alcohol restrictions”.

(AFLCA administrator 2007).


“Spectators are more focused on the game than prior to the restrictions due to the fewer crowd disturbances and incidents due to the restricted alcohol availability”.

(Town based club representative 2007).

Direct Observations

• Noted decreased crowd attendance.

• RAS intervention has impacted positively on alcohol related anti-social behavior at games.

• AFLCA ensured the Zero tolerance policy on Anti-social behavior was enforced. Clubs were made an example of through suspension.

Security Data – Number of Security Data – Number of Complaints, Incidents and Complaints, Incidents and

EjectionsEjections2005 AFLCA Season2005 AFLCA Season

• 250 weapons seized(digging sticks, shovels, and axes)

• 17 females and 32 males physically escorted from the grounds

• 33 females and 49 males asked to leave the grounds

• 97 females and 165 males refused entry due to intoxication

Aus-kick and Kick-start Aus-kick and Kick-start Programs Promote Family and Programs Promote Family and

Community ActivityCommunity Activity

•““It Surely Is a Pleasure to Observe”It Surely Is a Pleasure to Observe”

Health lifestyle promotion activities by AFLNT staff or players in schools

Type Location Participants Program

School Larapinta Primary 113 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School Braitling Primary 415 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School Gillen Primary 277 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School Ross Park Primary

216 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School OLSH - Sadadeen

143 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School ASHS 52 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

School OLSH - Traeger 138 AFL NT School Clinic Promotion

Community Sports Fest 200 AFLNT Community Supported Event

Community Health expo 100 AFLCA Community Supported Event

Community CAAMA & Congress

200 AFLNT Community Supported Event

Community Ntaria Sports Gala


Community Ti Tree Bush Sports


Community Croc Fest 221 AFLNT Community Supported Event

Community & school

Harts Range 27 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Docker River 40 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Santa Teresa 137 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Ti Tree 123 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Ntaria 136 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Yuendumu 96 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Alcoota 20 KickStart Community Visit

Community & school

Ali Curung 54 KickStart Community Visit

Total 3108

Healthy Lifestyles StrategyHealthy Lifestyles Strategy ResultsResults

• Two camps were held in 2005 and 2006

• 2 day camp for invited children from remote communities and in town in December 2005

• The children were aged 15-17 years

• Fitness testing conducted on children to test their fitness

AFLCA Auskick ProgramAFLCA Auskick Program

Participating teams

Registrations for 2005


Ross Park 87 0

Sadadeen 59 61

North side 63 55

Larapinta 52 65

Bradshaw 67 60

Flynn Park 63 0

Tennant Creek 50 16

Yulara 38 22

Traeger Park 0 88

Albrecht oval 0 71

Total 479 438

Registrations for the Auskick Program, actual numbers for 2005, as provided in early 2006

Kick-Start in Remote Communities




Hearts Range 24 0 35

Ti Tree 0 0 64

Mutitjulu* 0 22 0

Kintore* 94 0 0

Papunya 19 0 0

Yuendumu 68 16 33

Hermansburg 65 63 103

Santa Teresa 0 69 0

Docker River 0 31 47

Alcoota 0 24 28

Amblutawidj 0 15 0

Imanpa* 12 0 0

Fink 33 0 0

Titjikala 36 0 0

Ali Curung* 41 0 99

Willowra* 21 0 0

Total 413 240 409

Remote Community Kick-start Remote Community Kick-start ProgramProgram

References

1. Kellhear A. 1993 Unobtrusive Research in Health Social Sciences, Annual Review of Health Social Sciences 3: 46-59.

2. Palmer C & Thompson K. 2007 The Paradoxes of Football Spectatorship: On field and Online Expressions of Social Capital Among the "Grog Squad", Sociology of Sport Journal 24 (2): 187-205.

3. Allsop S, Pascal R, Chikritzhs T. Management of Alcohol at Large-Scale Sports Fixtures and other Public Events, Perth: National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University of Technology, September 2005.

4. D’Abbs P, Togni S, Dequemin A. Evaluation of Restrictions on the Sale of Alcohol from Curtin Springs Roadside Inn, Northern Territory: A Report Prepared for the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Darwin: Menzies School of Health Research, 1998.

5. Gray D, Saggers S, Atkinson D, Sputore B, Bourbon D. 2000, Beating the grog: an evaluation of the Tennant Creek liquor licensing restrictions, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 24 (1): 39-44.

6. Gray, D., Saggers, S., Atkinson, D. and Strempel, P. Substance misuse and primary health care among Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Review: Consultant Report No. 7. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2004.

Evaluation Acknowledgements Evaluation Acknowledgements

Alcohol Education & Rehabilitation Foundation.

Julie D’Arx.

Curtin University.

Professor Dennis Gray.

• AFLCA.

Brett O’Farrell, General Manager.

Kable Kellerway, Regional Development Manager.

Talice Security.

Walter Turnbull, Director/Manager.

NT Police.

Lance Goodwin, Alice Springs Superintendent.

Rob Burgoyne, Admin. Support Officer.

Lloyd Kornelson, ICT - Corporate Analysis and Reporting, Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.

Alice Springs Hospital.

Vicky Taylor.

Mick Arundell.

Flinders University.

Kylie Lange, for statistical support.

Documents

Centre for Remote Health A joint centre of Flinders University and Charles Darwin University Evaluation Of AFL Central Australia Living With Alcohol 2005