DAMEC was established in 1989 as an access and equity initiative designed to promote access by culturally & linguistically diverse (CALD) clients to alcohol and other drug services. DAMEC works within a harm minimisation framework, and uses the term alcohol and other drugs to describe both licit and illicit drugs, including alcohol, tobacco and prescription medicines that are used outside medical advice.
The programs and services DAMEC provides include:
- Culturally appropriate specialist drug and alcohol counselling for individuals and families from a CALD background. Find out more about DAMEC Counselling Services
- Transitions Project: Support for Arabic and Vietnamese-speaking people who have a history of drug and alcohol related issues and who are leaving prison. Find out more about DAMEC's Transitions Project
- Research to understand the prevalence and impact of alcohol and other drugs in CALD communities, including through program and service evaluation. Find out more about DAMEC Research
- Health promotion and education projects to build the capacity of CALD communities to understand and address alcohol and other drug issues. DAMEC also assists other alcohol and other drug services to respond to the needs of CALD communities through consultancy and advice on the development of culturally appropriate interventions and staff cultural competency. Find out more about DAMEC Projects
DAMEC receives funding from the NSW Ministry of Health and the Australian Government.