Paperwork. We all have to do it, and at times it feels like a task that has questionable benefit, particularly when we think about the time and effort we put into it.
Over the past few weeks, ‘processing’, ‘catching-up on’ and ‘finalising’ a seemingly never-ending list of paperwork has been a focus for myself and my team.
While I will admit to the occasional deep sigh or eye roll when I have scanned my to-do list, I take comfort in knowing that there is considerable value to the paperwork that we’ve been preparing. Even if we don’t see the results immediately.
For example, over the past few weeks we have been focused on finalising the COVID-19 recovery priorities for the Tasmanian alcohol, tobacco and other drugs sector.
In doing so, we’ve invested significant effort into preparing and writing the report, and then taken additional time to draft letters to the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, the State and Federal Departments of Health, Primary Health Tasmania, and also the Premiers Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council. We then switched focus and drafted another letter to the Department of Treasury to ensure they were aware of our COVID-19 priorities as they start to finalise the 2020-21 State Budget.
It’s all paperwork, but its important paperwork. And while a seemingly bureaucratic process, it is an essential cog in the machine that helps drive our advocacy work – and this is now where my team and I will turn our attention to next.
Over the coming weeks we will start to ramp up our discussions with government and our key partners.
We’ll use the priorities and information outlined in these documents to lead our advocacy efforts, which will be focused on securing additional investment, and implementing process improvements to enable those organisations delivering alcohol, tobacco and other drugs programs and services to keep assisting those who need support now, and over the months to come.
It’s never as easy as it sounds, but I look forward to it. Dare I say it’s my favourite part of the work that I do (and it makes all the paperwork worthwhile!).
Alison Lai
Chief Executive Officer
