About QuIHN
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Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) Ltd is a not for profit, non government and state-wide organisation that addresses illicit drug use in the community by providing confidential clinical and non clinical counselling, social support services and life skills programs, non- residential rehabilitation programs, education and training, needle and syringe programs, health promotion, advocacy and outreach services, and information programs that relate to illicit drug use, blood borne viruses, sexual health, and/or psycho social and physical health issues affecting illicit drug users. QuIHN has a particular focus on working with injecting drug users in order to prevent the spread of HIV, Hepatitis C and STI’s. QuIHN also recognizes that people with dual diagnosis of mental health and substance use problems have complex needs and need to navigate between the current mental health and substance use services and therefore seek to provide appropriate and responsive services to this population. QuIHN's board of management, staff and volunteers are committed to supporting and promoting the health and well being of people who currently use illicit drugs, those who have used illicit drugs in the past, and members of the community touched or affected by illicit drug use. QuIHN works from both a harm reduction framework and demand reduction framework which are the basis of Australia’s National Drug Strategy since 1985. The core focus of QuIHN services is to reduce the harms associated with illicit drug use and to assist individuals to make health enhancing behaviour changes.
History
In November 2003, in response to a tender let by the Queensland Government, three separate organisations, Queensland Intravenous AIDS Association (QuIVAA) Inc based in Brisbane, Sunshine Coast Injectors’ Voice & Action Association (SCIVAA) Inc based on the Sunshine Coast, and the Drug Users Network and Education Service (DUNES) Inc based on the Gold Coast developed a joint tender, and each organisation also developed and submitted an individual tender. In July 2004, QuIVAA was informed that its tender was successful. QuIVAA then formed a new company limited by guarantee named Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) Ltd and SCIVAA Inc and DUNES Inc were invited to join the new company structure. DUNES Inc. was unable to maintain a quorum of its own members to comply with the corporate functions required for membership. QuIHN with QuIVAA and SCIVAA as members then began operating as a state wide body on 1 January 2005 under the new “public company limited by guarantee” format. As a result of these processes QuIHN has replaced what were then essentially 3 medium sized neighbourhood organisations with one relatively large state-wide entity with very significant public health responsibilities. QuIHN programs are now funded by both State and Federal Governments. Federal funding is received under the National Illicit Drugs Strategy (NIDS) Non Government Organisation Treatment Grants Program (NGOTGP) and via State Government for a Health Promotion Program targeting Injecting Drug Users in the Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s). As well, QuIHN from time to time conducts a range of other projects which are funded from a variety of sources.
Governance
Queensland Injectors Health Network Ltd. (QuIHN) is a public company limited by guarantee ). A “public company limited by guarantee” is public (Ltd) as opposed to private (Pty Ltd) commercial vehicle. This corporate model is mostly utilized in the not-for-profit sector and has some parallels to a commercial partnership. The company does not have “shareholders” but “members” who rank equally but may have differing rights to nominate directors. There is no subscribed share capital and members are not entitled to any proprietary interest in the company. The liability of members is limited, in the event of winding up, to the ‘guarantee’ amount specified in the company’s constitution. Companies limited by guarantee are governed by a Board of Directors. This commercial vehicle has been utilised by many of Australia’s larger organisations with a charitable purpose. This vehicle was chosen because the Management Committee of QuIVAA Inc felt that it provided a means of unifying the 3 existing community based organisations without destroying their individual history(s). It also provides a mechanism whereby other local health and welfare servcies with parallel purposes could be invited to join. Most importantly, the move to this type of legal entity underscores the Directors commitment to the direct community based ownership of a service which delivers professional health and welfare services and so compete with much larger organizations (often church based) which increasingly successfully compete for health and welfare contracts in Queensland.
Member organisations (QuIVAA Inc and SCIVAA Inc) of QuIHN Ltd play a role in governance and decision making. Currently QuIHN has two member organisations, QuIVAA Inc and SCIVAA Inc, both of which are groups that represent the interests of illicit drug users. QuIVAA and SCIVAA select delegates to sit in their respective positions on the QuIHN Board. The demands made on QuIHN Directors are variable and relate to time available as much as the skills of individual members and there is a reasonable amount of both general and specific reading required of Directors. The Board meets monthly but from time to time business is dealt with between meetings in the appropriate manner. QuIHN Board Meetings are currently held on a monthly basis at the QuIHN Head Office (based in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane). Many duties of QuIHN Board members are set out in the Constitution, the Governance Framework or are those traditionally undertaken by specific office holders. Additionally QuIHN’s Policy and Procedures further articulate how the QuIHN Board does business. The organisation has increasingly moved to provide practical support and expert advice to Directors as the complexity of governance has increased. Directors are encouraged to (in addition to operating from a position of good will and concern for the welfare of our society, and communities affected by drug use) maintain a strong commitment to stay informed about the needs of clients, of the sector, the policies of government and views and attitudes of other health and welfare stakeholders, including the media.
Steps To Directorship
QuIHN Directors must be members of one of its member organisations (QuIVAA Inc & SCIVAA Inc) and be elected by the Management Committee of that organisation. To become a QuIVAA Inc or SCIVAA Inc delegate Director of QuIHN Ltd individuals need to:
a) Complete a QuIVAA or SCIVAA membership application form;
b) Provide some information which will support their nomination; and
c) Attend a board meeting of the relevant member organisation.
The QuIVAA / SCIVAA Management Committee will discuss individuals interest directly with the individual and make a decision whether to carry your nomination. They will then make their recommendation to the QuIHN Board of Directors.
Additional information on the Governance of QuIHN may be sought from QuIHN by contacting the Executive Assistant via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Aside from Directorship there are many ways to contribute to the good work of QuIHN, individuals may support us in some other way. For example, many people assist QuIHN by volunteering their time to assist with service delivery, by contributing to our fundraising committees and activities, our various programs and via our community consultations processes.
We hope to build a strong network of community members from a wide demographic, whom are accurately informed, socially minded and possess a diverse skill and knowledge base drawn from a range of professional disciplines and life experiences.
To join either QuIVAA or SCIVAA, use the following forms: -
{Word version of QuIVAA member form}
{Word version of SCIVAA member form}