NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN

SERVICE AREA SERVICE STRUCTURE PRESENTATION

SERVICE PRAYER

God grant us the knowledge that we may work according to your great divine precepts. Install in us a sense of your purpose.

Make us servants of your will and grant us a bond of selflessness, that no addict anywhere need die from the horrors of addiction.

ADDICT

New comer

An addict on their own is an addict in poor company

Addict living life on life’s terms

BEING OF SERVICE

• Our primary purpose is to carry the message to the addict that still suffers.

• Why do we do service? We only keep what we have by giving it away.

• How do we be of service? Quite simply, members of NA are being of service when we carry the message.

• The majority of tasks that are done in Narcotics Anonymous are completed by people who volunteer their time.

• Meetings don’t just automagically happen.

Link to NA Service Pamphlet

ACTIVITY

What are the various ways that we can be of service?

THE HOME GROUP

Meeting

GreeterSecretary Treasurer Tea & Coffee

GSRep

Literature

• Service positions support the meeting• Group conscience

Group ‘s conscience

GROUP SUPPORT FORUM

GSRep

NANASA Board

GSRep

Member

GSRep Member

GSRep

Facilitator

GSRep

GROUP SUPPORT FORUM

• So what is a Group Support Forum?

• How often are they held?

• What happens there?

• Can anyone go to a group support forum?

• Where are they held?

• Why do we even GSF bro?

THE PURPOSE OF THE GSF

• The GSF is intended to help groups better carry the message within their meetings by separating out the group support function from the “business” of providing NA services.

• The GSF gives groups the opportunity to share problems they may be encountering and to seek solutions from each other, to talk about what’s working well, and to have informal workshops on topics of their choice while avoiding the distraction of discussions about complex services provided outside the group.

• The GSF functions as a discussion-based gathering of the local NA community and may be an easier or less intimidating way for some members to get introduced to service.

• The GSF is intended to be like a community or neighbourhood gathering, not another level of service.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE GSF

• Welcome and outreach to new groups and members

• Informal discussion of group issues and sharing of solutions

• Information sharing (e.g., upcoming events, new literature, discussion topics)

• Checking accuracy of meeting information and creation of local meeting list if needed

• Introduction to service (e.g. introduction to service literature, traditions, concepts, etc.)

• Informal training and mentoring

• Some GSFs may provide options for groups to order literature and contribute funds to other levels of service

• In some circumstances, GSFs may be involved in some service delivery (e.g., putting up flyers in the community or supporting a local H&I meeting)

HEALTHY GSFS

• Share our experience, strength, and hope

• Listen to one another and respect each other's ideas

• Everyone is welcome to attend and everyone can participate

• Take turns: One person speaks at a time, and no one person should dominate the GSF

• Try to stay focused on the issue at hand and avoid repetition

• Remember – honesty, trust, and goodwill are the foundation of our service efforts

Link to the NA GSF Booklet

FORMAL STUFF AT THE GSF

• Selection of a GSF delegate (or delegates) to attend the LSC/ASC

• Reporting from the GSF on discussions at the LSC/ASC

• Gathering of any GSF input on LSC/ASC discussions for the GSF delegate to bring these to the LSC/ASC

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIA SERVICE AREA BOARD

• So, what is the Narcotics Anonymous Northern Australian Service Area Board?

• How often do they meet?

• What do they do?

• Can anyone attend a NANA SA Board meeting?

• Where are they held?

• Why do we even NA Northern Australian Service Area Board bro?

FORMATION OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIA SERVICE AREA BOARD

• A little bit of context around the name of the Narcotics Anonymous Northern Australia Service Area name.

• At the 2019 Local Service Conference, the Northern Territory Regional Service board and the Greater Queensland Area Service board banded together in unity to support services in both these geographical regions.

• At the LSC, delegates from GSFs from North Queensland; Fraser Coast; Northern Territory; Alice Springs; Brisbane Bayside; Logan; Brisbane Inner City and Brisbane Northside came together to agree on the name for this decision making body.

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIAN SERVICE AREA

Northern Territory

l Darwinl Alice Springs

Queensland

l Greater Brisbanel North Qldl Fraser Coast

FORMATION OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIA SERVICE AREA

• The name had to

• Include ‘Narcotics Anonymous’.

• Represent the area for which it serves.

• Be inclusive of areas that weren’t focused on Greater Brisbane.

• A few of the alternatives included:

• NA Northern Territory & Queensland Service Area.

• NA Queensland and Northern Territory Service Area.

• Queensland and Northern Territory Area Service (a little too like QANTAS for my liking)

FORMATION OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS NORTHERN AUSTRALIA SERVICE AREA

• Participants at the LSC thrashed the pros and cons of each of these names out until all in attendance came to the consensus that the name for that decision making service body be Narcotics Anonymous Northern Australia Service Area.

NA NORTHERN AUSTRALIA SERVICE AREA BOARD

• NA Northern Australia Service Area is tasked with group support and local service delivery.

• The board is made up of members who volunteer their time to support all of the groups in the geographic area that it supports.

• The board meets at 7:30 pm on the first Monday of every month via skype. Any member can attend this meeting and will have a voice in the meeting.

• https://join.skype.com/MA10Ls3qYVgW

H AND I HUB

• At the 2019 LSC NA Northern Australia Service made history in the formation of a world first Hospitals and Institutions Hub.

• While the details of which is the subject matter that is worthy of it’s own presentation, suffice it to say that this is a dedicated and funded hub where members can go for H & I services.

LOCAL SERVICE CONFERENCE

• The LSC is the “workhorse” of the service system and has the responsibility to deliver the bulk of local services.

• The LSC is intended to help groups “better fulfil their primary purpose” as discussed in the Ninth Tradition.

• Their role is to provide the types of services that would otherwise distract groups from organizing the recovery meetings that are our most effective way of carrying the NA message.

• The hope is that both group support and service delivery will improve when there is a body devoted exclusively to each function.

Link to the NA LSC Basics

LOCAL SERVICE CONFERENCE

• The LSC is the place where the group can instruct the NA Northern Australia Service Area Board how it can better serve them.

• It is the place where groups can instruct the board to support local service delivery; like H & I; PR; Outreach etc.

LOCAL AREAS IN AUSTRALIANorthern Australia

Gold Coast

Sunshine Coast

Far North Coast

Australian Capital Territory

Victoria

Tasmania

South Sydney

North Sydney

North Coast

Sydney Metro Western Suburbs

South Australia

Western Australia

AUSTRALIAN REGIONAL SERVICE COMMITTEE

• So, what is the Australian Regional Service Committee?

• The ARSC is the decision making body that supports the Local Service Areas in Australia

• How often do they meet?

• Delegates (RCMs) from each of the Local Areas meet for the ARSC three (3) times a year.

• On the third weekend of March, July and November (Brisbane and Sydney and Melbourne)

• Can anyone attend a ARSC?

• In accordance with NA’s third tradition, all are welcome to observe.

FELLOWSHIP SERVICES OFFICE

• The Fellowship Services Office (FSO) provide the Australasian Region with official literature for Narcotics Anonymous.

• It’s primary purpose is to carry the message of recovery to the general public, professional and government organisations, addicts in recovery, and most importantly to the addict who still suffers.

Link to the FSO Website

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES

• So, what is the Narcotics Anonymous World Services?

• How often do they meet?

• What do they do?

• Can anyone attend a NAWS?

• Where are they held?

• Why do we even NAWS bro?

NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES

• What is Narcotics Anonymous World Services?

• The basic purpose of our world services are communication, coordination, information, and guidance. We provide these services so that our groups and members can more successfully carry the message of recovery, and so that our program of recovery can be made more available to addicts everywhere.

Link to the NA World Services website

ACTIVITY

So, if we had put this service structure in to an organisation chart; what would it look like?

ACTIVITY

Let’s add all of the types of service that can be done at each level?

A VISION FOR NA SERVICE

• All of the efforts of Narcotics Anonymous are inspired by the primary purpose of our groups. Upon this ground we stand committed.

• Honesty, trust and goodwill are the foundation of our service efforts, all of which rely upon the guidance of a loving Higher Power.

OUR VISION IS THAT ONE DAY

• Every addict in the world has the chance to experience our message in her or his own language and culture and find the opportunity for a new way of life

• Every member inspired by the gift of recovery, experiences spiritual growth and fulfilment through service

• NA Service bodies worldwide work together in a spirit of unity and cooperation to support the groups in carrying our message of recovery

• Narcotics Anonymous has universal recognition and respect as a viable program of recovery.

Link to NA’s Vision for service

ACTIVITY

Use the dots from the first colour to indicate the most important service types to you.

Use the dots from the second colour to indicate service you would like more support or information on.

CLOSING PRAYER

God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change.

The courage to change the things we can.

And the wisdom to know the difference.