In June 2025, dapaanz conducted its biannual survey of members – numbering almost 2000 addiction sector kaimahi. The survey gave insights into our members’ experiences as front line workers and managers, along with their professional needs and concerns.
Over the next few months, we will share some of the findings from the dapaanz 2025 Member Survey, including concerns shared by survey participants and areas identified as opportunities for making a difference to those working in the addiction sector. We call attention to these suggestions as a means by which to develop and subsequently grow the workforce.
Dapaanz members were asked the two main issues they face working in the addiction sector, based on responses from the 2021 and 2023 dapaanz members surveys and issues raised by members and the sector over the past 12 months.
Increasingly complex cases came in as the main issue, with 30% of participants rating it as one of their two top issues. This is a significant change from 2023 where fewer than 12 % of respondents mentioned case complexity as a key concern.
What’s changed?
The wider environment in which tāngata whai ora live has become more challenging in the last two years.
Social determinants of health (eg. housing, employment and colonisation) were ranked second in participants’ key issues and rated in the top two concerns by 20% of respondents. It is possible these drivers and case complexity are interlinked. Many tāngata whai ora are disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis and its impacts.
Some participants linked the increasingly complexity of cases with kaimahi burnout, although it is not clear if this was personal to them or perceived in others.
What would make a difference?
Participants had many suggestions.
Skilled staff, capability building through training and supports, a range of more accessible and localised services and more joined-up working are key.
Participants identified the need for more support with complex cases. This included through information and the staffing mix and information, and training for kaimahi and leaders.
“…experienced staff to manage very complex clients.”
“More knowledge around complex cases”
“Support around complexity and the availability of services.”
The most requested training topics suggest some of the complexities tāngata whai ora experience – trauma informed care, brain injury or cognitive impairment, and other behavioural addictions.
Alongside knowledge and skills to assist tāngata whai ora, participants recognised system-level responses are required. These include a need for more and different services, as well as structural changes, for example, in housing and referral pathways.
Service provision is insufficient in some regions, and the need for more and different services was the second most highly rated difference-maker.
Participants cited the need for detox services for young people, respite services, new approaches to relapse prevention and ACC pathways for people experiencing AOD challenges alongside complex trauma.
More local provision and faster access to services could go some way towards reducing the impacts of the emerging complexity of cases.
“Community service that offers psychology, therapists, social workers, housing that sits in between NGO and specialist service and is drop down and move up pathway for tāngata whai ora.”
“More/quicker availability of detox admission/intensive treatment program admission. Easier navigation of system for people needing extra support to attend/engage with other services including mental health care”
“More housing options….. More compassion for those on low incomes”
“Better partnership between primary and secondary services in both AOD, MH and co-existing.”
Turning these proposals into action could go some way in improving outcomes for tāngata whai ora and building sustainability in the addiction workforce.
1866 dapaanz members (active membership at the time of survey) were invited to participate in the dapaanz 2025 Member Survey for 30 days to 19 June 2025. 593 members participated (a survey response rate of 32%).
Analysis of demographic details indicates a sample that is broadly reflective of the membership base in relation to age, ethnicity and geographic location. Registered practitioners and supervisors participated at slightly higher levels than their proportion of the membership.