ARSC Regional Committee Member Report Back – March 2026

ARSC Regional Committee Member Report Back

Northern Australia Service Area

ARSC Meeting: 14–15 March 2026, Sydney

RCM: Meredith C (Acting)

Contact: northernaustralia@na.org.au

 What is the ARSC and why would I bother reading this report?

The Australian Regional Service Committee (ARSC) is the national body that supports and coordinates Narcotics Anonymous across Australia. It brings together representatives from all Areas to share information, make decisions, and manage services that are too large for any single Area to handle on their own.

Northern Australia is represented at the ARSC by our Regional Committee Member (RCM), currently Meredith C, who carries our Area’s conscience to the Region and brings Regional and NAWS updates back to our Groups and members. The purpose of this report‑back is to share key updates and communicate relevant information from the March ARSC meeting to the Northern Australia Service Area.

If your Group or GSF has questions, concerns, or needs more information, you’re welcome to contact the RCM at northernaustralia@na.org.au

Key Discussion Items from the March 2026 ARSC Meeting

Public Relations (PR)

• New Digital Strategy

The ARSC endorsed a new digital strategy designed to strengthen NA Australia’s online presence and improve accessibility for people seeking recovery. The strategy includes responsible digital outreach across Google and Meta platforms, location‑based awareness campaigns, ongoing learning about effective messaging, and collaboration with members to share authentic, experience‑based content in line with NA principles.

• Canva

All PR Chairs and Coordinators now have access to the design tool Canva, making it easier to create consistent, professional‑looking materials.

• Need PR Inspiration?

PR can be delivered in many ways. Below are examples from one NSW group demonstrating practical, local PR activity:

• Campaign to distribute one NA poster per member per month underway
• “Adopt a Group” outreach including:
  • ACMENA Juvenile Justice Centre: PR site visit completed; now ready to hand over to H&I
  • A remote Collective Psychology practice: literature sent; discussions underway about connecting clients to NA
  • GP medical facility: introductory letter sent
  • YAC Community Centre program run by Byron & State Library of NSW
• Invitation from the Library to supply information for the youth AOD stall
• Tweed Hospital (in conjunction with Gold Coast Area H&I) Subcommittee members have covered the entire geographical area

New IT Committee Coordinator

John A was elected as the new IT Coordinator. The IT Subcommittee continues its work to standardise processes, so our IT services remain consistent and reliable, regardless of who is available. Members are encouraged to direct IT‑related requests to the Subcommittee rather than individuals so the whole team can stay coordinated.

IT requests can be submitted via the website’s Contact menu or directly through this link: https://www.na.org.au/multi/contact-the-it-subcommittee/

Workshops

The ARSC acknowledged the uncertainty Groups can experience around fund flow and highlighted the value of building a clearer, shared understanding of how the fund‑flow process supports our service structure.

If your Group would like to arrange a workshop or conversation, you can contact Michael B at treasurer.northernaustralia@na.org.au or on 0447 601 149.

Regional Fellowship Development can also deliver online and face-to-face workshops on:

• Building Stronger Home Groups
• GSRs
• Predatory and Disruptive Behaviour

To arrange a workshop or request a topic not currently listed, you’re welcome to reach out to the RCM at northernaustralia@na.org.au

 Safety Committee

Several Northern Australia Service Area Groups recently connected with NAOAA’s (NA Online Australia Area) Safety Committee to explore ways to better support Groups experiencing challenging behaviour. This experience fed directly into discussions at the March ARSC.

The ARSC recognised that safety concerns are emerging across both online and face‑to‑face meetings and encouraged the preparation of a proposal to form a Safety Committee that could provide broader support.

As a practical outcome of these conversations, the My Safety, Our Responsibility In and Out of Meetings pamphlet is now available at the FSO for $0.30 per copy. This resource offers clear guidance for home groups and members on identifying unsafe behaviour and taking positive, constructive action. Purchase link: https://fso.com.au/my-safety-our-responsibility-in-and-out-of-meeting/

Fellowship Service Office (FSO)

Members can request Australia Post for NA literature deliveries under 5kg by noting this in the order comments section. There may be additional costs, which the office will communicate where relevant.

Strategic Planning Subcommittee

The Strategic Planning Subcommittee has been in place for several years, originally established by PT, and has grown into a strong and active service body. They offer to facilitate strategic planning workshops for Areas, Subcommittees, and Workgroups, using a simple framework built around three core questions: Why are we here? What do we want to do? What actions do we want to put in place?

Supporting documents and templates are available on the Australian NA website for Areas, Subcommittees, and Workgroups wishing to undertake their own strategic planning.

H&I

About Time is a national prison newspaper distributed monthly to tens of thousands of readers across correctional facilities in Victoria, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, Western Australia, and the ACT.

In collaboration with the ARSC PR Subcommittee and the H&I Workgroup, a series of NA advertisements encouraging prisoners to connect with NA upon release will run in About Time for the next 12 months. The first ad appeared in the March 2026 edition.

Treasurer Closing Report

 Next ARSC

The next ARSC will take place online from 11–12 July 2026.