SOC103A: Analysing Policy Stages: Sydney's MSIC Case Study

This report examines the policy process behind Sydney's Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Kings Cross, analysing its alignment with the National Drug Strategy. It details the key stages of the policy process—planning, formulation, implementation, and evaluation—using the Jamrozik stages as a framework. The report provides evidence of the MSIC's impact on reducing drug-related harm, including decreased overdose deaths and ambulance attendances. It also evaluates the financial costs and benefits of the MSIC's operation, concluding that the MSIC represents a successful policy response to drug-related harm in Australia. The report references relevant theories, research, and data to support its analysis.

Report on the key stages of
the policy process Jamrozik
stages of 1 planning 2
formulation 3 implementation
4 evaluation

Social policy is defined as the concern and the ways societies across the world meet the
needs for security, health, well-being education etc Bulmer, (2021)
Therefore, the essay will analyse the case study of Sydney’s Medically Supervised
Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Kings Cross Sydney appropriately along with the key considerations
and points of concern within the essay. The policy response to the stages of the process of policy
will be determined. The successful policy response to National Drug Strategy will be identified
and described in detail at large scale. Relevant theory, research and evidence will be provided
appropriately and in significant manner.
Relating to the policy response to the stages of the policy process analysing the extent to
which the introduction of the MSIC in Sydney confirmed to these stages
For reducing the harm caused by drugs, Australia has provided the National policy which
is described as how the new policy framework is implemented within the Australia for people.
There have been several states across Australia which has implemented Medically Safe Injecting
Centres (MSIC's) and Sydney is one among them. The aim of the policy of National Drug
Strategy is to reduce and prevent harm caused by the drugs. This policy is being framed on the
basis of the information and data gathered for responding to the policy in the manner which is
signified through the steps which are being implemented within the structure of this policy.
There are four stages through which the policy has been farmed and this consists of -
Planning — Planning is the stage where there al the information and data is collected which
helps in providing accurate knowledge of what is to be included within this stage Harris & et.al.,
(2020). This stage helps in understanding that the National Policy framework was being
concerned with the National Drug Strategic Framework and this helped in planning this policy
for the people who were into drug abuse as there was an increased intake of drug inn Australia
and several parts of the country. For reducing the intake of the drugs there was planning of the
National Policy for framework at large scale.
Planning was done in appropriate manner for which the policy was being framed and this
created value for preventing the individuals from in taking the drugs at large scale. It was very
important for Australia and other parts of the country to address the key aspects which are
affecting the health and society at large scale. The policy was implemented to ensure that it is

being followed by the individuals and this is considering the stages which are above planning of
this important drug policy.
Formulation — The formulation of the National Drug Strategic Framework was being analysed
which depicted that the formulation stage is an important stage which is helping to analyse and
frame the key aspects which are in consideration with the policy at large scale. A committee was
made which helped in addressing that the policy is the major concern for how to provide benefits
and protect the people from being drug addicts. The formulation of the policy was done to ensure
that the people are following the policy and are concerned about the impacts on society and
individual health Molokwane, (2018).
The government has also taken initiatives which helps in creating value as to how
effectively people are concerned about the health and care of the policy are concerned at large
scale. The formulation of the policy helped in enhancing the concerns which are initiated how
effectively the policy is being implemented at large scale within different parts of Australia. The
policy is framed to follow it in appropriate manner as it is very important for the country to
consider the key concerns which are related to the removal of the usage of drugs and its abuse.
Implementation — The policy is being implemented for reducing the usage of drugs within the
country and this is applicable for ensuring the aspects which are being addressed as to how the
National Drug Strategic Framework policy is taken into action and is considerate of being
followed by Australia Hudson, Hunter & Peckham, (2019). The policy response for the policy
process which is implementation is framed to have the positive impact and this is concerning the
involvement of government and other key officials which are providing the scale of reduction
from the usage of drugs at large scale. There are concerns which are provided for how effectively
the country is inclined into the policy framework as there is high abuse and usage of drugs within
the parts of the country.
Evaluation — Evaluation of the policy is important to be considered which helps in addressing
and understanding the importance of the law and this is considerate towards how effectively the
policy is framed at large scale Irpan & et.al., (2019). There are concerns which are regarding the
aspects of how effectively the policy is evaluated based on the data and information which is
mentioned below -

There has been evaluation of protocol and analysis of the data which is being considered within
the aspect of how effectively the major aspects are being driven for ensuring that the policy is
framed for safeguarding the individuals and people of Australia and other parts of world.
The Sydney MSIC commenced operation at 66 Darlinghurst Road in Kings Cross in May
2001 for a trial period of 18 months. The evaluation covered the month May 2011 to October
2002 (MSIC Evaluation Committee, 2003) Dertadian & Tomsen, (2020). There were some
government objectives in establishing the Sydney MSIC which were to decrease overdose deaths
due to drugs, to provide a gateway to drug treatment and counselling at large scale. This was
done to reduce the problems which included the problems which are associated with drug
injecting and discarded syringes, needles etc and also to reduce the spread of disease like HIV
and hepatitis.
Australia has also implemented Medically Safe Injecting Centres (MSIC's) in Kings
Cross Sydney. There was sudden decrease in the deaths which were caused due to overdose of
drugs in Australia and other parts of the country Dertadian & Tomsen, (2021). The number of
opioid overdose ambulance attendances and deaths decreased dramatically in the Kings Cross
vicinity. This also decreased the supply of heroine in Australia and this came to an end at large
scale. When the MSIC was opened there was reduction in the overdose of the opioid. There were
syringe counts in Kings Cross which resulted in Needle Cleaning — up Team, council and the
researcher which helped in recording the data gathered at some sites I appropriate manner Clark
& Torrance, (2018). This helped in introducing the aspects as to how effectively and with the
decrease there was less drug overdose and this also resulted in keeping into account the
considerations as to how there are concerns which are regarding the reduction in the usage of
drugs at large scale within the country.
Financial cost evaluation of current operation of the Sydney MSIC shows that the set-up
costs were $1,334,041 and among this the initial costs was year’s operating costs were
$1,995,784 Power & et.al., (2019). This is the data and information which is collected which
helped in addressing to analyse the aspects related to how effectively and in appropriate manner
the Sydney was concerned about the drug usage in the country and other parts of the country.
There has been a successful policy response which has helped to ensure the concerns and aspects
which are related to the improvement in the society which is affecting the large population in
Australia and other parts in the country at large scale. Thus, there has been successful policy

response towards the National Drug Strategy and this has ensured that there has been less impact
of the drug usage within the country. The stages which have been mentioned above have
effectively and in appropriate manner prepared for the analysis at large scale Fetene, Hall &
Dietze, (2019). There has been consideration as to how effectively and at large scale the country
is getting rid of the usage of drugs and is positively contributing towards the aspects and
concerns regarding the safety and development of the country. This is the major concern due to
which the National Drug Strategy was framed within Australia.
Thus, it is concluded from the above essay that the case study of Sydney’s Medically
Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Kings Cross Sydney was explained in significant manner
by covering all points and theories which were relevant. The policy response to the different
stages were being identified and critically explained with the significance of applying the theory
and with relevant research for the discussion to be done. Different stages were analysed in
reference to the policy response for analysing the extent to which the introduction of the MSIC in
Sydney confirmed to the stages. This helped in understanding the concept of the policy which
was framed for the analysis of Sydney’s Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) in Kings
Cross Sydney. This is the major concern which explained the policy stages in appropriate and
significant manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bulmer, M. I. (Ed.). (2021). Social science and social policy. Routledge.
Clark, J., & Torrance, J. (2018). Drug Consumption Room.
Dertadian, G. C., & Tomsen, S. (2020). The case for a second safe injecting facility (SIF) in
Sydney. Current Issues in Criminal Justice. 32(2). 180-192.
Dertadian, G., & Tomsen, S. (2021). The Experience of Safety, Harassment and Social Exclusion
Among Male Clients of Sydney’s Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. International
Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy. 10(4).
Fetene, D. M., Hall, C., & Dietze, P. (2019). Characteristics of people who used the Melbourne
and Sydney medically supervised injecting facilities surveyed in the Illicit Drug
Reporting System 2019.
Harris, P. & et.al., (2020). Healthy urban planning: an institutional policy analysis of strategic
planning in Sydney, Australia. Health promotion international. 35(4). 649-660.
Hudson, B., Hunter, D., & Peckham, S. (2019). Policy failure and the policy-implementation
gap: can policy support programs help?. Policy design and practice. 2(1). 1-14.
Irpan, A. & et.al., (2019). Off-policy evaluation via off-policy classification. Advances in Neural
Information Processing Systems. 32.
Molokwane, T. (2018). Citizen involvement in the formulation of public policy. International
Conference on Public Administration and Development Alternatives (IPADA).
Power, J. & et.al., (2019). Overdose risk and client characteristics associated with the injection of
buprenorphine at a medically supervised injecting center in Sydney,
Australia. Substance Use & Misuse. 54(10). 1646-1653.
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