Case story

The Elliott Survey that Changed Local Liquor Rules

The Elliot survey was small, well planned research project helped to bring lasting change and real benefit to the rural community of Elliott in the Northern Territory.

In 1994 the local Aboriginal council (Gurungu Council) asked a health promotion team from Tennant Creek to help decide on the design of a survey to find out what decisions people would support. They decided on these questions.

1. How much takeaway alcohol should people be allowed to buy?
2. Should children be allowed in the public bar?
3. Should there be any take-away sales on Sunday?

A simple ballot type paper was used and the voting process was explained to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in the community. To simplify the process of compiling the data, community members were asked to mark boxes. People could choose to take part in the survey or not, but the sample covered a broad range of people and included drinkers and non-drinkers. In the end, about 65% of people on the electoral roll participated in the research.

The data were analysed by people elected by the community. Representatives of groups (school, local government, Gurungu Council, etc.) were there for the counting. The results of the survey were put up on noticeboards and sent to the NT Liquor Commissioner.

Using research for change – the outcomes:

As a result of the research, the licences for two liquor outlets were changed. Three changes were to be trialled for six months initially - a limit of one six-pack takeaway, no underage children allowed in the bar, and no takeaway on Sundays.

Eight years later the Elliot community was surveyed again and agreed to continue with the changed liquor licence conditions.

Adapted from Walley and Trindall 1994 in Brady 2005:80

Factors that contributed to knowledge exchange were that:

• the research came from a problem identified by the community. Many people were affected by problem drinking or coping with family members who were drinking too much alcohol.
• the idea for the research came from a respected community organization and was community driven. People who represented different interests in the community came together to collaboratively design the survey.
• the researchers looked into government policy and regulations before they designed the research. They knew the evidence needed and the steps involved in changing liquor licenses, and were able to factor this knowledge into the survey design.
• the research and reporting methods were easy for everyone to understand and targeted a broad audience.
• the researchers chose a method that participants felt comfortable with – a confidential survey. People didn’t have to stand up at meetings and speak out about what they thought.
• the findings were clear. The ballot showed that a majority of people would support the alcohol license changes. This made it hard for others to argue against it.
• it was straightforward to put the community’s decisions into action because one person, the NT Liquor Commissioner, had the power to change the liquor licenses. The research findings gave a clear story of the action the community wanted the Commissioner to take.
• it was simple to repeat the same research method years later to evaluate research transfer. Repeating the survey enabled the community council to check if people were still happy with the changes and whether they were working.

Brady, M. 2005, The Grog Book: Strengthening Indigenous Community Action on Alcohol, 2nd edition, Australian Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra. 

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