Associate Professor Jennifer Schumann is Head of the Drug Intelligence Unit at the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Monash University. She is a forensic toxicologist and a Churchill Fellow, with over 15 years experience examining drug-related harms. Jennifer is President of the Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Association, on the board of The International Association of Forensic Toxicologists, and Forensic Lead on EDNAV.

Professor Adeeba Kamarulzaman is the President & Pro Vice-Chancellor of Monash University Malaysia. An infectious diseases physician by training, Adeeba is an advocate for social justice especially as it pertains to HIV prevention treatment, care and drug policies. She presently serves as the Chairman of the Malaysian AIDS Foundation and is the immediate Past President of the International AIDS Society. Adeeba is an advisor on numerous HIV/AIDS and substance use committees.

16 Days of Activism 

VAADA has gone orange for the 16 days of activism. Follow us on social media to learn more about the 16 days and the rates of violence against women and gender-diverse folk who use substances.

The Eliminate Violence Against Women Who Use Drugs (EVAWUD) campaign advocates for reforming drug policies with a feminist, human rights, and harm reduction lens. Women and gender-diverse people who use drugs face extreme violence, up to 25 times higher than women in the general population.

MARAM Alignment in Residential Rehabilitation

The Specialist Family Violence Advisors have developed a resource to support ongoing alignment with the MARAM Framework. This resource is specifically designed for residential programs, including rehabilitation facilities, therapeutic communities, and withdrawal units. To access this resource or connect with your Specialist Family Violence Advisor, click below.

VAADA and HR Vic Webinar: Creating Safer Spaces in AOD Treatment Settings

VAADA is proud to partner with Harm Reduction Victoria to bring the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Gender Diverse People Who Use Drugs campaign to Victoria, as part of the global effort to end violence against women and gender-diverse people who use drugs.

This 60-minute webinar will feature powerful lived-experience presenters who have used substances and experienced violence, including domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV).

Through their stories, this webinar will explore the importance of safe, inclusive AOD treatment spaces. It will highlight how violence intersects with structural oppression, substance use, and systemic barriers, emphasising healing-informed frameworks to address these experiences.

Join us to learn how we can work collaboratively to create a more just and compassionate AOD sector, eliminating violence and promoting healing and safety for all.

Check out the training planned for 2025! Trainings are open for enrolment 3 months before the training date.

Upcoming Training:
Implementing Intersectionality in Practice
December 13 | Free Course | Online

Youth AOD Brief Interventions 1-day workshop
December 12 | Free Course | Online

Have you had a look at our library of e-learnings on Elevate?
Forensic Foundations
The Forensic Foundations E-learn is designed for new Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) sector staff to provide foundational knowledge to support the provision of AOD treatment of forensic clients. 

AOD Worker Wellbeing
The aim of this module is to equip Victorian alcohol and drug  workers with a greater awareness of the signs of burnout along with practical skills, tips and strategies to promote enhanced worker wellbeing.

Introduction to Trauma Informed Care
This introductory module aims to explain trauma and how it affects people, and its links with substance use. It will increase knowledge and awareness of trauma which is the first step on your journey to becoming a trauma-informed worker.

AOD Collaborative ECHO concludes

The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) successfully concluded its 18-month pilot with the final session held this week. VAADA, Goulburn Valley Health and Turning Point partnered to deliver 12 ACECHO sessions that provided expert insights, fostered collaborative learning, and facilitated knowledge sharing to improve outcomes for individuals struggling with substance use. The project cultivated a vibrant community of both new and returning attendees.

The sessions covered a wide range of topics including pharmacotherapy, trauma, and the complex interplay between mental health and AOD, among other topical and important issues.

Thank you to our presenters for sharing their expertise, our case presenters for sharing their work ( and welcoming feedback) and our ACECHO community for creating an inclusive and collaborative learning environment.

We extend our thanks to the Department of Health for funding this pilot and supporting the professional growth of our workforce.

Primary Care Connect 30 Year Anniversary

Congratulations to Primary Care Connect who are celebrating 30 years since being incorporated; 30 years of embedding themselves in community and providing the highest quality programs and services to empower their community.

Youth Projects CEO Stepping Down

Youth Projects have announced that their CEO Ben Vasiliou will be stepping down in January 2025. Ben has been with Youth Projects for 7 years and says...
"I’ve learnt so much. I’ve evolved as a person and as a leader. I’m taking away just as much as I have given." Wishing Ben all the best and we look forward to hearing who will be leading Youth Projects into it's next chapter. 

In November, VAADA participated in St Mary’s House of Welcome, corporate giving program with VAADA staff preparing a BBQ lunch for service users.  

The House of Welcome is a Specialist Access Point for people experiencing homelessness in Melbourne and provides basic essential services to people who are homeless and experiencing disadvantage, severe and persistent mental health issues, and those who are extremely isolated and marginalised including as a result of AOD use.

The day highlighted the importance of community connection and support.

North Richmond Community Health's 50th Birthday

On Friday 25 October NRCH celebrated their 50th anniversary. They were joined by Minister Ingrid Stitt MP and members of the community who shared how NRCH has been a vital part of the community, supporting their needs and critical to their wellbeing.

This celebration reminds us of the importance of community and the role we all play in shaping the next 50 years.

Circuit Breaker Opening

Odyssey Victoria are pleased to announce the official opening of their new build in North Eastern Victoria, Mollyullah (near Benalla). Circuit Breaker is a world class AOD residential treatment facility that will benefit thousands of Victorians seeking recover in the community. 

ACSOs 40 Year Anniversary

Congratulations to ACSO on celebrating their 40th Anniversary. ACSO has been delivering services to help break the cycle of people repeatedly entering the justice
system because they lack the support to make change. For 40 years ACSO have collaborated across government and industry to improve outcomes for communities across Australia.
 

ACSOs Complex Needs Conference 2025

Date: 26-27 March 2025
Location: Grand Hyatt Melbourne

The Complex Needs Conference will build on the work of the Complex Needs Project, introduced in 2023 by the Victorian Government. The project aims to improve the service system for people with complex needs including those who experience significant barriers to service system involvement or access, and who present risk to self and others.

As part of the project, ACSO and erhma365 have been funded to deliver an assertive outreach and support service with the aim to trial a model of assertive engagement, and intensive approaches to case management, care team support and risk management.

The Conference will help to build on the momentum of the project and equip practitioners, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience with insights and tools to enhance their work.

Carers Can Ask

Carers Can Ask is a resource for carers (family members and support people of those requiring treatment services) and clinicians to assist discussion about treatment, discharge planning and post discharge support.

The aim of the resource is to help carers have an informed conversation with a service about treatment, discharge planning and post discharge support.  The resource also provides a guide to services and important information to convey to carers to enable them to provide ongoing care and support.

The CCA has been around for over a decade and has recently been updated and is ready for use!

SHARC's Regina Brindle Grant Program is accepting applications from 6 December 2024 - 14 February 2025

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for individuals or small groups who are past or present consumers, and who have lived / living experience of alcohol and drug and / or mental health challenges. Family members and supporters are also eligible to apply.   

Projects should address two or more of the following aims:  

• Promote consumer voice  
• Address barriers to social inclusion experienced by AOD and/or MH and wellbeing consumers  
• Promote community engagement and education  
• Reduce stigma and discrimination  
• Promote human rights  

Pill Testing Update

The Victorian Government has appointed the service provider for Victoria’s first pill testing service.

The successful provider is a consortium consisting of lead provider Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS), The Loop Australia and Harm Reduction Victoria. 

Melbourne Health, Youth Projects and Metabolomics Australia (University of Melbourne) will partner with the consortium to deliver medical support, social services and secondary and confirmatory testing of substances.

Pill testing will start in Victoria at the Beyond the Valley Festival at Barunah Plains in December. The mobile service will attend 10 festivals and events throughout the 18-month implementation trial. A fixed site service is due to open in mid-2025 and operate from inner Melbourne, close to nightlife and transport.

Cannabis Regulation Campaign Launch

Penington Institute is developing a model for cannabis regulation and this week they launched a public education campaign regarding cannabis regulation.

With clear and demonstrated community support for introducing a regulated market for adult-use cannabis, the Regulate It campaign aims to engage Victorians in a discussion about what regulation could look like in this state and reiterate its many benefits.

Specifically, the campaign highlights that sensible regulation will better protect community health and safety while also addressing the harm caused by the current criminalisation approach.

After consulting with various experts like you throughout the year to develop our model for cannabis regulation, this campaign now seeks involvement from the broader community. We trust this campaign will open important conversations about the benefits and opportunities of sensible regulation, including ways to protect vulnerable members of the community.

The Learning Collaborative with Yale University

The Department of Health’s Lived Experience Branch has announced 11 organisations selected for the first Victorian cohort of The Learning Collaborative (TLC), a landmark initiative led by Self Help Addiction Resource Centre and Yale University to strengthen Lived and Living Experience Workforces (LLEWs).

This program aims to enhance mental health and AOD services by integrating LLEWs and improving outcomes for consumers and carers. Participating organisations include:

• Better Health Network
• La Trobe Regional Health
• Anglicare
• Odyssey House Victoria
• Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS)
• Wellways Australia
• Alfred Health
• Mind Australia
• St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
• Ballarat Community Health

Announcement from Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt

Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt has launched two key reform documents:

• Our new plan, The Next Phase of Reform: Mental Health and Wellbeing in Victoria
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Outcomes and Performance Framework

The delivery of these landmark pieces marks another step forward in the ongoing transformation of Victoria's mental health and wellbeing system.

Want to learn more? Join an online briefing on Wednesday 11 December, where I’ll share an overview of our plan for The Next Phase of Reform and the Outcomes and Performance Framework.

The third report in Penington Institutes Cannabis in Australia series reveals the changing public attitudes towards both medicinal and personal use cannabis in Australia. 

CEO John Ryan says, "Australia’s policy approach to cannabis is well past its expiry date." The new 2024 report outlines the latest data, trends and insights on cannabis in Australia,

Inquiry into the Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill

A parliamentary committee is now inquiring into, considering and reporting on the Regulation of Personal Adult Use of Cannabis Bill. They will also be looking at the impacts of the ACT's decriminalisation of the personal use of cannabis.

Submissions are now open now and close on December 13, 2024.

Submission on the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice public consultation.

Trends in the availability and types of drugs sold on the internet via cryptomarkets. October 2023 - September 2024. This bulletin series reports on trends in the availability and types of drugs sold on the internet via cryptomarkets over the last 12 months. The current bulletin focuses on analysis of drug listings on cryptomarkets from 1st October 2023 to 30th September 2024. Download the bulletin here.

Trends in Substance Use and Related Harms Among Australians Aged 50 Years and Older 2001-2021. Download the report here.

AADANT Conference 

AADANT is excited to announce their upcoming conference, scheduled for 13 & 14 May, and we are currently calling for abstracts from potential presenters.

The conference will feature with this year’s theme, ‘Voices of Change’ reflecting the critical conversations taking place in the sector and is designed to bring together professionals across the AOD sector for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and inspiration.

NCETA Symposium 2025

Save the Date:
Thursday 15 May 2025

In Person or online:
Flinders University, Bedford Park SA

Gender-Responsive Mental Health Care Online Course

A key initiative to support mental health professionals and health service managers in delivering more inclusive, gender-equitable, and high-quality care.

This course centres LLE as a core principle of gender-responsive mental health care, taking a preventative approach through building understanding of the social determinants of health and intersectionality.

It contributes to workforce capability-building, and positioning gender-responsive care as critical for comprehensive care and aims to support those involved in service design, gender impact assessments and service delivery.

Details:
Cost: FREE enrolments available until 31 December 2024.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours (certificate provided for CPD records).