Monthly Newsletter | Edition 38

Editorial

Dear Colleagues, 

The 5^th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System represents the halfway point in a bold 10-year reform program to fix what has been described as a broken system. This includes recommendations on how best to support people in the Victorian community living with co-occurring mental health and AOD issues. To date, there is little evidence that outcomes for these people have been enhanced as a result of these reforms. As documented by VAADA, resourcing has not flowed to the AOD sector to support the prevalence of mental distress in people seeking help for an AOD issue while there has been a lack of action to embed integrated treatment approaches across a broad range of mental health reform activities.

Recently, I note evidence of change. The Department of Health has published guidelines for key reform activities that strengthen the criticality of integrated practice to address co-occurring needs. This includes the Service Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and the Guidelines for Mental Health and AOD Emergency Department Hubs, both of which centre AOD care as a core service function in responding to mental health and wellbeing needs in the community. These guidelines are a backbone to ensure models of care are developed and resourced as part of new system architecture that effectively address the complexity in people’s lives wherever they present.

The decision by the Department of Health to create a single senior executive position that is responsible for all AOD policy and programs in Victoria is similarly a change that will support system integration. This new role, not only brings necessary cohesion to the broad range of AOD prevention, treatment and harm reduction services that are delivered in Victoria, but ensures that as a member of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Division senior executive team, we are much better placed to link up the intersections between AOD and mental health strategy and reform activity going forward. This is essential if we are to achieve key objectives from the Victorian AOD Strategy that prioritise integration across intersecting systems.

Chris Christoforou
Chief Executive Officer

VAADA Updates

The AOD Leadership Accelerator Program is a three-month intensive leadership course designed to build participants’ leadership understanding, confidence and capability within the context of the AOD sector, delivered by VAADA and RMIT with the support of the Victorian Department of Health.

If you’re an emerging leader (not currently in a leadership role but aspiring to step into one) or a new manager/leader (in the role for 12 months or less), this is a valuable opportunity to build your leadership capability within an AOD context.

EOIs are OPEN NOW and will close Friday, 17 April.

VAADA is opening Expressions of Interest for an Accountant for the Finance, Risk and Audit Subcommittee (FRAS).

This is a unique opportunity to contribute your professional expertise to the broader alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector and play a meaningful role in reducing AOD related harms across Victoria. By supporting strong governance and financial oversight at VAADA, you will help to strengthen the Board’s technical capability in providing financial oversight.

Working within VAADA’s governance framework, FRAS provides scrutiny, insight and advice to inform sound strategic decision making. The Committee follows a structured annual workplan, encompassing budget development, audit oversight, financial monitoring, and cyclical risk reviews, ensuring the organisation remains accountable, resilient, and well-positioned to deliver on its purpose.

Interested? Click below for more information and submit your EOI today.

VAADA, with the support of Murray PHN recently hosted an AOD Regional Workforce Forum in Shepparton that was co-designed with local services.

The program featured insights from VAADA’s Victorian AOD Workforce Survey and Rural and Regional Snapshot followed by a facilitated panel discussion on navigating risk in AOD practice. A highlight of the day was a lived experience presentation on GHB by Liam Neale from Harm Reduction Victoria offering practical harm reduction strategies for clinicians. The afternoon continued with interactive discussions exploring GHB related risk and client care, followed by a reflective session on workforce wellbeing.

Thank you to all speakers, exhibitors and contributors, including Aunty Nikki James for the beautiful Welcome to Country and to Murray PHN for their continuing collaboration on AOD workforce development across the region.

In 2025, VAADA conducted its second Victorian AOD Workforce Survey, with more than 480 workers sharing their insights and experiences. The full report is available here.

This Snapshot explores the realities of working in rural and regional Victoria, from workforce sustainability and service pressures to emerging opportunities. It highlights both the strengths of the regional workforce and the structural challenges shaping day-to-day service delivery.

We encourage you to read the Snapshot and reflect on what the findings mean for future planning and investment in our regional and rural workforce.

🔎 More will be released in the coming months.

VAADA, along with over 50 organisations have signed the Alliance Gambling Reforms open letter calling on the Australian Government to protect children from gambling advertising. The letter has just been featured in a full page spread in the Sydney Morning Herald, and shared widely online.

Banning gambling ads and inducements and supporting a national regulator will go a long way in reducing gambling related harm.

It’s time to move beyond rhetoric and commit to real, meaningful change and put people before profits and politics.

The VAADA Aboriginal Advisory Committee is co-chaired by VAADA Board Member Craig Holloway and respected Elder Aunty Suzanne Nelson, with membership including internal and external stakeholders who oversee and advise on the development and implementation of VAADA’s Aboriginal Engagement Plan.

Members of the Committee include Brendan Witt (Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation), Melissa Donovan (Victorian Aboriginal Health Service), Toni Mason (Goulburn Valley Health), Nicola Perry-Peters & Sheree Lowe (Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation), Daniel Wilson (Odyssey Victoria) and De-Joel Upkett (Ngwala Willumbong Aboriginal Corporation) along with VAADA staff Chris Christoforou and Gillian Clark.

We are grateful for the generosity and wisdom of our Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

We are delighted to welcome Beth to VAADA. Beth will facilitate the AOD Leadership Accelerator Program alongside RMIT – combining her professional interests in the AOD sector and in developing a confident and capable workforce. She is especially passionate about investing in those who are ready to take the leap from AOD clinician to leader and thrive in their role.

Beth has almost two decades of experience across a range of AOD settings, including residential rehabilitation, intake and assessment, counselling, care and recovery coordination, needle and syringe programs, and leadership. Beth still works in community health where she holds the portfolio of learning and development, employee engagement and staff wellbeing manager at Access Health and Community.

Welcome Beth!

Family Violence

The Specialist Family Violence Advisors (SFVAs) Showcase is now sold out. Join the waitlist to be notified if places become available for this event, which will bring together leaders and practitioners from the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) and Mental Health and Wellbeing sectors.

Hear directly from SFVAs as they showcase how MARAM is being put into practice across Victoria, sharing real examples of service improvements and responses to family violence.

When: Thursday, April 30, 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Where: Collins Square Business and Events Centre, 727 Collins St, Docklands VIC 3008

📌 Join the waitlist to stay updated on ticket availability.

Workforce Development

AOD Leadership Accelerator Program
Expressions of Interest have opened for the first intake!
👉 Submit an EOI here

You may be eligible for a travel subsidy to attend in-person workshops
👉 Read more about travel contributions

Sector Updates