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Edition 23 | November 2024
Dear Colleagues,
VAADA was delighted to see the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024 pass the Victorian Parliament. Victoria becomes the first jurisdiction in Australia to have dedicated legislation to support pill testing, allowing both fixed site and mobile services to operate without anyone breaking the law. This marks a significant step forward in harm reduction efforts across our state, at a time when experts continue to remain concerned about the rate of fatal overdose in Victoria.
The Victorian Coroner’s Court 2023-24 Annual Report revealed that a staggering 601 people died of fatal overdose. This is the highest annual figure on record for Victoria, 15% higher than the previous financial year and 2.5 times higher than our annual road toll. Our thoughts are with the growing number of Victorian families who are losing loved ones to preventable deaths, highlighting the need to continue to strengthen alcohol and other drug responses, including treatment, harm reduction and prevention services.
The recent appointment of Victoria’s first Chief Addiction Medicine Advisor, Dr Paul MacCartney will further strengthen our public health response to alcohol and other drug use in the community. Dr MacCartney has extensive experience as a general practitioner and addiction medicine specialist and is highly regarded across the AOD sector, not only for his clinical expertise but for his broad connection to the community. We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Dr MacCartney through his new role.
This will include the development of Victoria’s long-awaited AOD Strategy, the first in three decades. VAADA has undertaken recent consultations with the AOD sector on what it sees as the underpinning principles and priorities for the development of a comprehensive plan to address AOD harms over the long term. A report on what we heard in these consultations has recently been published.
Chris Christoforou
Chief Executive Officer
Contents
- Developing an AOD Strategy for Victoria
- Conference News
- VAADA Press Release: VAADA endorsed the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024
- VAADABase
- Women in AOD Symposium
- AOD Leadership Accelerator Program
- VAADA at APSAD
- We Are Moving!
- Workforce Development including Elevate! ACECHO
- From our Members
- Sector News
- Research, Reports and Submissions
- Events
- Jobs Board
VAADA Updates
In April 2024, the Victorian Government announced its commitment to develop a new AOD Strategy as part of the $95.1 million Statewide AOD Action Plan. This move comes amid growing recognition that the AOD sector needs both foundational change and innovation to better support individuals affected by substance use.
VAADA conducted two forums to capture the voices of the AOD sector on what’s needed in developing a robust, relevant and impactful plan to address alcohol and other drug harms. This paper is a collaboration that captures the voices of our sector and explores shared values, concerns and potential solutions to inform the development of an AOD Strategy for Victoria.
CONFERENCE NEWS
February 13-14, 2025
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
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VAADA endorsed the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Amendment (Pill Testing) Bill 2024
Drug Checking is an essential AOD policy which will provide Victorians with an early warning system against the emerging threat of potent synthetic opioids.
There have been over 1,000 fatal overdoses in the last 2 years in Victoria, highlighting that establishing a drug-checking service is critical to saving lives. It will allow people who have otherwise opted to consume a drug to apply a handbrake and reconsider their decision under the advice of a skilled AOD workers.
VAADABase is an innovative project between VAADA, participating AOD treatment services and the Latitude Network.
We have recently launched a series of user-friendly data dashboards that provide organisations with enhanced access to their deidentified client data. This initiative empowers our AOD sector by putting the power of information directly into the hands of treatment services. Additionally, VAADA now has access to a State of the Sector report, showing aggregated data from across Victoria. This valuable resource aims to strengthen our understanding of the AOD landscape.
We're excited to announce that organisations providing funded AOD services in Victoria that use the VADC will soon have the opportunity to join VAADABase for 2025. Expressions of Interest will open at the end of November.
We are hosting a Lunch and Learn Webinar on Friday 29th November 2024 at
12.00 PM – 12.30 PM where organisations can find out more information. Register below!
A Spotlight on Women’s Issues and Perspectives in AOD
VAADA recently hosted a Women in AOD Symposium focused on the unique experiences and challenges women face in AOD treatment. Through insightful presentations from leading experts, we gained valuable perspectives from women with lived experience, those leading best practice and research from intersecting fields to strengthen our approach to working with women in the AOD sector.
The Women in AOD Symposium is part of the Elevate!, an AOD workforce development initiative funded by the Victorian Department of Health, aimed enhancing skills and professional development.
The AOD Leadership Accelerator Program, is a joint initiative of VAADA and RMIT University, funded by Victorian Government's Skills Solutions Partnerships program which supports training providers and industry to come together and respond to industry needs.
We have recently commenced the first series of workshops and Community of Practice sessions with a cohort of 30 emerging leaders from across Victoria, which aims to providing tailored development opportunities that bridges the gap for those commencing their management journey in the AOD and associated sectors.
We acknowledge the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions for investing in addressing the workforce needs of the AOD sector.
VAADA at APSAD
VAADA was well represented at the APSAD 2024 Conference in Canberra. Meg Bagnall, Gillian Clark and James Petty all presented on areas of work that are nation-leading. James presented a thought-provoking reflection on the process undertaken by VAADA to submit to the Yoorrook Justice Commission, while Gillian and Meg presented on VAADA’s submission to the Inquiry into Women’s Pain highlighting the gaps and systemic limitations at the intersection of women’s pain and substance use. Meg also presented on the integration of harm reduction in family violence services with Safe and Equal, calling for responsive support that does not stigmatise and exclude women for their substance use.
We are moving!
After 17 years on Victoria Parade Collingwood, VAADA is moving to a new home this month. Our new address is Level 6, 222 Hoddle Street Abbotsford.
Our office will include meeting and training spaces which will be available for hire to our members.
The move will commence on Tuesday the 12th of November through to Wednesday the 13th of November. Our internet will be offline for most of Tuesday. However staff will still have a limited capacity to check emails during Tuesday and Wednesday. For urgent matters staff can be reached via the mobile numbers attached to their email signature blocks.
Workforce Development
Now Open for Enrolment
Single Session Family Consultation
October 12 | Free Course | In Person
Family Inclusive Practice for Working with Young People
December 12 | Free Course | Online
Doing Difference Differently
Apply intersectionality in your everyday practice | Free Course |
Online
AOD Worker Wellbeing
Learn practical skills, tips and strategies to enhance worker wellbeing | Free Course | Online
Statewide AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO)
Join our free monthly online ECHO on November 20th at 12:30pm - 1:30pm
The invisible supports: Families and carers of people living with substance use problems or addiction by Dr Keri Alexander, Hamilton Centre & Austin Health.
4 December When Less is More: Deprescribing in the AOD Context by Dr Dan Pham, Turning Point.
Click here to view our schedule, register for the Zoom link and watch previous sessions.
From Our Members
Welcome to our new Members!
Odyssey Institute (RTO) is now offering Mental Health First Aid courses
A standard 2-day face to face in classroom training program and/or a blended program which incorporates an eLearning component and a face-to-face in classroom component. The face-to-face sessions will be provided at our Odyssey House Footscray office training facility.
The Mental Health First Aid course provides a certificate issued by Mental Health First Aid Australia that is valid for 3 years. For more information, please visit https://mhfa.com.au/
Spaces are limited, so get yourself booked in fast!
If you are interested in enrolling, please contact the RTO Odyssey Student Admin team.
SHARC Annual General Meeting 2023/24
You are warmly invited to attend SHARC’s Annual General Meeting on Monday, 25 November 2024.
They are excited to announce that this year's AGM theme is ‘The Fibonacci Sequence’. Just as the Fibonacci sequence grows and expands, SHARC continues to evolve, building upon past achievements and community connections. Their identity is the sum of their history, their present actions, and their ambitions for the future.
When: Monday, 25 November 2024
Where: SHARC, Gordon Storey Memorial Hall, 140 Grange Road, Carnegie Vic 3163
Time: 5.00pm for food and refreshments followed by the AGM promptly at 6.00pm
The Board of the merged Banyule Community Health and Merri Health today announced Tassia Michaleas as the inaugural CEO of the ‘New Organisation’, effective immediately.
Tassia brings a wealth of leadership and operational experience, with close to 30 years in the community health and for-purpose sectors.
Tassia has served as the CEO of Merri Health since 2019, successfully leading the organisation through significant growth and change in the evolving health and social care sectors. With qualifications in economics, social work, a Master of Business Administration and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Tassia is perfectly positioned to lead the merged ‘New Organisation’ through its next chapter of integration and organisational transformation.
FIRSTSTEP is Moving
First Step are thrilled to share some exciting news with you. After almost 25 years at their current location, they are preparing to move to 18 Mitford Street, St Kilda, in the new year.
This move marks a pivotal moment in First Step’s history. With growing demand for their unique multi-disciplinary approach, they've outgrown their current space and have found themselves at a crossroads. But challenges also bring opportunities, and this relocation is more than just a physical move – it’s a chance to increase their impact, and better meet the needs of the people who they seek to help.
Joint message from the Chairs of Access Health and Community and Inspiro Health
The Boards of Access Health and Community and Inspiro have signed the agreement formalising our agreement to merge our two organisations from 1 May 2025.
Their due diligence has shown that by bringing together their collective expertise and reach they can expand their services, deliver greater impact and innovation for our clients and communities, and create new opportunities for our people to grow and thrive.
They are pleased to announce that Anna Robinson, the current CEO of AccessHC, will lead the merged organisation from May 1, 2025.
Both organisations remain committed to prioritising their clients and highly valued staff.
Invitation for AOD workforce to take part in Worksafe Breaking the Silence Project
HACSU is one of the successful recipients of the Worksafe WorkWell Respect Network funding whereby they are purpose building a prevention and early-intervention of gendered violence including sexual harassment for workers and employers in our sectors.
Over 18 months HACSU are working with employers, workers and service delivery providers to create training on induction, an online learning management system, prevention and early-intervention policies and clauses, a Worksafe compliance code specific for our sectors and visual signifiers inspired by the blue hats program.
The training is being built by Women's Health Victoria and they have capacity for AOD workers to take part for free to provide critical feedback.
Email us to add an article to the "From our Members" section
(To find out if your organisation is a VAADA Member click here)
Sector News
Vale Cheryl Delalande
It is with great sadness that we have learned of the passing of harm reduction pioneer Cheryl Delalande. Cheryl died after a short illness surrounded by family. Cheryl established the NSP in Gosford, NSW in the 1980s and continued to work in harm reduction in Victoria until her retirement. Always a bold advocate for innovation, Cheryl developed a harm reduction centered opioid substitution program at Darebin Community Health, created the Steroid Peer Education Program as the long time Manager of the NEAPP NSP in Melbourne, and formed ANEX, the Association of Needle Exchanges, which she chaired for many years. Many will remember Cheryl for her sense of humour and forthright advocacy to improve harm reduction.
Community Health Service Pharmacotherapy Grants
The Victorian Government is ensuring that Victorians seeking opioid dependence treatment can access it locally through a new $8.4 million grant program for community health services. Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt has announced that these grants will expand access to life-changing pharmacotherapy in high-demand areas, benefiting up to 1,500 additional Victorians. The three-year funding will help community health services establish or grow pharmacotherapy networks with local GPs, nurse practitioners, and pharmacies, supporting broader reform under the $95 million Statewide Action Plan.
VAADA Welcomes the Appointment of the new Chief Addiction Medicine Advisor
Last week, the Allan Labor Government announced the appointment of Victoria’s Chief Addiction Medicine Advisor. This role will lead work within the health system to save lives and reduce drug harms while ensuring people receive the care they need. Dr Paul MacCartney has been appointed to the role. The Chief Addiction Medicine Adviser will be the Government’s principal adviser on issues related to addiction, drug use and harm reduction and will help guide the development of Victoria’s first ever AOD Strategy. VAADA welcomes this appointment and looks forward to working with Paul.
Amendment to allow Victorian medicinal cannabis users to drive passes upper house
Medicinal cannabis users who test positive to drugs in random roadside tests will no longer automatically lose their drivers licence. Victoria's Legislative Council has passed an amendment that will allow magistrates to use their discretion when sentencing those with a valid prescription who were not impaired at the time. The amendment has to go back to the lower house for final approval but is expected to pass, with the new law to take effect in March 2025.
Research, Reports and Submissions
Read NDARC's report commissioned by the ADF on Trends in Substance use and related harms in Australians aged 50 years and older 2001-2021
The Alcohol Available for Consumption in Australia Report, previously referred to as ‘Apparent consumption of alcohol in Australia’ uses data from a range of sources. These sources include excise data, import clearance records, financial information, and sales data to estimate the total amount of alcohol made available to people living in Australia every financial year.
Harm to children from others' drinking: A survey of caregivers in Australia
Undertaken by La Trobe University's Centre for Alcohol Policy Research. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and types of harm to children from others' drinking in Australia, as indicated by caregivers, and examine socio-demographic characteristics of caregivers who indicated a child was affected by others' drinking.
Key findings from the National Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) are available. Click below to review the key findings and summary.
Report 23 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is based on data collected in April (capital city and regional sites) and June 2024 (capital city sites only). The report covers approximately 56% of the population and provides a comprehensive picture of Australia’s illicit drug markets and drug consumption habits for 12 substances.
What have we learned about the AOD continuing care needs of young people?
Professional and clinical staff from the Australian AOD sector are invited to a free online seminar presenting findings from the Resource Landscapes for Young People Exiting Residential Care project. This research followed 38 young people in Victoria, NSW, and ACT over 12 months to document the resources that mattered most in managing substance use and building positive trajectories.
Events
VAADA Events Calendar
There are currently 36 events on VAADA's Events Calendar for November
ATCA Symposium 2024 | Therapeutic Communities Today: Adaptation & Impact
Date: Tuesday 19 November
Time: 9am-4.30pm
Location: Amora Hotel Riverwalk Melbourne, 649 Bridge Road Richmond
Cost: ACTA Member $100 and Non Member $130
The symposium will feature engaging speakers, insightful panel discussions and an interactive workshop. It will also provide invaluable networking opportunities with other ATCA members and colleagues from across the AOD sector.
