Drug and Alcohol Review
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Why you need to experience an APSAD conference (and how!)
Why Attend the APSAD Conference?
The APSAD Conference is more than just a few days of learning – it's a launchpad for lifelong connections, meaningful collaboration, and lasting change in your work and the wider sector.
Whether you're looking to enhance your practice or simply want to attend without the stress, we’ve got you covered – including ready-to-go templates to help secure support from your workplace.
The Leading Conference for the Entire AOD Sector
No matter your role – clinician, peer worker, researcher, community leader, or policy advocate – the APSAD Conference brings together professionals from across the alcohol and other drugs, comorbidity, and gambling sectors. As Australasia’s premier AOD conference, this is where the sector comes together to grow, share, and lead.
Learn from the Best and Connect with Changemakers
Hear from leading researchers, clinicians, community experts, and activists – from across the region and around the world. Gain insight during sessions, and build relationships in the exhibition hall, networking events, or over dinner at the conference gala.
Want to know who’s speaking? Follow us on social media for the latest announcements:
Be Part of What’s Next
Big ideas start here. Whether it’s a new research partnership, a pilot program, or a conversation that shifts your thinking – APSAD Conferences often spark the innovations that shape the future of the sector.
Save While You Learn
We know travel and training budgets are tight – that’s why we offer several ways to keep costs down:
- Super Early Bird & Early Bird rates – the earlier you register, the more you save.
- APSAD member discounts – members get rates lower than the cost of joining.
- Discounted registration for students, lived experience advocates, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health workers, and other eligible groups.
- Scholarships available for APSAD members.
Make the Case with Ease
Ready to attend but need your manager’s approval? We’ve made it easy. Use our editable support letter template to show why attending the APSAD Conference is a smart investment in your professional development.
📄 Download the support letter template
For the 44th APSAD Scientific Alcohol & Other Drugs Conference in Gadigal (Sydney), NSW
COVID-19
COVID-19 Information & Resources
The links and resources on this page have been collated to assist members and stakeholders in adapting to the changes as a result of the novel-coronavirus (COVID-19).
Thanks to those who have provided the following information resources, please contact us if you have any information or training to share with AOD sector.
What APSAD is doing
Following advice and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand/Aotearoa Governments for social distancing, we're postponing the annual conference to 7-10 Nov. 2021, moving to live streaming for education, events and the General Meetings for the foreseeable future.
All society meetings will be held virtually through Zoom. Contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
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This document aims to provide guidance to clinicians in how to adapt treatment during this major transition. It should be read alongside state and territory guidance issued in response to COVID-19, recognising that many jurisdictions are at different stages of response, and also that many of the communications from government authorities relate to regulatory or guideline changes, rather than focussing on aspects of clinical care. To the extent of any inconsistency, directions from Health departments in local jurisdictions take precedence over recommendations in this document. |
Federal Governments Australian Department of Health COVID-19 Information GP Update on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Mailing list New Zealand Ministry of Health COVID-19 Information State Governments |
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The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce Supporting Australia’s healthcare professionals with continually updated, evidence-based clinical guidelines. |
Pandemic Kindness Movement The Pandemic Kindness Movement was created by clinicians across Australia, working together to support all health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We have curated respected, evidence-informed resources and links to valuable services to support the wellbeing of the health workforce. |
The Australians’ Drug Use: Adapting to Pandemic Threats (ADAPT) Study aims to explore the short term and long term-impacts of the COVID pandemic on Australians who use illicit drugs. This is an important, Australian-focused, piece of research which will hopefully provide AIVL, its member organisations and the broader sector with insights into the impacts on and needs of people who use drugs during this unprecedented time.
The survey is now live online: https://www.adaptstudy.org.au/. |
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Illicit drug use and harms in Australia in the context of COVID ‐19 and associated restrictions: Anticipated consequences and initial responses - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
Alcohol use in times of the COVID 19: Implications for monitoring and policy - https://onlinelibrary.wiley. Accessibility of ‘essential’ alcohol in the time of COVID ‐19: Casting light on the blind spots of licensing? - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.
The below brief report assesses a method of treating alcohol and other drug clients over the phone, noting that this is relevant during the pandemic:
Assessing the validity of the Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile for telephone administration in drug health treatment populations - https://onlinelibrary.wiley. Full accessed to view the above links is through the APSAD website by logging in, going to the Member's Area menu and selecting 'DAR Online Access'
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Past winners
APSAD Early to Mid-Career Researcher Award for the most cited paper in Drug and Alcohol Review
This annual award was launched in 2018 for early career researchers by the APSAD Early to Mid-Career Researcher (EMCR) subcommittee. In 2019 this Award was broadened to be inclusive of mid-career researchers.
| YEAR | NAME | PAPER TITLE |
| 2025 | Dr Timothy Piatkowski | ‘My mind pretty much went to mush’: A qualitative exploration of trenbolone in the performance and image enhancing drug community |
| 2024 | Dr Gabriel Caluzzi | Beyond 'drinking occasions': Examining complex changes in drinking practices during COVID-19 |
| 2023 | Dr Sarah Callinan | Purchasing, consumption, demographic and socioeconomic variables associated with shifts in alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2022 | Stephanie Colbert | COVID-19 and alcohol in Australia: Industry changes and public health impacts. |
| 2021 | Dr Briony Larance | Pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in Australia: The need for proactive and preventative responses |
| 2020 | Dr Monica Barratt | Pill testing or drug checking in Australia: acceptability of service design features |
| 2019 | A/Prof Nicola Newton | A systematic review of combined student and parent-based programs to prevent alcohol and other drug use among adolescents |
| 2018 | Dr Katrina Champion | Patterns and correlates of new psychoactive substance use in a sample of Australian high school students |
For further information about this award visit the DAR Paper Award webpage.
Podcasts - Thoughts of Substance
Mental health - Best tips and tricks for dealing with or preventing burnout from EMCR Committee members
NotebookLM was used by Dr Benjamin Riordan to summarise the EMCR section of the October APSAD newsletter. This section focussed on mental health, with EMCR Committee members providing their best tips and tricks are for dealing with or preventing burnout.
Thoughts of Substance
The Early to Mid-Career Researcher Subcommittee has developed a series of podcasts under the title “Thoughts of Substance” where you can hear from members from the committee interview professionals in the Drug and Alcohol Sector discussing research, ideas, and a range of other topics, across a range of disciplines, relevant for early career researchers in this field. Over the next few episodes, you hear from some of the previous winners of the APSAD Early Career Award discuss how their careers have evolved, and their current work.
Episode 7 - (Feb 2021)
In this episode, Dr Christina Marel is joined by Dr Lauren Gardner and Dr Louise Thornton, who are from the Matilda Centre of Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney. Lauren and Louise’s research focuses on preventing chronic disease by targeting physical and mental health determinants among adolescents, and using technology to effectively improve people’s mental and physical health. Lauren and Louise also chat to Christina about what they get up to at work, how their careers have evolved, and ideas for where they might be headed.
Episode 6 - (Sept 2019)
In this episode, of thoughts of substance, Professor Suzanne Nielsen talks to Dr Briony Larance, winner of the 2017 APSAD ECR award. Briony shares her research journey from her first Research Assistant job in Brighton (UK) to being the Vice Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Senior Research Fellow at the University of Wollongong. On the way completed an NHMRC early career research fellowship (2014-2018) examining the trajectories and health consequences of pharmaceutical opioid use. In this episode, we hear about how non-linear a research career can be, and hear an incredible tale of persistence with a paper that initially seemed like it would never get published, and ultimately has been her most cited paper.
https://soundcloud.com/user-960069631-756237016/thoughts-of-substance
Episode 5 - (May 2019)
In this episode, Associate Professor Suzanne Nielsen is joined by Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, the winner of the APSAD early career award in 2009, and Co-Director of the Mental Health Hub of the University of Newcastle's Priority Research Centre in Brain and Mental Health. Professor Kay-Lambkin talks about her career highlights and how she has integrated career with family life while building successful collaborations across the country. She has some sage advice for Early Career Researchers navigating challenges such as lack of job security.
Episode 4 - (August 2018)
Dr Cassandra Wright speaks to Dr Michael Livingston who won the APSAD Early Career Award in 2010. Michael is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University in Melbourne. You’ll hear Michael talk about how networking, collaborations and working with the right people have been integral to his diverse and impressive career in alcohol research.
Episode 3 - (July 2018)
On this episode of Thoughts Of Substance, Dr Christina Marel is talking to the 2007 winner of the APSAD Early Career Award, Associate Professor Katherine Mills, about some of her career successes and challenges. Has it all been smooth sailing? What were some of the biggest obstacles she’s encountered along the way to becoming an independent researcher?
Episode 2 - (December 2017)
Dr Amy Peacock is joined by Dr Sarah Larney, winner of the 2014 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD) Early Career Researcher Award. Dr Larney is a Senior Research Fellow at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, conducting epidemiological research related to injecting drug use and related problems. In this episode, Dr Larney describes her career highs and lows, and offers tips for establishing international collaborations and building an academic social media presence.
Episode 1 - (August 2017)
On this episode, Dr Christina Marel is joined by Dr Suzanne Nielsen winner of the 2011 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs (APSAD) Early Career Researcher Award. Suzanne currently works at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney. In this episode, Suzanne shares their career path to date and talks about some of the challenges for Early Career Researchers and talks about her experience of finding her niche conducting research on dependence to codeine.
