Congratulations to the 2016 APSAD Award Winners
Left to Right: Louisa Degenhardt; Lisa Ferguson; Brad Freeburn; Alison Ritter; Louise Mewton;
Mentor Award Prof Alison Ritter
Professor Alison Ritter has been an exemplary mentor in the AOD sector for over twenty years, from her years as Head of Research at Turning Point (1994 – 2006) through to her past decade as the Director of the Drug Policy Modelling Program (2006 – present). Alison has worked tirelessly to provide support and career advice to her mentees, and does so generously and in accordance with the individual’s own goals, interests and aspirations. Through her leadership of DPMP, Alison has fostered a vibrant and active multi-disciplinary research team, with an international reputation for excellence in drug policy research and demonstrable policy impact.
Alison’s commitment to mentoring extends beyond DPMP. Alison is a thoughtful and generous mentor to early – and mid-career researchers from a range of other institutions and acts as a formal mentor to junior academics in other disciplines at UNSW through ECR mentoring scheme (2010 to present) and in the UNSW Academic Women in Leadership scheme (2010 to present).
The Mentor Award recognises an individual who has made an important contribution to mentoring and supporting the career development of clinicians, researchers or students.
Early Career Award Dr Louise Mewton
Dr Louise Mewton’s exceptional and inspiring contributions to drug and alcohol research have been widely recognised both nationally and internationally. Focusing on the prevalence, causes and prevention of substance use disorders in young people, her highly innovative program of research makes links across epidemiology, information technology, neuropsychiatry and prevention research, and reflects global research priorities.
The Early Career Award is for excellence in research relative to career opportunities.
First Peoples Award Bad Freeburn
Brad Freeburn is a Bundjalung man, born at Casino on the North Coast of New South Wales. He is the coordinator of the Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health Unit of the Aboriginal Medical Service Co-op Ltd Redfern. Brad became interested in Indigenous health issues, graduating as an Aboriginal Health Worker in 1993. Having worked in the drug and alcohol field since 1995, before that in the private sector
For the past 20 years, Brad has worked tirelessly to reduce improve the wellbeing of both his clients and advocating for the needs of other Aboriginal people at local, state and national level for culturally appropriate alcohol and other drug services.
The First Peoples Award recognises an individual that has made an important contribution to the advancement of the health of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Māori peoples.
Clinician Award Lisa Ferguson
In her role at St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney Lisa works tirelessly as the only Drug and Alcohol Clinical Nurse Consultant at this 320-bed hospital to ensure patients have access to Drug and Alcohol interventions as well as continuation of care and effective discharge planning for all patients coming through pharmacotherapy treatment.
Clinician Award recognises excellence and leadership in clinical practice in substance use in any discipline.
Senior Scientist Award Prof Louisa Degenhardt
Louisa is an extremely talented and productive researcher and is a global leader in the addiction research field. She has dedicated her career to exploring the complexities of drug-related harm and ensuring policy makers, clinicians and the community have current and comprehensive information to make sound, informed decisions, which of course is crucial in the drug and alcohol field. Her research has already gone a long way to establishing a comprehensive evidence base for drug policy and clinical practice, both in Australia and internationally. Louisa’s work documenting what is and is not known regarding the epidemiology and health effects of illicit drugs has