Strategic Plan

APSAD 2024-2026 Strategic Plan

The APSAD 2-year planning cycle coincides with the 2-year terms of APSAD Presidency. This Strategic Plan covers the period until August 2026. In July/August 2026 a new Strategic Plan will be developed for the period January 2026 to December 2028.

APSAD in 2024-2026

APSAD is Australasia’s pre-eminent professional society in the alcohol and other drug field. Over the next 2 years APSAD will concentrate its efforts in the following five priority areas in order to contribute to strong alcohol and other drug sectors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, and more broadly.

• Membership Services
• Workforce Development / Professional Support
• Policy and Advocacy
• Stakeholder Engagement, and
• Corporate Governance

Mission

To reduce alcohol and other drug related harm by:

1. providing professional support and workforce development to all practitioners and researchers working in the alcohol and other drug field, and
2. contributing to policy debate and advocating for evidence-informed policy and practice on alcohol and other drug issues in Australasia and globally.

Values

APSAD is guided by the following core values that underpin its mission and activities:

1. scientific integrity and excellence;
2. equitable, inclusive collaboration; and
3. innovative, ethical practices.

These values collectively guide APSAD's efforts to enhance the understanding and management of substance use and its impacts, striving to make a positive difference in the field and in the lives of those affected by substance use disorders.

Read APSAD'S 2024-2026 Strategic Plan

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs is being held at the Canberra Conference and online on Tuesday 31 October 2024.

Minutes of the most recent AGM are below. For an archive of AGM minutes dating back to 2007, please scroll down the page.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO COUNCIL HAVE NOW CLOSED.

Two positions on the APSAD Council are vacant upon the expiration of the terms of office for directors Dr Jackie Hallam and Dr David Newcombe following the 2023 Annual General Meeting.

We are seeking candidates for the Director positions of;

• Aotearoa New Zealand Representative
• Tasmania Representative

NOMINATIONS FOR ELECTION

Nominations are invited from eligible members of the society to stand as candidates in the 2024 election for Council Director. 

To apply to become a Director, complete the Nomination Form and return the completed and signed form by the closing date to the Company Secretary via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If there is more than one candidate, an election is required for the position via anonymous ballot of members.

In order to be nominated a Member must:

1. be a current financial Individual Member*;
2. for Representative positions, reside in the relevant state or country;
3. be nominated by two (2) current Individual Members who reside in the relevant state or country;
4. consent to the nomination; and 
5. give the Company Secretary a notice of nomination before nominations close.

It is strongly suggested that potential nominees undertake reading and research on the roles, responsibilities and liabilities of a director before determining if they will nominate.

*Organisational members do not have the right to vote at meetings, in elections, or to hold office.

Member forums

APSAD MEMBER DISTRIBUTION LISTS

General Distribution Lists Standards of Conduct

APSAD Distribution lists are intended to facilitate communication among the membership regarding clinical, scientific, policy, and administrative issues. The society currently has three active member Distribution Lists.

ASVCP SIG Distribution List

Practitioner Distribution List

EMCR Distribution List

APSAD Constitution

Society's Constitution

Updated in 2017 and ratified at the 2017 AGM, APSAD's new constitution has been approved by ASIC and is now available to members.

APSAD Constitution