VAADA - The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association

20/08/2025

💬 Today we gathered with our members over lunch at VAADA Central for a State Budget Consultation.
These conversations are vital — they allow us to listen, share insights, and ensure our submission reflects the real issues, opportunities and aspirations of the AOD sector.

Together, we’re shaping a stronger, fairer system for the people and communities we serve. 💙
Your Community Health, Western Health, ACSO, Better Health Network, Alcohol and Drug Foundation, Latrobe Community Health Service, Caraniche, Primary Care Connect, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op, Self Help Addiction Resource Centre - SHARC, Youth Support + Advocacy Service, The Salvation Army Australia, Harm Reduction Victoria (Australia), The First Step, Odyssey Victoria, Anglicare Victoria, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Barwon Health, WRAD Health, Windana, Meli

19/08/2025

🕯️ 584 Victorians died of overdose in 2024
VAADA’s Scott Drummond:
“These deaths are not inevitable. They’re the consequence of inaction.”
Read the articles:
🔗 ABC: https://ow.ly/ZQoW50WHW8y
🔗 Herald Sun:https://ow.ly/Tksh50WHW8H
🔗 Geelong Advertiser:https://ow.ly/1zFf50WHW94

12/08/2025

The latest data from the Coroners Court of Victoria is heartbreaking — 583 Victorians lost their lives to fatal overdose in 2024. That’s 36 more lives than in 2023, and the highest number on record.

Behind every number is a person, a family, and a community in pain. We cannot accept this as the ‘new normal’.

We’re calling for:

🔹Urgent investment in treatment services to cut months-long wait times
🔹Expansion of medically supervised injecting in high-risk areas
🔹A shift from punitive approaches to evidence-based harm reduction

Read our full response here: https://tinyurl.com/4skxkbay

07/08/2025

📢 A statement from The Koori Way regarding an arrest in New South Wales involving the alleged supply of nitazene-laced v**e liquid 📢

07/08/2025

New Drug Alert System Launched

Barwon Health has launched a free, anonymous SMS drug alert system to help people make safer choices.

Anyone who uses drugs or has a loved one who uses drugs, can sign up anonymously to receive alerts about dangerous substances detected in Victoria.

Alerts come from trusted sources like Victorian Department of Health, Harm Reduction Victoria (Australia), and Sesh.Ed.

👉 Sign up now: https://mhdas.barwonhealth.org.au/service/harm-reduction-services/

23/07/2025

📣 VAADA's Workforce Survey Closes This Friday 📣

🎁 This is your last chance to be in the running to win some incredible prizes.

✉️The first prize will be drawn on Monday 28 July at 10am! Winners will be notified via email.

🔗 To receive the link to the Alcohol and Other Drugs Workforce Survey opt in by 4pm Friday 25 July and help us hit our goal of 500 responses, we are soooo close but we need you to get us there!

👉 Sign up to receive the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WFD20253

22/07/2025

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service - VALS are hosting a Snap Rally to support the Bail Saves Lives campaign on Wednesday 30th July on the steps of Parliament.

See below for more details and how to join them.

VAADA are signatories on the Bail Saves Lives Open Letter, you can read more here:https://www.vals.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/VALS-Bail-Saves-Lives-Poccums-Law-is-the-Way-Forward-04_2025-v4.pdf

Bail Saves Lives; Say NO to Bad Bail Laws.
Join us on the steps of Parliament to make some noise about the disastrous state of prisons in Victoria, and this government's harmful policies that are fueling it. We will have guest speakers from the sector sharing insightful knowledge and experience. It's time to show up for those who are unjustly locked up. 📣

Wednesday 30 July
from 9:30am
Spring Street, Melbourne

11/07/2025

We wish to acknowledge the tragic death of Noeline Dalzell, a proud Aboriginal woman, whose passing was the subject of a recent inquest by the Coroners Court of Victoria.

VAADA welcomes the findings of Coroner John Cain, noting the need to strengthen responses when the person using family violence is also using alcohol and other drugs (AOD), and the critical role of system-wide accountability in future responses.

We particularly acknowledge and commend the contribution of our Lead – AOD and Family Violence, Meg Bagnall, whose letter in response to the recommendations has been published by the Coroners Court.

Meg’s response reflects VAADA’s ongoing commitment to strengthening trauma-informed, culturally safe, and coordinated care across the AOD and family violence sectors.

We extend our deepest respect to Noeline’s family and community. Her loss is a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic reform.

Read the full findings and Meg’s letter here: https://ow.ly/AaNB50Wo5XH
🔗 📄 Meg’s response letter

07/07/2025

Help shape the future of Victoria’s AOD workforce
The Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association (VAADA) is surveying the AOD workforce to understand your experiences, challenges, and needs. Your voice matters—and will help shape policy, training, and investment in the sector.

In 2023, our survey revealed that:
✔️ 73% of the AOD workforce are women
✔️ 44% have lived or living experience of AOD use
✔️ Half of services struggle to recruit and retain staff
✔️ 60% of workers reported high levels of job-related stress
✔️ Most workers wanted more training in trauma-informed care, cultural safety, and leadership

Your input this year will build on these findings and ensure workforce development efforts are targeted and effective.

If you haven’t already opted in to receive the survey link, simply sign up below and receive the survey on our next mail out.

👉 Sign up now to take part in the 2025 survey: https://www.vaada.org.au/be-part-of-the-2025-aod-workforce-survey/

🎁 Win a prize for participating and completing the survey! Everyone who completes the survey goes in the draw to win one of our 10 fantastic prizes…

23/06/2025

🌟 Last Friday 20th of June was a full house at the 2025 Victorian AOD Service Providers Conference 🌟

VAADA brought together over 300 dedicated professionals, sector leaders, advocates, and community voices to explore this year’s theme: “From Policy to People: Centring Communities in Our Response.”

Throughout the day, we heard powerful contributions—from a heartfelt panel on public intoxication reform and alcohol policy, to critical conversations on justice, self-determination, lived and living experience, and innovative treatment approaches. Every session reinforced the importance of placing communities at the centre of our work in the AOD sector.

The conference also featured a moving Welcome to Country from Wurundjeri Elder Uncle Tony Garvey, a ministerial address from the Hon. Ingrid Stitt, and engaging presentations from some of the leading voices in research, frontline services, and policy.

A huge thank you to all our speakers, exhibitors attendees and partial funding partners at the Victorian Department of Health for making the day such a success. We’re energised by the passion and insights shared, and we look forward to continuing these conversations and working collaboratively to strengthen the sector.