Turning Point

14/01/2026

Curious about why addiction happens and how it affects your loved one?

This free BreakThrough webinar is for families and friends who want to understand what’s really going on. In one hour online, you’ll learn about how substances impact the brain, the role of dopamine, and simple ways to stay connected while taking care of yourself. It’s supportive, practical, and focused on real life.

Sign up and join us today: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/breakthrough-understanding-addiction-tickets-1976679604909

12/01/2026

Have you experienced co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns, and accessed a mental health service in Victoria? Your substance use concerns may relate to alcohol, another drug or both.

You are invited to help us better understand the mental health care experiences and needs of people with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns.

By sharing your experiences, you can help us develop a training resource designed to cultivate safe, welcoming and non-judgmental services for people with co-occurring needs.

👉 What is involved:
Participation involves an anonymous and confidential interview that can be undertaken in-person or remotely by phone or Zoom.

Interviews last 45–60 minutes, and all participants will receive a $50 gift voucher as reimbursement.

👉 Who is eligible:
People aged 18+ who have experienced co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns and have accessed mental health services in Victoria within the past five years are eligible.

👉 Find out more:
https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24ydrau7qKFBGWW?Q_CHL=qr

09/01/2026

With bushfires affecting so many communities in Victoria, it’s normal to feel anxious, scared, or overwhelmed right now.

Take a moment to check in with yourself and reach out to those around you for support. The fires can be a trigger for many, and help is available depending on what you need.

If you want to talk about your mental health, Lifeline is available 24/7 on 13 11 14. For alcohol or other drug support, Counselling Online is available 24/7 at www.counsellingonline.org.au.

Stay safe, look out for each other, and keep informed through official channels:
www.emergency.vic.gov.au
VicEmergency Hotline: 1800 226 226
VicEmergency app
ABC Local Radio

16/12/2025

Are you looking to get off m**h?

Researchers at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Turning Point are inviting people over 18 to try a new medication called lisdexamfetamine to assist with m**hamphetamine withdrawal.

Participation involves a seven-day inpatient stay (staying overnight), and then five follow-up phone calls/surveys spread out between one week and three months after you leave the hospital.

You will be compensated for your time.

Study locations: Melbourne (Box Hill Hospital), Sydney, Newcastle and Perth.

Express your interest in participating:
https://ow.ly/anVQ50XHfxV

Learn more:
https://ow.ly/XBlZ50XHfxW

This research has been approved by St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee, Reference number: 2024/ETH00788, v1 dated April 2024.

12/12/2025

Ready to take the next step in your career? Find out more about the Graduate Program of Addictive Behaviours at Monash University!

Enrolments are now open for online study throughout Australia.

By enrolling in one of our courses, you will develop the specialist knowledge and professional skills to support individuals and communities impacted by addiction.
👉 Graduate Certificate of Addictive Behaviours (M4018): 1 year part-time
👉 Graduate Diploma of Addictive Behaviours (M5022): 2 years part-time
👉 Master of Addictive Behaviours (M6014): 2–3 years part-time (depending on entry level, based on prior qualifications that may reduce study duration)

Each of these online postgraduate courses (with part-time study) builds upon units offered in the previous qualification and provides pathways for further study and postgraduate research opportunities in the field of addiction.

Why join?
✔️ Choose from a variety of public health electives and shape the course according to your interests or expertise.
✔️ Learn from leading experts and real-world practitioners.
✔️ Gain a postgraduate qualification from a Group of Eight University, ranked in the top 40 globally.
✔️ Advance your career with increased opportunities for leadership roles.
✔️ Make a measurable impact on people’s lives.

👉 Interested?
Watch our webinar to hear directly from course leaders and students about how this program is transforming careers and communities: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGWkad3H4VI

‍🎓 Ready to enrol?
Find out more about all three streams, with links to enrol, here:
https://www.turningpoint.org.au/education/programs/higher-education/postgraduate-addictive-behaviours-courses

10/12/2025

Do you have living or lived experience of a substance use disorder (SUD)?

Take our survey and help guide the future of psychedelic therapies.

Australia is the first country to approve **A and as treatments for certain mental health conditions. As research into Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) grows, it's vital to understand the views of those who may benefit most.

We’re inviting people with lived or living experience of substance use disorders to take part in a short survey. Your insights will help shape future services and ensure PAT is safe, accessible and appropriate for diverse communities.

👉 Who can participate?
If you are over 18 years old and have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder (SUD), or believe that you have one, your experience is valuable to us.

👉 How can you help?
• Respond to the online survey. It takes around 25 minutes and is anonymous and confidential.
• Help improve the design and delivery of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy by sharing your views. Your input could shape future treatment options for people like you.

Your experience counts. Click the link to get started:
https://monash.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0NiyLMlAetrcCUK

10/12/2025

The festive season can be challenging for families affected by addiction.

Join the free BreakThrough session Surviving Christmas on Wednesday 17 December, 7–8pm AEDT to learn strategies for managing conflict and keeping connections strong. Connect with other families and gain practical tools to navigate the holidays.

Register now to secure your spot: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/breakthrough-surviving-christmas-tickets-1830987866999

09/12/2025

For 10 years, the AODstats data site has delivered up-to-date evidence that informs life-saving decisions on alcohol and other drug policies and planning.

Drawing data from paramedic records, the AODstats site maps demographic and geographic trends where people live, work and socialise to reveal the everyday realities behind ambulance attendances related to alcohol or other drugs.

“By providing timely information on the true scale and locations of AOD-related harms, the AODstats site has become an increasingly valuable evidence base for health services, local governments and advocates to shape policy, target resources and respond to issues where they are most needed,” explains Turning Point’s Strategic Lead, National Addiction and Mental Health Surveillance Unit, Dr Rowan Ogeil.

Click below to read more about the decade of impact from AODstats as we work together to reduce harm, direct services to the right places, and safeguard frontline workers and our community:
https://www.turningpoint.org.au/about-us/news/decade-insight-aodstats-celebrates-10-years-impact-community

Thanks to the Victorian Department of Health for funding and Ambulance Victoria for their collaboration and support.

08/12/2025

08/12/2025

The December edition of our Research Roundup is out now!

In this edition:
👉 AODstats celebrates 10 years of impact.
👉 Congratulations to Professor Dan Lubman AM, who has been elected to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
👉 New research has identified the mechanisms and techniques underpinning good care in alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation.
👉 The latest Addiction Audio podcast features Research Fellow Dr Joshua Garfield, who discusses his research on a personalised alcohol ‘approach bias modification’ smartphone app.
👉 New data sets on AOD-related deaths, serious road injuries, liquor licences and Emergency Department (ED) presentations in Victoria are available to inform effective approaches to reducing AOD harms.
👉 Plus, our latest publications, opportunities to participate in research, and more!

Keep reading: https://mailchi.mp/turningpoint/turning-point-research-updates-17328714

05/12/2025

A range of new data has just been released on the AODstats website, which provides information on the harms that Victorians are experiencing in relation to alcohol, pharmaceutical drug use and illicit drug use.

Updated data sets include:
• AOD-related deaths for 2013–22 calendar years using a new updated m**hodology
• serious road injuries for the 2023–24 financial year and
• liquor licences for the 2024 calendar year.

Bulletin 11 has also been released and highlights a new data set – the number of presentations within Victorian Hospital Emergency Departments in the financial years between 2013–14 and 2022–23.

These vital statistical and epidemiological resources will now enable health professionals, policy planners and service providers to identify the locations, circumstances and groups of people who are experiencing harm from alcohol and other drugs, so they can work together to develop the most effective responses.

👉 Read more: https://www.turningpoint.org.au/about-us/news/new-data-inform-effective-approaches-reducing-aod-harms
👉 Access the AODstats data: https://aodstats.org.au/explore-data/
👉 Download Bulletin #11:https://aodstats.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bulletin11.pdf

If this story has raised issues about your own or others’ drug or alcohol use, contact Counselling Online for free and confidential counselling or call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.

04/12/2025

What are the characteristics of ‘good care’ within residential rehabilitation?

New research from Turning Point, Monash Addiction Research Centre and RMIT University has identified the mechanisms and techniques underpinning good care in alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation.

By integrating these techniques, services could improve treatment engagement and outcomes, and reduce the potentially disempowering aspects of institutional care.

👉 Read the full article here: https://www.turningpoint.org.au/about-us/news/what-are-characteristics-good-care-within-residential-rehabilitation

👉 Read the peer-reviewed paper in the International Journal of Drug Policy: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095539592500266X?via%3Dihub