Tamsin Short
President, Board Member since 2018
Dr. Tamsin Short (She/Her) is the Executive Lead of Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) at Access Health and Community, a leading community health service in Melbourne’s East. As a clinical and forensic psychologist, she has worked in a range of clinical and management roles over the past 15 years, including positions within AOD, forensic mental health and community health services. She has led the establishment of new and innovative AOD and mental health services, including establishing the first specialist AOD program for medication misuse in Victoria, and brings both clinical and research expertise to her role. Tamsin is passionate about supporting excellent leadership and advocacy in the AOD sector.
Clare Davies
Vice President, Board Member since 2022
Clare Davies is the CEO of Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). SHARC is a peer-led organisation that has co-produced programs to support people impacted by alcohol and other drugs, and more recently, gambling. Although the influence of lived experience is increasingly recognised in Australia, SHARC has been promoting and advocating for lived experience through services, programs and policies for more than 25 years. Clare joined SHARC in 2022 having held leadership positions in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. She has qualifications in social work, governance, psychology and AOD work. Clare is a Harvard Club of Victoria Non-profit Fellow and she is thrilled to be a current board member for VAADA.
Dom Ennis
Treasurer, Board Member since 2021
Dom is the General Manager for Quality and Service Development at YSAS. He has been a practitioner and manager in the AOD field since 2000. He has worked in and managed community based, residential, and online AOD programs across the broad spectrum of prevention, early intervention and treatment. Throughout his career in AOD he has regularly alternated between Operational, Service Development, Advocacy and Workforce development roles, including roles focused on sector development beyond his own organisation. He is especially passionate about the Youth AOD sector and works for a collaborative and coordinated Youth AOD response, designed to meet the needs of young people and families that need help.
Josie Taylor
Board Member since 2021
Josie has been working in the community services setting for 25 years and currently manages MHAOD programs at BCYF. Starting her career in Warrnambool at Brophy Family and Youth Services; this experience gave her the passion and drive to have a voice for regional and rural service provision. Josie moved to Geelong 17 years ago to commence her career in AOD; as a youth outreach worker with Barwon Health. This provided the foundation for Josie to step into a leadership role at Barwon Youth that allowed her to develop and have oversight of an assertive outreach program. Over the last 10 years, Josie has been in management roles at Barwon Youth and now BCYF (Barwon, Child Youth and Family) – with oversight of Justice programs, Leaving Care, suicide prevention programs, and counselling and community engagement programs that work alongside refuges and asylum seekers. Josie believes strongly in bringing services together and working in partnership to create the best outcomes for people, and in the service system wrapping around an individual and their natural support system, not the person and family doing all the work.
Dale Hardy
Board Member since 2022
Dale is currently the Executive Leader Wellbeing, Inclusion and Independence at Bendigo Community Health Services, particularly focussing on community equity and inclusion, regional service and sector development with emphasis on clinical and psychosocial drug and alcohol services, refugee services and cultural diversity projects. After an initial career working on the London financial markets, Dale professionally reoriented to the community sector. With a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, he has 30 year’s experience working both as a practitioner and in senior leadership roles across housing and homelessness, out of home care, youth justice, drug and alcohol, mental health and multicultural sectors.
Cath Peake
Board Member since 2023
Cath Peake is the Manager of Mental Health/Alcohol and Other Drugs Integration at Barwon Health. Prior to her current role, Cath managed Barwon Health’s Drugs and Alcohol Service for 13 years, this service delivers a broad range of community based AOD treatment and harm reduction services. Cath was also the Program Manager for tertiary community mental health teams, including specialist therapy, eating disorders, forensic, family violence and homelessness programs. Cath has a doctorate in forensic psychology with 17 years’ previous experience as a clinician and manager in child protection, youth justice and adult correctional services. Cath is committed to reducing stigma and discrimination, the principles of harm reduction, evidence informed practice, and workforce wellbeing within the AOD sector.
Richie Goonan
Board Member since 2023
Richie is the Executive Manager Community Health at Youth Projects. Richie currently leads AOD Youth Outreach and Specialist AOD Primary Health responses for people experiencing homelessness. He has been working in the community sector for 30 years at the intersection of policy and service delivery areas including homelessness, drug and alcohol, harm reduction, primary health, family violence and mental health. With an unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of people with a lived experience, he drives service design responses that create positive change in peoples’ lives, whilst challenging the systems and attitudes that lead to inequality and disadvantage.
Dr Stefan Gruenert
Board Member since 2023
Stefan (he/him) is a psychologist and the CEO of Odyssey House Victoria. He has over 20 years’ experience in the AOD sector in clinical, research and management roles. He is a current Board member of the Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) and sits on a range of AOD and mental health government advisory committees. Stefan has helped establish AOD residential and community-based programs across metro Melbourne and regional Victoria, and he has co-authored several AOD publications and resources. He has previous Board experience as the Chair of VAADA and the Treasurer of the Australian Alcohol and other Drug Council of Australia. He has contributed to national and international drug policy, especially around family inclusive practice and family violence. Stefan is a strong advocate for the maintenance of a strong and independent AOD sector.
Adrian Webber
Board Member since 2023
Adrian Webber works for Uniting Vic.Tas as the General Manager, AOD, Mental Health and Carer Services. He has held leadership roles in the AOD sector across NSW and Victoria and worked in the University sector in the field of mental health and addiction studies. Adrian’s AOD sector experience spans youth and adult services across rural and metro regions including residential withdrawal and rehabilitation, and community-based services. Adrian has a strong sense of social justice and actively works to advocate for drug policy and law reform that is based on human rights, evidence, and prioritising health. Adrian holds graduate qualifications in psychology, counselling, commerce and management.