In April 2024, the Victorian Government announced its commitment to develop a new Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Strategy as part of the $95.1 million Statewide AOD Action Plan. This move comes amid growing recognition that the AOD sector needs both foundational change and innovation to better support individuals affected by substance use.
Achieving the best outcomes requires collaboration across all levels of government and between sectors, with a focus on system integration. A strong AOD strategy will consider the interconnected factors and assess the relevance of current approaches in the context of today’s landscape.
VAADA conducted two forums to capture the voices of the AOD sector on what’s needed for the future. This paper is a collaboration and explores shared values, concerns and potential solutions to inform the development of an AOD Strategy for Victoria.