Registrations are now open for the NADA Conference 2021, to be held on 22–23 April at the International Convention Centre, Sydney. In line with the times, this event will be hybrid, and presenters and attendees may participate in person or online.

Showcasing interventions designed to improve outcomes for clients, this event will inform with new ideas, engage with the evidence base and provide networking opportunities. Early bird ends 11 February 2021.

Keynote speakers

Paul Barry is one of Australia’s most respected journalists. He is the presenter of ABC TV’s Media Watch, Australia’s leading forum for media analysis and critique. Media Watch exposes conflicts of interest, journalistic deceit, misrepresentation, manipulation and plagiarism. Paul’s keynote will explore AOD, stigma and the media and he will facilitate a panel discussion about practical ways for working with the media.

Dr Stephen Bright is a psychologist in the AOD and mental health sectors, senior lecturer of addiction and founder of AOD Media Watch. He has published papers on psychotherapy, psychometrics, brief interventions, drug policy, emerging drug trends, AOD use among older adults, psychedelics and AOD in the media. Stephen will be a panellist for the AOD and media discussion, and will also present on psychedelics and how they relate to AOD treatment and support.

Jenny Valentish is a journalist, writing regularly about drug use and treatment, and author of Woman of Substances. Jenny is a board director of SMART Recovery Australia, an ambassador for Monash University’s BrainPark, and a core member of AOD Media Watch. In her keynote, Jenny will share her experiences of drug treatment and discuss how services can safely help clients express their stories. Jenny will also be part of the panel about AOD and the media.

Dr Karen Urbanoski is a scientist with the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and assistant professor in public health and social policy. Her research focuses on substance use related conditions, and the roles played by health and social service systems in recovery. Karen’s presentation will discuss pathways to AOD treatment and ways services can enhance access among the population in need.

Felicity (Flic) Ryan is a Wadi Wadi woman, an accredited trainer specialising in cultural awareness and competency, Aboriginal health and employment, child protection and out of home care. Delving into her experience of providing over a decade of cultural awareness and competency training to NADA members, Flic will discuss the gains she has witnessed, and where there is still work to be done.

Daryl Chow is a practicing psychologist, trainer and senior associate of the International Center for Clinical Excellence. Daryl is the author of The First Kiss and he co-authored Better Results: Using deliberate practice to improve therapeutic effectiveness with Scott Miller and Mark Hubble. Daryl’s keynote will explore why people disengage early from treatment and ways to increase client engagement to reduce dropout rates and achieve better outcomes.