This workshop is designed for any practitioners who want to work more effectively with families and carers of people who use alcohol and other drugs, whether the person using drugs is in treatment or not.

The workshop focusses on the impact of AOD on families and models of responding with a focus on the Orford and Velleman 5-step model. Participants will increase their understanding of responses and interventions, including how to engage families and how to choose and use different response options to support families.

Blending strategies from families work and AOD treatment, including key ideas from family therapy, motivational interviewing and cognitive behaviour therapy will be explored. In addition, issues that AOD workers often find challenging when working with families, including confidentiality and consent, work place issues, and self-care will also be addressed.