NEWS Articles

Jun 28, 2024

Dry July: Giving Your Liver A Break (And Raising Money For Cancer)

While Dry July is centred on helping others, by getting on board you’re also helping yourself. A whole month ‘breather’ for the liver, a chance to wash out all those alcohol-related toxins…
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 20, 2024

Mental Health First Aid Training: Why You Should Consider It For Your Workplace

ADA Australia has recently conducted the accredited 12-hour Standard Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training course out of The Centre for U, an initiative of the Electrical Trades Union Victoria...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 3, 2024

Patrick Terminals – “Getting Conversations Going” Around AOD Risk

‍Since the beginning of May, ADA Australia has rolled out a number of drug and alcohol awareness training sessions for around 80 Patrick Terminals employees, with more sessions to be completed...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 29, 2024

Getting The Mental Health Conversation Going - Star Group

Workplaces are recognising the risks – and their obligations – around ‘mental injury’ (psychosocial risk) at work. The Star Group takes this very seriously...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 21, 2024

UGL – Safety Conversations For A Positive Work Culture

‍The ADA Australia team recently ran toolbox talks to some UGL sites in Victoria and Queensland - talking about workplace risk and health challenges around substance use, and misuse.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Mar 30, 2024

World Bipolar Day: Eliminating Stigma

World Bipolar Day is recognised annually on the 30th of March to raise awareness and understanding of bipolar disorder and to eliminate social stigma around mental illness...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Mar 28, 2024

Work Stress, Don't Let It Fester

Every job to a greater, or lesser degree, comes with demands... but our work should not ‘bust our brains’; you are entitled to a safe work environment, a safe workplace, a mentally healthy workplace.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Mar 21, 2024

STAR Group “Walking the Talk” on Mental Health First Aid

Recently, ADA Australia facilitated the third batch of STAR Group workers through the accredited 12-hour Standard Mental Health First Aid (MFHA)...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Mar 13, 2024

World Plumbing Day: Who knew?

Every year on the 11th of March we recognise World Plumbing Day. At ADA Australia, we take this day to recognise all members from the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union (PPTEU)...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Feb 23, 2024

Opal: Building A Positive Culture Around A Compliant Drugs And Alcohol Policy

‍The ADA Australia facilitation team recently completed a series of Drug and Alcohol Awareness Training sessions for people leaders at Opal, one of Australasia’s leading packaging companies...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Feb 20, 2024

Vaping: The Dangers

Bold fruity flavours like blueberry. At face value, these flavours don’t exactly sound life-threatening, do they? Which is exactly what companies making and marketing vape products want you to think.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Feb 19, 2024

Training ‘People Leaders’ In The North East Link Project

The ADA Australia facilitation team recently visited the North East Link Project to conduct our drug and alcohol awareness program.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 22, 2023

Christmas Risks: Remember To Use The ‘Well Connect App’!

Why not use the break from the grind of work to reflect on our mental wellbeing? ADA Australia's ‘Well Connect’ app is one resource that can also be utilised to help. It’s right there on your phone...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 20, 2023

ADA Australia – Working With Toyota Material Handling Australia in 2023

Apprentices with Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) from all over Australia have recently participated in ADA Australia’s BEST LIFE, BEST WORK Apprenticeship Development Program...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 18, 2023

Drug And Alcohol Awareness Training: Why It Matters

The ADA Australia facilitation team recently visited Patrick Terminals to conduct our flagship Drug and Alcohol awareness training program...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 13, 2023

AEN Field Officers And ADA Australia’s 'BEST LIFE, BEST WORK' Apprentice Training

ADA Australia delivered our BEST LIFE: BEST WORK apprentice training to Field Officers with the Apprenticeship Employment Network (AEN), Victoria’s largest apprentice and trainee employer network...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Nov 21, 2023

ADA AUSTRALIA’S SCHOOLS’ TRAINING PROGRAMS

ADA Australia conducts alcohol and drug awareness programs with a number of secondary schools, providing alcohol and drug awareness training for students from years 8 to 12...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 27, 2023

Walking The Talk On Workplace Wellbeing - Orora Group

ADA Australia has been providing training to Orora people leaders to promote better understanding of drugs and alcohol on both physical and mental wellbeing and on the workplace...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 10, 2023

World Mental Health Day 2023

World Mental Health Day brings into focus, on a global level, the barriers to a more mentally healthy world such as social stigma and the protection of the rights of people suffering mental ill-heath
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 21, 2023

Gambling: a new addition to ADA’s Best Life: Best Work Apprentice Program

Hitting up the casino... or dropping 100 bucks into the Sportsbet account for the weekend… gambling is an imbedded part of Australian culture, and it’s everywhere...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 18, 2023

ADA Australia – Partnering with Prahran Psychology Clinic

ADA Australia is pleased to announce a partnership with the Prahran Psychology Clinic...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 13, 2023

ADA Australia at the NAEN conference

Recently, the ADA team attended the National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) conference at Marvel Stadium...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 12, 2023

ADA Australia’s ‘Well Connect’ App: 24/7 Support (In Your Pocket)

ADA Australia is proud to announce that its new ‘Well Connect’ app is launched, and now available to all ADA Australia clients...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 31, 2023

ADA Now Offering Accredited Mental Health First Aid Training

ADA Australia is pleased to announce that we will now be offering accredited 12-hour Standard Mental Health First Aid (MFHA) training, alongside our current range of courses...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 23, 2023

Talking 'Mental Health' With Our Sporting Clubs

For many of us... our first experiences of camaraderie, passion and teamwork are on the sporting field... Unfortunately, we do see some sporting clubs adopt a toxic culture... around mental health
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 11, 2023

The Loneliness Epidemic

From time to time, many of us will go through periods of loneliness, of feeling uncomfortably isolated – lonely. This week, we recognise Australia’s first Loneliness Awareness Week...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 26, 2023

ADA AUSTRALIA Working With Electrogroup Apprentices

The ADA facilitation team recently travelled to Queensland to deliver the first of many BEST LIFE: BEST WORK Apprenticeship Development Programs for Electrogroup.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 23, 2023

Team Leader Masterclass in Workplace Mental Health – Get It Right ‘At The Top’

Workplace culture is always defined from the top. This is why a business committed to mental health will work to establish a culture of respect that reaches right through the business...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 15, 2023

ADA Australia and ETU National – Taking Mental Health and AOD Training Across Australia

It is a privilege to work with the ETU on a national level and to be part of their consistent efforts to support the health and wellbeing of their membership base: their members always come first.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 30, 2023

ADA Australia at Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung 2023 RAP Forum

At ADA Australia, we strongly support the rich and diverse culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and of their long history and connection to Country...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 25, 2023

'It’s in our control to end coercive control’

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month is held to raise community awareness around domestic and family violence, and its broader impact on people, on families and on communities.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 4, 2023

International Firefighters Day (IFFD) – recognising risks to ‘first responders’

Today, we recognise International Firefighters Day (IFFD) and the brave firefighters all over the world who dedicate their careers and lives to protecting the community...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Apr 28, 2023

World Day For Safety And Health At Work – Doing Something Positive

Today, on World Day for Safety and Health at Work (and Worker’s Memorial Day) we are provided with an opportunity to recognise the importance of safe and healthy working environments...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Feb 3, 2023

Apprenticeship Development Training at The Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre

We are pleased to announce that we will be delivering our BEST LIFE: BEST WORK Apprenticeship Development program over the course of the year ahead to plumbing industry apprentices...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 19, 2022

Looking towards 2023: Making mental wellbeing priority #1

Most of us give our best selves to our work – we all want to do ‘a good job’. So, it’s reasonable that we might expect our workplace to be also at its best...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 8, 2022

Getting those drinking habits in check over the Christmas break

The silly season is almost here. With it comes a well-earned break; time to relax and to de-stress from the year that was. But beware the risks in “letting the hair down”...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Nov 11, 2022

The simple benefits in a ‘mental health’ toolbox talk

Let’s face it, our work worries should not follow us home and into our lives after work. Work should not ‘bust our brains’.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 21, 2022

ADA Australia working with VACC

ADA Australia has recently completed a project working with VACC, the Fine Tuning Automotive Mental Health (FTAMH) Program, funded through Worksafe Victoria’s Workwell initiative...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 8, 2022

Starting that life-saving conversation

‍Ever walked away from someone thinking to yourself “they seem a little off”?‍
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Ella Mano
Aug 26, 2022

Toyota Material Handling Apprenticeship Development Day roll-out

Over the past few weeks, we have been in Sydney and Brisbane (and in Adelaide next week) for the Toyota Material Handling National Apprenticeship Development Day roll-out...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 19, 2022

Is it the ‘winter blues’ or something more troubling?

‍From time to time, all of us will have our bad days... And, when caught in the lingering cold of a wet August, the winter blues can exacerbate these feelings.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jul 1, 2022

Will you go Dry this July?

Going alcohol-free in this month (or any month), brings a whole lot of health benefits. A whole month ‘breather’ for the liver...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 9, 2022

New additions to the ADA Worker Wellbeing Hub

ADA Australia is pleased to announce a brand new range of five-minute videos which are now appearing on the ADA Worker Wellbeing Hub. 
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 30, 2022

ADA at Oxygen Youth Space

ADA Australia’s facilitation team recently visited the Oxygen Youth Space at Moreland City Council, to provide training and education for their team of youth workers.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
May 13, 2022

‘The Human Values’ - A Mentally Healthy Workplace

It may surprise you, or it might not, that 48 per cent (or one-in-two) of Australian workers believe their workplace is mentally unhealthy.
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
May 10, 2022

ADA Australia's Apprenticeship Development Day

ADA Australia’s Apprenticeship Development Days for 2022, being conducted at ETU Victoria’s Centre For U, are now well underway.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Apr 19, 2022

Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training for ADA staff

Recently, five members of the ADA family, from both the Friendly Ear Support Services team and the training/facilitating team, completed the LivingWorks Australia ASIST program.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Mar 23, 2022

Kevin Sheedy joins the ADA Australia family

Former AFL champion and legendary coach Kevin Sheedy has joined the ADA Australia team as brand ambassador.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Feb 28, 2022

Taking the Conversation into Schools

ADA Australia’s facilitation team recently visited Donvale Christian College to provide training and education around drugs and alcohol for Years 10 and 11 students. ‍
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jan 18, 2022

Too Young, So Much Promise: Why Are We Losing People Like Harley Balic?

Last week, I heard some deeply unsettling news. Harley Balic, a young guy I played junior football against, had lost his life at the age of 25.
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Matthew Simons & Tim O'Brien
Jan 18, 2022

Creating 'the Habit' of Positive Thinking

One benefit of this amazing adaptable brain we have, is that we can train it. We can train it, and ourselves, to “think” in certain ways.
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Dec 10, 2021

The Fight for Human Rights: A Movement for Equality

In an unjust world, Human Rights Day provides us with hope for a better world, represented by core values such as shared humanity, simple connection and the shared bounty of this planet.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Dec 1, 2021

Planning a Christmas break-up?

Here’s a thought: why not make ‘the festive season’ a time to think about your drug and alcohol policy and the culture around drinking and respect in your workplace? 
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Nov 30, 2021

‘Giving back’… It’s Good For Us

Put simply, it is good for us – and good for society – to be generous and kind, to ‘give back’.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 29, 2021

Join the MOvement: A “Tash” for Movember

But the beauty of Movember – growing a moustache for men’s health – is that no matter how underwhelming our facial hair may be, it doesn’t actually matter.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 27, 2021

‘Back to work’ and those COVID-19 drinking habits: Time for a reset and rethink?

Among the unwelcome ‘by-products’ of extended lockdowns and the pandemic has been the alarming spike in alcohol and drug use among Australians, young Australians in particular. 
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 10, 2021

World Homeless Day 2021: A Human Rights Concern

A bed to sleep in, a hot shower and a home cooked meal. For many of us, these everyday luxuries are taken for granted... So, what can we do to make a difference?
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Oct 1, 2021

Talktober: It’s time for a shift in attitude

There is still a clear stigma in Australia around mental health and vulnerability, despite the progress of recent years. That stigma is perhaps most prevalent in young Australian men.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 27, 2021

Sober October: An opportunity to ‘take stock’

Dry January, Dry July and now Sober October - going alcohol-free for the month is catching on. So why not give it a shot?
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 10, 2021

World Suicide Prevention Day 2021: Creating Hope Through Action

World Suicide Prevention Day provides us with an opportunity to create change around alarming suicide rates, with a hope of one day, working together towards a world without suicide.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 31, 2021

International Overdose Awareness Day: It’s time to stop the preventable

The driving force behind the campaign is to raise awareness of overdoses, to remember those lost, and to reduce stigma surrounding overdose deaths.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Aug 12, 2021

Tradies’ National Health Month: Let’s Talk About Tradie Health And Wellbeing

August marks Tradies’ National Health Month, a great opportunity to check in on the physical and mental wellbeing of the workers in your crew.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jul 23, 2021

Ok, Chill… Well, For One Day At Least: Introducing ‘Stress Down Day 2021’

More than just ‘a good cause’, Stress Down Day is an initiative to promote happiness, reduce stress and to encourage help-seeking behaviours
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jul 4, 2021

NAIDOC Week: A Celebration and an Opportunity

If someone were to ask: “What significant week in the Australian calendar begins the first Sunday in July?”, would you be able to give the correct answer? It is, of course, NAIDOC Week...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 30, 2021

Dry July: Doing your bit to help

Although many believe that having a few drinks is a part of the Australian culture, we need to remember the simple facts. Alcohol in large doses is toxic...
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 25, 2021

'Day of the Seafarer' - For a fairer future

Since its foundation in 2011, every year on the 25th of June we celebrate the “Day of the Seafarer” which recognises the contribution of seafarers to international trade and the world economy.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Jun 24, 2021

Darren: Everyone has a story and this is mine

It’s a story of a struggle with mental health disorder and addiction and of its impact on my life.
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Darren Harland
Apr 19, 2021

Mental Health and Stigma

There is a clear stigma in this country about mental health and vulnerability.
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Matthew Simons - BPsych (Hons)
Sep 28, 2020

A Manual For Riding Out the Mental Health Crisis

The coronavirus pandemic, the stress and dislocation of ‘lock-down’ and the economic uncertainty that has followed in its wake, presents serious challenges to the mental health..
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 11, 2020

Gambling Addiction: Its links to anxiety, depression and other comorbidities

Why does a problem gambler continue to gamble? Why would a person choose to repeat doing something that repeatedly demonstrates that doing it is a bad idea?...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Nov 19, 2019

Dealing with drug or alcohol impaired customers or visitors

For people working in customer service, in front counter or sales roles, the likelihood is high that they will encounter or be engaged in interactions with drug or alcohol-impaired customers...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Nov 19, 2019

ADA Australia working with the ETU

ADA Australia’s alcohol and drug awareness training programs, with a range of associated services, is now being delivered to ETU members and their families; some hundreds have now gone through...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Nov 19, 2019

ADA Australia: Drugs and alcohol awareness training for sporting clubs

A young footballer and a positive drug test? We can hardly claim to be shocked or surprised (without blushing to the roots of our hairs)...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 9, 2019

The Little Blue Book of Workplace Mental Health

There is a quiet crisis in Australian workplaces that, for many workers, can too easily pass unrecognised… until too late...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Jul 15, 2019

ADA Australia: Submission to the National Treatment Framework

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia was invited to provide input to the draft National Treatment Framework (NTF), being developed by UNSW Social Policy Research Centre...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Oct 31, 2017

Hunky Dory: “Business has a part to play in tackling drugs and alcohol"

The Flinders University report recognised that workplaces were “largely overlooked” as places to influence behaviours and to effect cultural change around the misuse of alcohol (and drugs)...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 18, 2017

ADA Australia: A Handbook of Alcohol, Drugs and Workplace Risk - Now Available

ADA Australia has released its new training guide – A HANDBOOK OF ALCOHOL, DRUGS AND WORKPLACE RISK...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 14, 2017

ADA Australia: Alcohol, Drugs and Family Violence

Australian research into the scourge of family violence shows a strong causal link between the misuse of alcohol and drugs, and violence committed against partners and other family members...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 14, 2017

Pharmaceuticals: The killer drugs we too easily ignore

According to the Victorian Coroner (Victorian Overdose Deaths, J Dwyer, C Miller, 2017), pharmaceutical drugs contribute in an astonishing 81 percent of overdose deaths in that state...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO
Sep 12, 2017

ADA Australia: Tips to help you manage your drinking

If you’ve drunk too much, there is no quick-fix to sobering-up...
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Tim O'Brien - CEO