SANDAS produces Annual Reports to provide members, funding bodies and the community with a comprehensive picture of our work over the previous financial year.

The reports are distributed at the AGM and subsequently by email to all members.

You can download a copy here.

Michael White is Executive Director of the South Australian Network of Drug and Alcohol Services (SANDAS) a role he commenced in 2014. Michael represents the interests of members at both state and federal level. His role is focuses on member advocacy, AOD policy development, systems planning and the engagement of the non-government sector in research and its translation to practice. He sits on a number of committees representing the non-government AOD sector. Michael has worked in the nongovernment and education sectors for over 35 years. He holds qualifications in adult and vocational education, quality improvement and management. Michael has a keen interest in systemic improvement and the enhancement of inter-sectoral practice.

Sam has a background in Social Work, Alcohol and Other Drugs and Mental Health, Training and Community Services Management.

Previous to her current role she worked in AOD treatment in both front line and management roles, providing client support, staff and volunteer training and supervision.

She is passionate about work in this sector and has taken on her role at SANDAS in order to further advocate for the needs of workers and clients in the Alcohol and Other Drug sector.

Julie joined the SANDAS team in February 2022. She has extensive experience and training in finance and administration which she has gained whilst working for Local Government, Chartered Accountants and various Not For Profit Organisations. She looks forward to supporting the team here at SANDAS.

Chris has a long-standing interest, specialisation and commitment to the areas of mental health and alcohol and other drug service delivery. This has been achieved and sustained for over a decade through his work as a social worker; program and executive manager.

As Mental Health and AOD Manager with Sonder Chris is responsible for the strategic leadership of the Mental Health & AOD portfolio which supports an integrated suite of recovery orientated clinical mental health and alcohol and other drug services that support individuals across the western and northern suburbs as well as the Gawler Barossa region.

Alex has a diverse career across the Community Services sector, working at Mission Australia as the South Australian Regional Leader for Community Services. Alex manages a portfolio of services including AOD, homelessness, mental health, education, youth and family across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. Alex also has rich experience in AOD, child protection and disability services.

Alex has qualifications across the community services sector and in management, including a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Alex is a strong advocate for systemic change and is passionate about supporting, encouraging and assisting individuals.

Ashleigh has 10+ years of leadership experience across the government and non-government sectors leading portfolios delivering services in NDIS, acute health, aged care, mental health, AOD, homelessness and youth in both metropolitan and regional settings. She is currently the State Manager of The Salvation Armys South Australian AOD and Homelessness Portfolio.

With interests in advocacy and harm reduction Ashleigh is passionate about reducing barriers to access services, people obtaining person centred best practice supports and reducing stigma associated with AOD in the wider community.

Sophie is the leading collaborator with community groups, government, and non-government agencies, in planning, developing, promoting and delivering events and programs for Substance Misuse Program in the Limestone Coast, South Australia.

She is a highly motivated Project Manager with more than 20 years’ experience in community development and engagement together with youth and adult drug and alcohol counselling.  She has a diverse background in both statutory and community-based organisations in government and non-government sectors, with experience in management, administration, adolescent and family counselling, crisis triage and health promotion. Sophie holds a Graduate Diploma in youth mental health from the University of Melbourne.

Damien Chalmers’ career has spanned working across government departments and non-government organisations during his career in the health and social welfare sectors. With a key focus on access and opportunity for all, Damien has focused his career on working with children, adolescents and young adults in areas including youth justice, child protection and homelessness. Damien manages AOD programs for Centacare which includes outpatient counselling services and the youth residential rehabilitation program, Alban Place.

Damien’s experience working across various community service sectors has given him a strong understanding of the systemic barriers individuals can face and the need to work collaboratively across government departments and the non-government sector. Damien continues to be passionate about ensuring individuals who want to make change are given every opportunity to do so with as little frustration as possible.

Michelle Edmondson is the Operations Manager for the Alcohol and Other Drug programs within Life Without Barriers. In this role, Michelle is responsible for the delivery of quality services and achieving positive outcomes. Responsibilities also include the strategic and fiscal oversight to ensure the operations run smoothly and effectively for the organisation and stakeholders.

Michelle has 15 years of experience working in the Alcohol and Other Drugs sector both within Australia and overseas. With a Social Work background and a specialisation in Addiction, Michelle is passionate about supporting people to achieve their recovery goals and to combat the shame and stigma often experienced by clients with Alcohol and other Drug concerns.

Vicki Holmes is an Aboriginal woman descended from the Tanganekald and Western Arrente clan. Vicki has been with Nunkuwarrin Yunti for 40 years where she has had many roles; her first position was the medical receptionist but she also did whatever was needed including home visits, transport and hospital visits. In 1986, Vicki became the Health Coordinator and while in this role programs such as women’s health, HIV, diabetes, mental health and social/welfare support expanded and developed.

In 2010, Vicki became the CEO of Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia. As CEO of Nunkuwarrin Yunti, she held  positions on the Boards of NACCHO, the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, Research Excellence in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health (REACCH), and First Peoples National Congress and now SANDAS. Since 2010 under Vicki’s leadership, Nunkuwarrin Yunti has grown from 2 sites to 6 sites in the Metropolitan area and 1 site on the Yorke Peninsula.  Over her time, staff numbers have almost tripled. Services to the community include, diagnoses of acute illnesses, chronic conditions, antenatal and postnatal  care services, tackling smoking, alcohol, women’s and men’s illness.

Vicki has always been passionate about best practice in the social and emotional wellbeing of the Aboriginal community.

Margie is currently working at Hepatitis SA in the position of acting CNP peer Projects Officer. She has worked in the role of Peer Educator for Hep SA and SAVIVE for the last 6 years. Last year she worked at NSW Users and Aids association (NUAA) as a Peerlink Officer, training clients about Hep C, treatment, harm reduction, stigma and discrimination. She is passionate about peer work and the value a peer brings to a role. Being a peer is not something learnt but lived, enhancing interactions with clients.  Margie believes the AOD sector need to work together as one to make the future more effective for clients and workers. She has presented at AIVL and has done CNP training sessions.

Matthew is the coordinator of the AOD team at PsychMed and facilitates the Matrix program for people with methamphetamine dependence. He has previously delivered psychological services and facilitated the Matrix program in PsychMed’s rural Riverland clinic and has been involved in the Riverland Health Advisory Committee and collaboration with other local services. He has provided individualised drug, alcohol, and other areas of addiction treatment, as well as conducted primary health and liaison work.

He is passionate about the AOD field and is eager to help incorporate evidence-based treatment shaped by lived experience, to help reduce individual and community harm due to substance use. He is a strong advocate for collaboration with, and representation of, AOD service providers, to ensure accessibility and best outcomes for those in need.

Melissa holds qualifications in Bachelor of Social Work, Diploma of Community Services Mental Health and AOD. She has worked extensively across the community services sector in both Sydney and Adelaide. Whilst operating in Sydney she spent time working within the Department of Child Protection, and community-based mental health services along with working within residential alcohol and other drug treatment facilities such as Odyssey House. This work developed a passion for Melissa for AOD work. After moving to Adelaide she has been working for Uniting Communities’ New ROADS program. She has a passion for both counselling and residential rehab service provision, working within a harm minimisation framework. She is interested in areas surrounding the provision of alcohol and other drug supports across the justice and correctional systems and throughout the areas of child protection. She is currently the Service Manager of New ROADS at Uniting Communities which holds outpatient counselling and residential rehab contracts across both metropolitan Adelaide and Regional South Australia, as well as the provision of the clean needle program at various sites across metro and Mt Gambier as well as Police Drug Diversion.

Sally Underdown joined the Alcohol and Drug Foundation as State Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory in July 2018 with demonstrated success in delivering national policy and programs within the health, aged care, Indigenous affairs and sports sectors.

In her early career Sally was an Exercise Physiologist, working with clients, practitioners and allied health professionals in an Adelaide based hospital before she moved to Canberra to commence a 15 year career within the Australian Public Sector.

Working across a range of Australian Government Departments Sally demonstrated effective partnering and delivering social policy and health programs with a diverse network of service providers, government agencies and Ministers.  A key feature of her work is her commitment to facilitate the genuine participation of Australian communities, including remote Indigenous communities in policy and service design. In 2013 Sally lead the negotiations and drafting of the inaugural Regional Partnership Agreement with the Australian and State Governments and the APY Executive for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in South Australia.

To find out more about the benefits of becoming a member, please visit https://sandas.org.au/membership/

Membership of SANDAS should not be taken as implying an organisation meets quality or accreditation standards as SANDAS does not undertake quality assurance of member organisations. All member organisations are responsible for their own quality assurance and accreditation. Please check directly with an organisation as to its quality assurance processes.

Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council www.adac.org.au

Aboriginal Sobriety Group www.asg.org.au

Alcohol and Drug Foundation www.adf.org.au

Baptist Care www.baptistcaresa.org.au

Catherine House www.catherinehouse.org.au

Centacare www.centacare.org.au

Community Access Support SA www.sa.vnca.org.au

Country & Outback Health www.cobh.com.au

Drug ARM Australasia www.drugarm.com.au

Encounter Youth www.encounteryouth.com.au

Family Drug Support www.fds.org.au

Focus One Health www.focusonehealth.com.au

Grandparents for Grandchildren www.gfgsa.com.au

Hepatitis SA www.hepatitissa.asn.au

Junction Australia www.junctionaustralia.org.au

Life Without Barriers www.lwb.org.au

Mind Australia www.mindaustralia.org.au

Mission Australia www.missionaustralia.org

Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service www.moorundi.org.au

Murray Mallee General Practice Network www.mmgpn.org.au

Neami National www.neaminational.org.au

NOFASD Australia www.nofasd.org.au

Northern Area Community and Youth Services www.nacys.asn.au

Nunkuwarrin Yunti www.nunku.org.au

OARS Community Transitions www.communitytransitions.com.au

Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation www.pangula.org.au

Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc www.plahs.org.au

Psychmed www.psychmed.com.au

Relationships Australia www.rasa.org.au

Sammy D Foundation www.sammydfoundation.org.au

SMART Recovery smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au

Sonder www.sonder.net.au

Substance Misuse Service www.portaugusta.sa.gov.au

Substance Misuse Limestone Coast

Teen Challenge www.teenchallengesa.com

Thorne Harbour Health www.thorneharbour.org

Towards Independence www.salvationarmy.org.au

Umoona Tjutagku Health Service www.uths.com.au

Uniting Communities www.unitingcommunities.org

Visible Recovery www.visiblerecovery.com.au

West Coast Youth and Community Support www.wcycs.com.au

As the peak body for non-government organisations working in the alcohol and other drug sector, SANDAS is governed by its constitution which sets out the objects and the governance structure of the association.

To download a copy of our constitution click the pdf icon.

As the peak body for non-government organisations working in the alcohol and other drug sector, SANDAS has outlined a set of Strategic Directions in line with our Vision and Mission.

SANDAS is committed to continuous quality improvement in order to provide an effective service to the NGO AOD Treatment Sector.

Our Quality Policy and other Policies are available below for your information and use.

SANDAS Quality Policy

Finance Policy

Refund Policy

Governance Policy

Management and Board Responsibility Policy

Planning Policy

Code of Conduct Policy

Human Resources Policy

Privacy Policy

Workplace Safety Management Policy

Environmental Policy

Communication & Representation Policy