
SANDAS SYMPOSIUM
SANDAS Symposium
Wednesday the 27th of September 2023
This year’s SANDAS Symposium was themed around our Lived Experience Workforce and addressed issues of stigma, workforce support and development and more.
Stay tuned for details of the 2024 Symposium!

WORKSHOPS
SANDAS Seminar Series 2023
Seminar 1 – 21st March, 12pm
Sally Glover & Catherine Winter : Support the Family – Improve the Outcome PREVIEW
Hear how Family Drug Support engage effectively with people supporting someone with a substance use issue – our principles, harm reduction framework, the FDS ‘Family Stages of Change’ model and working with needs and expectations.
Watch the recording of this seminar here
Seminar 2 – 28th March, 12pm
Tracey Nye : Gambling Help Services
Hear about Relationships Australia SA’s flexible holistic service which uses a range of evidenced based therapies for individuals directly affected by gambling harm as well as their significant others. This includes therapeutic counselling using evidenced based modalities. Services also include financial counselling, a targeted multicultural gambling help service, a peer support program and a lived experience program.
Watch the recording of this seminar here
Seminar 3 – 4th April, 12pm
Venetia Brissenden : Pride, Prejudice and altered states: Considering the LGBTIQ+ in AOD
Problematic substance use is higher in LGBTIQ+ populations than in the wider community, as are comorbid mental health conditions. Yet LGBTIQ+ folk are less likely to seek support from AOD services, and may not receive targeted interventions, which take account of their particular needs when they do. This seminar will explore issues particular to substance use and misuse in LGBTIQ+ communities and how services can best support their sexuality and gender diverse clients.
Watch the recording of this seminar here
Seminar 4 – 11th April, 12pm
Dr Rachel Reilly : Wada Wanti: Leave the ice alone
Developing a web-app to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who want to reduce or stop using methamphetamine – lessons and future directions. We experienced some technical difficulties with the videos in this presentation. If you would like to view these videos seperately, the links are below.
Watch the recording of this seminar here

FORUMS
SANDAS SA State AOD Treatment Services Forum
This yearly event takes place in around May/June each year and is an opportunity to hear from funding bodies, policy makers, local services about what is happening and new in the AOD sector. Watch this space for details on the 2024 forum.

MEETINGS
SANDAS currently provides the following networking opportunities. To enquire about joining any of these networks, please contact sandasinfo@sandas.org.au
Comorbidity Network Group
The Comorbidity Network Group focuses on connecting Alcohol and Other Drug Programs with the Mental Health sector with the aim of improving outcomes for clients with comorbidities and to share knowledge amongst organisations in these fields. Guest speakers are invited from AOD, Mental Health and other relevant service organisations, and information is shared between workers at the six-weekly meetings.
Membership from workers in the alcohol and other drug or mental health sector is welcome, provided their current role is relevant to the network’s focus. Contact SANDAS for more information.
AOD Peer Network
The AOD Peer Network is an opportunity for Lived Experience/Peer workers in the Alcohol and Other Drug sector to come together to share information, provide support, network and learn. The network meets quarterly and meetings usually include lunch.
If you are a Lived Experience/Peer worker in the SA AOD sector and want to know more about this network, contact Sam Raven on sam@sandas.org.au

REFUND POLICY
Refund of registration fees
- If a SANDAS event is cancelled, a full refund of any registration fees paid will be made within 30 days of the cancellation.
- If a registered participant cannot attend an event for any reason, SANDAS should be advised by email at sandasinfo@sandas.org.au or by phone on (08) 8231 8818 as soon as possible. A full refund of registration fees will be made if this advice is received at least ten working days prior to the commencement of the event.
- No refund is payable if cancellation advice is received less than ten working days prior to the commencement of the event. Whilst we understand that personal circumstances or work commitments can change unavoidably at short notice, SANDAS cannot accept responsibility for such changes.
Non-attendance
- No refund is payable if a participant is late for or fails to attend an event.
- Where a person or organisation has registered to attend an event but has not paid fees in advance, they will be liable to pay those fees if they fail to attend without ten working days’ notice.
Substitutions and Transfers
- Where a registered participant cannot attend, they may send a substitute. Requests for substitutions can be made by calling SANDAS on 08 82318818 and can be made at any time up to the event commencement date.
- SANDAS does not offer a facility for registration fees to be transferred to another event.