I really enjoy my role at the Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council of Tasmania. Over the past 12 months that I’ve been in this role, it has provided me with many opportunities to be involved in discussions and projects that help to deliver real impact to many Tasmanians.

This includes the opportunity to be involved in the community debate on trialling pill testing, which is currently our most high profile piece of work.

But there are so many more incredible projects underway across the team and as we start preparing to write our 2018-19 annual report, I am humbled and amazed at what has been achieved over the past 12 months by our little team.

This includes developing the options paper to establish a Tasmanian alcohol, tobacco and other drug consumer representative organisation. The delivery of workforce development and training opportunities to more than 200 alcohol, tobacco and other drug workers and the work underway to finalise the findings from the 2018 Workforce Survey.

Then there’s the progress we’ve made to strengthen data-sharing processes with a range of Tasmanian Government departments, and the projects underway focusing on naloxone availability, treatment access for Tasmanians from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and the benefits of community impact statements in Tasmanian liquor licencing permit applications.

Position statements on pill testing, tobacco legislation and justice response to problematic drug use, alongside our active involvement in the Tasmanian Government’s reform agenda for Tasmanian alcohol and other drug services.

This is just a sample, and it’s exhausting looking at the list but a testament to our hardworking and dedicated team and we thank everyone who has been with us along the way, including the Board of the ATDC.

We will be sending out the details for the 2019 Annual General Meeting shortly, and in the meantime mark Wednesday, 18 September in your calendar. We look forward to welcoming Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jeremy Rockliff to the AGM as our special guest.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead.

Alison Lai
Chief Executive Officer