Lived Experience Advocates (LEAs) are vitally important to understanding the experiences of managing the social and economic challenges associated with substance use and utilising treatment services.
Training for new Lived Experience Advocates (LEAs) includes information on the policies and processes that LEAs need to be aware of when carrying out their role. LEAs are encouraged to contact the Lived Experience Advocate Service Coordinator (LEASC) with any questions about these policies or processes and to stay updated on policy and/or process changes.
Further information on lived experience participation can be found in the ATDC’s Lived Experience Advocate Induction Pack.
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Read all postsLEAS team
While you may have contact with everyone in the ATDC team eventually, the first people you’re likely to meet or hear from are our Lived Experience Advocate Service Coordinator, Sector Development Manager, and Finance and Administration Officer.
Kyle Perry
Lived Experience Advocate Service Coord.
A generous, positive and friendly human, the more serious elements of Kyle’s social justice warrior persona aren’t easy to pick on first greeting. But his passion for social justice quickly becomes evident through his deeply thoughtful and captivating conversation.Read more✖Kyle Perry
His teammates describe him as a creative and inspiring visionary, but also value his playful and fun attitude. His mastery of words and delight in using them well also makes Kyle a loved member of the team. Kyle’s experiences in both volunteer and paid work have brought a kaleidoscope of perspectives to his current role, and the addition of his academic success makes a recipe for success when working with his team and clients. When Kyle isn’t supporting the Lived Experience Advocate Service, you might find him promoting his bestselling novel The Bluffs (2020, Penguin Random House Australia.) Kyle holds a Bachelor of Counselling (Coaching) and he hopes to see a world where some of the major causes of crime – i.e., lack of education, safety, and housing – are acknowledged as a responsibility of the whole community to work to improve, and so see crime rates truly drop. Career highlights:
- Being recipient of the 2021 Tasmanian Minister’s ATOD Sector Emerging Leader Award
- Three months of mission work in Mozambique
- Breakout bestselling novel The Bluffs, 2020, Penguin Random House Australia
Daniel Vautin
Sector Development Manager
A compassionate and energetic people leader and teammate, Dan fights with quiet integrity for what is right. He does so with humour and humility, thinking deeply and widely, all the while keeping things fun with a sprinkling of dad jokes. Dan balances serious intelligence with a light heart and an open mind.Read more✖Daniel Vautin
A compassionate and energetic people leader and teammate, Dan fights with quiet integrity for what is right. He does so with humour and humility, thinking deeply and widely, all the while keeping things fun with a sprinkling of dad jokes. Dan balances serious intelligence with a light heart and an open mind. Curiosity keeps him moving forward – and he is currently studying a Bachelor of Science in Psychological Science at Swinburne University. One of a rare breed of people who can play in both the strategic and operational spaces with ease, Dan has been responsible throughout his career for the development and execution of ideas ranging from start-up business development to AOD pilot program creation. Whether managing the operations of the worlds largest wild-caught abalone exporter or playing an integral role in the early days of the Mates4Mates veterans charity in Tasmania, people have been central to Dan’s work. Dan would love to see a future where everyone feels a sense of belonging and connection. Career highlights:
- More than doubled the funding, delivering a sustainable future for a key ATOD primary prevention program in Tasmania
- Successfully brought the Alcohol and Other Drug Cognitive Enhancement program to pilot stage in Tasmanian community-managed ATOD treatment services.
- Learning that the heart has 40,000 neurons, effectively being a second brain in the body. Mind blown!
Ruzina Dahal
Sector Development and Finance/Admin Officer
Others in the team describe Ruzina as a ‘future CEO’ – hardly surprising given her work ethic, ability to seek out creative solutions, and penchant for coffee. Ruzina is a friendly and funny member of the team, leaning into positivity with the freshness of youth!Read more✖Ruzina Dahal
Others in the team describe Ruzina as a ‘future CEO’ – hardly surprising given her work ethic, ability to seek out creative solutions, and penchant for coffee. Ruzina is a friendly and funny member of the team, leaning into positivity with the freshness of youth! She has worked in community administration roles as well as finance roles nationally and internationally, and she brings that experience and cultural knowledge to the ATDC team. In the future, Ruzina would love to see young people be more aware of the longer term impacts of drug use in youth. Career highlights:
- Management of the ATDC’s International Overdose Awareness Day program of events
- Governance mentorship
- Coordination of the biennial Tasmanian ATOD Awards
- Completion of a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounts from the Australian Catholic University and a Bachelor of Social Work from St Xavier’s College Maitighar.
Contact the Lived Experience Advocate Service
You can get in touch with the Lived Experience Advocate Service using the form on this page, phone 03 6231 5002 or email leas@atdc.org.au.
Information sent through the contact form on this page will be forwarded to the LEAS Coordinator, and any personal information received will be managed as described in our privacy policy.
