Australian Winter School Conference

🎤 Speaker Spotlight: Dr Cheneal Puljevic

We were pleased to hear from Dr Cheneal Puljevic, Senior Research Fellow at the School of Public Health at The University of Queensland, at Australian Winter School 2026.

In her plenary, “Understanding consumer demand for illicitly traded to***co products,” Dr Puljevic shared findings from two complementary studies exploring how people navigate Australia's evolving illicit to***co market and what influences their purchasing decisions.

Drawing on survey data from people who smoke in public places across Brisbane and interviews with illicit to***co consumers across four Australian states, the presentation explored the role of availability, price, social normalisation, perceptions of product quality and attitudes towards government regulation.

Cheneal’s soon to be published research suggests the reasons why people prefer illicit to***co products is more complicated than price.

Thank you, Dr Puljevic, for sharing your research and insights and contributing to the important conversations at Australian Winter School 2026.

🎤Keynote Spotlight: Dr James Martin

Reflecting on the conference theme Risky Business in his plenary “Nicotine: The latest escalation of Australia’s war on drugs,” Dr Martin explored the rapid growth of Australia’s illicit ni****ne market and the broader implications of increasing restrictions on the legal supply of ni****ne products.

Drawing on his extensive research into illicit markets, drug policing and Australia’s illicit ni****ne market, Dr Martin examined the scale and drivers of the market, the role of organised crime, and the growing government response through law enforcement.

So what do we do? Reduce to***co excise to reduce the regulatory push towards the illicit to***co market and legalise vapes with a priority of moving smokers to less harmful va**ng products.

Thank you, Dr Martin, for sharing your research and insights and contributing to the important conversations at Australian Winter School 2026.

Panel Discussion from Australian Winter School 2026: Wholistic Responses to Family and Domestic Violence

The panel explored the intersection between family and domestic violence (DFV) and alcohol and other drug use, highlighting the important role AOD services can play in recognising and responding to people experiencing violence and people who use violence.

The panel also challenged common myths around AOD use and DFV and explored how AOD services are well placed to provide holistic, trauma-informed and person-centred support to people experiencing violence, as well as resisting collusion and maintaining accountability in providing treatmen to people who use violence.

The panel agreed that AOD services could support staff to do more to understand the more subtle signs of violence, and the normalisation of violence in many Women’s experience.

A big thank you to our panellists:

Raja Clay – QNADA (panel facilitator)
Anoushka Dowling – Lives Lived Well
Natalie B – DVConnect
Thelma Yeatman – Gindaja
Peta Steedman – CQID

Thank you for sharing your expertise, experiences and perspectives, and for contributing to such an important conversation at Australian Winter School 2026.

🎤 Keynote Spotlight: Emily Hughes

A big thank you to Emily Hughes, Principal Science Advisor at the New Zealand Drug Foundation – Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri, for her excellent keynote at Australian Winter School 2026.

Reflecting on the conference theme of Risky Business, Emily explored the intersection of neurodivergence and substance use, drawing on the New Zealand Drug Foundation's research and the lived experiences of people with neurodivergent conditions who use substances.

The presentation highlighted the importance of understanding the unique experiences, perspectives and support needs of neurodivergent people, and considered what a neurodiversity-informed approach to treatment, harm reduction and policy could look like. AOD services can adjust their approach by providing low sensory spaces, reduced group counselling sessions. Be curious and keep people with ADHD or autism centred in the response.

Thank you, Emily for sharing your expertise, research and lived experience and contributing to the important conversations at Australian Winter School 2026.

Panel Discussion from Australian Winter School 2026: Holding Space for What Works: what to do when what we know isn’t what we do.

Bringing together perspectives from across the AOD, harm reduction, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and LGBTIQA+ sectors, the panel explored the challenges of progressing evidence-based policy and practice in a changing political landscape.

The panel explored the role of the sector in supporting broader community understanding of evidence, challenging misconceptions, and creating pathways for people who want to become more involved in advocating for evidence-based policy and practice.

Panelists were optimistic that holding space for what we already know works and continuing to advocate for evidence based policy is the best way forward. Also taking care of each other!

A big thank you to our panellists:

Rebecca Lang – QNADA (panel facilitator)
Cameron Francis – The Loop Australia
Rebecca Johnson OAM – Queensland LGBTIQA+ Alliance
Tiana Lea – QAIHC
Emma Kill – QuIVAA
Geoff Davey – QuIHN

Thank you for sharing your expertise, experiences and perspectives, and for contributing to such an important conversation at Australian Winter School 2026.

🎤 Keynote Spotlight: Nicole Luongo

Rounding out a brilliant opening session at Australian Winter School 2026 was Nicole Luongo, Systems Change Analyst at the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition.

Reflecting on the conference theme of Risky Business, Nicole explored what the future of the alcohol and other drugs sector could look like beyond traditional approaches to drug prohibition in her keynote titled “If we keep looking back, we’ll keep going that way”.

Drawing on her experience in drug policy, advocacy and working alongside people most impacted by punitive drug policies, Nicole reflected on the importance of evidence, public health, human rights, dignity, autonomy and choice in shaping the future of drug policy.

Nicole clearly demonstrated the impact of unregulated drug supply on overdose deaths in British Columbia and highlighted the way that opponents if harm reduction made decriminalisation responsible for drug harms more correctly attributed to the unregulated toxic drug supply.

Thank you, Nicole for sharing your expertise and insights and contributing to the important conversations at Australian Winter School 2026.

🎤Keynote Spotlight: Dr Vanessa Lee Ah Mat

A powerful opening keynote from Dr Vanessa Lee Ah Mat, Black Lorikeet Consultant and Associate Professor at the University of Sydney, at Australian Winter School 2026.

Dr Lee Ah Mat explored the intersection of social determinants, culture and substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, highlighting the importance of understanding substance use within the broader social and cultural contexts in which people live.

Vanessa reminded us of the importance of cultural connection to the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations peoples and the ways that unmet social determinants drive problems with substance use.

Thank you, Dr Lee Ah Mat, for sharing your expertise and insights and contributing to the important conversations at Australian Winter School 2026.

ONLY 2 DAYS TO GO!

In just two days, we’ll be welcoming our delegates to Australian Winter School 2026. We are excited to be seeing you all sharing thoughts, research, ideas and laughs.

When: 19–21 August 2026
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Check out our final program here for the lineup of Keynotes and breakout sessions: https://www.winterschool.org.au/aws-program

🎉 The FINAL program for Australian Winter School 2026 is here!

With less than a week to go, we’re getting ready to welcome the AOD sector to Brisbane for two days of thought-provoking conversations, learning, connection and collaboration.

Under this year’s theme, Risky Business: IYKYK, the conference will explore the innovations, challenges and emerging issues shaping evidence-informed AOD treatment, policy and system reform.

- Hear from leading voices across the sector
- Connect with colleagues and peers from across Australia
- Take part in thought-provoking keynote presentations, panels and breakout sessions
- Explore new ideas, perspectives and approaches shaping the future of the sector

🔗 Check out the FINAL program and explore the incredible lineup of keynote speakers, panels and breakout sessions: https://www.winterschool.org.au/aws-program

ONLY 2 WEEKS TO GO!

Australian Winter School 2026 is almost here, and we are looking forward to welcoming delegates from across the AOD sector for two days of learning, connection and collaboration.

This year's program explores the challenges, innovations and emerging issues shaping the AOD sector through thought-provoking keynote presentations, practical sessions and valuable networking opportunities.

When: 19–21 August 2026
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Register for our FREE preconference workshops here:

1. Resisting Collusion & Motivating Change: Working with Men who Use Intimate Partner Violence: https://events.humanitix.com/resisting-collusion-and-motivating-change-working-with-men-who-use-intimate-partner-violence-training

2. Introduction to Harm Reduction: https://events.humanitix.com/queensland-injectors-voice-for-advocacy-and-action-quivaa-workshop

Check out our draft program here: https://www.winterschool.org.au/aws-program