This is a 1-day in person training.
Description: Working with cognitively impaired clients can be a significant challenge, particularly when access to assessment services and resources are limited. Cognitive difficulties may arise from a range of aetiologies including acquired brain injury, mental health, substance use, or neurodevelopmental differences and together, this can have a cumulative and adverse impact on treatment outcomes and recovery. This workshop will provide practical strategies for working with clients who present with or have concerns regarding cognitive difficulties. In particular, this workshop will cover four main themes:
- Recognising cognitive impairment
- Underlying aetiologies across the lifespan
- Supporting clients with cognitive impairment
- Referral pathways: When might assessment be indicated?
Date: Friday, 28th November 2025
Time: 9:30pM – 4:30PM
Location: Turning Point, 110 Church Street, Richmond, VIC 3121
Cost: Free
Who should attend: AOD clinicians, counsellors, support workers and allied health working in a Victorian Department of Health funded AOD organisation.
Registration: Click here to register
This is a Turning Point Connect & Learn one-hour webinar. To attend the webinar, click the link below to register.
Description: According to WHO, hepatitis C is the main cause death globally in people who inject drugs, yet it is easy to diagnose and treat. Australia has the potential to eliminate hepatitis C, but this requires a concerted effort to diagnose and treat HCV in PWID, not just those who have injected in the past but those who are continuing to inject drugs. While diagnostic and treatment pathways for HCV are simple, adapting them to the needs of our clients, rather than expecting our clients to adapt to our treatment systems, is the key to increasing the rates of diagnosis and treatment. This has implications for both the way we design our health care systems and the way we manage individuals within those systems. The webinar will be presented by A/Prof Nico Clark.
Date: Tuesday, 16 September 2025
Time: 1:00pM – 1:45PM
Location: Zoom
Cost: Free
Who should attend: This webinar is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation.
Registration: Click here to register
This is a one-hour Turning Point Connect & Learn webinar. To attend the webinar, click the link below to register.
Description: This presentation provides a brief overview of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and introduces key principles for working effectively with clients experiencing this. The presentation will aim to improve knowledge about the prevalence of comorbid mental health and substance use disorders, their relationship and impact on recovery. Dr Lea Foo and David Hill will provide tools and strategies to support addressing comorbid mental health conditions in the AOD space.
Date: Tuesday, 18 November 2025
Time: 1:00pM – 1:45PM
Location: Zoom
Cost: Free
Who should attend: This webinar is only available to staff who are working in a Victorian Department of Health (DH) funded AOD organisation.
Registration: Click here to register
Dates:
Day 1: Monday 19th May 2025 @ 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Day 2: Monday 26th May 2025 @ 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Online
Description:
Co-occurring mental health issues are the norm rather than the exception among people seeking alcohol and other drug treatment. Across this 2-day workshop you will learn how to adapt and expand your existing alcohol and other drug treatment skills to assist your clients with managing mental health symptoms.
Deepen your understanding of co-occurring mental health and alcohol and other drug issues and build your knowledge, confidence and skills to better understand clients’ needs, respond effectively, and adapt treatment. Find out what you need to know about the different co-occurring conditions you may encounter and how to effectively incorporate best practice responses into your treatment.
Key learning outcomes:
- Recognise and understand the common mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment
- Undertake a thorough assessment and develop an integrated case formulation to guide your practice
- Apply a range of alcohol and other drug treatment skills to working with clients with co-occurring mental health conditions
- Learn how to respond therapeutically and effectively within the bounds of the alcohol and other drug treatment setting
Eligibility Criteria
This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service.
Who is not eligible?
Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.
Terms & Conditions
Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.
Dates:
Day 1: Monday 19th May 2025 @ 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Day 2: Monday 26th May 2025 @ 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Location: Online
Description:
Co-occurring mental health issues are the norm rather than the exception among people seeking alcohol and other drug treatment. Across this 2-day workshop you will learn how to adapt and expand your existing alcohol and other drug treatment skills to assist your clients with managing mental health symptoms.
Deepen your understanding of co-occurring mental health and alcohol and other drug issues and build your knowledge, confidence and skills to better understand clients’ needs, respond effectively, and adapt treatment. Find out what you need to know about the different co-occurring conditions you may encounter and how to effectively incorporate best practice responses into your treatment.
Key learning outcomes:
- Recognise and understand the common mental health conditions in alcohol and other drug treatment
- Undertake a thorough assessment and develop an integrated case formulation to guide your practice
- Apply a range of alcohol and other drug treatment skills to working with clients with co-occurring mental health conditions
- Learn how to respond therapeutically and effectively within the bounds of the alcohol and other drug treatment setting
Eligibility Criteria
This training has been funded for workers employed in a Victorian State-funded Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service.
Who is not eligible?
Students on placement or internships, workers from other community sectors such as Family Violence, Homelessness and Mental Health and AOD workers outside of Victoria.
Terms & Conditions
Please ensure you have clearance from your line manager to attend. If you cannot attend, cancel your registration and make your spot available to someone else on the waitlist.
The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.
Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.
4th December, 2024
When less is more: Deprescribing in the AOD context
Presenter – Dr Dan Pham
Dr Daniel Pham is an addiction psychiatrist at Turning Point, currently working across its Statewide Services in Richmond and Turning Point Eastern Treatment Services in Box Hill. He undertook his general psychiatry training at St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne before going on to complete advanced training in addiction psychiatry at Turning Point. His area of interest includes the treatment of persons with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders including pharmacological, psychological and social intervention modalities.
Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO
Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.
Go to Form
The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.
Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.
25th September, 2024
Title – What’s going on inside the head? Exploring the neurobiology of substance use and addiction
Presenter – Dr Anthony Hew
Anthony is an addiction psychiatrist currently working in forensic mental health and private in-patient addiction and dual diagnosis treatment programs. He has additional interests in addiction and mental health research, teaching, capacity building and clinical service development.
Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO
Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.
Go to Form
The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.
Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.
20th November, 2024
The invisible supports: Families and carers of people living with substance use problems or addiction
Presenter – Dr Keri Alexander
Dr Keri Alexander is an addiction medicine specialist at Hamilton Centre and Austin Health and has many years of experience in a variety of AOD and family violence programs, including Family Drug Helpline. She advocates for people living with substance use and addiction issues, as well as their carers, to be treated with dignity and respect.
Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO
Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.
Go to Form
The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.
Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.
23rd October, 2024
When too much caution can mean too little care: CAPA – Community Access to Pharmacotherapy for Alcohol
Presenter – Dr Paul McCartney
Alcohol Use Disorder is a prevalent condition, yet access to effective, evidence-based medical treatments remains significantly inadequate. This discussion aims to explore the available treatments and emphasise our collective responsibility to ensure their utilization.
Dr Paul McCartney is a General Practitioner and Addiction Medicine Specialist who has worked in Community Health in Fitzroy and Collingwood for the past 24 years. He has particular interests in addiction medicine, homelessness and mental health. Paul has also worked in the role of Clinical Mentor for the North West Pharmacotherapy Network helping to support GPs to manage opiate dependent patients and was an advisor for the GP Clinical Advisory Service. He also ran a GP addiction medicine clinic in Shepparton for seven years. Paul has provided training in opioid agonist treatment over a number of years to many GPs and other health practitioners and continues to supervise GP and Addiction Medicine Registrars in community health. Paul is passionate about people wanting help with substance use problems being able to access appropriate treatments. Paul has three children and shares a farm in Nagambie with two other families where he tends an organic orchard and nut grove and keeps bees.
Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO
Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.
Go to Form
The AOD Collaborative ECHO (ACECHO) partnership involves VAADA, Turning Point, and Goulburn Valley Health. This dedicated ECHO for Victorian AOD state-funded services aims to enhance the capabilities of AOD workers in addressing substance use issues among their clients. The primary objective of these sessions is to foster a community of AOD workers with varying levels of expertise, united by the shared goal of improving the well-being, and achieving positive outcomes, for individuals with problematic substance use.
Conducted under the guidance of Turning Point, each session commences with a presentation delivered by a Turning Point expert or a related professional, focusing on a specific topic. This is followed by an in-depth case consultation, during which attendees have the opportunity to ask questions or offer recommendations based on a case study presented by one of the participants.
28th August, 2024
Seeking Relief: Opioids & Pain
Presenter – Dr Adam Straub
This presentation will look at a review of the intersection between pain management and Opioid Use Disorder, how to identify Opioid Use Disorder in individuals presenting with pain syndromes and develop skills in approaching and supporting individuals with these presentation.
Dr Adam Straub, an Addiction Medicine and General Medicine Physician at Ballarat Health Services, graduated from The University of Melbourne in 2008 and developed a strong interest in Addiction Medicine after working in critical care and emergency departments. He is an advocate for opioid agonist therapy and harm minimisation education, actively supporting medical students and colleagues across various disciplines.
Submit a Case Presentation to ACECHO
Case presentations by participating healthcare providers are the cornerstone of the ECHO model. Presentations are always followed by an open Q & A discussion of the case and recommendations by the hub team. To submit a case study, click Go to Form.
Go to Form
