Dr Suzie Hudson

Clinical Director, Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA)
December 2015
Each issue we ask someone from the alcohol and other drug sector to share a little about their work and life.

This weekend I will...

Build a robot out of cardboard… with my kids!

I wish I’d never given up

The recorder – but everyone else is.

I’d originally planned to work

As an actor… not sure why that didn’t work out?

The qualities I most value in my colleagues are …

That they like me… and a sense of humour.

I’ll never forget

Agreeing to fasting for Ramadan as a mark of respect in the Maldives while working as a consultant with UNICEF …but then forgetting to break the fast at sunset and wondering why I felt so spaced out at 10pm.

If I had more time, I’d …

Write some killer articles from my PhD.

I’m most scared of …

Donald Trump becoming president.

For my next holiday

I will be jetting off to Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane – I’ll send you a postcard!

I can’t get enough

Talk about methamphetamine…

But seriously I am currently getting a real kick out of running Methamphetamine training sessions. Encouraging workers not to be overwhelmed by the hype and be confident in their ability to engage people through compassion, understanding and respect.

I’m really terrible at …

Just about all administrative tasks. It is a serious deficit and means that my colleagues are wonderfully patient with me.

Career wise I’m most proud of

Where I am now – working with NADA and the incredible talent and commitment I see all around me in the NGO AOD sector, while continuing to deliver training, consult on projects and provide counselling support to my clients. Experiences over the years in AOD have opened incredible doors for me and for that I will always be grateful.

My big hope for the drug and alcohol sector is

For harm minimisation to ACTUALLY be central to the way in which we develop policy, treatment and support for people who use drugs.

The sector’s biggest challenge going forward is…

Attracting some new blood and retaining them – the AOD sector cannot live on passion and good will alone.

DR SUZIE HUDSON

Dr Suzie Hudson is the Clinical Director at the Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA). Dr Hudson is an accredited Mental Health Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers and has over 16 years clinical experience in the fields of substance misuse, mental health, forensics, research and evaluation. Suzie has worked, developed and managed community-based and residential alcohol and drug services both in Australia and overseas. She joined NADA in 2012 as a consultant and a year later she signed up more permanently. Currently working on Project Managing the NADA MDS/COMS data collection and training for members, Suzie has a PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine and a passion for engaging with social change.