Drug and Alcohol Research Connections is a free, bi-monthly newsletter published jointly by three of Australia’s leading drug and alcohol research centres: the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) in Sydney; the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) in Perth and Melbourne; and the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) in Adelaide.
Connections covers the latest on research and publications, news and events from the three centres, with a focus on the translation of research into policy and practice. It also provides commentary and opinion on current issues of importance to the alcohol and other drug field.
Connections is aimed at policy makers, practitioners and agencies, academics and researchers, and anyone else wishing to stay informed about drug and alcohol research in Australia.
Connections is published every two months, with the first issue being launched in April 2014.
Connections replaces the CentreLines newsletter previously published by NDARC and NDRI.
To provide feedback on Connections or to contact the editors, please email: darconnections@gmail.com
About the Collaborative Network of National Alcohol and Drug Research Centres
The Collaborative Network of National Alcohol and Drug Research Centres consists of the three sister organisations that are supported by Australian Government funding under the Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvements Grants Fund:
- The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW
- The National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Curtin University
- The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) at Flinders University
The aim of the Collaborative Network is to further enhance the collaborative and complementary nature of alcohol and other drug research, capacity building and translational work conducted by the three centres in the context of the National Drug Strategy.
About NDARC
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre's (NDARC) mission is to conduct and disseminate high quality research and related activities that increases the effectiveness of responses to alcohol and other drug related harm. NDARC was established at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in May 1986 and officially opened in November 1987. It is funded by the Australian government as part of its National Drug Strategy.
The areas of work in which we seek to achieve outcomes are:
- The development and testing of new and existing interventions
- Improving the understanding of the nature and extent of AOD use and harm
- Building research capacity in the sector
- Conducting policy research
- Communicating the outcomes of research
About NDRI
Based at Curtin University in Perth, the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) is an integral part of the national strategy aimed at minimising the harm associated with legal and illegal drug use in Australia. Our mission is to conduct and disseminate high quality research that supports evidence informed policy, strategies and practice approaches to prevent and minimise alcohol and other drug-related health, social and economic harms among individuals, families and communities in Australia.
NDRI’s research priority areas align with the National Drug Strategy and are responsive to current and emerging Australian Government priorities regarding alcohol and other drugs. Our current focus is on conducting research and building capacity in the following six areas:
- Alcohol and other drug policy and strategies
- Needs of Aboriginal Australians
- Innovation in prevention and early intervention
- Social contexts of alcohol and other drug use
- Reducing harm among people who use alcohol and other drugs
- Innovation in the management of alcohol and other drug problems.
About NCETA
The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) focuses on the translation of research to practice. We promote evidence-based strategies to achieve professional and community behaviour change. Our mission is to improve the capacity of workers and organisations to respond to alcohol and other drug related problems. NCETA is nationally and internationally recognised for its work in workforce and organisational development and for the extensive range of evidence-based resources developed specifically to support workforce change. We specialise in making complex and disparate information readily accessible to workers and the community at large.
NCETA undertakes a broad range of research, development and resource production activities, centred around three key strategic areas:
- The promotion of workforce development principles, research and evaluation of effective practices
- The understanding of alcohol and other drug use in society, and effective policy and practice responses
- The evaluation and development of programs and resources for workplaces and other organisations.
NCETA is a collaborative venture between Flinders University and the Australian Government Department of Health, and is located within the School of Medicine at Flinders University in South Australia.
