The Co-Chairs will work with attendees to develop and prioritise solutions that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of the community and address other important issues including:
Equity, respect and inclusion
Safety and justice
Keeping people safe
Integrated care and social support
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park has also confirmed the Drug Summit will host two regional forums in Griffith on Friday, 1 November and Lismore on Monday, 4 November.
The regional forums will ensure the unique experiences of people in regional NSW are reflected in the deliberations of the summit.
The Drug Summit will bring together medical experts, police, people with lived and living experience, drug user organisations, families, service providers and other stakeholders to provide a range of perspectives and build consensus on the way NSW deals with drug use and harms.
Minister for Health Ryan Park stated:
“I’m so pleased to announce today the appointment of two respected co-chairs to lead this important process.
“Former Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt and former Opposition Leader John Brogden bring a wealth of experience and have a deep understanding of the sensitivity, and complexity of issues that will be canvassed at the Summit.
“They both bring experience of being in public office and working with communities to find solutions to complex issues.
“Taking the Summit to regional areas like Lismore and Griffith is integral because we know that drug use impacts communities in many different ways. The drug summit will bring people together to find new ways forward to tackle this incredibly complex and difficult problem.”
Co-Chair Carmel Tebbutt said:
“Twenty-four years ago, I participated in the first Drug Summit, which saw important improvements to drug treatment services and policy.
“While much has changed since then, we know illicit drug use still causes significant harm to individuals, families and communities.
“I am honoured to serve as Co-Chair for the 2024 Drug Summit and look forward to the summit bringing together diverse perspectives to develop compassionate and effective evidence-based actions.”
Co-Chair John Brogden AM said:
“Ultimately, we want to save more lives.
“The summit will listen to professionals and, importantly the community, to see how we can do that across all areas where government and the public intersects with drug use and related crime.”
Mr. Brogden has an extensive history of community service through his representational roles with social welfare organisations including Lifeline, business and financial sectors and the Parliament of NSW, for which he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Co-Chair John Brogden AM
The upcoming NSW Drug Summit is welcomed by Odyssey House NSW, where Carmel Tebbutt serves as CEO.
The Summit aims to bring together policymakers, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and individuals with lived experience, to discuss innovative strategies for tackling drug-related issues.
Odyssey House NSW, a leading provider of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, views this summit as a pivotal opportunity to develop a more effective and compassionate approach to addiction treatment and prevention, addressing stigma and improving outreach to families and friends and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, the organisation said in a statement.
''The 1999 NSW Drug Summit was a significant turning point in drug and alcohol policy including the establishment of the first medically supervised injecting facility in Kings Cross.
Community Drug Action Teams (CDATs) were another initiative to emerge from the 1999 Summit and now operate across NSW, preventing and reducing health, social and economic harms related to drug and alcohol use. The CDATs are managed by a consortia, that is led by Odyssey House along with three partner members.''
The 2024 summit is poised to deliver a new round of ground-breaking, life-saving reforms to support people facing addictions.
Carmel Tebbutt, CEO of Odyssey House NSW, highlights the importance of a holistic approach to reform.
“We need comprehensive responses to the myriad of issues that impact on a person’s AOD use. The Summit provides a unique opportunity to collaborate on evidence-based solutions that prioritise the health and well-being of individuals and communities. We need to reduce stigma, support recovery, reduce harm, and promote long-term wellness.”
Carmel went on to highlight the critical role of accessible treatment services in addressing substance use.
“Ensuring that people have access to high-quality, evidence-based treatment is essential. At Odyssey, we witness the transformative power of comprehensive support every day. Each year we provide well over 6000 treatment episodes, yet we know about 40% of the people who need support are unable to access it. The Drug Summit is an opportunity to discuss how we can make prevention and recovery a reality for many more people.”
Odyssey House NSW has been at the forefront of AOD treatment for almost 50 years, providing residential rehabilitation, outpatient services, and community programs designed to support individuals and families affected by substance use. The organisations holistic approach addresses the physical, psychological, and social aspects of addiction, promoting sustainable recovery and reintegration into society. It is important the Drug Summit incorporates the voice of front-line service providers such as Odyssey House NSW, many Odyssey staff have their own lived experience and have invaluable insights to share.
As the Drug Summit approaches, Odyssey House NSW looks forward to working with the Government, healthcare providers, and community organisations on innovative, effective solutions.
“The challenges of addiction are too significant to be addressed in isolation. It is collective action and shared commitment that can lead to meaningful change in the lives of those affected by drug use.” the organisation stated
Carmel Tebbutt, CEO of Odyssey House NSW
Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) CEO, Dr Robert Stirling, welcomed progress towards the NSW Drug Summit including the announcements of Carmel Tebbutt and John Brogden as co-Chairs.
Dr Stirling said the Summit is an opportunity to bring NSW drug policy into line with modern community expectations and address the stigma and discrimination toward people who use drugs and their families.
“Ms Tebbutt and Mr Brogden are both highly regarded, and we look forward to working with them on formulating an evidence-based drug policy that looks beyond the current approaches,” said Dr Stirling.
“We need to learn from the experiences across Australia and overseas to understand if approaches can be applied in the NSW context. We have full confidence that all participants in this process will approach it with open minds and a focus on evidence-based decision-making.
“There also needs to be a focus on dismantling barriers to treatment and adequately funding support services.”
The Government today confirmed the Drug Summit will comprise two regional forums in Griffith on Friday, 1 November and Lismore on Monday, 4 November ahead of a two-day event in Sydney on 4 and 5 December.
Bronwyn Hendry, CEO of Directions Health, which provides treatment and support for people who use drugs and community education in Griffith, said she welcomed the Drug Summit coming to regional NSW and the increased investment in drug and alcohol services in regional areas.
“However, there are still significant gaps in terms of geographical reach to the more remote communities,” she said.
“We’d also like to see an increase in harm reduction initiatives and for decriminalisation to be strongly considered following our positive experience with the reform in the ACT.”
Jenna Bateman, Chair of The Buttery, a provider of drug and alcohol services in Northern NSW for more than 50 years, welcomed the forum being held in Lismore.
“We have a first-hand understanding of the devastating and continuing impact of the 2022 floods,” she said. “The Lismore forum will be an opportunity to highlight the complex and unique challenges faced by the Lismore and Northern Rivers community and the need for a comprehensive response to drug, alcohol and mental health issues in the region”.
Late last year NADA released a Position Paper on the upcoming Drug Summit: How the upcoming NSW Drug Summit can deliver better outcomes for individuals, families and the community.