Your invitation to the APSAD 2010 conference

On behalf of the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD), I am pleased to invite you to join me in Canberra – Australia’s capital, for the 2010 conference. 
 
Located on the lands of the Ngunnawal people, Canberra’s name is thought to mean ‘meeting place’ which is derived from the Aboriginal word Kamberra. The Federal Parliament designated Canberra as the national capital in 1908, and APSAD held its first annual meeting there in 1981 with the title “Recent Advances in Knowledge Concerning Alcohol and other Drugs”. This makes Canberra a more than fitting place to gather for the APSAD 2010 conference to see how far we have come in 29 years.

Under the title, Building on the Capital, the conference will feature an exciting program including international and national speakers with a focus on new treatment, prevention and policy in the areas of drug and alcohol research.

The conference will delve not only into content relevant to the Asia Pacific region but also local issues such as the Alexander Maconochie Centre, a prison that operates in accordance with ACT Human Rights Standards as well as the heavily subsidised community opiod treatment program an area close to my heart, that of community pharmacists and general practitioners. In addition, it will offer a range of presentations and workshops that have international relevance.

Featuring original work from the field, we are encouraging not only traditional modes of presentation such as oral and poster presentations, participatory workshops and debates/discussions but also alternative presentation styles such as film, yarning circles and artwork.

Canberra is a fantastic base from which to explore the many treasures of the surrounding region. Discover historic townships like Braidwood and Bungendore, natural wonders such as the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park, the beautiful South Coast or the famous Snowy Mountains. Within the city itself, take a tour with an elite athlete at the Australian Institute of Sport; see Phar Lap’s heart at the National Museum of Australia; feel the ANZAC spirt at the Australian War Memorial or experience Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series at the National Gallery of Australia.

Together with APSAD and our various Committee’s, I look forward to welcoming you to Canberra for this important event.

Kevin Foreman
Pharmacist for Alcohol and Drug Program
ACT Health
2010 Convenor