Your invitation to the 30th APSAD 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 national capital – for the 30th APSAD conference which will be held from 28 November to 1 December 2010.

Located on the traditional lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, Canberra’s name (originally ‘Ngambri’ or ‘Kamberri’) is thought to mean ‘meeting place’. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia 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 fitting place to gather for the APSAD 2010 conference to see how far we have come in 30 years.

Under the title, Building on the Capital, the conference will feature an exciting program with a focus on innovative treatment, prevention, law enforcement and policy in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

The conference will feature both Australian and international speakers. It will offer a range of presentations and workshops. As the Seat of Government, Canberra is a focus of drug policy activity, highlighting this important component of our sector.

Conference participants will also have opportunities to interact with Canberra-based service delivery agencies, gaining an understanding of local issues and achievements.

Conference participants are encouraged to use both traditional modes of communication such as oral and poster presentations, as well as other styles of engagement such as participatory workshops and debates/discussions.

Canberra is an excellent base from which to explore the many treasures of the surrounding region. Discover historic villages like Braidwood and Bungendore, natural wonders such as the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Namadgi National Park, the beautiful NSW 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 spirit at the Australian War Memorial; or experience Sidney Nolan’s Ned Kelly Series at the National Gallery of Australia.

Together with the APSAD Council and the Canberra alcohol, tobacco and other drug sector agencies, I look forward to welcoming you to the national capital for this important event.

David McDonald
Director, Social Research & Evaluation Pty Ltd
Visiting Fellow, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, ANU
30th APSAD Conference Convenor