2025 NDRI Symposium Program

Tuesday 4 March, 2025
Esplanade Hotel Fremantle by Rydges (Island Suite) and online

Note: Program is indicative only. All times are AWST (UTC+08:00) – For AEDT: +3 hours, AEST: +2 hours, ACDT: +2.5 hours, ACST: +1.5 hours

8.15 – 8.45am REGISTRATION
8.45 – 9.00am Welcome to Country
9.00 – 9.05am Welcome
Professor Simon Lenton – Outgoing NDRI Director
9.05 – 9.10am Curtin University Address
Professor Carol MarraPro-Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences
9.10 – 9.50am KEYNOTE ADDRESS: ALCOHOL – A GLOBAL PROBLEM NEEDING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Sir Professor Ian GilmoreUniversity of Liverpool and Chair, Alcohol Health Alliance UK
9.50 – 10.05am Shame, stigma and stereotyping
Dr Sam Colledge-FrisbyNDRI Research Fellow
10.05 – 10.20am Experiences of Aboriginal women accessing post-release supports in Perth
Emma TufugaNDRI
10.20 – 10.50am MORNING TEA
10.50 – 11.05am People who smoke methamphetamine and interactions with police
Dr Shelley WalkerNDRI Research Fellow
11.05 – 11.20am Imprisonment among people who use drugs
Dr Michael CurtisNDRI Research Associate
11.20 – 11.35am Domestic violence against women who are pregnant
Dr Nyanda McBrideNDRI Associate Professor and Prevention and Early Intervention Program Leader
11.35 – 11.50am Trends and gender differences in young people’s drinking in Australia
Emma VieiraNDRI Research Officer
11.50 – 12.05pm Growing alcohol affordability in Australia and how this can be addressed through minimum unit pricing
Dr Nic TaylorNDRI Research Fellow
12.05 – 12.20pm Vested interests in alcohol policy
Julia StaffordNDRI PhD Scholar
12.20 – 1.10pm LUNCH
1.10 – 1.50pm KEYNOTE ADDRESS: NEW SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS AND OTHER EMERGING DRUGS - THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION AND LOCAL IMPLICATIONS
Paul GriffithsIncoming NDRI Director and Outgoing European Union Drugs Agency Scientific Director
1.50 – 2.05pm Methamphetamine use, injecting drug use and treatment, and criminal justice outcomes
Shady Abdelsalam NDRI PhD Scholar
2.05 – 2.25pm Nitrous oxide: Update on survey trends, clinical presentations, and regulatory responses in WA
Dr Jodie GriggNDRI Research Fellow, Dr Jessamine SoderstromEmergency Physician, Clinical Toxicologist, Royal Perth Hospital and Neil Keen – Director of the Public Health Regulation Directorate
2.25 – 2.45pm Nicotine vapes: harm minimisation at work or gateway?
Leen BlackburnNDRI
2.45 – 3.15pm AFTERNOON TEA
3.15 – 4.45pm EXPERT PANEL: WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE AOD POLICY AND PRACTICE IN 2025 AND BEYOND
The AOD community works well together to inform, influence and improve AOD policy and practice. Panellists will consider what they see as the coming challenges and opportunities in AOD and reflect on what have we learned, and what can we improve, to best respond. The format will be 5 mins opening statements by each panellist followed by discussion and Q & A.

Panel members:
4.45 – 4.50pm Panel facilitator summary
Professor Steve AllsopPanel Chair
4.50 – 4.55pm Closing remarks
Professor Simon Lenton – Outgoing NDRI Director and Paul Griffiths – Incoming NDRI Director
5 – 6.30pm SYMPOSIUM NETWORKING EVENT (IN-PERSON)