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Representatives from Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing Program, Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section, photo by Helene Cochaud

Winners of the sixth biennial AOD Awards for the NSW Non-Government Sector were announced at the award ceremony, held on 6 June, at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

Dr Michael Holland, MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health presented the awards.

The awards acknowledge the significant contribution of the sector in preventing and reducing alcohol and other drug related harms across NSW communities through leadership, program design and delivery, and dedicated workforce.

Award categories

First Nations
This award recognises the significant contribution of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals or Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs). This award is eligible to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person working in a mainstream or ACCO organisation or to an ACCO organisation or program that has made a significant and/or meaningful commitment and contribution to preventing and/or minimising alcohol and other drug related harms in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Winner: Rebecca Riseley NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA)

Excellence in treatment
This award recognises excellence and/or innovation in treatment to prevent and/or reduce alcohol and other drug related harms. This includes the delivery of services, quality and safety, programs and initiatives for individuals or specific populations.
Winner: Pathways Home Youth Program, Community Restorative Centre

Outstanding contribution by an individual or team/program with living/lived experience (LLE)
This award celebrates the outstanding contribution by a person with living/lived experience currently in an identified LLE position in an NGO drug and alcohol service in NSW. Eligible individuals may be working in a mainstream or peer led organisation and have made a meaningful commitment and contribution to assist people accessing AOD services, inform the way services are delivered to better meet people’s needs and elevate the value of the LLE workforce. This award may also recognise the significant achievements of an LLE team or program.
Winner: Bo Justin Xiao M3THOD Program, ACON

AOD frontline champion
This award recognises an outstanding frontline worker in a NSW NGO drug and alcohol service. This person will have made a significant contribution to supporting clients and creating meaningful change that benefits the NGO AOD sector.
Winner: Shane Mehew, Mission Australia
Winner: Callum Mokaraka, Weigelli Centre Aboriginal Corporation

Excellence in health promotion and/or harm reduction
This award recognises excellence and/or innovation to prevent and/or reduce alcohol and other drug related harms. This includes health promotion, harm reduction, community development, prevention and consumer engagement or peer worker activities.
Winner: Guiding Rural Outback Wellbeing Program, Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section

Excellence in research and evaluation
This award recognises individuals or organisations that contributed to building the evidence base for practices to prevent and/or reduce alcohol and other drug related harms.
Winner: Lives Lived Well

Outstanding contribution to the sector
This award recognises the significant contribution of an individual working in the non government alcohol and other drugs sector.
Winner: Latha Nithyanandam, Alcohol and Drug Foundation NSW, Kathleen York House