2022 AWS Pre-conference Workshops

Note: Registration fees cover the cost of catering and venue hire, with a portion of these costs being subsidised by QNADA.

For any enquiries please contact QNADA via 07 3023 5050 or info@qnada.org.au

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Workshop: AOD Issues in Asylum Seeker and Refugee Background Communities: Training for AOD Workers

About the workshop

Learning objectives/outcomes/goals

The Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies and the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma collaborate to bring you and interactive workshop on dealing with AOD issues in asylum seeker and refugee background communities.

By the end of the workshop learners will have improved understanding of:

• Barriers to treatment for clients of refugee and asylum seeker background
• The effects of trauma and resettlement on clients
• Key elements of culturally competent practice
• Key communication challenges and ways to overcome them
• The importance of care for all elements of a person’s life
• Ways to better connect alcohol and other drug treatment services to migrant support services

About the facilitators

Tom Ogwang

Sector Capacity Building Officer, QNADA

Tom Ogwang is a Sector Capacity Building Officer at QNADA. Previously, Tom worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health research and teaching roles at the University of Queensland and has experience working in mental health and substance use treatment for young people and adults. He is also of refugee background and brings insight from that experience to this work and his broader role at QNADA.

Meriam Aman

Group Worker/ Volunteer Coordinator/ Counsellor / Advocate, QPASTT

Meriam has 8 years’ experience as working at Queensland Program of Assistance to the Survivors of Torture and Trauma. She currently works in group work settings at QPASTT as well being involved in family counselling, therapeutic groups, trauma counselling, and information sessions along with provision of supervision for external group work facilitators. Prior to working at QPASTT Meriam worked with headspace in their Early Psychosis Intervention Program, Kids Helpline and engaged in interventions within the Haematology/ Oncology departments at the Princes Alexandra Hospital. Meriam graduated in 2011 from Flinders University and holds Bachelors of Social Work and Social Planning. She is particularly interested in working across cultures, using collaborative approaches to strengthen family relationships and promote social inclusion. Meriam was born in Ethiopia and uses her experiences of living between two cultures to inform her work with QPASTT.

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Workshop: Trauma Informed Care

About the workshop

Learning objectives/outcomes/goals

Insight and Dovetail collaborate to bring you an interactive workshop on Trauma Informed Care for AOD Practice. The workshop is targeted towards AOD and mental health workers who wish to develop their understanding application of trauma informed care.

By the end of this workshop learners will be able to:

• Understand and define trauma, including prevalence, signs and symptoms
• Understand the neuroscience of trauma
• Describe and apply principles of Trauma Informed Care (TIC)
• Understand the links between substance use and treatment
• Build a trauma response tool kit to help respond to client needs
• Understand about worker self-care and healing

About the facilitators:

Michelle Taylor

Advanced Clinical Educator - Occupational Therapist

Michelle is an Occupational Therapist with over 25 years’ experience supporting clients, families and workers in the areas of alcohol and drugs and mental health. She has a keen interest in sensory approaches, occupational approaches, trauma informed care, family inclusive practice, and creative writing.

Dr Ben Walters

Advanced Clinical Educator - Psychologist

Ben is a Clinical Psychologist with approximately 10 years of experience working in the mental health sector. During this time, he has worked in a range of different service types including community mental health, hospital, private practice, and university settings. He also has a number of years of experience as a clinical educator, both designing and delivering training. Ben feels strongly about advocating for equal access to services, and fully understanding the people who utilise services. He also believes that, wherever possible, training and professional development should be fun and tries to bring this into his training deliveries. In his spare time, Ben is trying to get better at mountain biking.

About Insight

Insight are specialist providers of alcohol and other drug training, education, information and practice advice for workers and services. Insight provide progressive learning opportunities ranging from introductory level through to specialised discipline-specific professional development courses. Insight are committed to providing best practice, evidence-based clinical training and support for the state’s alcohol and drug workforce.