Swimming with Crocodiles: Lessons learned from 40 years of trying to influence policy

Reflections of a sometime Government officer and academic on influencing drug policy

Drawn from last year’s James Rankin oration at the APSAD conference, Professor Steve Allsop will look at the divide between those who argue that researchers have a critical role in policy advocacy, and others who say this should be left to the bureaucrats and politicians. While research involves logical argument, fidelity and robust methods, politics and policy seem to be more about bargains, timing, the next election and predominant beliefs.

Dr Allsop will focus on the excellent work of Alison Ritter and Simon Lenton to examine the evidence but will include his personal experiences as someone who has worked in various government and academic roles.

Speaker Bio:

Professor Steve Allsop, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia

Steve Allsop has been involved in prevention, treatment and policy research & practice, & service management for almost 40 years, working in government & academic positions. He has been the Director of two Australian national drug research centres, in Adelaide (NCETA) & subsequently Perth (NDRI) & for many years he worked in senior roles with the WA Government Drug & Alcohol Office. Other current roles include: Chair WA Network of Alcohol & other Drug Agencies; Deputy Chair, Australian National Advisory Council on Alcohol & other Drugs; & member of Child Death & Domestic Violence Review Panel, Ombudsman (WA), & the Mental Health and Welfare Advisory Group Australian Defence Force. In 2015 he received the APSAD Senior Scientist Award, was the winner of the National Honour Roll as part of the 2017 Alcohol & Drug Excellence & Innovation Awards & delivered the 2019 James Rankin Oration.