Welcome to the DANA 2018 ‘It Starts with Us’ Conference

26-27 July 2018

#DANAconf2018

Melbourne is the destination city for this year’s event.

The host venue is Building 16, Storey Hall, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) situated in the heart of the CBD.

‘It Starts with Us’ will provide attendees the opportunity to hear from, and network with, leaders in the field from across Australia, New Zealand, the USA and the UK.  It will be a chance to share local and global knowledge about contemporary issues and effective clinical practice. This is the opportunity for Drug and Alcohol Nurses from across Australasia to seek inspiration from, and connect with, our esteemed colleagues.

The DANA Conference theme, ‘It Starts with Us’, asks us to consider our pivotal role as drug and alcohol nurses. We see the impact of alcohol and other drug misuse daily. We know that the impact of this is far more than just the physical consequences and recognise that we need to understand each of these to determine how best to look after those in our care.  Hence ‘It Starts with Us’. We acknowledge that it is a time of change and a period of transition for our workforce and endeavour to support the development of the workforce of the future. It Starts with Us to steer this course.

The Conference reflects the National Drug Strategy (2017 – 2026), ‘to build safe, healthy and resilient …communities through preventing and minimising alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related health, social, cultural and economic harms among individuals, families and communities.’

The DANA ‘It Starts with Us’ Conference will:

• provide an opportunity for nurses to showcase their research
• build awareness among attendees about national and international issues, policies and strategies related to alcohol and other drugs
• increase knowledge about current research and how this translates into best clinical practice
• increase knowledge about the impact of alcohol and drug use
• allow you to network, engage and learn from consumers, colleagues, representatives from government and non-government agencies and key stakeholders
• strengthen drug and alcohol nursing workforce

Program highlights include

• Pre-conference workshops;
• Oration delivered by DANA Patron, Professor Margaret Hamilton;
• Acclaimed keynote speakers, including nursing experts, Dr Carmel Clancy, Dr Dana Murphy-Parker and Dr Katherine Fornili;
• Informative concurrent sessions addressing key alcohol and other drug topics;
• Conference entertainment and networking;
• Exclusive DANA member breakfast and AGM.