An integrated 360 view
Annual review
2024: A year of meaningful change
Some years it feels like things are going ‘to hell in a handbasket’, as my grandmother used to say. Global politics, disasters, cyber security. Closer to home, the ongoing cost of living crisis, workforce shortages, and growing demand for services placed immense pressure on the alcohol and other drug sector. Yet, in the face of these difficulties, we’ve seen remarkable resilience, innovation, and commitment from service providers, policymakers, and practitioners working tirelessly to support individuals and communities.
At 360Edge, we remained steadfast in our mission to drive meaningful change. In a tough fiscal environment, we worked alongside services, organisations, and governments to strengthen workforce capacity, embed evidence based practices, and advocate for much needed reform. We are proud to be a trusted partner in tackling complex issues, ensuring that services can continue to deliver the best possible support to those who need it most.
This year, we contributed to system reform through key policy discussions, producing high impact research, and equipping the sector with the tools to navigate emerging challenges. Whether addressing stigma, improving service models, or championing harm reduction, we remained committed to bold, evidence driven advocacy.
As always, I am incredibly grateful to the brilliant and passionate 360Edge team, whose expertise and dedication continue to shape the future of the sector. Their work ensures that no challenge is too great, no issue too complex, and no opportunity for improvement is left unexplored.
Looking ahead, we remain committed to supporting the sector through whatever comes next, always striving for better outcomes for services and the people they support.
Professor Nicole Lee, CEO
2024: Our year in review
Service Development and Program Evaluation
Our service development and program evaluation supports services to continue better responses to alcohol and other drug issues not only in the specialist alcohol and other drug sector, but also in the mental health, primary care, welfare, justice, and education sectors.
Examples of our Service Development work this year include developing a model of care for Calvary Riverina's Women's Wellness and Recovery Program and providing practice guidance for Launch Housing.
We evaluated a diverse range of programs, from DASA's methamphetamine outreach program to the nationally operating HepLink. We also worked with Brisbane South PHN to review their approach to commissioning the Psychological Therapies Program.
Workforce Development
Our approach to workforce development goes beyond education and training to a whole system approach to building capacity and sustainability.
In 2024, we delivered 19 public workshops to more than 200 participants, leading to real improvements in the knowledge, skills, and confidence of the alcohol and other drug and allied workforces across the country.
And we continued to partner with services across Australia to deliver more than 26 tailored commissioned training programs to over 300 participants.
We also worked with the Uniting Medically Supervised Injecting Centre to develop three eLearning modules for their team, and partnered with the Matilda Centre to develop a detailed train the trainer facilitation manual for the Comorbidity Guidelines Project.
Health Systems Development
We deliver specialist expertise in healthcare planning, with a key focus on working within budgetary constraints and ensuring service needs are met as efficiently as possible.
Our major Health Systems Development project for 2024 was our work with the Queensland PHNs, developing an innovative new approach to engage GPs in alcohol and other drug training.
Sector advisory and business support
We’ve worked in and managed alcohol and other drug frontline services for three decades, so we understand the sector inside and out.
In 2024, we undertook a rapid review of the literature to examine outcome domains that are relevant for young people in alcohol and other drug treatment and the best outcome tools to measure them.
We also worked with FORWAARD to develop a business case, supporting them ot expand their service footprint in Darwin.
WorkEdge
Our WorkEdge program provides a full suite of advisory services specifically designed to address alcohol and other drugs and mental health issues in the workplace.
In 2024, we worked with a major sporting organisation to review their model of care for responding to illicit drugs to ensure that it is evidence based, up to date, and practical.
We also partnered with a government entity to develop a best practice alcohol policy for their workplace.
Advocacy and thought leadership
At 360Edge, we are committed to public dissemination of the evidence to inform alcohol and other drug policy and practice, including advocacy in the media on the big issues impacting the health sector.
Our CEO Professor Nicole Lee continued to publish insightful and evidence based articles to The Conversation across 2024, and we featured in over 30 media stories on alcohol and other drugs.
We also made eight submissions to parliamentary inquiries and public consultations.
What Works
Our What Works series of evidence checks is designed to assist services, governments, and funders to keep up to date with the latest evidence in alcohol, tobacco and other drug responses.
In 2024, we published one new What Works report — What Works in Residential Rehabilitation for Alcohol and Other Drug Services.
Past annual reviews
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