Advocacy
NUAA has an important role to play in advocating for the rights, health and well-being of all drug users and people who are seeking treatment for drug use. Getting involved with this on any level, even if it’s just sharing your story, can help us ensure we don’t miss anything when representing you and defending your rights.
NUAA’s advocacy occurs through multiple channels:
NUAA sits on key committees within the NSW Ministry of Health, such as the Hepatitis and HIV Strategies implementation committees and the Drug and Alcohol Program Council. NUAA is a current member of about ten regularly occurring committees and several other time-limited committees.
NUAA actively contributes to NSW and Federal Inquiries into a range of issues
NUAA supports public events, with staff speaking at rallies, conferences, professional development meetings and more!
Some of our Submissions and other activities are linked below. If you would like to get involved in advocacy with NUAA, contact us via the form on the main page, and we will be in touch.
Submissions and related documents
NUAA frequently contributes to Government Inquiries. These submissions are ordered with the most recent submissions on top. Submissions were led by NUAA CEO Mary Ellen Harrod unless otherwise specified.
NUAA Feedback to NSW MoH Nitrous Oxide Consultation (May 2024)
NUAA Feedback to City of Sydney on Alcohol Restrictions (March 2024)
NUAA Submission: Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation (22 December 2023)
DANCEWIZE NSW Submission: Music Festivals Act Review 2023 (13 December 2023)
NUAA Submission on Mandatory Disease Testing Act 30 October 2023
NUAA Submission to Special Commission of Inquiry into Healthcare Funding (30 October 2023)
Evaluation of the NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) Online Postal Take-Home Naloxone Service
We need drug checking now! (Open letter to Premier Chris Minns, launched 11 September 2023)
NUAA Submission to the TGA on Nitrous Oxide regulation (submission led by Kali Kanivale)
NUAA Submission to NSW Parliament on Mandatory Disease Testing (submission led by Kali Kanivale)
NUAA Appearance (Harrod) before the Regulation Committee, Music Festival Amendment - transcript
Position Papers
Press/Opinion Pieces
NUAA has also published many opinion pieces with links included below. We have also been quoted or featured in articles published in various media. Some of these pieces are linked below.