Victorian government-funded courses
The area of alcohol and other drugs is complex and rapidly changing.
To assist nurses and midwives to continue to provide best practice interventions and nursing management, the Andrews/Allan Government has provided funding for the development and delivery of contemporary continuing professional development initiatives. The ANMF (Vic Branch) and Turning Point, Eastern Health, have partnered to bring you a series of workshops and masterclasses.
For registration enquiries contact the Education Centre at: education@anmfvic.asn.au
Addiction and mental health for nurse practitioners
Part one: 26 March 2025, 9am–5.30pm, delivered via Zoom
Part two: 19 June 2025, 9am–5.30pm, delivered via Zoom
Note: Participants must attend BOTH days.
CPD: 12 hours
Presenter: Dr Sanil Rege
Who should attend? Nurse Practitioners working in AOD and Mental Health
Understanding the neuroscience of addiction is crucial for Nurse Practitioners, as addiction and impulse control disorders often coexist and are common in clinical practice. Addiction is deeply linked with psychiatry, frequently occurring alongside conditions like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Managing addiction requires recognising primary psychiatric disorders and those exacerbated by substance use, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of biological and behavioural components. Join psychiatrist Dr Sanil Rege for a comprehensive and informative workshop specifically developed for AOD and MH Nurse Practitioners.
Key areas covered:
- Key concepts in addiction and mental health.
- Neuroscience of Addiction
- Diagnostic Approach and Psychiatric Formulation
- Developing a Structured Management Plan
- Pharmacological Concepts in Addiction
- Case Study Session: Neurobiology and Structured Management
Presenter: Dr Sanil Rege MBBS, MRCPsych, FRANZCP
With extensive teaching experience through various psychiatry course initiatives, Sanil is renowned as an enthusiastic and motivational training facilitator who promotes interaction and discussion. As the founder and academic Lead of Psych Scene, he aspires to make a difference in mental health by empowering Healthcare Professionals to advance their skills and career through specialised training. Sanil is also founder of Vita healthcare, a private clinic in Mount Eliza specialising in mental health. He has over 10 years of private practice experience treating disorders across the spectrum currently working in the community, inpatient, consultation-liaison and addiction psychiatry.
Alcohol: A masterclass for nurses working in AOD
Thursday 22 May 2025, 9.30am–12.30pm
CPD: 3 hours
Over 80% of Australians consume alcohol each year and of these at least 20% will encounter or develop problems in relation to their alcohol use. For AOD nurses this comes as no surprise and regardless of the clinical setting in which they work providing care to patients with alcohol problems is an important focus.
This 3-hour webinar has been developed to provide an in-depth focus on the cumulative impact of alcohol use by using a physiological systems base approach. Information provided will focus on alcohol related harms to the central nervous system and neurobiology, gastrointestinal, endocrine and cardiorespiratory systems. Participants will be provided with information to develop a better understanding of alcohol effects and intoxication. You will also learn current evidence-based information to manage alcohol withdrawal. Treatment and nursing interventions including implementation and maintenance of pharmacotherapy will be covered.
Presenter: Rose McCrohan, Nurse Practitioner, Uniting
Rose began working in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in 1992 at Pleasant View. Rose has continued to work in residential and non-residential withdrawal services at Eastern Health and Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) before moving to Uniting in 2005. Rose became Victoria’s first AOD Nurse Practitioner in 2009. Rose manages Curran Place, Uniting’s 16-bed (4 mother-baby beds) residential Adult and Mother Baby Withdrawal service. Rose is a co-convenor of Victoria’s AOD and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner collaborative.
Opioids: An online masterclass for AOD nurses
Thursday 29 May 2025, 9.30am – 12.30pm via Zoom
CPD: 3 hours
This interactive webinar has been developed to provide an in depth focus on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of opioid use. Information on the adverse effects of a range of pharmaceutical and illegal opioids will be presented as well as nursing management and responses.
Participants will be provided with information to develop a better understanding of opioid addiction, intoxication and withdrawal. Treatment and nursing interventions including implementation and maintenance of pharmacotherapy will be covered. This webinar will also cover the management of acute pain in the opioid dependent person.
Presenter: Rose McCrohan, Nurse Practitioner, Uniting
Rose began working in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in 1992 at Pleasant View. Rose has continued to work in residential and non-residential withdrawal services at Eastern Health and Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) before moving to Uniting in 2005. Rose became Victoria’s first AOD Nurse Practitioner in 2009. Rose manages Curran Place, Uniting’s 16-bed (4 mother-baby beds) residential Adult and Mother Baby Withdrawal service. Rose is a co-convenor of Victoria’s AOD and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner collaborative.
Benzodiazepines, GHB & Cannabis: An online masterclass for nurses working in the AOD sector
Thursday 5 June 2025, 9.30am – 12.30pm via Zoom
CPD: 3 hours
Who should attend? Nurses and midwives working in AOD
This three-hour webinar has been developed to provide an in-depth focus on the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of benzodiazepine, cannabis and GHB use.
Information on the adverse effects of these psychoactive drugs will be presented as well as nursing management and responses. Participants will be provided with information to develop a better understanding of benzodiazepine, cannabis and GHB addiction, intoxication and withdrawal. Treatment and nursing interventions including pharmacotherapy will be presented.
Presenter: Rose McCrohan, Nurse Practitioner, Uniting
Rose began working in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) in 1992 at Pleasant View. Rose has continued to work in residential and non-residential withdrawal services at Eastern Health and Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) before moving to Uniting in 2005. Rose became Victoria’s first AOD Nurse Practitioner in 2009. Rose manages Curran Place, Uniting’s 16-bed (4 mother-baby beds) residential Adult and Mother Baby Withdrawal service. Rose is a co-convenor of Victoria’s AOD and Mental Health Nurse Practitioner collaborative.
Acute Pain & Opioids: ward-based management
11 June 2025, 9.30am–12.30pm, delivered via Zoom
CPD: 3 hours
Who should attend? AOD nurses and midwives
People with substance-use disorders often struggle within mainstream hospital settings and this is further complicated for those with a history of opioid dependence requiring acute analgesia. This seminar will cover the pharmacology of opioids, the impacts of opioid-agonist treatment and how this may alter acute pain-management approaches. Importantly, hospitalisation represents a unique opportunity to engage patients in their substance use and this may not always be toward a goal of abstinence. This seminar will cover the key principles of harm reduction and how this may be applied in the inpatient setting. Key harm-reduction initiatives, such as the Melbourne Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) will be explored.
Presenter: Megan McKechnie, Nurse Practitioner, Alfred Health.
Meg is an addiction psychiatry nurse practitioner who currently coordinates the Alfred Health addictions consultation and liaison service, as well as working within the Medically Supervised Injecting Rooms (MSIR) consulting area. She has experience across both acute and community services in mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment, including within emergency departments, acute psychiatric inpatient units, consultation and liaison, homeless outreach and project management. In 2015, Meg was awarded Nurse of the Year for her work improving access to alcohol and other drug treatment for those presenting to emergency departments with substance use disorders. More recently, Meg completed a graduate certificate of sexual health to try and improve rates of screening amongst people who inject drugs.