NUAA NSW

NUAA is a not-for-profit NSW-based organisation advocating for people who use drugs.

The NSW Users and AIDS Association (NUAA) is a not-for-profit NSW-based organisation advocating for people who use drugs, particularly those who inject drugs. The peak drug user organisation in NSW, NUAA was formed in 1989 in the face of a growing HIV epidemic. A group of drug users, their friends, families and supporters established NUAA as an independent, user-driven community-based organisation

. Funded primarily by the NSW Health Department, NUAA provides education, practical support, information and advocacy to users of illicit drugs, their friends, and allies. NUAA has often led the way in developing innovative approaches to peer education and community development, and has contributed to Australia having one of the lowest HIV rates amongst injecting drug users in the world.

21/08/2026

💜 It all started with a barbecue.

In 2001, a small group gathered at a Salvation Army needle exchange in Melbourne to remember people lost to overdose. Twenty-five years later, International Overdose Awareness Day is marked in 40+ countries around the world.

Australia is losing 7 people a day to overdose. Harm reduction, the approach we know saves lives, still gets a fraction of the funding poured into law enforcement.

📖 This edition of User's News covers where IOAD came from, how communities across NSW are marking the 31st of August this year, and simple things you can do to keep the message going all year, not just on the day.

🔗 Read the article at https://www.usersnews.com.au/home/international-overdose-awareness-day-2026

20/08/2026

🎤 MEET THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Daniel Madeddu!

Daniel Madeddu PSM is Executive Director of the Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs at the NSW Ministry of Health. His career began long before working in government, in the community-led response to HIV/AIDS. He spent his early professional years working in peer-based outreach, education, advocacy and community mobilisation through ACON and the Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men's Health Centre, at a time when community organisations were pioneering responses to some of Australia's most pressing public health challenges that continue to shape public health responses today.

His career has since spanned community organisations, research, public health and government leadership. Along the way he has worked with peer-based organisations, consumer groups and other community partners to improve outcomes for people affected by HIV, sexually transmissible infections, alcohol and other drugs. Daniel remains a strong believer that lasting health reform happens when governments work alongside communities, researchers and, importantly, people with lived and living experience.

🔗 Get your ticket for PaC at https://events.humanitix.com/nuaa-peers-and-consumers-forum-2026

19/08/2026

The wonderful Rodd, Brie and Brodie visited Muswellbrook last month to provide Hep C testing. Hep C is treatable, find out more by visiting https://nuaa.org.au/hep-c 🔗 or calling our PeerLine on 1800 644 413 📞

15/08/2026

Meet BBV/Outreach worker Louise (she/her).

Louise first joined NUAA way back in 2010 as a volunteer. Like many NUAA volunteers and employees, Louise first engaged with NUAA as a service user.

“This work is close to my heart as I began injecting in the 80s when it was usual to share equipment as there were not yet funded, established NSPs,” she says.

Louise learned about harm reduction from her community and has since been able to pass that knowledge on to new service users.

“People close to me became harm reduction messengers and that information was crucial to a life without HIV.

“I feel it’s a privilege to work at NUAA advancing the health, rights and dignity of people who choose to use illicit drugs in NSW.”

Louise acknowledges that she stands on the shoulders of giants and keeps their memory close to her heart.

“I’m the beneficiary of long years of advocacy. I like to think the work honours the people I love who are no longer with us.”

You can often find Louise providing outreach across Sydney, continuing to serve the community she loves. 💗

14/08/2026

🌱The Next GROW Community of Practice is on August 19th.

These sessions bring together people working in the NSW AOD LLE workforce to share workplace challenges, learnings, and insights in a supportive peer environment.

Anyone with lived or living experience of drug use in a peer-identified role can join!

If interested, please email [email protected].

13/08/2026

🥳 Congratulations to Carolyn Stubley, Secretary of NUAA's Board of Governance who was recently honoured at the Drug and Alcohol Nurses of Australasia (DANA) Conference receiving the "Peer Recognition Award for Outstanding Leadership in Drug and Alcohol Nursing".

This is the first time this award has been given and acknowledges the decades of work Carolyn has done in the sector. 🫂

12/08/2026

Here's our wonderful Peers on Wheels team out at Tamworth Homeless Hub supporting the fine folk from Hunter New England Health

09/08/2026

Peptides, emerging substances, changing attitudes… our community has evolved a lot over the years. What does the current landscape look like and what can we expect for the future?

Tickets available here 🔗 https://nuaa.org.au/pac-forum-2026-2

08/08/2026

👀 Have you seen Tony and Louise out and about offering Hep C testing and support? The dynamic duo are heading to Belmore park tomorrow between 12pm and 2pm, they're also at Green Park every Thursday between 10am and 12pm.

To find out more call NUAA PeerLine on 1800 644 413 📞

07/08/2026

💉 From ancient Olympians eating nothing but dried figs, to a Victorian-era co***ne wine endorsed by a Pope, to East Germany's secret state doping progra, the history of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is stranger than fiction.

📖 This fortnight, Users News traces where it all began, and why today's PIEDs landscape of SARMs, peptides, and unregulated imports is more DIY than ever.

🔗 Read more at https://www.usersnews.com.au/home/poison-potions-and-peptides

Address

267 Broadway, Glebe
Sydney, NSW
2037

Telephone

+61291716650

Website

http://www.nuaa.org.au/

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