QLD Clinical and Mental Health Practice Group

We are delighted to have Katherine Clayton speak on "More than a habit - AOD in social work practice".

In this session, Kat will provide an initial introduction to alcohol and other drug (AOD) practice, covering key concepts such as dependence and the brain, the categories of psychoactive substances, and tailoring interventions to a person’s stage of change. She will also discuss the needs of specific populations in AOD treatment, brief interventions, harm reduction and referral pathways in Brisbane. In an open forum, clinicians will explore their own biases and approaches when it comes to working with people with substance addictions.

Kat Clayton is a social worker with experience across housing, domestic violence, mental health, and alcohol and other drugs (AOD). Her interest in AOD work sparked after realising she was often seeing clients struggle with substance use, but lacked the knowledge and skills to have meaningful conversations about it. Since then, Katherine has built her AOD practice in a range of settings, including the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court and Fiji National University. She is now working in Community Mental Health with Queensland Health.

When: 22 October 2025

Time: 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm (AEST)

Where: Zoom - details will be emailed to registered attendees the day of the meeting