Please join us for Project ECHO: Alcohol and Drug Services Tasmania and Primary Health Tasmania. This program offers a series of interactive, case-based virtual mentoring sessions designed to support health professionals in delivering care for people experiencing alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues.
Topic for this session: Alcohol Use Disorders in Primary Care: Engagement, Assessment and Management with Dr Andrew Nolan
Click here for access to the hub: Alcohol and other drugs at the primary care interface – Tasmanian ECHO program
Each session includes:
- A 10-minute didactic presentation
- A deidentified case discussion to support practical learning
Do you have case you need some advice with? To make these sessions impactful we need to hear from you, please click here or email events@primaryhealthtas.com.au to discuss further.
Future Sessions
18 Feb 2026: Dependence on cannabis – non prescribed or medicinal; supporting withdrawal in primary care
Past sessions
Click here for recording of the Overview of the current ADS Service in Tasmania.
How Does ECHO Work?
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a virtual knowledge-sharing model that connects community providers with specialist teams via multi-point video conferencing. It builds a continuous learning loop where clinicians learn from each other and develop expertise in managing complex conditions such as AOD dependence.
The hub-and-spoke model brings together:
- A central team of AOD experts (the “hub”)
- Health professionals across communities (the “spokes”)
Together, they share knowledge, discuss cases, and build clinical confidence.
Benefits of Joining AOD ECHO
- Build skills and confidence in AOD care
- Access real-time guidance from addiction specialists
- Improve delivery of quality AOD care in local settings
- Strengthen referral and treatment pathways for patients
- Enhance professional satisfaction through learning and peer support
- Reduce professional isolation, especially in rural and regional settings
How to Register and Join a Session
- Register your interest by following this link: https://iecho.org/public/program/PRGM17560834694171IYXLKW3QB
- You’ll receive a confirmation email with the Zoom session link.
- If you’re new to Zoom, the first time you click the link it will guide you through a quick installation. We recommend doing this before your first session.
- At the scheduled session time, click the link again to join. You can also save the session in your Zoom app or calendar.
Subject Matter Expert:
Dr Andrew Nolan is an addiction medicine specialist working between Ulverstone and Launceston at the Alcohol and Drug service, Tasmanian Health Service. He has a background of working in general practice and academic medicine. He has long standing interest in quality use of medicines and addiction.
Our expert panel:
Dr Catherine Horan is a GP with a particular interest in working with patients who don’t fit into the usual model of mainstream primary health care. She previously worked for Directions Health in Canberra, providing outreach whole-person medical care to people with co-morbid substance use disorders, mental health and psychosocial challenges, in addition to providing medical oversight to CanTest, Australia’s first fixed site pill testing service. Since moving to Tasmania, Catherine has worked for the Alcohol and Drug Service in Hobart while completing specialist training in Addiction Medicine. She currently works across the pharmacotherapy unit, inpatient withdrawal unit and the consultation liaison service at RHH.
Dr Nicolle Ait Khelifa is a General adult psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist having obtained FRCPsych with sub specialty addiction psychiatry from the Royal college of psychiatrists UK and since returning home to Australia with her twins FRANZCP and FAChAM. Nicolle has worked in the Drug and alcohol field for over 20 years, in multiple services across the UK and Australia. She worked as the consultant for the North Islington Drug Service and Camden Alcohol Service and is currently employed as the Statewide Specialty Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS) in Tasmania. Since coming to Tasmania, she has established Addiction psychiatry training sites at ADS and has continued to advocate for improved access to services for clients.
Dr Diane Hopper is Medical Director at the Aboriginal Health Service (AHS) where she has worked for the last 10 years. Diane was trained to provide pharmacotherapy in the UK and she also was a provider in New Zealand. Since working at the AHS she has been supported by Ian Guinan and the Alcohol and Drug Service to provide pharmacotherapy in that setting.
Monika Petschar is a Social Worker and graduated in 1993 in Germany. She has also obtained a postgrad degree in in Family Therapy. She has been working in the Alcohol and Drug field for over 30 years. In 2006 Monika moved to Australia commenced with the Alcohol and Drug Service North in 2008 in a counselling role. From 2009 to 2024 she was the Team Leader/ Clinical Lead of the Alcohol and Drug Service North in Launceston. In 2024 she commenced in a statewide ADS role as Allied Health Workforce Development Consultant. Monika has a special interest around Trauma and the connection between complex Trauma and substance abuse.