Cutting Edge | te toka tū moana is Aotearoa’s national addiction conference.
In 2023, Cutting Edge brought together 900+ addiction sector kaimahi to Kirikiriroa | Hamilton for two jam-packed days of learning and connection.
We are delighted to share some of the presentations from Cutting Edge 2023.
Cutting Edge 2023 delivered a comprehensive programme.
Most of the sessions are available to watch below. Where a session contains multiple presentations, when you click on the Vimeo link, you will find time stamps noted, so you can skip forward as required.
Please note: all breakout sessions (i.e. concurrent streams not in plenary) are audio-only with slides if the presenter used them.
Cutting Edge 2023 – Day 1
Keynote presentations
Opening keynote: Living by the stars
Professor Rangi Mātāmua
Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua – Waikato AODTC
Judge Denise Clark
He Ara Whakapiki Oranga – Revisiting prison AOD services
Sandie Finnigan, Terry Huriwai
Asian populations in Aotearoa New Zealand addiction update
Kelly Feng
Concurrent sessions and workshops
Neuro development and trauma through the matapihi of the Whare Tūpuna
Dr Andre McLachlan
Service design concurrent sessions
How to do co-design | Alexander El Amanni
ReWired: Reducing drug related, sexual health and legal harms for gay and bisexual men who use methamphetamine | Shaun Hill
Te Tāpui Atawhai (home ground) – A building that changes lives | Damian Ambrose, Robert Megino, John Cashmore, Paul Brown
Te Ara Oranga – Where the magic happens | Lauren Elliott
Youth concurrent sessions
Clearing the mist: Youth substance use in the Waikato and a harm reduction model of care | Isobel Haycock, Cory Murray, Nicole Atutahi
Improving the health and well-being of youth in Oranga Tamariki care and protection residences:
The need for culturally safe trauma informed care | Jennifer Montgomery
NCAT presents: Service leadership from an Australian perspective
Measuring what matters: Establish a core set of performance measures for Australian NGO
treatment services based on the views of service users, providers and funders | Dr Robert Stirling
Raising the bar: Supporting the implementation of AOD clinical care standards into practice | Dr Suzie Hudson
New Zealand research concurrent sessions
Why do people leave rehabilitation early? Analysis of higher ground client data | Suzette Jackson, Maree Matthews
Wings Trust Manu Wairua residential treatment outcomes study | Aroha O’Brien, Sen Liu
Ngā Poutohutohu – Are we making a difference? | Hitesh Lochan, Terry Huriwai
Storytelling and beyond: Integrating lived experience into mental health and addiction health education | Bronwyn Murdoch
Harm reduction concurrent sessions
A kaupapa Māori mobile hepatitis C point of care testing service pilot in Northland | Rachel Scaife, Lesley Allen
A new harm reduction approach: Drug checking two years on from legalisation | Phil Glaser
Aotearoa is leading the way with an Indigenous-informed approach to harm reduction: NZ
Drug Foundation and Te Rau Ora will share values to guide harm reduction practice developed
through a series of hui Māori.
John Dobson Memorial Lecture
Pathways to health equity and cultural safety, Dr Mataroria Lyndon
Cutting Edge 2023 – Day 2
Keynote presentations
A review of the addiction workforce in Aotearoa: Profile, working conditions, and challenges
Rachael Butler, Amanda Hunter
Dapaanz viewpoint: Next steps with this research
Dr Sam White, Ben Birks Ang
Gambling sector update
Andree Froude
Pacific workforce initiatives
Toleafoa Mark Esekielu
Concurrent sessions and workshops
Kaupapa Māori concurrent sessions
Whanau Ora (kaupapa Māori) | Reti Leef
Whai Rawatia te Oranga – Pursue the wealth of health | Tanith Petersen, Jackie Burrows, He Waka Tapu
Takahia tou ara o te whakapono. Traverse the pathway with truth and conviction | Haehaetu Barrett
Practice development concurrent sessions
Embracing manaaki, pono, and pukenga ahurea to support our trans, non-binary, and gender
diverse whānau | Allanah Rae Elvy-Arnold, Aims Beech
Raranga (weaving) and Rangahau (research): Reflections from Kairangahau
(researcher) and Kaiako (teacher) | Suzette Jackson, Simi Paris
The integration of Interactive Drawing Therapy (IDT) and the Asian Family Services tree model | Jiali Li, Julia Zhu
Technology concurrent sessions
The effectiveness of social media in changing help seeking behaviour for mental health and
addiction: A case study of Asian Family Services’ WeChat platform | Hong Yuan
Leveraging AI and API technologies for enhanced mental health and addiction support in
Aotearoa, New Zealand | Lisa Phillips McLennan
Immersive digital app called Methy Business | Rowena Wiki, Tuta Ngarimu
Pasifika practice
Session led and facilitated by DRUA
Kaupapa Māori concurrent sessions
He Ture Kia Tika/Let the Law Be Right: Informing evidence-based policy through kaupapa Māori
and co-production of lived experience narratives | Jessica Hastings, Dave Burnside, Katey Thom, Stella Black
Tuia i roto, tuia i waho | David Ihimaera, Hita Neho, Natarine Cuthers, Jess Cooper, Carol Ferguson
Addiction and older adults in New Zealand concurrent sessions
What influences allied health practitioners’ decision making when asking older adults about
alcohol use? Exploring older adults’ views to improve understanding and practice | Lee Henley
Whānau concurrent sessions
Single session family consultation: Inviting family/whānau into recovery work with individuals | Karin Isherwood, Melissa Roberts, Dr Bronwyn Dunnachie
Programmes that support women experiencing harm from their or someone else’s substance use | Hine Kia Fitzgerald
Research reveals profound effects of substance use on whānau | Erin ONeill, Helen Leonard
Peer-led initiatives and CPSLE workforce concurrent sessions
Kahukura – A marae-based rehabilitation initiative | Mahinaarangi Smith, Tracey Benson, Harry Tam
Mana o te Tangata Trust | Niki Garbe, Pearl Henry, John Woodley
The creation of Convergence: Peer Support in action | Tyson Smith, Tarnia McCall
Nōku te Ao Education Wānanga | Codey Bell
Cutting Edge 2022
A selection of videos from our Cutting Edge conference in Ōtautahi | Christchurch in September 2022 are also available to view.