Nexus Resources Archive

Disclaimer: The resources found on this site may have been shared and the content not be the property of Nexus and the Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative (VDDI). We ask that you contact the author(s) directly should you wish to reference or use the material in any way, as it may be protected by Copyright, Trademark or Creative Commons. 

The Panel with Nexus 2021 - 2022

The Panel with Nexus online sessions ran fortnightly during 2021 and 2022. They were an internal forum open to St Vincent's hospital, staff, exploring treatment responses and integrated interventions for people with mental health and substance use/addiction. Find past session information and resources here. 

Webinars 2020

22 October 2020

Relapse Prevention Webinar: How to explore the early warning signs of psychosis. Presented in association with NEMHSCA

Demonstration of BITS approach

Resources from the webinar:

• Interventions cards
• Manic prodrome cards
• Max Birchwood BITS paper
• Relapse presentation slides
• Thinking, feeling, behaviour

5 October 2020

In the following two offerings, viewers are introduced to the principles of Dual Diagnosis and Harm Reduction. Through interviews, staff and consumers from Mental Health settings share their experiences implementing the Before, During and After Harm Reduction tool and relay some outcomes of using this approach. The animation is based on an interview with a consumer who used the BDA tool to explore his alcohol use.

Viewers are guided to free Harm Reduction resources for use with consumers, and provided with an understanding of why Harm Reduction is a practice that should not just be limited to Drug and Alcohol workers. 

Harm Reduction Webinar presented in association with NEMHSCA                        

Before, During and After lived experience story (animation)

15 October 2020

Trauma Informed Care and responding to sexual abuse disclosure Webinar presented in association with NEMHSCA

Resources from the webinar:

• Responding to disclosures of sexual abuse presentation
• Applying Trauma-informed principles presentation
• Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Acute Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Complex PTSD

Headspace Group Chats 2019

Group chats are run by headspace once a month for family and friends (FAF) and once a month for young people.  A variety of topics were covered and the 2019 transcripts are available on the headspace website.

This group chat was a collaboration between Nexus and headspace that covered a number of tools and practical strategies that can be used to engage young people who experience a co-occurring mental illness and substance use issues.  Review the webchat on dual diagnosis for friends and family.

VDDI Forum 2019

The 2019 Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative Forum was held on Tuesday 12 March at St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy.

View presentations:

• Acknowledging the influence of lived experience roles and initiatives in Victoria,   Emma Cadogan, Acting Manager, Mental Health and AOD Workforce, Health and Human Services Workforce branch, Department of Health and Human Services
• Introducing “the harris project”,   Kenneth Minkoff, MD – Senior System Consultant, ZiaPartners, Inc; Part-time Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA; Director of Systems Integration, Meadows MH Policy Institute, Dallas, TX
• “the harris project”,   Stephanie Marquesano, Founder & President the harris project | CODA | co-occurring disorders awareness | prevention | advocacy
• Consumer and Family Carer Workforce Development,   Kylie Boucher, Senior Project Lead, CMHL
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy – representational advocacy and consumer engagement,   Ellisa Scott, Senior Advocate, IMHA
• Dual Diagnosis Resources,   Lynne Ruggieros & Merissa van Setten, Nexus
• Tomorrows Workforce – Peer Workforce Development,   Crystal Clancy & Brendan Ritchie, Sharc
• WORKSHOP In-Tandem Model,   Facilitated by Eastern Dual Diagnosis Carer & Consumer Advisory Council
• WORKSHOP Peerology: Peer Work through the Lens of Alcohol and Other Drugs,   Facilitated by Victorian AOD Peer Workforce Community of Practice
• WORKSHOP Increasing the Impact of Consumer Voices,   Facilitated by APSU Consumer Representative Body
• Strengthening Connections – Social and Emotional Wellbeing through Aboriginal Peer and Carer Support / Lived Experience at Eastern Health,   Ashleigh Bell, Aboriginal lived experience Peer worker

Related links:

• VDDI Forum Flyer
• Introduction to the VDDI

VDDI Forum 2016

The 2016 Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative Forum was held on 25 October 2016 at the Treacy Centre, Parkville.

View presentations:

• Gary Croton : What we know and what we've learned
• Henrique Van Dunem : A consumer perspective. To compare and contrast my recovery journey from 2010 until today - what is possible for the future?
• Dr Stephen Bright : New and emerging trends - what do clinicians need to know?
• Dr Enrico Cementon : Contrasting approaches to dual diagnosis from Australia and other countries
• Workshop : Consumer and Carer : The 'peer effect' - how we have made our lived experience count
• Workshop : BUDDHAS : Embracing change at any age
• Workshop : BUDDYS : Tool time - optimising engagement with youth
• Dr Kah-Seong Loke : Amphetamines - A complex care approach

Related links:

• VDDI Forum Flyer
• Vox Pop
• Handout listing relevant material

Buddhas - Building Up Dual Diagnosis in Holistic Aged Services (2015) 

This resource was intended to guide and support practice in working with those aged 55 and older with ‘dual diagnosis’.

Download the BUDDHAS Older Adults Dual Diagnosis Resource.

The guide covered key practice areas for practitioners working with older adults who have a dual diagnosis – a co-occurring alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and mental health problem.

The guide was produced in response to increasing calls from services for information on working with people aged 55 years and older with a dual diagnosis.

Amphetamine-Type Stimulant (ATS) Intoxication and Withdrawal Flowchart (2014)

Guideline for the management of Amphetamine-Type Stimulant intoxication (including acute behavioural disturbance) and withdrawal: 

ATS Flowchart