07/09/2026
Parliament House, Canberra 

On behalf of Next Gen Nurse Practitioners, Darren Smyth had the privilege of attending the National Consensus for Action: A Roundtable on Australian Opioid Dependence Treatment at Parliament House in Canberra, representing Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Nurse Practitioners.

Darren left the day reflecting on how significant it is to see Nurse Practitioners not just delivering care within health systems, but sitting at the table where policy, services and models of care are being shaped.

For us, this was more than a meeting. It was an opportunity to bring the voice of AOD Nurse Practitioners into a national conversation about how we can improve access, equity and choice for people accessing opioid dependence treatment.

The challenges facing the system are complex — workforce shortages, rural and regional access gaps, fragmented services, stigma, inequity and models of care that don't always reflect the realities of the people they are designed to serve.

Being in that room reinforced something I strongly believe: those closest to the delivery of care need to be part of designing its future.

Nurse Practitioners bring a unique combination of clinical expertise, experience, advocacy and a practical understanding of what works — and what doesn't — on the ground.

We are proud to see AOD Nurse Practitioners having a stronger voice in these conversations. Having a seat at the table is important. Using that seat to influence meaningful change is even more important.

This is about moving from being consulted to being active partners in policy, service design and system reform.