Support the design of a Helpline for Overdose Prevention and Response

APSU is working with Harm Reduction Victoria on consultations with the lived/living experience community to identify the key service elements for an Australian first Overdose Prevention and Response Helpline. 

The new helpline will offer anonymous support and advice to individuals at risk of overdose across Victoria, encouraging safer drug use practices and assisting with emergency services responses.

The findings from the consultations will inform the development of detailed service specifications for a trial of this new service. A report will be delivered to the department to help inform the final design of the Helpline.

In the initial stages of the project, Harm Reduction Victoria and SHARC worked with the Department of Health and carefully selected subject matter experts to document key service elements.

We are now seeking APSU members to participate in paid focus groups to provide feedback on this work to date.

More information about the project is available below.

About the Focus Groups

Each focus group will be made up of approximately 4-5 people who will be paid $185 for their participation.

Consultation sessions will be led by facilitators who are either current drug users or people with past experience of using drugs.

Peer support will be available before, during, and after the session.

The sessions will be recorded. The recording will be destroyed once the transcript has been downloaded and de-identified. Any quotes or comments included in the final report will also be de-identified.

This focus group is being run online via Zoom on:

TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2025, from 11:00am to 12:30pm
In the week leading up to the focus group, you will be provided with further information about the model which you will be asked to read in preparation for the session.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for people who:

• use drugs or have used drugs in the past and may have experience of overdose
• have used, attempted to use, or have never used any kind of AOD service, peer-led or otherwise
• would like to use their lived or living experience to inform this new project.

We need people who:

• have access to the internet, a smart device or computer, and
• a private space to join the online focus group
• are available for the duration of the consultation

Within each Focus Group we aim to represent a diversity of experiences.

How to express your interest in participating in this focus group

To be considered, please click the Submit an Expression of Interest button below and complete the short online form.

Expressions of Interest will be accepted until 5pm, Monday 4 August, 2025.

About the Project

Read more about the project here: