ADCA CEO David Templeman said today that the appointment of Ms Violet Bacon and Mr Mick Palmer AO APM would bring additional expertise to the ADCA Board, especially in the areas of law enforcement and Indigenous community issues for the alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector.

"Ms Bacon is the first Indigenous Lecturer appointed in the discipline of Social Work and Social Policy at the Faculty of Arts, School of Social and Cultural Studies, at the University of Western Australia," Mr Templeman said.

In acknowledging her appointment, Ms Bacon said "I am honoured to be appointed as a Director of the ADCA Board as this presents another opportunity to raise cultural awareness across the AOD field".

Mr Templeman said that Mr Palmer had held the position of Commissioner in the Australian Federal Police, and was also Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services.

Mr Palmer welcomed his appointment saying: "In my 35 years as a police officer, the issue of alcohol and other drugs misuse and the impact on communities and police operational matters has always been of great concern. As an ADCA Board Director, I am looking forward to helping ADCA to promote a healthy community where alcohol and other drug-related harms are minimised.".

NOTE FOR MEDIA: The ADCA Board comprises nine Directors, seven elected by ADCA Members, and two independent Directors appointed by the Board - Professor Robin Room (President, Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre, Melbourne), Mr John Mendoza (Vice-President, Adjunct Professor Health Science University of Southern Queensland), Mr Larry Pierce (CEO, Network of Alcohol and Drugs Agencies, Sydney), Professor Jenny Fleming (Tasmanian Institute of Law Enforcement Studies), Mr Tony Trimingham OAM (Family Drug Support), Mr James Pitts CEO, Odyssey House McGrath Foundation), Mr Moses Abbatangelo (Operations Manager DASWETST, Melbourne), Ms Violet Bacon (University of Western Australia, Perth), and Mr Mick Palmer AO APM (Canberra).

Media Enquiries: Brian Flanagan, Manager Strategic Communications and Policy

Phone 02 6281 0686 or 0400 860 058