About this webinar:

This collaborative presentation examines alcohol and other drug (AOD) use within culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. It highlights gaps in current data, the impact of stigma on CALD under-representation, and the critical influence of religious and community leaders on AOD treatment. Drawing on extensive community engagement across New South Wales, the session will demonstrate how inclusive, culturally informed approaches can generate more accurate insights and improve service design, access and outcomes. The webinar concludes with reflections on the impact of work undertaken so far and outline next steps, including a forthcoming community engagement evaluation.

About the speakers:

Dr Catherine Foley is a psychologist and researcher who lives and works on Gumbaynggirr Country on the Mid North Coast of NSW. She has a clinical background in mental health, substance use and trauma, and her research is grounded in partnering with clinicians and communities to co-develop pragmatic, holistic models of care in diverse real-world settings. Catherine’s work focuses on strengthening the integration of AOD care across health and community sectors, elevating client and clinician feedback in service planning, and understanding the perspectives of CALD community members and leaders on AOD use and treatment. Central to her program is working alongside communities and health providers to generate evidence that reflects and benefits people who may need access to healthcare or related supports.

Teguh Syahbahar is the Manager of Multicultural Programs at Odyssey House NSW, where he leads NSW’s only specialist AOD service dedicated to CALD communities. His work spans prevention, early intervention, treatment and community support, with a focus on translating community experience into service design and practice. He is an Adjunct Associate Lecturer at the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC), contributing to CALD AOD research. Teguh is also a member of the NSW Ministry of Health’s Quality in Treatment (QiT) Committee, the Drug and Alcohol Program Council (DAPC), and NADA’s Practice Leadership Group (NPLG), where he represents CALD perspectives and contributes to advocacy within practice and system forums. His work reflects sustained engagement across service delivery and research, with an ongoing commitment to improving access to care, recovery outcomes and culturally responsive practice for multicultural communities that experience barriers to support.