Who we are

We are Insight

We are specialist providers of alcohol and other drug training, education, clinical resources and practice advice for workers and services.

Based in Brisbane / Meanjin, we are a Queensland Health program that aims to build a capable, confident and connected alcohol and other drug, mental health and social and emotional wellbeing workforce.

Our primary audience are specialist alcohol and drug and mental health practitioners across government, non-government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled sectors. We also provide training and support to other health and community service workers who engage with people with substance use concerns, including government, statutory and private service providers.

Whilst we primarily service Queensland-based workers, our clinical tools, resources and online training are utilised across Australia.

Our activities:  

  • Face-to-face and virtual classroom training 
  • eLearning modules  
  • Weekly webinars 
  • AOD forums, conferences and other professional development events 
  • One-on-one clinical practice advice and professional support 
  • Clinical tools, practice guidelines and other worker resources 
  • An AOD information clearinghouse.  

To view the Insight / Dovetail annual reports, click here.

Our objectives

Provide alcohol and other drug training, education, clinical resources and practice advice for workers and services.

Develop evidence-informed alcohol and drug practice guidelines, tools and resources.

Build partnerships with other departments and service providers to implement initiatives that improve outcomes for our shared clients.

Our vision

A workforce that makes a real and sustained positive difference in the lives of people affected by alcohol and drug use, mental health and suicide.

Values

  • Respect
  • Teamwork
  • Compassion
  • High Performance
  • Integrity

Principles

  • Innovation
  • Accessibility
  • Cultural Safety
  • Value for Money
  • Accountability

Our teams

Insight has the following sub-speciality teams:

Insight First Nations specialises in building the cultural and practice capabilities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous workers through the provision of culturally-safe alcohol and drug education, connection and support.

Dovetail provides clinical advice and professional support to workers, services and communities who engage with young people affected by alcohol and other drug use.

Our multidisciplinary team comprises Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and AOD Lived Experience Educators, supported by our Administration and Multimedia Design Teams.

Our history

Insight is a Queensland Health program hosted by Metro North Mental Health – Alcohol and Drug Service, Metro North Health.

Insight was first established in the mid-1980s as the ‘Alcohol and Drug Training and Resource Unit’ (ADTRU). ADTRU served as the training arm of the Biala City Community Health Centre when it was an inpatient hospital and detoxification unit and later an outpatient treatment centre.

Over its 35 year history ADTRU functions expanded to include a library and a small research centre, birthing several significant projects and initiatives including SmokeCheck, the ATODS Clinical Supervision Project and the Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS).

In 2013, ADTRU changed its name to ‘Insight Clinical Support Services’, merging with ‘Dovetail’ shortly thereafter. In 2015 the unit rebranded as ‘Insight: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drug Training and Workforce Development’, and in 2022 the ‘Insight First Nations’ sub-speciality team was established.