Mental health and substance use - 12 AUG 26
Mental Health Interest Group invites you to their August meeting
Program Overview
This is a free, member only session.
Please join the Mental Health Interest Group Community via OTA Connect here before registering.
OVERVIEW
This Interest Group (IG) is open to all OTA members working in or with an interest in the area of mental health. The aims of the group include:
• To provide opportunities for networking, professional development and education.
• To educate, provide support, and create a safe space to discuss clinical practice (research and evidence-based practice, innovative OT practice, lived experience).
MEETING DETAILS
TOPIC:
Mental health and substance use
PRESENTERS:
Chris Dowdle
DATE:
Wednesday 12 August 2026
TIME:
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM | NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD
4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | SA NT
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | WA
MEETING PLATFORM:
Zoom: This session will be run on the Zoom Webinar Platform. Registrants will be sent separate login details one business day prior to the session. Please check all email folders for this information. This meeting will not be recorded.
Please ensure you have created an account with Zoom (Sign Up Free | Zoom) prior to joining the meeting.
If you have questions regarding the Zoom system requirements please visit: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/categories/200101697-Getting-Started
REGISTRATION FEES & INFORMATION
OTA Member: Free
If you are a non member who wishes to attend please contact us to discuss your options.
Registrations close Monday, 10 August 2026 11.59pm AEST
MEETING DOCUMENTS & RESOURCES
Agendas, resources and meeting minutes are available for members to download on the IG page once we have received these from the convenors. This meeting will not be recorded.
You must be logged in to access this page.
DISCLAIMER
Any material, content, advice or resources shared and discussed at interest groups is general in nature and is used to guide peer discussion and support only. Occupational Therapy Australia encourages all participants to think critically and appraise the content for individual circumstances. Occupational Therapy Australia does not necessarily endorse content delivered in these formats and accepts no liability for any consequences resulting from adhering to the content shared at interest groups. All opinions expressed by the convenor or other participants are the opinions of those individuals and do not represent or reflect the views of Occupational Therapy Australia, its affiliates or employees.
Interest Group Participants
By registering to attend, participants agree to actively contribute and show respect to all other participants. We ask you to take personal notes and monitor the Interest Group webpage for meeting resources. Occupational Therapy Australia reserves the right to remove members from an Interest Group at its discretion.
Presented By
Chris Dowdle
Presenter (Occupational Therapist)
Chris Dowdle is an Occupational Therapist currently employed as a Dual Diagnosis coordinator within the Townsville Mental Health Service group. Since graduating from James Cook university in 2003, Chris has been employed as an OT in several settings including workplace rehabilitation, private OT practice, not for profit organizations and private and public hospitals. On commencing employment in the Townsville mental health service in 2012 Chris has worked in several clinical settings including the Alcohol and Drug treatment service (ATODS), Dual Diagnosis consultation, residential substance use/mental health rehabilitation units, forensic mental health including courthouse assessments and risk based assessments, reports and recommendations, the homeless mental health outreach team and older persons mental health. In his role as an Occupational Therapist specialising in dual diagnosis, Chris works in a consultative capacity and also provides brief interventions, drug and alcohol counselling and education for clients in acute care, rehabilitation units and community settings; who are experiencing the comorbidity of substance use and mental illness. In his current practice Chris provides focused assistance with consumers to address the functional impacts of their co-occurring conditions and maximise their treatment options and engagement. Chris assists clients develop coping strategies, life skills, community engagement and routines necessary for harm minimization, relapse prevention, long-term recovery and well-being. Chris has drafted and provided numerous educational sessions for staff of Government and Non Government organisations on topics specifically related to drug and alcohol use patterns, treatments and general information about the impact of drug and alcohol use on a person’s mental health. Chris was nominated for the Townsville Hospital and Health Service Staff Excellence Award in 2025 reflecting his strength in the provision of his Dual Diagnosis work with clients.