Josephine Baxter
International Liaison/Education
Executive Officer
- 2008-present – Vice President, World Federation Against Drugs
- 2009-present – Member of the International Task force on Strategic Drug Policy
- 2007-2010 – Member of the Australian National Council on Drugs
- 2003-2007 Community Services and Health Consultant – (Drug and Alcohol)
- 2004-2005 – Community Relations Manager – Odyssey House Victoria
- 2002-2004 – National Director – Programs and Training, Life Education Australia, NSW
- 2001-2002 – Project Manager, Offshore Licensing (India & Bangladesh), Centre for International Education and Training
- 2000-2001 – Chief Executive – Life Education, SA
Overseas Project Experience:
- 2008 to present, Vice President, World Federation Against Drugs and Member of the International Task Force on Strategic Drug Policy
- 2007 – Conference presentation, ICAA Conference, Stockholm
- 2004 – Conference presentation, Tobacco Control Conference, Helsinki
- 2003 – United States of America – AER Foundation Research Scholarship, ‘Life Skills Training’, Cornell University, USA
- 2001-2002 – Bangladesh and India – Program Manager, Offshore Licensing, Centre for International Education and Training, TAFESA
- 1999 – United States of America – OTFE Research Scholarship – ‘Learning Organisations and Life Long Learning’.
- 1999 – United States, Europe and Ireland – established credit transfer links and articulation arrangements for international students and staff exchanges
- 1997 – Florence, Italy – Curriculum Designer – William Angliss Institute
- 1983-84 Malaysia – Orientation Counsellor, United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Ross Colquhoun
He has completed Undergraduate and Post Graduate degrees in Science, Health Science, Neuroscience and Counselling:
Doctor of Health Science, Deacon University,
Master of Applied Science (Neuroscience), Sydney University
Bachelor of Science (Hons), University of Wollongong
Graduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy, Jansen Newman Institute
He has worked in welfare and drug and alcohol programs at different institutions including the Orana House Detox Centre, St Saviours in Goulburn, Triple Care Farm at Robertson, Australian Institute for Counselling in Addiction, the Salvation Army and Belfield Aged Care Facility. He t taught at University of Wollongong, Aust College of Applied Psychology and West Wollongong TAFE and had experience in a training environment while working for P&P as a contractor in Sydney and Wollongong.
He was the Clinical Director of Addiction Treatment and Psychology Services and worked as a counsellor and conducted relevant research for over 15 years.
He joined DFA in 2008 and was appointed as Research Fellow and sat on the Management Committee a number of years. During that time, he has written many academic papers dealing with addiction and treatment and attended the Asia Pacific Drug Free Forum as the Australian representative in Singapore in 2019.
Major Brian Watters AO
Chairman
Mr. Gary Christian
Specialist Researcher – AOD and Community Health
Community Interests:
- 1980-1988 – Coordinated the Eastern Suburbs Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking
- 1986-1987 – Co-writer of the Quit Now Stop Smoking Program
- 1999 – Co-founder of the Cabramatta ADRAcare Centre for drug dependent and homeless people of the area
- 2000-2003 – President of Hassela Australia Teen Drug Rehabilitation program
- 1992-2009 – senior management in the Australian welfare industry
- 2003-present – Research Director, Drug Free Australia
Mr. Gary Christian
Secretary
Mr. Gary Christian
Specialist Researcher – AOD and Community Health
Community Interests:
- 1980-1988 – Coordinated the Eastern Suburbs Five Day Plan to Stop Smoking
- 1986-1987 – Co-writer of the Quit Now Stop Smoking Program
- 1999 – Co-founder of the Cabramatta ADRAcare Centre for drug dependent and homeless people of the area
- 2000-2003 – President of Hassela Australia Teen Drug Rehabilitation program
- 1992-2009 – senior management in the Australian welfare industry
- 2003-present – Research Director, Drug Free Australia
Herschel Mills Baker
Website liaison-Cannabis Research
Mr. Herschel Mills Baker
President – APFDFY
Community Interests:
- 1999 Parent Drug Education Courses: Mary River Lions Club Seminar; Quota Club; Baptist Church, Hervey Bay
- Block Coordinator of Neighborhood Watch
- Member of Police Liaison Committee
- Member of Blue Light Disco Committee (Security)
- Member of Maryborough Police Youth Association (Treasurer)
- Project Manager for establishing PCYC at Maryborough
- Project Manager 5 year Operation Road Runner, 1991 -1996
- Project Manager for 5 year Road Runner 2
- President and Founding Member of Australian Parents for Drug Free Youth, since 1986
- Coordinator for APFDFY Education Web Site, since 1997
- Facilitator for Drug Stop
- Member of Tough Love
- 1986-present – DFA Researcher and Publications Director focussing on Cannabis Harms
Rev Jay R Bacik
Committee Member
Jay Bacik was elected to the Drug Free Australia Board of Management in November 2015, having been a Fellow, since inception. He worked with Life Education for over 10 years, having held positions of Chief Executive Officer for Life Education Australia and Life Education NSW.
MINISTRY
Jay was ordained in the Ministry of the Churches of Christ in NSW in 1969. He has had ministries in Wollongong, Telopea and Crows Nest (Northside Community Church). He originally trained in theology and communications.
MEDIA
Jay has had over thirty years experience in media involving radio and television. He was the Director of Religious Programs at Radio 2CH on behalf of the NSW Council of Churches where he was also the Sunday night talkback host for 15 years and presented motivational spots every day.
He has done significant talkback for 2GB and most recently filled in as talkback host for 2GB on Sunday nights.
COMMUNITY
Jay has worked in Australia for Austcare as Assistant National Director, was founder of the Sydney City Mission Foundation and was Special Projects Director for Diabetes Australia, NSW. His overseas experience includes Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association and was recently Vice President of Hope International University in Fullarton, California.
He is a frequent speaker at conferences and conventions. His passions in life are transforming communities, Cricket, Rugby League, international news and Politics.
He is the author of two books “Day Starters” and “Make Your Day”.
Kerryn Redpath
Committee Member/ Education
Kerryn is a passionate drug and alcohol awareness educator, a role that evolved out of her own devastating life and near death trials, many years ago. Today, she brings a message of hope and a warning of the dangers of drug and alcohol use and abuse to people of all age groups and demographics, by speaking in Secondary Colleges, TAFES, Corporate events and with many other interested groups. Kerryn’s presentations are highly engaging and educational, and are delivered in a powerful and professional manner. As indicated in nine years of feedback, this is a vital message, particularly in light of the current substance use situation across this nation.
Ms Sharon Carr
DFA Executive Committee Member
- 1988 Developed social awareness of the tragedy of drug abuse through a widened exposure in a career that took Ms Carr travelling worldwide for 25 years in addition to social science and humanities studies.
- 2006 An individual close to Ms Carr was trapped in a chronic cycle of heroin and cocaine addiction. Consequently she consulted experts in heroin and cocaine addiction. As a result of Ms Carr’s investigations, she saw firsthand the benefits of opioid antagonist treatment, Naltrexone, counseling programs, compliance monitoring and urine drug testing.
- 2011-2015 Member Drug Free Australia
- 2011-2013 Chairperson of the Addiction Treatment Foundation Inc.
- 2012 Assisted preparation of submissions to NSW Parliament Legislative Assembly Committee, titled “Effectively Treating Opiate Addiction (2013)”
- Has an ongoing commitment to aid public awareness in abstinence based treatments and support for families who are the victims of drug and alcohol addiction.