The ACP International Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for our members to learn from experts and leaders in paramedicine. ACPIC 2021 was delivered as a hybrid conference (online and face to face in the Sunshine Coast, QLD and Hobart, TAS) in November 2021.

After being the first in the world to have legal drug harm reduction with the Needle Exchange in the 1980s, progress in this field in Aotearoa has languished for 30 years. Seven years ago KnowYourStuffNZ rekindled the conversation by seeing a community need and just getting out there to address it. Now, it's a recognised public health service. This talk gives a brief overview of what KnowYourStuffNZ does, how it reduces harm at events, considerations for festival medics, and what the future might look like.

Biography: Wendy Allison

Wendy Allison is the founder and Managing Director of KnowYourStuffNZ.

Wendy has a background in event risk management and a degree in Criminology and Social Policy with a focus on drug policy. She has been advocating for a harm reduction approach to drugs since 2008, and started KnowYourStuffNZ in 2014 when it became evident that direct action would be required to get movement towards change. She is interested in improving equity of access to harm reduction services.

Session moderator: Stuart Cook