The Service Users’ Survey of Outcomes, Satisfaction and Experience (SUSOSE) is a unique point-in-time survey conducted across alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) treatment and harm reduction services in the ACT. The survey—including an embedded experience measure—was co-designed by a multi-stakeholder team, with significant leadership and input from people with lived and living experience of alcohol and other drug use. This presentation outlines the collaborative research process, including the engagement of ATOD service users in guiding survey themes, and the involvement of a Project Advisory Group in the development, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of the findings. While the webinar briefly explores how the survey findings inform policy and practice in the ACT ATOD sector, the central focus is on a key insight: the critical value of involving people with lived experience as co-researchers, which significantly strengthened the quality of the research. The webinar also discusses the benefits and practical considerations of adopting this co-design approach. [I hour]

About this speakers: Anke van der Sterren is a public health researcher with over 25 years’ experience in mixed methods research and evaluation in community-based settings, focusing particularly on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and workforce capacity-building. She is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate in Applied Public Health (DrPH) at UNSW. Chris Gough is the Executive Director of the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA) and the President of the Australian Illicit and Injecting Drug Users League (AIVL). He identifies as a person who uses drugs. Chris’ expertise centres around peer and consumer driven programming including peer leadership, peer treatment support, community development, consumer representation and systemic advocacy.