Healthcare professionals across Western and Far Western NSW are building their capability to support people with opioid dependence, following the successful delivery of the region’s first Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) in Dubbo.
The one-day training event in May marked an important step in improving access to opioid dependency treatment (ODT), particularly in regional and remote communities where distance, workforce shortages and service availability can limit local care options.
The OTAC provides General Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners with training to safely prescribe opioid pharmacotherapy treatments, including methadone and buprenorphine. These medications play a critical role in supporting people with opioid dependence and reducing harms associated with substance use.
Delivered by the Opioid Treatment Education Program (OTEP) and supported by the Alcohol and Other Drugs Commissioning Team at Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN), the course was facilitated by Western NSW Local Health District Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr Stanley Theodorou.
The training forms part of the formal accreditation pathway for clinicians to become authorised prescribers under the NSW Opioid Treatment Program, helping to build confidence and capability in delivering evidence-based care.
WNSW PHN coordinated and funded the training in response to strong demand for more community-based prescribers across the region. By supporting more GPs and Nurse Practitioners to become accredited prescribers, patients can access treatment closer to home, reducing the need to travel long distances and supporting continuity of care.
A total of 23 participants attended from across NSW, including 11 from the Western NSW PHN region. This included two GPs from Broken Hill, highlighting strong regional engagement and interest in expanding local treatment capacity.
The course supported participants to explore the full continuum of care, from patient assessment and treatment initiation through to stabilisation and ongoing management. The training also covered clinical governance, prescribing requirements, and local referral pathways.
Beyond building clinical skills, the event provided an opportunity for clinicians to connect with specialist services and strengthen referral networks, supporting more coordinated and integrated care for patients.
Dr Stanley Theodorou said the regional delivery of the course was particularly valuable.
“It was wonderful to meet medical practitioners passionate about improving the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Delivering the course in Dubbo gave those working in distant and remote areas the opportunity to discuss the unique challenges of regional prescribing,” Dr Theodorou said.
Improving access to opioid dependency treatment remains a key priority in addressing alcohol and other drug-related harms across the region. Expanding the number of accredited prescribers is an important step in strengthening the local treatment system and ensuring people can access timely, evidence-based care when and where they need it.
