The National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) is Australia’s national research centre for alcohol and other drug (AOD) workforce development. Based at Flinders University, NCETA’s core business is conducting research and evaluation, promoting workforce development, investigating alcohol and other drug use and its impacts, and developing evidence-based prevention, intervention, policy, and resources for workplaces and organisations.
Our History
Established in 1992, NCETA was a collaborative venture between Flinders University and SA Health. Since 1999 NCETA has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing through the National Drug Strategy.
Our Place Within Flinders University
NCETA is part of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI) and is located within the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University in South Australia.
Australia’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centres
NCETA is one of Australia’s five national drug and alcohol research centres alongside:
- National Drug Research Institute (NDRI), Curtin University
- National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs (NCCRED), UNSW Sydney
- National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research (NCYSUR), The University of Queensland
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney
These national centres work together, in partnership with clinical services, policy makers, community organisations, and people with lived and living experience, to address alcohol and other drug issues. Established between 1986 and 2017 across leading universities and health services, and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, they bring together multidisciplinary expertise in epidemiology, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and emerging drug trends.
Through coordinated research, workforce development, and evidence translation, the centres partner with services to apply findings to support policy development, clinical care, service delivery, and workforce capability. Together, the centres provide evidence to inform national, state, and territory policy and practice, and support international responses. They work with governments, services, and communities to strengthen research capacity, incorporate lived experience into program design, and improve health outcomes across Australia.
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Strategic Direction
On behalf of the NCETA Strategic Advisory Board and team, we are pleased to present the 2025-28 NCETA Strategic Plan. The plan outlines NCETA’s strategic priorities and future direction, including strengthening the evidence base to prevent AOD harms, building workforce capacity, fostering partnerships and collaborations, disseminating research, and supporting a strong and sustainable team.