Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia

What Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia does

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia Pty Ltd (ADA Australia) is a privately held Victorian-based training services company founded in 2016 that delivers workplace mental health, psychosocial hazard, and drug and alcohol awareness programs to Australian employers, unions, group training organisations, community groups, and secondary schools. Its core catalogue includes Workplace Mental Health Training, Workplace Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Training, People Leader Training, accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Anxiety and Stress Management Training, Bullying and Gendered Violence Training, and a dedicated BEST LIFE: BEST WORK apprentice program. Sessions are sold per unit (e.g., from $1,499 AUD for a 1-hour workshop and $2,499 AUD for a 2-hour workshop) with bespoke multi-session packages available for organisational clients, invoiced on 14-day terms. The company is built around a 'three pillars' model: (1) facilitator-led training delivered on-site, via live webinar, or as 15-minute toolbox talks; (2) digital resources delivered through the WellConnect iOS/Android app and a custom Worker Wellbeing Hub featuring pre-recorded presentations and five-minute videos; and (3) 24/7 anonymous peer support via the Friendly Ear helpline, staffed by support workers with lived experience of addiction and mental health conditions.

The business is operated by a founder-led team (Darren Harland as founder/director, Anthony Pettiona as Chairman, Tim O'Brien as Head of Content), with an extended facilitator network and high-profile ambassadors including Kevin Sheedy, Scott Miller, and Ben Cousins. Customer evidence spans port logistics (Patrick Terminals), packaging (Opal Australia, Orora), automotive and trades (Toyota Material Handling, VACC, AEN, Electrogroup, PICAC), construction (UGL, North East Link), and government (Fire Rescue Victoria, Worksafe Victoria), with longstanding union delivery via ETU Victoria and a national extension via ETU National. Two published handbooks (A Handbook of Alcohol, Drugs & Workplace Risk and A Handbook of Workplace Mental Health) anchor the content library, priced at $29.95 AUD per copy. The company is bootstrapped with no disclosed funding rounds, parent company, or acquisitions, and is registered under ABN 86 615 918 557 in Victoria, Australia.

Name

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia

Legal name

Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia Pty Ltd

Website

https://adaaus.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ADA Australia delivers workplace mental health and drug/alcohol awareness training to Australian businesses, unions, and trades, combining on-site workshops, an MHFA-accredited program, a WellConnect mobile app, and a 24/7 peer-support helpline.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Port Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Workplace Training Programs: ADA Australia generates revenue primarily through fee-for-service workplace training programs. Training is sold per session or per package to organisations. Session pricing varies by duration (1 hour, 2 hours, half-day, full-day) and format (face-to-face on-site, live webinar). Corporate customers can request invoicing with payment due within 14 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ADA Australia delivers fee-for-service workplace training programs covering mental health awareness, drug and alcohol awareness, Mental Health First Aid accreditation, psychosocial hazard management, anxiety and stress management, bullying and gendered violence, and leader development. Programs are sold as 1-hour, 2-hour, half-day, and full-day sessions, plus 15-minute toolbox talks and custom multi-session packages, delivered on-site at client workplaces, via live webinar, or through pre-recorded content on the Worker Wellbeing Hub. The WellConnect mobile app and 24/7 Friendly Ear peer-support helpline provide ongoing post-training engagement for client employees and their families.

Product overview

ADA Australia operates as a training and support services organisation offering a portfolio of workplace mental health and drugs and alcohol awareness programs. The core offering consists of live training programs (delivered face-to-face on-site, via live webinar, or as toolbox talks) supplemented by the Well Connect mobile app, the 24/7 Friendly Ear peer-support helpline, and published handbooks as reference resources. Key live training products include Workplace Mental Health Training, Workplace Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Training, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) accreditation, Anxiety and Stress Management Training, Bullying and Gendered Violence Training, and People Leader Training. Shorter-format options include 15-minute Toolbox Talks and extended multi-session programs. The Well Connect app serves as the digital companion providing wellbeing audit tools, crisis links, and access to the Friendly Ear service. All programs are backed by evidence-based handbooks (A Handbook of Alcohol, Drugs & Workplace Risk and A Handbook of Workplace Mental Health). The company targets Australian businesses, unions, group training companies, community groups, and schools across all industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Workplace Mental Health Training Evidence-based workplace mental health training program that helps organisations identify, manage and address psychosocial hazards and foster mentally healthy workplace cultures built on respect, communication and support. Covers stress, anxiety, depression, bullying, trauma, and psychosocial risk obligations under the Australian Work Health and Safety Act. Targeted at Australian businesses and organisations across all industry sectors.
• Workplace Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Training Workplace drug and alcohol awareness training program fostering safe-work practices through improved awareness and understanding of the impact of substances on health, brain function, judgement and work performance, and covering employer/employee WHS obligations and duty of care. For Australian organisations across all industry sectors.
• People Leader Training Training program for team leaders, supervisors and managers equipping them with the knowledge and skills to create psychologically safe work cultures built on respect, communication and healthy relationships, addressing their special responsibilities and legal obligations under WHS law.
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training Accredited 12-hour Mental Health First Aid program delivered by licensed MHFA instructors providing practical first aid skills for assisting someone experiencing mental health problems or crisis until professional help is available. Includes 3-yearly refresher training to extend accreditation for a further three years. For Australian workplaces and individuals.
• Anxiety and Stress Management Training Practical, evidence-based training for managing workplace stress and anxiety, covering impacts of stress on health, resilience-building techniques, recognising when professional support is needed, and connection strategies. Delivered as 1–2 hour face-to-face or live webinar sessions. For Australian workplaces.
• Bullying and Gendered Violence Training Workplace program addressing bullying, harassment, gendered violence and discriminatory behaviour, paired with positive culture-building. Covers covert and overt bullying behaviours, Fair Work Act obligations, bystander intervention, and establishing positive workplace norms. Designed for all employees with a parallel session structure for leaders.
• Well Connect Mobile App Mobile application providing resources including a 'Seven Flags Wellbeing Monitor' wellbeing audit tool, a 'Let's Chat' option linking users directly to the Friendly Ear support service, and crisis support resources. Available on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store for clients and their families.
• Friendly Ear 24/7 Support Service 24/7 anonymous peer-support and listening helpline operated by experienced support workers with lived experience, providing confidential support for addiction, mental health concerns, and life challenges. Available to all ADA Australia clients and their families; not a crisis, counselling or emergency service, but links to crisis services when needed.
• Toolbox Talk: Drugs, Alcohol and Workplace Risk Short 15–30 minute focused workplace session in toolbox talk format covering AOD awareness topics, ideal for morning pre-starts, regular refreshers, safety stand-downs or as part of ongoing workplace health and safety programs. Delivered face-to-face on-site or via webinar; WHS compliant with certificate included.
• A Handbook of Alcohol, Drugs & Workplace Risk 72-page published handbook addressing drug and alcohol policy obligations in Australian workplaces, covering WHS law, commonly misused substances, detection windows, impacts on judgement and work capability, dependency guidance, and supportive conversation strategies. ISBN 978-0-6485123-1-8, priced at $29.95 AUD per copy with bulk orders available.
• A Handbook of Workplace Mental Health Practical handbook providing easily-read advice and strategies for fostering positive workplace cultures and work systems, recognising psychological injury (work stress, anxiety, depression symptoms), and assisting people at risk. Clinically evaluated publication used as a companion resource to ADA Australia training programs.
• BEACON Program ADA Australia program championed by celebrity ambassadors Scott Miller (Olympic Medallist) and Ben Cousins (AFL Brownlow Medallist), sharing their lived experience of addiction, mental health and recovery. Part of the company's wellbeing and recovery training portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Drugs or alcohol factor in as many as one-in-ten workplace deaths and one-in-four reportable workplace accidents
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025ADA Australia partnered with Fire Rescue Victoria, delivering training to FRV crews between May and December 2025 across multiple fire stations. The partnership addressed mental health, drug and alcohol awareness, and wellbeing support for frontline firefighters.
• Prahran Psychology ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023ADA Australia announced a partnership with Prahran Psychology Clinic to support mental health training and referral pathways for clients. The partnership enhances ADA Australia's referral network and clinical support capabilities.
• Electrical Trades Union Victoria (ETU Victoria) — The Centre for UcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA Australia delivers accredited Mental Health First Aid and other training programs through The Centre for U, an initiative of ETU Victoria. ADA Australia has worked with ETU Victoria since 2019 and the partnership has delivered training to hundreds of ETU members and their families.
• VACC (Victorian Automotive Chamber of Commerce)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA Australia completed the Fine Tuning Automotive Mental Health (FTAMH) Program with VACC, funded through Worksafe Victoria's Workwell initiative. This program addressed mental health in the automotive trade sector.
• Kevin Sheedy (Brand Ambassador)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerFormer AFL champion and legendary coach Kevin Sheedy joined the ADA Australia team as a brand ambassador to promote workplace mental health and drug awareness training.
• Scott Miller and Ben Cousins (BEACON Program Ambassadors)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerScott Miller (Olympic Medallist) and Ben Cousins (AFL Brownlow Medallist) champion ADA's Beacon program, sharing their lived experience of addiction, mental health and recovery. Both serve as celebrity ambassadors for ADA Australia's programs.
• National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA Australia attended the NAEN National Conference at Marvel Stadium and delivers the BEST LIFE: BEST WORK Apprentice Development Program to apprentices in the AEN/Victoria network.
• ETU NationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA Australia and ETU National are working together to deliver mental health and AOD training across Australia on a national level, supporting the health and wellbeing of ETU membership base.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Headspace: National youth mental health foundation with a growing workplace and education-facing training arm. Comparable to ADA Australia's secondary-school and apprentice training offerings (BEST LIFE: BEST WORK), particularly for youth cohorts.
• R U OK?: National suicide prevention and mental health awareness charity with strong workplace and community training programs. Overlaps with ADA Australia's suicide prevention, mental health literacy and ambassador-driven awareness offerings.
• Beyond Blue: Australia's largest mental health awareness organisation with a dedicated workplace programs portfolio. Competes with ADA Australia for enterprise mental health training budgets while also offering broader awareness campaigns and resources.
• Movember: Major men's mental health and suicide prevention charity using high-profile ambassadors (athletes, celebrities) to drive awareness. ADA Australia's Scott Miller and Ben Cousins partnerships mirror this celebrity-driven engagement model.
• Black Dog Institute: Leading Australian mental health research and workplace training provider, offering clinical-grade programs and e-Mental Health resources to corporate and government clients. Directly comparable to ADA Australia in the workplace wellbeing training category.

Direct peers

• Mental Health First Aid Australia: The originating, non-profit provider of accredited Mental Health First Aid training in Australia. ADA Australia is a licensed MHFA instructor, putting both organisations in direct competition for the same enterprise training mandates and accreditations.
• PeopleSense by Altius: Workplace mental health, EAP and training provider serving Australian organisations. Competes directly with ADA Australia for corporate mental health, drug and alcohol awareness, and people leader training engagements.
• Converge International: One of Australia's largest EAP and workplace mental health providers, offering counselling, training and consulting to enterprises. Directly competes with ADA Australia on corporate wellbeing training and 24/7 support services.
• Assure Programs (TELUS Health): Australian EAP, critical incident response and workplace mental health training provider, now part of TELUS Health. Directly comparable to ADA Australia on enterprise wellbeing training and 24/7 support services.

Emerging players

• ReachOut Australia: Digital-first youth mental health service with school and workplace-adjacent training modules. Comparable to ADA Australia's secondary-school drug and alcohol awareness work and digital/app-based resource delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/adaaustralia1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alcoholanddrugawareness-australia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alcohol and Drug Awareness Australia