AIVL STAFF AND

Steph Tzanetis joined AIVL after several years with Harm Reduction Victoria, working in peer-based outreach and program management roles. She has a particular interest in and experience with health promotion and harm reduction initiatives in music festival and nightlife settings, including peer support, psychedelic care, and ‘pill testing’/drug checking services.

Steph has spent several years practising as a volunteer community lawyer, as well as volunteering for several organisations that promote the health rights and human rights of people who use drugs. She originally studied law and humanities and more recently completed higher qualifications in medical and health law and addictive behaviours.

Adrian Gorringe’s career background before joining AIVL was  is in Public Health (Health Promotion) and education. Throughout his career  he have been involved in research into the perceived reasons behind drug use, the associated harms, and Australian society’s portrayal of various illicit drug-using, marginalised and stigmatised communities.

Adrian believes that “Although we have progressed as a society, the stigmatisation and general misunderstanding of illicit drug users largely remains and has distorted public consciousness, which in turn has created many public health issues”.

This sparked his interest in being part of the response to improve the health, wellbeing, rights and dignity of people who use/have used illicit drugs.

Adrian is a strong advocate for illicit drug using communities, Adrian believes that people who used drugs should have their voices heard and have meaningful involvement in the development of  policies, programs and services that affect their lives.

Charlie Lay came to AIVL via St Vincent's Hospital Alcohol and Drug Service (SVH ADS) and The Wayside Chapel (TWC).

For over a decade, Charlie worked in various roles at SVH ADS, including Drug & Alcohol Clinician at both Rankin Court Opiate Treatment Program and Gorman House Withdrawal Unit (GH).

Charlie also managed Gorman House Withdrawal Unit for a period of 5 years, ensuring Residents were provided services in, Dignified, Respectful and Compassionate way. One of the central philosophies of the model of care used at GH revolved around the importance of peer knowledge and support through the withdrawal process. 

For the past three years, Charlie has provided frontline support to Visitors at The Wayside Chapel. 'I am very focussed on providing our Visitors with as much advocacy and support as possible to access the services they want'. Charlie possesses a number of relevant qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Diploma in Alcohol and Other Drugs, and is in the final stages of a Master of Social Work. One of Charlie's hobbies is collecting Hawaiian shirts!

Sav Gollapally is a Marketing Professional with a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters in Public Health from Torrens University Australia. Prior to his Masters degree, he was a compounding pharmacist for a community pharmacy in Sydney. His experience as a pharmacist was extremely rewarding; however, it was through marketing and public health that he could use his analytical aptitude, marketing, and problem-solving skills to their fullest. So, he decided to pursue his Masters degree, and he says it was the best decision that he has ever made.

Sav brings over three years of marketing, sales, and public relations expertise, and he has worked for a variety of advertising, IT, healthcare, and marketing firms developing – CRM marketing strategy, landing page optimisation on websites, and Health Marketing (creating, communicating, and delivering health information and interventions). He loves creativity and he is a creative problem solver who has a passion for change, innovation and the wellbeing of society.

Rob has over 30 years' experience in accounting, taxation and finance, holding a Bachelor of Business – Accounting from Charles Sturt University and a CPA qualification.

Rob commenced his career as a junior accountant in a public accounting office and working in a diverse range of roles covering public accounting, small business, government before progressing his career to a role as the Australasian Chief Financial Officer for an international company based in Germany.

Rob has spent years volunteering his time with many Not for Profits. He has held roles such as State Vice President for APEX NSW and Treasurer and Board member for the ACT Children’s Book Council.