One of APSAD Council’s important annual responsibilities is to select the James Rankin Orator.
The James Rankin Oration is an annual oration held since 1990 as part of the APSAD Conference and honours a significant contributor to research, practice, and or policy in Australasian alcohol and drugs.
The Oration is named in honour of APSAD’s first President Professor James Rankin who established the first medically-based combined clinical and academic program for the treatment and of study for alcoholism in Australia at St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne in 1964. In 1978 Jim became the Director of the Drug and Alcohol Division within the Health Commission of New South Wales. In 1994 Jim became Chair of the Central Sydney Area Drug and Alcohol Service and Clinical professor at the University of Sydney. In 1999 he moved on to work as Senior Staff Specialist in the Northern Rivers Area Health Service to assist in the further development of their drug and alcohol services until his retirement in 2000. For a more in-depth look at James’ career click here to read James’ section in the University of Sydney’s 150 Years, 150 Firsts: The People of the Faculty of Medicine
Available to view on the APSAD YouTube channel
- 2020 James Rankin Orator Prof Wayne Hall presentation titled Retrospections of relapsing drug researcher
- 2016 James Rankin Orator Prof Amanda Baker presentation titled MI and CBT to reduce substance use problems and improve mental health and well-being
- 2014 James Rankin Orator Prof Alison Ritter presentation titled The challenges of Policy Research that aims to make a difference
- 2013 James Rankin Orator Prof James Rankin presentation titled Australia a Consumptive Society
The James Rankin Orators have been:
| YEAR | ORATOR |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Adj Assoc Prof Scott Wilson |
| 2022 | Prof Kate Conigrave |
| 2021 | David McDonald |
| 2020 | Prof Wayne Hall |
| 2019 | Prof Steve Allsop |
| 2018 | Prof Doug Sellman |
| 2017 | Prof Paul Dietze |
| 2016 | Prof Amanda Baker |
| 2015 | Assoc. Prof Adrian Dunlop |
| 2014 | Prof Alison Ritter |
| 2013 | Prof James Rankin |
| 2012 | Prof Robert Ali |
| 2011 | Dr Maggie Brady |
| 2010 | Prof David Penington |
| 2009 | Dr Ingrid van Beek |
| 2008 | Prof Ann Roche |
| 2007 | Dr Geoff Robinson |
| 2006 | Assoc Prof Ted Wilkes |
| 2005 | Prof Ian Webster |
| 2004 | Prof Jason White |
| 2003 | Prof Margaret Hamilton |
| 2002 | Prof James Rankin |
| 2001 | Dr Stella Dalton |
| 2000 | Prof Ian Webster |
| 1999 | Dr James Bell |
| 1998 | Prof Wayne Hall |
| 1997 | Prof Margaret Hamilton |
| 1996 | Dr Alex Wodak |
| 1995 | No JRO held this year |
| 1994 | Dr Robin Room |
| 1993 | Prof David Hawks |
| 1992 | No JRO held this year |
| 1991 | Dr Les Drew |
| 1990 | Prof James Rankin |