Paul Dillon has been working in the area of drug education for the past 25 years. He trained as a primary school teacher in Western Australia and has since taught across all age groups, from pre-primary to high school students.
In the early 1990s he moved into the field of alcohol and other drugs, firstly working on community-based projects and education campaigns, and then becoming involved in a number of large research projects examining everything from ecstasy use to alcohol-related issues. Paul is best known for his media work, however, and continues to be regarded as a key social commentator in Australia. Appearing on a range of television programs including Sunrise, TODAY and A Current Affair, he is regularly asked to discuss topical issues, particularly in relation to young people and drugs. Paul had a regular spot on Triple J for seven years where he dealt with youth drug issues. He also hosted a popular Triple J website called ‘Doing Drugs With Paul Dillon’.
Through his own business, Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA), he is contracted by many agencies and organisations across the country to give regular updates on drug trends within the community. As a former school teacher, Paul has a passion for working with young people and continues to work with many school communities to ensure that they have access to good-quality information and best practice drug education.
Each year Paul presents information sessions on alcohol and other drugs to thousands of young people around the country. He is one of the few speakers in this area who is also privileged enough to speak to parents and the wider community, and his positive message about our young people continues to ensure that he is in great demand across Australia.