About Pill Testing Australia

Organisation

Pill Testing Australia (PTA) is Australia’s leading organisation dedicated to providing free and confidential drug checking services to ensure the health and safety of individuals who use substances. We offer free, confidential drug checking services at festivals, training and consultation

Our team consists of leading chemists, toxicologists, public health professionals, and peer workers, all of whom bring together decades of expertise in harm reduction. Our work is backed by scientific rigor, global best practices, and hands-on experience from festivals, nightlife settings, and other community environments.

Operating under the auspices of Harm Reduction Australia (HRA), a national membership organisation committed to reducing the health, social, and economic harms associated with drug use. Founded in 2015, HRA brings together individuals passionate about promoting evidence-based harm reduction strategies, creating a national network of advocates, policymakers, and health professionals. Become a member of HRA to join the movement and contribute to building a healthier, safer Australia.

History

Established in 2017, PTA was the first organization to deliver sanctioned pill testing in Australia at Groovin the Moo festival in 2018 in the Australian Capital Territory.Building on this success, PTA delivered a second, larger-scale trial at the same festival in 2019. These trials were independently evaluated by researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) and demonstrated the effectiveness and viability of drug checking services in the Australian festival context. Since 2017 we have tested X samples and provided harm reduction advice to over X people at festivals across Australia.

In 2022, PTA alongside Directions Health Services and CAHMA launched CanTEST, the first fixed-site drug checking service in Australia, located in Canberra. This marked another historic milestone, making it possible for individuals to access drug checking services in a permanent, safe, and supportive environment.

PTA’s has since led the first festival drug checking services in Queensland at the 2024 Rabbits Eat Lettuce, further expanding our impact across the country.  

With a proven track record in service delivery and evidence-based impact, PTA continues to lead the way in drug checking, advancing public health and safety across Australia.

Model

Pill Testing Australia’s service model blends cutting-edge technology, peer involvement, and collaborative partnerships to deliver high-quality drug checking and harm reduction services. We use cutting-edge technologies like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) which allows us to accurately identify substances and provide individuals with reliable information.

We integrate peers with lived and living experience into every level of our service delivery. By involving those with direct knowledge of drug use and nightlife culture, we ensure our services are culturally appropriate, engaging, and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve. We partner with national and local peer-led organisations to enhance the educational and harm reduction impact of our work across the country. 

Beyond direct service provision, PTA engages in public health advocacy, policy reform, and research. We collaborate with universities, government bodies, and harm reduction organisations to influence drug policy and advance evidence-based practices across Australia. PTA’s work is vital in ensuring that drug checking is not only a harm reduction service but also a tool for broader public health safety.