Welcome!
Pill Testing Australia (previously STA-SAFE) conduct laboratory grade, front of house pill testing integrated with health professional consultations.
Having conducted Australia’s first successful pill testing at Groovin the Moo in 2018 we are working hard to roll out this proven, important harm reduction strategy at events and eventually in cities around Australia. The Groovin the Moo 2019 pill testing service was a resounding success and led to the establishment of Australia’s first ever fixed pill testing service – CanTEST – which was launched in July 2022, and following a 6 month pilot, 675 discussions, 85 health interventions and 614 substance tests, funding has been extended into 2023.
If you thought testing pills was just a recent idea, think again. Drug checking services have been developed over the last 25 years in over 30 countries and are one of the best proven strategies for reducing drug-related harm.
The evidence for pill testing shows us that:
- it reduces the amount of drugs consumed by individuals
- it reduces the variety of drugs consumed in a session, both of which are risk factors for overdose & death
We are dedicated to seeing pill testing services rolled out as part of a nationwide system.
What we do is relatively simple.
People considering using a pill or other drug can see us to have them tested to discover what it is they may really be taking.
As part of this process we will provide a range of information to help people make an informed decision while understanding the risks and what to do in the event of any adverse outcomes.
This is an opportunity for an early intervention, the provision of non-discriminatory health information, and access referral pathways to a range of health and community services.
We never advise people it is safe to take drugs
We never promote the consumption of drugs
We are a non-discriminatory health service.
Enjoy looking around our website and learning about the different services we provide.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Pill Testing Explained animation
Launched on Oct 31, 2020, an animated video produced by Dancewize, Pill Testing Australia and SSDP.
QLD – State first success
Managed by Pill Testing Australia, the event-based service at the festival drew in 257 festival-goers over the course of four days, offering crucial information about the substances they intended to consume. Pill Testing Australia medical lead David Caldicott hailed...
Queensland’s first festival pill-testing service finds ‘Canberra ketamine’ sold as MDMA
The Pill Testing Australia clinical lead David Caldicott said it was hard to know if the clinic saved lives in 2024, but pointed to the lack of a need for paramedics as a win for safety.
Media Release – first drug checking at a multi-day festival: Pill Testing Australia at Rabbits Eat Lettuce QLD
“The success of QLD's first pill testing service at the multi-day festival Rabbits Eat Lettuce (REL) would not have been possible without the leadership team”, comprising of Professor Malcolm McLeod (Chemistry Lead), Dr David Caldicott (Medical Lead) and Dr Penny Hill...
Media Release from the Honourable Shannon Fentiman – QLD Minister for Health
Pill testing results show service’s importance to health and safety
7NEWS takes you inside Queensland’s first illicit drug testing tent
PTA runs Qld's first ever pill testing service
Rabbits Eat Lettuce is the first multi-day festival in Australia to have pill testing. How will it work?
Five thousand partygoers will have the opportunity to get their illicit drugs tested for purity at the iconic "bush doof" Rabbits Eat Lettuce Festival that begins on Thursday on Queensland's Southern Downs. Pill Testing Australia's David Caldicott says drug behaviours...
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PTA will only deliver front of house testing and is a signatory to the Trans-Tasman Charter which lays out the principles under which any pill testing should operate.
