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Wollongong, NSW – Sober Check Australia, a provider of drug, alcohol and hydration testing solutions, is attending the Drug & Alcohol Nurses of Australasia (DANA) Annual Conference, taking place from 5 to 7 August 2026 at the Novotel Wollongong.

Representing Sober Check at the three-day event, Chief Executive Officer Louis Foster and Business Development Manager Vincent McMillan will engage directly with Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational health professionals and programme managers from across Australia and New Zealand.

Centred around this year’s conference theme, GRIT (Growth, Resilience, Integration, Teamwork), Sober Check’s participation underscores its commitment to supporting healthcare professionals through practical drug testing solutions, education and harm reduction initiatives.

“AOD nurses and clinicians carry immense responsibility in managing substance abuse and patient care across Australasia,” said Louis Foster, CEO of Sober Check Australia. 

“DANA is an opportunity to learn from clinicians, understand the challenges they’re facing and share practical solutions that support safe, reliable drug testing. Those conversations are invaluable in helping us continue to provide solutions and resources that meet the needs of the sector.”

Throughout the conference, the Sober Check team looks forward to hearing from delegates about the challenges facing AOD services, discussing emerging substance trends and different testing approaches and exploring how education can support best practice across the sector. 

Delegates visiting  the Sober Check stand will be able to explore a range of urine, oral fluid and breath alcohol testing solutions, including the verified SCOUT OneStep and Medix Pro-Split urine drug cups, together with the OneScreen 10 and OneStep 12 multi-panel urine cups, which offer  broader screening for drugs of abuse in clinical settings. 

“Building resilient, effective drug and alcohol screening programmes relies on teamwork between clinicians, researchers, educators, and technology providers,” Mr Foster said. 

“We look forward to three days of collaborative learning, networking and supporting the vital work of DANA members.”

About Sober Check:  

Sober Check is one of Australasia’s largest providers of drug and alcohol testing solutions, supporting healthcare providers, workplaces and community organisations with reliable testing technology. With more than 20 years of experience, Sober Check provides compliant urine, oral fluid and breath alcohol testing solutions with practical guidance to help organisations implement effective testing programmes across Australia and New Zealand.

Australian employers are being urged to prepare for the end of the 36-month transition from AS/NZS 4308:2008 to AS/NZS 4308:2023, following publication of the updated standard on 10 November 2023.

According to Perth-based workplace drug, alcohol and hydration testing specialist Sober Check Australia, organisations should now review their testing devices, workplace policies, procedures, and quality control processes to ensure they align with the updated Australian Standard before the deadline. 

This transition is not simply about changing testing devices; employers should also review workplace policies, collector competency, chain of custody procedures, and quality control processes introduced under the updated standard.

What is Changing

AS/NZS 4308:2023, published on 10 November 2023 by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand, replaces the 2008 edition after a three-year transition period.

The updated standard introduces several important changes, including revised cocaine screening cut-off concentrations, stronger specimen integrity requirements, enhanced quality-control procedures for on-site testing, updated collector responsibilities, and clearer chain-of-custody requirements. 

Testing cups and devices calibrated to the old threshold may not detect cocaine at concentrations that would now trigger a not-negative result under AS/NZS 4308:2023, at the lower 2023 cut-off, which means a testing programme still running on 2008-standard equipment can return a false negative on a sample that would fail under the current standard. That gap matters most in industries where a missed positive result carries direct safety consequences rather than a compliance paperwork issue alone.

Sober Check Australia has transitioned its urine drug testing product range to align with AS/NZS 4308:2023 and is supporting workplaces through updated guidance, product training and compliant testing solutions

For Sober Check Australasia CEO, Louis Foster, it is critical that Australian employers move quickly to meet the requirements of the new standards. 

“AS/NZS 4308:2023 is about much more than changing a testing device,” said Mr Foster. 

“The updated standard places greater emphasis on the integrity of the entire testing process, including quality control, specimen integrity, documentation and chain of custody. 

“Employers should use the remaining transition period to review their testing devices, workplace policies, procedures and the competence of staff conducting testing.  The important question isn’t simply whether you’re using the right device; it’s whether you can demonstrate confidence in the entire testing process.”

What the Transition Means for Employers

NATA’s published transition policy states that once the transition period ends, facilities will be assessed against AS/NZS 4308:2023. Facilities that have not transitioned and remain accredited to AS/NZS 4308:2008 will have that accreditation withdrawn. 

For employers, this makes it more important to understand which version of the standard their laboratory or third-party testing provider is currently accredited against. NATA scopes of accreditation already show providers accredited for testing against AS/NZS 4308:2023  

Organisations conducting their own in-house testing should also use the transition period to review their devices, procedures, quality control processes and staff competency. 

Employers still running 2008-standard testing have time to switch providers, retrain staff on updated procedures and confirm their new testing partner’s NATA accreditation status before the window closes.

Five things employers should review ahead of the AS/NZS 4308:2023 transition 

1. Devices: Confirm urine drug testing devices meet the current screening requirements, including the revised cocaine metabolite cut-off, and that appropriate verification documentation is available. 
2. Policies: Review workplace Drug and Alcohol Policies to ensure they reference the current standard and remain consistent with your testing procedures. 
3. Quality control: Organisations conducting on-site testing should ensure that appropriate high- and low-control testing, lot verification, and quality control records are incorporated into their programme. 
4. Procedures and documentation: Review collection procedures, specimen integrity checks, chain-of-custody documentation, specimen security and the handling of not-negative results. 
5. Staff competency: Ensure personnel involved in specimen collection and on-site testing understand the requirements of AZ/NZS 4308:2023 and are competent to perform their responsibilities.

Resources for Australian Employers

Sober Check Australia has developed a series of practical resources to help employers prepare for the transition, including its AS/NZS 4308:2023 Guide, Guide to Workplace Drug Testing in Australia and guidance on developing an effective Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Leading workplace drug and alcohol testing authority Sober Check has officially launched its newest flagship hardware solution the SCOUT OneStep Urine Drug Screening Cup. 

Specifically engineered to address the strict operational and technical compliance shifts introduced by the updated AS/NZS 4308:2023 workplace testing standards, the device is set to become the baseline safety benchmark for high-volume industries across Australia and New Zealand.

The biggest technical hurdle introduced by the AS/NZS 4308:2023 update is the dramatic reduction of the cocaine screening cut-off level, which has dropped from 300 µg/L down to 150 µg/L. 

According to Sober Check Australasia CEO, Louis Foster, this launch arrives ahead of the critical November transition deadline, when the legacy 2008 standards officially phase out, leaving organisations using outdated hardware exposed to significant legal and workplace safety risks.

“If an employer continues to screen with legacy 2008-verified cups, they may fail to detect those who have cocaine levels below the 2008 cut-off level, but above the 2023 standard cut-off level,” said Mr Foster. 

“The SCOUT OneStep was engineered from the ground up to meet this improved requirement. It ensures complete, airtight regulatory alignment with the 2023 screening cut-offs, safeguarding both your staff and your corporate legal liability.”

This ‘cocaine cliff’ – in which industry compliance specialists are seeing a rapid surge in usage rates identified by regional wastewater data across both countries – has implications across workplace drug testing regimes. 

Developed directly from extensive client feedback in heavy industrial sectors and blue-collar labour hire providers, the SCOUT OneStep features an intuitive, unified design that simplifies the entire physical on-site collection and screening process.

Key technical innovations built into the device include:

• The One-Step Workflow: Eliminates the need for external activation keys or complex mechanisms. This simple layout solves a major pain point for labour-hire and remote operations, where donors frequently mishandle testing kits, leading to testing errors or a mess. 
• Integrated Adulterant Screening: Includes built-in visual windows to immediately assess specimen integrity (e.g. pH and creatinine levels), matching Appendix B3 of the 2023 standard to quickly detect tampering.
• Time Savings: Shaves at least one full minute off the whole process per donor, a critical efficiency dividend for high-volume situations such as mine entry points, blanket testing and pre-deployment testing.

As Sober Check prepares to showcase its expanded capabilities at upcoming national health safety conferences, the company is urging workplace managers to audit their internal documentation alongside their testing hardware. 

According to Mr Foster, under the 2023 framework, if an organisation’s internal workplace drug and alcohol policy conflicts with the updated standard, it creates critical vulnerabilities that employees can leverage to contest disciplinary actions or termination proceedings.

“In a high-stakes litigation environment, technical errors cost companies millions,” Mr Foster said. 

“The SCOUT OneStep doesn’t just offer a faster, cleaner test; it provides our clients with a legally defensible barrier. It brings physical workplace reality into lockstep with regulatory law.”

The SCOUT OneStep is available for immediate sale, fully compliant with the updated temperature parameters (32°C to 38°C).

As many will be aware, Sober Check, New Zealand’s largest supplier of certified drug and alcohol testing solutions, acquired CMM Technology in 2025. Over the past twelve months, we have been working behind the scenes to bring together the best of both organisations. Today, I am pleased to confirm that CMM Technology will now operate under the Sober Check Australia brand.

I want to be direct about what this means for you: nothing changes on your end. Your contracts, pricing, payment arrangements and day-to-day service contacts all remain exactly as they are. There is no action required from you. No new paperwork, no updated payment details, no disruption accessing your drug and alcohol screening devices. You’ll still receive the same excellent service and support from the same team.

Why the Rebrand?

For over 20 years, Sober Check has built a reputation in New Zealand as one of the most trusted names in workplace drug and alcohol testing. We have earned that reputation the same way CMM earned yours: through reliable service, strong relationships and a genuine understanding of what our clients need to keep their people safe.

The rebrand to Sober Check Australia reflects a single, unified identity across both sides of the Tasman. It gives us the platform to invest more deeply in the Australian market, including expanded national coverage, updated equipment and technology and a stronger team on the ground.

As I shared in a recent Q&A on our website, our internal purpose at Sober Check is simple: Helping People Help People. That is what drives every decision we make. We provide the tools and services that allow site managers to keep their teams safe, help recruitment consultants place workers with confidence and support clinical practitioners in guiding individuals back to wellbeing. That purpose does not change with a new name. 

What Stays the Same

• Contracts and pricing. No changes to existing agreements.
• Payment arrangements. ABN, bank details and billing processes remain the same.
• Account contacts. The team will continue to manage your account.
• Equipment, devices and consumables. Same products, same quality, same certifications.
• Compliance obligations. We continue to supply products and services that meet the current standards and all relevant state and territory WHS requirements.

What Gets Better

The Sober Check name brings with it the resources, systems and experience of a business that has spent two decades refining its approach. Here is what can be expected:

Pro-active account management. In New Zealand, Sober Check built its market leadership through a customer-first model. Rather than waiting for you to call us when something goes wrong, we come to you. Expect regular check-ins, compliance reviews and recommendations tailored to your site and sector.

National reach. CMM’s strength has always been in Western Australia, with deep ties to the mining sector. Under Sober Check Australia, we are expanding our operational footprint across Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria, before moving to the rest of the country. If your business operates across multiple states, we can now support you nationwide under a single account.

Broader product range. This range includes an extensive array of Sober Check’s industry-leading products across the spectrum of alcohol, hydration, urine drug, oral fluid drug testing, as well as wellness, specialty products and client product training. 

Technology and digital engagement. We are also making investments in technology and digital engagement. The way Australian businesses manage workplace safety is evolving. Our investment in digital tools, streamlined ordering and faster turnaround times is designed to make your experience with us as straightforward as possible.

Our Vision for the Australian Market

When Sober Check identified CMM Technology as the foundation for our Australian expansion, it was due to CMM’s loyal client base and the relationships it had built over the years. Those relationships are the assets we valued most in this acquisition, and they are the ones we intend to continue to support.

Our goal is clear: to make Sober Check Australia the preferred partner for employers, workplaces and organisations across Australasia who need reliable, compliant, high-quality workplace testing solutions. As I have said before, we know that genuine and timely service works. Our plan is to combine the technical expertise and proven model we have developed in New Zealand with the established trust CMM has earned in Western Australia, and to extend that combination nationally.

What You Need to Know

There is no action required from you from an operational perspective. Your service will continue uninterrupted. Your existing agreements, payment arrangements and account contacts all remain the same.

Over the coming weeks, you will begin to see the Sober Check brand across our emails, website, invoices and communications. While our existing email addresses will continue to work during the transition, we encourage you to add the new domain to your safe senders list to ensure ongoing delivery of communications.

We also invite you to have a look around our website and follow Sober Check Australia on LinkedIn for updates, workplace safety insights, product information and training resources.

If you have any questions at all, your existing account manager is your first point of contact, or you are welcome to reach out to me directly.

I look forward to continuing to work together to help keep workplaces and communities safe across Australia.

Warm regards

Louis Foster

CEO, Sober Check Australia

Sober Check, one of the leading providers of alcohol and drug testing solutions across Australasia, today announced the appointment of Vincent McMillan as Business Development Manager. 

This appointment is a cornerstone of Sober Check’s second-phase expansion into the Australian market following its successful acquisition of Perth-based CMM Technology.

McMillan joins the team to spearhead market growth and manage the increasing demand for sophisticated workplace safety and hydration technology across Australia. 

His appointment follows the recent transition of Louis Foster to the role of CEO of Australian operations, signalling a rapid acceleration of Sober Check’s Trans-Tasman growth strategy. 

“We didn’t just come to Australia to maintain the status quo; we came to revitalise the industry with the same proactive focus on client success that made us the market leader in New Zealand,” said Louis Foster, CEO of Sober Check Australia.

“Vincent McMillan is the key to managing this growth, as we consolidate our footprint in Western Australia and look to expand across the country; his role is to ensure that as we scale, we don’t lose the personal connection and technical expertise that our clients depend on. We are building a team that can support the stability of big business while maintaining the responsiveness of a close-knit partner.”

For over 20 years, Sober Check has dominated the New Zealand market through a “high-touch” relationship model. 

With the integration of CMM Technology’s Western Australian mining and industrial footprint now complete, the focus has shifted to modernising Australian workplace safety through proactive client success models.

The appointment comes at a critical time as Australian safety regulations and employer “fitness for work” expectations evolve. 

Sober Check is positioning itself as more than a supplier, focusing on Workplace Health & Wellness Technology, including:

• Advanced drug and alcohol testing: Compliant, easy-to-use certified solutions.
• Hydration monitoring: Specialised technology for the mining, construction and transport sectors.
• Proactive account success: Moving away from “one-off sales” to long-term safety partnerships.

“The demand for workplace safety solutions across Australia is growing, but the market is looking for a partner, not just a product provider,” Mr. Foster said. 

“With Vincent McMillan on board, Sober Check is ready to bring our expertise to the doorstep of Australia’s largest mining, industrial and economic hubs.”

Perth, Western Australia – Sober Check, New Zealand’s largest supplier of alcohol and drug testing solutions, announced that Louis Foster will lead its Australian operations as CEO, following its acquisition of Perth-based CMM Technology. 

This announcement marks a strategic milestone as part of the first phase of a plan to establish Sober Check Australia as a leading provider of workplace health & wellness technology across Australasia.

For over 20 years, Sober Check has specialised in key workplace safety industries, building a dominant market share in New Zealand through high-touch, relationship-based service. 

The acquisition of CMM Technology provides an immediate operational foothold in Western Australia, particularly within the critical mining sector where CMM Technology has long-standing ties.

“We have spent two decades refining our model in New Zealand, where we are proud to be one of the leaders in this space,” said Louis Foster, Director of Sober Check.

“We identified CMM Technology as the perfect foundation for our expansion. While they have a strong history in the West, we see immense potential to revitalize the business and use it as a launchpad to bring our expertise to the Eastern Seaboard – Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne – where the demand for workplace safety solutions is growing.”

The acquisition unites Sober Check’s proactive, customer-first approach with CMM’s established client base. 

Founded over two decades ago, Sober Check is New Zealand’s largest supplier of certified drug and alcohol testing solutions and is seen as one of the market leaders in this space. 

Sober Check plans to modernise the Australian operations by introducing the proactive account management and customer success focus that has built them into becoming the market leader in New Zealand.

“We know that old-fashioned service works, but we also recognise the need to scale,” added Mr Foster.

 “Our goal is to combine our technical expertise with a renewed focus on digital and direct engagement to serve the Australian market better than it has ever been served before.”

We are excited to announce that Sober Check has acquired CMM Australia, effective 24 January. Sober Check has been New Zealand’s leading supplier of drug and alcohol testing equipment since 2005, providing reliable solutions to businesses across the country. We have worked closely with CMM since 2008 and are pleased to expand our presence in the Australian market through this acquisition.

CMM, based in Perth, has been a trusted name in drug and alcohol testing for many years. We want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Colin Passmore and Murray Simon for their dedication in establishing and growing CMM. Their hard work has had a lasting impact on the industry, and we are honoured to continue the legacy they have built.

For our customers in New Zealand, you will continue to receive the same excellent service that Sober Check is known for. In addition, we are excited to introduce some innovative new products, which will be rolled out around the middle of the year.

For our new customers in Australia, there will be no disruptions—CMM will continue to operate as usual, with the same team and the same great service you have come to expect. We look forward to connecting with you in due course and further strengthening our relationships in the Australian market.

This acquisition marks an exciting step forward for both companies, allowing us to expand our reach and continue providing high-quality drug and alcohol testing solutions.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch by emailing support@sobercheck.com.au.