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Drug and Alcohol Testing, Sydney & NSW

Keeping New South Wales workplaces safe from drug and alcohol misuse.

About Drug and Alcohol Testing Services, NSW

AusHealth operates across Australia. It is the nation’s largest provider of drug and alcohol testing services.

We carry out testing right across New South Wales, servicing all major cities, including Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, and regional centres such as Dubbo, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga. We also meet the unique challenges of regional workplaces, providing drug and alcohol testing in remote areas throughout the state.

Our trained collectors are residents throughout New South Wales and are on call 24/7.

AusHealth’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Services:

Mandated regular drug and alcohol testing
Industries such as mining, aviation, and transportation are legally required to maintain a drug- and alcohol-free workplace. AusHealth’s dedicated customer service team can coordinate a comprehensive range of services to help you meet your federally mandated obligations. Our drug and alcohol testing services typically include onsite testing, pre-employment screening and post-incident testing.
Post-incident drug and alcohol testing
AusHealth’s Customer Service Team is available 24/7 and can quickly send the nearest collection team to your NSW workplace or incident site to carry out any required drug and alcohol testing.
Specialist testing to determine long-term substance misuse
AusHealth’s Customer Service Team can coordinate with our specialist in-house Toxicology Team. Based in Adelaide, it provides advanced testing services — including hair testing — for clients across New South Wales.

Drug and Alcohol Testing Methods

We offer pre-employment, scheduled random, post-incident and return-to-work testing.

Testing can be provided onsite at your workplace and offsite on behalf of your workplace (for example, after an incident).

Our testing procedures are efficient and discreet; they meet Australian Standards, using sampling methods that ensure comprehensive and accurate results.

Drug and alcohol testing methods in New South Wales:

Breath testing: Breathalysers are used to detect alcohol consumption; this method is non-invasive, with results available immediately.
Saliva testing: Saliva tests are used to detect recent drug use. These tests are non-invasive, and same-day results are available.
Urine testing: Urine tests are used to detect drug use over several days — even weeks — and can detect a range of illicit substances, including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, opiates and THC.
Hair testing: Hair testing is a drug testing method used to detect chronic or long-term substance use.

After sample collection, results are available within minutes. Non-negative results are sent to a lab for confirmation. Our teams follow strict procedures to ensure accuracy, compliance and confidentiality.

Video: The most common excuses for a drug test.

How Does Onsite Drug and Alcohol Testing Work?

All tests in New South Wales are carried out by our trained collectors, ensuring accuracy, consistency and confidentiality.

We follow Australian Standards (ISO 9001/45001:2018), so you can be certain all testing meets quality standards and compliance.

New South Wales Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing Process

Step one: Book Your Testing
Contact our Customer Service Team to arrange the testing type that suits your needs — whether it’s scheduled onsite testing or urgent post-incident testing.
Step two: Collectors arrive at your workplace
Our trained collectors arrive promptly, using approved devices to collect and test samples. Negative results are available on the spot. If a non-negative result is detected, the sample is sent for laboratory analysis. All initial results are delivered via same-day email.
Step three (if required): Laboratory screening
Non-negative results are screened at a NATA-accredited laboratory to confirm findings. For more complex cases, our in-house toxicology team provides further investigation and expert analysis.
Step four: Results
Comprehensive final reports are delivered within 7–10 business days.

When Should You Conduct Workplace Drug Testing?

AusHealth offers flexible testing solutions, depending on your workplace needs. Common testing scenarios include:

Pre-employment: Screening new hires before they join your team.
Scheduled random testing: Selectively testing employees without prior notice.
Post-incident testing: Conducted after workplace accidents.
Return-to-work testing: For employees returning after a positive test.

Our experts can help tailor a testing schedule to suit your industry, company goals and safety policies.

Video: Our Toxicologists explain how long it takes for drugs to leave your system.

Who Are Our Clients?

AusHealth is Australia’s largest provider of drug and alcohol testing.

We service public sector agencies and commercial businesses across the nation, working in all sectors, including mining, construction, transportation, logistics and government.

Whether your company is large or small, our New South Wales collectors are ready to help your workplace stay safe and healthy.

Some of Our Drug and Alcohol Testing Clients…

ARTC
Australian Federal Police (AFP)
Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN)
Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
Department of Defence
Department of Home Affairs
Metro North Hospital and Health Service
Metro South Health
Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)
NSW Government
ONRSR
Pacific National
SA Government
Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN)
TOLL IPEC
VIC Government
Virgin Australia

Why Choose AusHealth For Your Drug and Alcohol Testing?

Tailored to your workplace: Our experienced Customer Service Team works with you to design a testing program that meets your unique safety requirements, whether you’re in construction, transportation, mining or another high-risk industry.
NSW-based collection teams: Our trained collectors are based throughout New South Wales and ready to travel to your site — from Sydney to regional and remote locations.
Expert support from our in-house Toxicology Team: For any non-negative or disputed results, our resident team of qualified toxicologists provides expert analysis and confirmation, giving you and your workforce clarity and peace of mind.
Fast, reliable results: We test for alcohol and a broad range of drugs, with most results delivered on the same day of testing to keep your operations moving safely.
Nationally accredited and fully compliant: We adhere to all relevant Australian Standards for drug and alcohol testing, so you can rest assured your workplace remains compliant and protected.

Our Accreditation

Quality: ISO 9001/45001:2018 | Issued by TQCSI | Accreditation Number: AU801-SC

NATA Laboratory Accreditation: ISO/IEC 17025 | Accreditation Number: 15338 | Site Number: 16007

ASQA: Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Number: 40379

FAQs

Where in New South Wales do you conduct drug and alcohol testing?

AusHealth provides drug and alcohol testing services across both metropolitan and regional New South Wales. Our collectors are located throughout the state, including in remote and regional areas such as Dubbo, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Broken Hill.

How accurate are drug and alcohol tests?

When administered by trained professionals using certified equipment and laboratory confirmation, drug and alcohol tests are highly accurate and meet Australian Standards. Properly conducted testing can withstand scrutiny from employers, courts and regulators. At AusHealth, we maintain strict protocols to ensure every test is reliable, legally compliant and confidential.

Do we need a workplace policy to conduct drug and alcohol testing in NSW?

Yes. A clear workplace drug and alcohol policy is essential before conducting any testing in New South Wales. It ensures legal compliance, sets expectations and protects both employers and employees. Without a policy, testing may raise ethical or legal issues. AusHealth can assist you in developing or updating your policy to align with Australian Standards and your specific workplace needs.

What happens if one of our employees tests positive?

If an employee returns a ‘non-negative’ result, the sample is sent to our laboratory partner for confirmatory testing. If the result is confirmed, your company’s policy will guide the next steps, which may include a formal warning, referral to support services, suspension or termination. All results are handled with strict confidentiality, and our team can support you throughout the process.

What’s the difference between saliva, urine and hair tests?

Each test type offers different advantages based on what you need to detect and when:

Saliva testing: Non-invasive and fast, suitable for detecting recent drug use (within 12–48 hours), often used in roadside or workplace settings.
Urine testing: Common in pre-employment and random testing, it detects drug use from several days prior.
Hair testing: Offers a long detection window (up to 90 days), making it ideal for legal cases or monitoring long-term drug use.

AusHealth can advise on the best testing method for your workplace, depending on your goals and risk profile.

Other Services Offered by AusHealth

Across New South Wales, we provide additional testing-related services to support compliant and safe businesses.

Training

We offer a range of training courses in drug and alcohol testing services, health and wellness, and first aid.

Policy Development

AusHealth can help you draft a Drug and Alcohol Standard Operating Procedure and Workplace Testing Policy to ensure you are fully compliant with New South Wales and Federal legislation.

Respiratory Mask Fitting

Ensure your employees have suitable respiratory protection with our respiratory fit testing.

Find out more about AusHealth’s services.

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