Call for more to join fight against drugs & alcohol

Federal member for Canning Andrew Hastie wants more organisations with an interest in tackling drug and alcohol issues in their community to apply to the Local Drug Action Team program.

Thanks to the Local Drug Action Team the 'Our Mandurah Community - Youth Alcohol Strategy' program is already up and running in Mandurah with a focus educating young people and their parents on the dangers of alcohol abuse, and reducing alcohol-related harm within Mandurah’s youth community.

But now there are calls for more people to get behind the cause with applications open for the third round of the Local Drug Action Team program funding. 

The Turnbull Government is continuing to take action to stamp out ice and other illicit drugs with more LDATs set to rollout across Australia.

Mr Hastie said people need to work together to find more ways to fight ice and other drugs doing harm in our communities, while nothing the Peel Youth Medical Services Health Hub will be key to eliminating these issue from the Mandurah community.

“The PYMS Health Hub, which is due to be completed this year, is going to play a big role in tackling the terrible effects of drugs on our young people,” Mr Hastie said.

“Any organisation with an interest in tackling drug and alcohol issues in their community is encouraged to apply to the LDAT program.”

Health Minister Greg Hunt said that the Local Drug Action Teams is a key measure within the Turnbull Government’s $298 million National Ice Action Strategy to combat illicit drug and alcohol use.

“The National Ice Taskforce recognised that taking action at the local level and building community engagement and capacity is vital to reducing the harms that alcohol and other drugs have on individuals, families and communities.” Minister Hunt said.

During the second round of the LDAT program the City of Mandurah and it's community partner 'Our Mandurah Community - Youth Alcohol Strategy' started a school-based program designed to educate young people and their parents about the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Mr Hastie said thanks to the LDAT funding the program was able to expand from running in three schools originally, now being taught in six. 

"This is just one example of how the LDAT program could assist your local community," he said.

Mr Hastie said LDAT members could include representatives from local councils, schools, police, youth services, primary health services and treatment services, community groups, non-government organisations.

If successful in round three, applicants would receive $10,000 to help develop a local action plan.

Once the plan is finalised, LDATs can apply to receive up to an additional $30,000 in their first year, and then $40,000 a year, to support delivery of local activities.

Minister for Rural Health, Senator Bridget McKenzie welcomed the latest round of teams, acknowledging that regional communities are often the hardest hit when it comes to epidemics such as ‘ice’ addiction.

“Communities are working hard to establish and implement preventive and support services and this latest round of LDATs will assist communities further," she said.

Applications for round three of the LDAT program close 19 February 2018. There will be further opportunities to be part of the program later this year and in 2019