Applications open for Local Drug Action Teams in Wide Bay

18/01/2018

Applications open for Local Drug Action Teams in Wide Bay

The Coalition Government is continuing to take action to combat the scourge of ice and other illicit drugs with more Local Drug Action Teams set to roll out across Australia.

Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien is calling for applications for the third round of the Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) program, which helps to bring the community together to develop local plans and activities to prevent and reduce the harm being caused by drugs and alcohol in their regions.
 
“LDAT members could include representatives from local councils, schools, police, youth services, primary health services and treatment services, community groups, non-government organisations.” Mr O’Brien said.     
 
“I encourage any organisation with an interest in tackling drug and alcohol issues in their community to apply.
 
“I would also like to see regional health care providers apply to become an LDAT. Specific expertise in drug and alcohol issues is not necessarily a prerequisite to form a LDAT.
 
Successful applicants will initially receive $10,000 to help them to 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.
 
Examples of activities that an LDAT might deliver in communities include:

• raising awareness of the dangers of methamphetamine (also known as ‘ice’) and encouraging users to seek help;
• working with vulnerable people to improve their current situation through education or employment services;
• providing support and information to parents and carers to enable them to talk about alcohol and other drug issues with their children; and
• developing local solutions for reducing violence and other harm related to alcohol and other drugs in public places.

The Local Drug Action Teams is a key measure within the Coalition 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.
 
The Alcohol and Drug Foundation will also help new LDATs to develop and implement action plans targeted to their local needs.
 
“We can’t just arrest our way out of the ice problem.  We are disrupting supply through law enforcement, cutting demand through education programs, and helping the addicted through rehabilitation.  LDAT is another way in which the community can also help to combat the scourge of ice and we encourage more organisations to apply to join the LDAT program.”
 
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.
 
For more information visit www.adf.org.au/ldat