Local Drug Action Team applications now open

01/06/2017

Local Drug Action Team applications now open

Wide Bay organisations are encouraged to join the fight against drugs, with the second round of applications now open for the Coalition Government’s Local Drug Action Team program.

Community groups across Australia are joining forces to deliver targeted local action to help tackle drug use and addiction, under the Coalition Government’s four year, $298 million investment to reduce the harm of ice, drugs and alcohol.

“Ice and other drugs can destroy lives, and we need to work together to protect individuals, families and our community from their evil effects,” Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said today.

Local Drug Action Teams is a community-driven program, supporting local organisations to work together to develop and deliver local solutions to tackle drug and alcohol issues.

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation will support the program through evidence-based community level planning and action.

Each successful Local Drug Action Team will receive minimum initial funding of $10,000 to support their local plan for on the ground prevention activities. 

Mr O’Brien said community teams could apply for up to $40,000 per annum to support drug abuse prevention activities developed in response to issues in their local areas.

“I’m calling on all concerned Wide Bay community groups to join together and take advantage of this program in the fight against illegal drug abuse.

“Representatives are needed from a wide section of the community, such as schools, youth groups, local councils, police, primary health services and treatment services, community groups, non-government organisations and interested community members,” Mr O’Brien said.

Examples of the sorts of activities Local Drug Action Teams might undertake could include:

• Fighting the scourge of ice in communities by promoting and disseminating evidence-based information and encouraging people to access available support.
• Working with vulnerable people to improve engagement with education/employment services.
• Providing support and information for parents and carers to talk to each other and their children about alcohol and other drug issues.
• Developing local solutions for reducing alcohol-related violence and other drug harms in community spaces.

Applications are now open and close on 14 July 2017.

Details about the program, community support material and application documentation is available on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation website at www.adf.org.au