The Coalition Government is extending the National Ice Action Strategy, investing more than $343 million over four years in the ongoing fight to reduce the impact of ice, other drugs and alcohol bringing the total investment in treatment services and programs to $830 million.
Included in the new funding announced by Minister Greg Hunt is continued funding for programs and services in the Limestone Coast totalling over $2 million.
In 2019, Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin secured a funding agreement for Uniting Communities to deliver drug and alcohol rehabilitation program ‘New Roads’.
Substance Misuse Limestone Coast was also funded in 2019 to support their work in the Limestone Coast.
Mr Pasin said he was thrilled to secure further funding to see these organisations able to continue to deliver important services to the community.
“The initial funding announced in 2019 was a big win for our community and has translated into tangible benefits for individuals and their families,” Mr Pasin said.
“With the 2019 funding agreement due to end in June this year, I have been advocating for further funding to see these organisations continue their great work in our community. This new funding means service providers and their clients can have certainty going forward,” Mr Pasin said.
“Together with national initiatives, this additional investment means the Limestone Coast region specifically is benefiting from more than $3.3 million of Federal Government investment in community-based solutions to tackling alcohol and other drugs in our local community,” Mr Pasin said.
Since its inception in 2016, the National Ice Action Strategy has helped thousands of people gain access to treatment programs and supported communities across Australia to tackle local drug and alcohol issues with local solutions.
Comments attributable to Substance Misuse Limestone Coast (SMLC) Chair of the Board, Andy Stott.
“SMLC is delighted with the news of ongoing funding from the Federal Government. This means that we are in a position to continue the short and long-term programs we have started that support our community.”
“The need for our services has been highlighted in the recent data collected via the international trial program, Planet Youth, which surveyed Year 10 students in 2019 and expanded to include all Government funded secondary schools in the Limestone Coast, highlighting some alarming lifestyle statistics. SMLC has been coordinating the Planet Youth program and can now work with the community in addressing issues raised.”
“We recognise and very much appreciate the crucial role that our Local Federal Member Tony Pasin has played in delivering this funding to the Limestone Coast.”
Comments attributable to Melissa Shee, Service Manager, New ROADs, Uniting Communities.
“We are so grateful for the advocacy that Tony has undertaken to have the funding extended for an additional two years, we have been delivering these services to hundreds of community members across the limestone coast and have been able to achieve some fantastic outcomes that have seen people gain support and make active and positive change to their substance use and their lives, now being able to maintain stable accommodation, employment and study, volunteer work and or have built stronger relationships with self and family.”
“Tony has taken the time to come and see the program in action and meet the clients we are providing support to and to see the value this service has to the community. Without Mr Pasin’s advocacy the support in the space of Alcohol and other drug support in the Mt Gambier community would severely impacted.”
ENDS.
