Community support to tackle ice

A major new initiative, The Ice Challenge, is seeking a whole community response to tackle the drug in the south west.

The challenge will be a high profile initiative in which project teams from each Local Government Area in the Great South Coast Region will participate.

A community action group is using a collective engagement model to identify a range of local actions and initiatives that will help reduce harm caused by the drug across the Great South Coast Region.

Calls have been made for key partners in a three-tiered invitation: major partner, sponsor and supporter.

The more support the project receives, the greater the capacity to reduce the harm.

The Great South Coast Ice Challenge Steering Committee incorporates high level representation from Victoria Police and the Great South Coast Group (representing six local government areas: the shires of Colac Otway, Corangamite, Moyne, Southern Grampians, Glenelg and the City of Warrnambool).

Also, the Australian Drug Foundation, Rotary International, Western Regional Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD), South West Healthcare, Brophy Family and Youth Services, ACE Radio, AFL Western Victoria, Deakin University, the Department of Justice and Regulation, South West Aboriginal Communities, RYP International and Good Idea Advertising Pty Ltd.

The major focus is awareness, education, action and prevention.

The project also draws on input from parents, sport, workplaces, businesses and experts from a range of disciplines, and will be launched at an expo and summit.

Ice has impacted many and organisers say awareness without action is useless and the support of the community is needed.

Data from Victoria’s Police Association reveals 80 per cent of criminal cases in the Warrnambool Magistrates Court were related to ice use.

Supporters will be offered the opportunity to display signage at events, public acknowledgement via media statements and press advertisements, access to information and updates from the steering committee, presentation to executive teams outlining the issues, and participation in this high profile initiative alongside other community leaders.

If you have a skill set and a passion that would benefit the project, invitations are open to nominate as a project team member.

To discuss or arrange an appointment, email project manager Senior Sergeant Steve Thompson, Warrnambool Police at [email protected] or phone 0457 540 001.

For further project details, visit icechallengegsc.com.