Breaking the ice is wrapping up
The “Breaking the ice in our community” project has almost come to an end and we are about to release our last resource to support the Aboriginal component of the project. The “Healthy Spirit, Healthy Community” booklet includes information about crystalline methamphetamine as well as alcohol and other drugs – and is now available on the Breaking the Ice page under resources.
Dr Suzie Hudson conducting our crystalline methamphetamine Information Session to workers in Aboriginal communities in Broken Hill.
The ADF would like to thank the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) as well as the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Network (ADAN) for their support and guidance with developing both resources. If you haven’t already, please also check out our Aboriginal fact sheet aimed at elders and family on how to support someone who is affected by ice.
The ADF would also like to acknowledge the excellent work of Jessica Johnson who designed the fact sheet and booklet. We have printed 25,000 copies of each resource and are in the process of distributed them to Aboriginal services and CDATs in NSW. If you would like to order either of the resources please log on to the NSW Health website www.yourroom.com.au and place your order.
We have also completed the four e-learning modules, which are now up online on our website. The first two modules cover the effects of the drug and where to get treatment in NSW, while modules three and four look at what communities can do to respond to AOD use and reducing stigma and discrimination. All modules take about 10 minutes to complete. If you haven’t looked at them, please do and share it with your networks.
The team is currently writing up the final report to the funder and assisting the external evaluator with data collection to measure the effectiveness of the project. A final report on the outcomes will be available at the end of March.
On behalf of Damian and myself, I would like to thank all of those who were involved with making this a successful project. Over the 18 months we have been in the field we reached over 2,200 people at CDAT events and ADF specific forums and worked with over 150 AOD and allied health services in NSW. We also managed to generate over 100 media stories about the project and were able to change the dominant discourse on ice in the media from one of doom and gloom – to one of hope. Our DVD was also viewed over 55,000 times in both mainstream and social media.
Annie Bleeker – Project & Content Manager