Premier

New Grants Helping Communities Battle Ice Addiction

05 July 2018

Metropolitan and regional community groups are helping tackle ice abuse in Victoria, thanks to Community Ice Action Grants from the Andrews Labor Government.

Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley today visited Ballarat to launch the next round of grants as part of the Labor Government’s Ice Action Plan, to help curb ice abuse across Victoria.

The Community Ice Action Grants provide recipients with up to $10,000 each to create initiatives that will help prevent and reduce ice-related harm in their own communities.

Over the past three years, 38 grants have gone to services across Victoria including health services, sporting clubs, and local safety committees.

Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative received $10,000 in funding as part of the Community Ice Action Grants in 2017 – which they used to produce a short film written by renowned local Aboriginal artist Josh Muir, based on his experience battling ice addiction and its impact on his mental health, family and friends.

The Victorian Budget 2018/19 invested a record $259.9 million in alcohol and other drug services.

The Budget includes ongoing implementation of the $87 million Drug Rehabilitation Plan released last year, and builds on the Ice Action Plan to help save Victorian lives and help people to get the treatment they need, when and where they need it.

As well as doubling the number of residential rehab beds in Victoria, the Labor Government is also cracking down on dodgy rehab providers and introducing new regulations that will require all private overnight residential withdrawal services to operate in a registered hospital.

Applications for the next round of Community Ice Action Grants are now open, with groups across Victoria invited to apply for funding to tackle ice abuse. More information can be found at ice.vic.gov.au/safer-communities.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley

“Ice is taking a terrible toll on our communities. Initiatives like the Community Ice Action Grants will support community groups to come up with creative and engaging plans to educate people on the dangers of ice.”

“Every local community is different and we’re proud to support local people, who are experts in their area, to reduce the harm of ice.”

“We’ll continue working with great community groups like the Ballarat Aboriginal Cooperative to take action and make a difference as we fight to end ice abuse in this State.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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