Premier

Fund To Help Communities Tackle Ice In Their Local Area

28 April 2015

Community groups in rural and regional Victoria can now apply for grants of up to $10,000 to help combat ice in their local areas.

The Andrews Labor Government is providing $500,000 to fund grassroots Community Ice Action Groups across regional and rural Victoria.

The funding will allow local communities to come together to develop local solutions in the fight against ice and for other groups to build on existing successful locally-based responses.

A range of activities including forums, production and development of communications, promotion of education opportunities and the evaluation of these initiatives and interventions will be supported.

The community grants are part of the Labor Government’s $45.5 million Ice Action Plan to reduce the supply, demand and harm of a drug that is ruining lives and destroying communities.

Victoria’s Ice Action Plan was developed on the advice of the Premier’s Ice Action Taskforce, which brought together Victoria Police and legal, health and youth experts.

Under the Plan, the Government is providing $4.7 million to support families affected by a loved one’s drug use. This includes the 1800 ICE ADVICE phone service launched recently by the Minister for Mental Health.

The Government is also investing $18 million to expand drug treatment and rehabilitation, so users can better access the help they need, and $1 million will provide improved training for people who work with ice users.

New measures to reduce the growing supply of ice on our streets include $4.5 million to crack down on clandestine drug labs and tough new laws to stop dealers.

More information on Community Ice Action Group grants is available at: www.ice.vic.gov.auExternal Link .

Quotes attributable to Minister for Mental Health, Martin Foley

“Kids are being caught up in this drug, and families are being ruined. Ice is having devastating consequences on our communities.”

“We’re taking action now, giving users the treatment they need, families the support they deserve and coming down harder on the peddlers who are putting this drug on our streets.”

“Locals are part of the answer – they know what will work for their area. We’re supporting them to come up with the plans that will rid their community of ice.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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