A series of ‘Crystal Clear Workshops’ being held around the state aim at helping front-line Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled health service staff respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the families impacted by methamphetamine use.
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), in partnership with the Queensland Indigenous Substance Misuse Council (QISMC) and the Queensland Government, is delivering the workshops as part of an ‘AOD-OUR-WAY’ Queensland Government-funded project.
In the six months to December last year, QAIHC held 12 workshops in targeted communities with 238 community/health service workers attending. QAIHC Chairman Kieran Chilcott said the workshops provided participants with background information on Ice, practical tools, interventions and resources to help them respond better to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the families impacted by methamphetamine use.
“While alcohol and cannabis remain the most reported drugs of concern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, support workers are seeking an alarming increase in the rates of Crystal Methamphetamines (Ice) use and its impacts within Indigenous communities,” Mr Chilcott said.
“These workshops have been positively received because they target those workers in the front-line and arm them with knowledge and tools to help the people and communities most affected by this devastating and dangerous drug.”
Mr Chilcott said this was just one of many initiatives being undertaken by QAIHC and the Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Sector to help ‘Close the Gap’ in the disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health outcomes within communities.
Upcoming ‘Crystal Clear Workshops’ are planned for Atherton, Mackay and Townsville between now and the end of March. For further information, phone QAIHC on (07) 3328 8500.
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