By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A NARRE Warren community centre is set to receive $1 million in State Government funding to tackle the spread of ice.
On Friday Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan confirmed Connections UnitingCare in Webb Street will receive $1 million over four years to run rehabilitation programs, as part of the Andrews Government’s $45.5 million Ice Action Plan.
The programs, to be hosted at Connections Narre Warren and organised by drug treatment organisation UnitingCare ReGen, will be funded as part of a $24.6 million package to expand treatment services, support families and strengthen communities across Victoria.
The Casey and Cardinia regions will also benefit from $200,000 given to health service EACH to expand drug support, as well as $1.48 million over four years to fund a state-wide family drug education program.
“Different people need different kinds of drug treatment,” Mr Donnellan said.
“What is important is to engage the local community of Narre Warren and surrounds so that, together, we can come up with local solutions for local problems with the assistance of the Victorian Government.”
Earlier this year a forum was convened at the Casey Council offices where representatives from sporting clubs throughout the municipality gathered together to workshop an official drug policy for their respective clubs.
National Policy manager for the Australian Drug Foundation Geoff Munro was a guest speaker at the event and urged people to create a policy as a way of prevention.
He said sporting clubs provided a protective environment, with local coaches often acting as a mentor to those they were in charge of.
