Tackling the scourge of ice

The Coalition Government is delivering on its strategy to tackle the scourge of ice in our communities, and I’m pleased to announce another four Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) will be established across the Parkes electorate.

These LDATs are Kirkala-Pithiluku Aboriginal Corporation at Broken Hill, Moree Local Drug Action Team, Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, and a Centacare New England North West LDAT. 

It’s important that we work together to empower and educate communities, in order to prevent and reduce the harms of alcohol and other drugs in the community, including ice.

The LDATs will receive an initial $10,000 in funding to help develop local Community Action Plans. Those groups can then apply for additional funding to help deliver targeted, local projects, with support from the Alcohol and Drug Foundation.

The teams will deliver local health prevention activities, including education, mentoring and support for vulnerable people to minimise their risk of alcohol and other drug related harms.

The Coalition is investing $298 million over four years to combat drug and alcohol misuse across Australia under the National Ice Action Strategy. LDATs across the Parkes electorate will be important for the strength, health and well-being of our communities now and into the future.

Regional communities are often the hardest hit when it comes to ice abuse and addiction. It is important that we provide communities with the right tools, resources and support to drive change at a local level.

More information about LDATs can be found on the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s website www.adf.org.au/ldat

Leading the global dementia fight

There are a series of potentially world-leading Australian projects now underway to combat dementia. These have been highlighted in a progress report on the Coalition Government’s $200 million Boosting Dementia Research Initiative.

Three years into the five-year initiative, there are major milestones being achieved on the road to dementia prevention, management and cures. 

The Initiative supports 127 projects involving 285 researchers, working across 24 universities and research institutions. 

I’m pleased that Australia is now a world leader in many aspects of dementia research. Dementia is the second most common cause of death in this country and for women it has eclipsed heart disease to become the leading cause.

Already, it is estimated 425,000 Australians are living with the condition, with around 1,700 people believed to be developing dementia each week. It is critical we find effective preventions and cures.

Dementia particularly affects people as they age, with three in 10 people over the age of 85 and almost one in 10 people over 65 having the condition. This investment will foster further development of technological solutions to help people living with dementia, as well as their families and carers.

Dementia-focused care technology is in its infancy and there is much untapped potential for it to be developed to help people with the condition to live at home for longer.

The Boosting Dementia Research Initiative report is available on the NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research website https://www.nnidr.gov.au/