Rural and regional NSW will benefit from a $4 million fund for non-government organisations to deliver local treatment services to tackle the scourge of ice addiction, Deputy Premier, Minister for Police and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant and Assistant Minister for Health Pru Goward announced on Tuesday.
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The tender will open in September, with contracts to be awarded by December 2015.
While it was too early to go into further detail on these services, Ms Goward visited Dubbo and Wellington yesterday to discuss the effects of ice on the local community and will take her findings to the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) meeting in September.
She was particularly impressed with the Gungie Origin initiative.
"The police here are doing a fantastic job," she said, adding that they had worked hard to gain the trust of the town to tackle the problem alongside the community.
Mr Grant said the NSW Liberals and Nationals understood the need for a whole-of-government approach to tackle the drug, which is devastating communities across NSW.
"When it comes to ice we need co-ordinated strategies for each component of the methamphetamine issue from manufacture, supply and use of this incredibly destructive drug," Mr Grant said.
"We know the prevalence is out there and our police are doing a great job in detecting our drugs and getting them off our streets but more needs to be done to treat those already addicted.
"This is part of a whole-of-community response aimed at reducing harm caused by ice use in rural and regional cities and towns, like Dubbo.
"We know Western NSW communities are facing big challenges when it comes to fighting the scourge of Ice," Ms Goward said.
"That is why we are targeting our election commitment of $4 million over four years to support rural and regional NGOs to enhance the local response to ice."
"This increased investment in the NGO sector will mean more co-ordinated, better targeted care for users including once they leave specialist treatment services to help reduce the chances of them ending back in emergency departments."
The Minister has directed the NSW Ministry of Health to work in partnership with the Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Addiction (NADA), and other drug treatment experts to develop the NGO tender package best suited to respond to the needs of NGOs delivering drug addiction programs in rural and regional communities.
The successful NGOs will work closely with Local Health Districts to complement the range of drug and alcohol services available across the state.
