FRONTLINE workers will receive free additional inline training to help address patients affected by ice as part of a new push from the state government.
The $400,000 project will assist medical workers as well as other emergency services workers in understanding how people affected by ice will react in different situations.
Ballarat Community Health alcohol and drug team leader Claire Ryan said the program would serve to help educate emergency services workers on how to notice and respond to people affected by the drug.
“There has been training always been there, but this is a more specialised and targeted.
“There’s no cost to frontline workers, so lots of people will be interested in undertaking the training.”
The program was developed in conjunction with the Flinders University National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction.
Comprised of seven different modules, the program will aim to create a statewide standard in education around dealing with people affected by ice.
The new funding comes in the wake of the state government’s $18 million Ice Action Plan announced in 2015, which included additional funding for Ballarat Community Health to help deal with the growing surge in ice use in regional Victoria.
Ms Ryan said education would play the most critical part in ensuring young people in particular made wise choices around using the drug.
“People who are well educated and informed are less likely to use any sort of substance in a harmful way.”
