Help on the way for families affected by ice and other drugs

Published Sunday, 29 July, 2018 at 10:40 AM

Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
The Honourable Di Farmer

The Palaszczuk Government will invest more than $5.4 million across 10 regions to break the hold of ice and other drugs on Queensland families.

Child Safety Minister Di Farmer said the new Breakthrough for Families program was about helping families to stop the damage and break the cycle of addiction so they could safety look after their children.

“Drugs are having a huge impact on child safety with almost one in three children coming in to the care of the Department having a parent with a current or previous methamphetamine problem, usually ice.

“This drug causes rapid damage within families. Most of the harm is to children under the age of five, and usually happens less than a year after the parent starts using ice.

“These families need specialist help if they aspire to being good parents to their children.”

Apunipima Cape York Health Service, Lives Lived Well, Drug Arm and Bridges Aligned Service Inc will deliver the program.

“It is about connecting them to support services so they have improved capacity to care for their loved ones, most importantly their children,” she said.

“This will include individual support sessions with families as well as public workshops, and forums.”

Ms Farmer said the delivery of Breakthrough for Families will be supported by state-wide program resources, training and support for workers.

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council has also been brought on board to support delivery in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

Ms Farmer said the program aimed to be accessible for families and individuals including those living in remote and regional communities.

“The program will target Cape York, Townsville, Cairns, the Sunshine Coast, Logan and Caboolture, Mackay, Darling Downs, West Moreton and South West, and the Wide Bay,” she said.

For further information visit:

www.qld.gov.au/breakthroughforfamilies

ENDS

Media Contact:          Ron Goodman            0427 781 920