The widespread social acceptance of drinking is one of the issues that has been highlighted during health workers’ efforts to collect community feedback on drug and alcohol use.
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This week and next, Bendigo Community Health Services is holding a series of community consultations across the region in an effort to better understand residents’ experiences with drugs and alcohol.
Project worker Leah Wastell said while the process was still in the early stages, the team had found that drinking was a social norm in Australia, present in many facets of public life, including in media.
So far consultation sessions have been held in Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton.
Ms Wastell said the feedback from the sessions would inform a new plan for services for the region, which would be developed over the next 12 months.
Liaising with service providers and collecting information from the wider public are also part of the consultation process for the new plan.
BCHS is still seeking participants with lived experience of alcohol and drug use to provide feedback and shape future services.
Consultations are still to be held in Maryborough and Wedderburn, June 22; Echuca, June 23; Charlton and Kerang, June 28; Swan Hill, June 29; and Mildura, June 30.
To register interest, contact Ms Wastell on 5448 1600 or email leahwastell@bchs.com.au.
For more information, visit the BCHS website.