And they are eager to hear from members of the local LBGTI community about their lived experiences and effective ways of reducing harm.

VACountry – an arm of the Victorian AIDS Council – is leading the Local Drug Action Team Project specifically targeting Bendigo, partnering with headspace Bendigo, Bendigo Community Health and the Bendigo Youth Support and Advocacy Service.

VACountry health promotions worker Martin Gladman said while there was already a lot of work being done in the space, the project was an opportunity to speak directly with the Bendigo LGBTI community about addressing the problem.

“What we know when working with alcohol and other drug issues in the community is that raising people’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth, reducing isolation, fostering resilience in the face of stigma and bullying behaviours as well as improving social connectedness, all support to reduce and/or eliminate harmful AOD use in LGBTI people’s lives,” he said.

“This project is about increasing awareness and as such increasing choices, creating greater opportunity for people to better take care of themselves and each other.”

Mr Gladman said there were a number of reasons why people would turn to drugs and alcohol, but it becomes a problem when the harms outweigh the positives.

The project’s aim is to design digital resources to prevent harms associated with drugs and alcohol, with a specific focus on younger people.

VACountry is seeking expressions of interest from members of the LGBTI community to take part in the reference group which will meet on a monthly basis.

There are currently two positions available on the reference group.

A community forum will be held later in the year to open up a broader discussion.