Identifying ways to encourage local communities in rural and regional NSW to work together in preventing and responding to drug problems, will be a focus at the NSW Drug Summit at Parliament House, Sydney, next week.
Director of CSU's Gilmore Centre for Rural Health Improvement, Mr Peter Dunn, is among 80 invited delegates some of whome will be representing the interests of rural and regional communities, invited by the Premier to take part in the Summit. Mr Dunn has also been asked to facilitate one of the 11 working groups during the proceedings.
The Summit runs from Monday 17 May to Friday 21 May and will involve around 220 delegates and parliamentarians.
"The Working Group focused on Drugs in Rural and Regional NSW is to be chaired by Harry Woods, Minister for Local Government, Regional Development and Rural Affairs" said Mr Dunn.
"I am looking forward to working with the Minister, parliamentarians and community delegates and optimistic the working group will consider constructive ways communities can work together on this issue".
The Gilmore Centre, launched in 1998 by Mrs Gabi Hollows, wife of the late Fred Hollows, and formerly an arm of the Australian Rural Health Research Institute, published a national issues paper last year titled Drug and Alcohol Services in Rural and Remote Australia.
"There has been a steady demand for copies of the issues paper and this has no doubt stirred an interest by government in rural and regional responses to drug problems," Mr Dunn said.
"Community responses to drug problems are no less complex in regional NSW than in the city. Rural communities have difficulty accepting that drug addiction and trafficking is not just restricted within city limits."
The rural and regional working group comprises half each, parliamentarians and delegates, including representatives from shire councils, CWA, non-government service providers, doctors, university academics and Aboriginal health workers.
Social
Explore the world of social