$450,000 in new funding is set to help improve the response to the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) among LGBTIQ* people in central and eastern Sydney.

We were awarded the funding from Central and Eastern Sydney PHN (CESPHN).  The funding, provided over two years, will be used for three key activities for people from LGBITQ communities in this area.

Firstly and primarily, the funding will be used to increase our capacity to provide counselling and other support services for LGBTIQ people experiencing problematic alcohol or other drug use.  Secondly, we will develop a specific campaign to help LGBTIQ people more easily identify AOD problems and raise awareness of how to access help. In addition, these funds will also help us provide training for mainstream AOD services, to improve the inclusiveness of these services so they can better respond to the needs of LGBTIQ clients.

The CESPHN catchment stretches from Strathfield to Sutherland and east to Bondi – an area that is likely to have the highest proportion of LGBTIQ people of any PHN across the country.

Our CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the LGBTIQ community face a range of specific challenges in relation to substance use and identifying when use becomes problematic.

“While we know that most LGBTIQ people who use alcohol and other drugs do so in a non-problematic way, some experience significant harms related to their use.  Helping our communities identify early signs of problems where they may need assistance with their AOD use requires sensitive messages.  Handled appropriately, health promotion campaigns can assist our communities to check in and get support which in turn improves the overall health of our communities.” Mr Parkhill says.

“We know that LGBTIQ people can be reluctant to seek treatment because of concerns about prejudice and discrimination from support services. We warmly welcome funding for ACON’s specialist service to be able to reach more people in a community based setting – a setting we know our communities find approachable.

“It’s also important that we will also be able to work directly with AOD service providers to support LGBTIQ clients.  This means that LGBTIQ people seeking support elsewhere within the PHN are more likely to receive appropriate care, which improves outcomes.

“We’re extremely grateful to CESPHN for recognising the needs of LGBTIQ people and for providing this funding, particularly because it provides a much needed boost to our ability to provide client services.”

CESPHN CEO, Dr Michael Moore, says that effective responses to AOD use are a priority for the primary health network and this also includes a focus on LGBTIQ people.

“We recognise that drug and alcohol problems, and the people that experience them, are not homogenous. These problems cross several boundaries and life experiences and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. To support our community we need cater to their diverse needs and ensure the right services are available, at the right time.” Dr Moore says.

For more information on our support services, visit www.acon.org.au/what-we-are-here-for/alcohol-drugs/

ENDS

For more information please contact:

David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer

E: dalexander@acon.org.au   T: +61 (02) 9206 2044   M: +61 (0)428 477 042