Workshop to focus on ways to address drugs and alcohol

Breakaway Aboriginal Corporation will host a community workshop on Tuesday to identify and address alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues within the community.

Set to be held at the Carey Park Football Club from 10am, Breakaway chief executive Renee Pitt said the event would be open for anyone to attend.

“It’s really a brainstorming session to see if we are heading in the right direction, are there other areas that need more attention, are there things we’re doing that aren’t working, things we need to do more of,” she said.

“It’s about gaining community feedback, everyone is welcome.”

Attendees will be broken into small working groups on the day, led by Breakaway staff, local elders and other agency staff in discussing the major problems faced by families touched by AOD problems and how best to address them.

“Breakaway is a community-born program focusing on people with AOD issues, kids that are too disengaged to go to school and work programs in prisons in Bunbury and Kalgoorlie.

“We work with families as a whole.”

While Tuesday’s forum will be open to anyone, it will be specifically aimed at those with life experience of AOD effects and impacts.

“We really want to find out where the gaps are,” Miss Pitt said.

“We have got quite a lot going on, and the reason we have so much going on and so many new ideas is from things like this, we’re going to the community for advice, guidance, suggestions and input.”

The workshop will run for about four hours between 10am and 2pm.