National Drug and Alcohol Awards

Celebrating Australian achievements to prevent
and reduce alcohol and other drug use and harm

Principal Sponsor

Major Sponsors

Supporter

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Local Frankston youth service project in the running for national award

YSAS (Youth Substance Abuse Service) Frankston’s Young Parent's Project is a finalist in the Excellence in Services to Young People section at the National Drug and Alcohol Awards

YSAS’s Young Parent's Project is a program for pregnant/parenting young people experiencing problems with substance use.whose children are likely to become subject to Child Protection notifications. Through intensive case work and support, the program aims to enhance young peoples' parenting capacity and provide family support and drug treatment simultaneously.

YSAS CEO, David Murray, said the program had proven successful with 100 per cent of participating families improving their parenting skills and 80 per cent reducing substance use.

“As well as improving parenting skills, and general health and wellbeing the project has assisted young families to remain intact and develop education, employment, and housing options.”

“With so many worthy projects taking place all over Australia, it’s fantastic to see the Young Parents Project has been recognised as a finalist in the Excellence in Services to Young People category of the National Drug and Alcohol Awards,” said Mr Murray.

The National Drug and Alcohol Awards are a collaborative effort of the Ted Noffs Foundation, the Australian Drug Foundation, the Alcohol and Other Drugs Council of Australia and the Australian National Council on Drugs. They aim to support and encourage people working to prevent drug problems in Australia. It is estimated around 10,000 Australians now work directly in drug and alcohol treatment across Australia, with a further 8,500 in associated sectors. Winners will be announced at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne, on Friday 27 June 2008.

“As a nation we lose about $1.2 billion and 7.5 million working days due to the effects of alcohol abuse alone” says Wesley Noffs, Chair of the NDAA 2008.

“The emotional cost of drug and alcohol abuse to families includes domestic violence, suicide, depression, plus health issues such as brain, liver and heart damage. Tackling the devastation brought on by drug and alcohol abuse are thousands of dedicated professionals, researchers, organisations and volunteers. These Awards go some little way to recognising the fantastic, innovative work they do. We applaud them.”

Sponsors of the awards are the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation (Principal sponsor), Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Department of Health and Ageing, VIC Department of Human Services, VIC Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and NSW Department of Health.

According to Daryl Smeaton, CEO of the AER Foundation: “It is a great privilege to support the national alcohol and other drugs sector in celebrating the achievements of their unsung heroes. As the major sponsor of these awards, AER congratulates all the winners, finalists and nominees.”

To interview the finalist please call Charlotte George or Johanna de Wever on 03 9278 8122. For more information about the National Drug & Alcohol Awards go to http://www.drugawards.org.au/