FDS Insight Newsletter Oct-Dec 2020

6 Outreach extended for substance misuse service Amy Green, transcontinential.com.au (27/7/20) ort Augusta’s Substance Misuse Service will expand its community outreach with a new vehicle to assist with client pick up and recovery. While a mobile assistance program currently exists, the vehicle will allow the team to travel off road and to areas of limited access. Substance Misuse Manager Jo Newell said the vehicle will greatly improve the service. ‘This new vehicle will definitely make it easier for our staff to locate vulnerable people who may be living or temporarily residing on land or property which is usually hard for us to access,’ she said. ‘Our staff are keen to assist as many vulnerable people as possible, and thanks to Enterprise Car Rental (a new local business) this vehicle should also assist us to increase our care and services to people in our community.’ The Council run service celebrated its 20th anniversary last year and incorporates many programs including assertive outreach, exceptional needs, used needle pick up and a sobering up unit and clean needle program. The vehicle has been leased by the federally funded Assertive Outreach program which works alongside existing services, including hospital, GP, police and community services, to identify people at risk. P