VAC FUNDED IN VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO REDUCE THE HARM OF ICE

The Victorian AIDS Council (VAC) applauds the recent announcement by Minister for
Mental Health, The Hon Mary Wooldridge at the Penington Institute’s 2014 Australian Drugs Conference.
The Napthine Government announcement includes new harm reduction programs to the value of $5.1
million dollars addressing the use of methamphetamines, specifically ‘ice’.
As one of the organisations included in these new measures, VAC will receive $160,000 over the next two
years to go toward continued innovation in peer education aimed at men who have sex with men (MSM)
about ice use and its impact on HIV risk reduction strategies.
“In our joint election platform with Living Positive Victoria, we raised concerns regarding the impact drug
use has on HIV prevention. We applaud the Government’s timely response,” said VAC CEO Simon Ruth.
VAC recently introduced Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services throughout the greater Melbourne area
last month. For more information on these services, go to: www.vac.org.au/AODServices. As outlined
in the Government’s package measures, this new funding will go toward harm minimalisation through
a targeted peer education initiative aimed at MSM about the sexual health risks associated with ice use.