The annual Injury Matters – Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Awards – were announced on March 25, 2021. Holyoake’s Wheatbelt Community Alcohol and Drug Service (WCADS) Prevention Team won the award for ‘Outstanding Achievement in Collaboration for a Safer WA’. They were acknowledged for working extensively in the Wheatbelt to support over 200 communities and 43 local governments to prevent suicide and harm related to Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) use.
Holyoake’s WCADS Prevention Team is committed to prevention and supporting health promotion in the Wheatbelt. The Team aims to provide an evidence-based, evidence-informed Prevention Plan to support Commonwealth and State Government agencies, Local Governments, non-Government organisations and communities with development, implementation and evaluation of promotion and prevention activities. The goal of this Plan is to build on and continue to implement a range of programs that will:
· Enhance mental health and wellbeing
· Reduce the incidence of mental illness, suicide attempts and suicide
· Prevent and reduce problematic AOD use
Jo Drayton, Holyoake’s Suicide Prevention Coordinator said “We are so pleased to win this award and dedicate it to the professionals and community members of the Wheatbelt. We will continue to work collaboratively to increase safety and help improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.”
The Prevention Team has been very active in the Wheatbelt and coordinate many wellbeing and prevention activities which include:
• Development and maintenance of Community Wellbeing Plans
• Joint initiatives between local community groups and service providers to address local health priorities
• Coordination and facilitation of training and educational programs
• Supporting local community and sporting groups in implementing AOD and suicide prevention activities
• Collaborating with health and school education providers to support young people
The team also publishes a bi-annual newsletter called Yirra Koorl which showcases all prevention and wellbeing activities in the Wheatbelt. Click here to read the latest issue.
As we ease out of COVID-19 and other challenges, AOD and Suicide Prevention programs are essential to improve health and wellbeing. The Holyoake WCADS Prevention Team will continue to play a collaborative role in achieving positive outcomes.
