Pilbara
Contacts
East Pilbara
Pilbara Community Alcohol and Drug Service (PCADS)
Hope Community Services
Ph: 1800 948 001
Email: VSUPilbara@hopecs.org.au
South & Port Hedland
Alcohol, Other Drug and Mental Health Coordinator
Bloodwood Tree Association
Ph: (08) 9138 3000 or 1800 282 8733
Email: aodadmin@bloodwoodtree.org.au
VSU incident reporting and response
The Volatile Substance Use Incident Reporting and Response system is currently in place in the Pilbara region. The Central Coordinating Agency (CCA) is the Pilbara Community Alcohol and Drug Service (PCADS).
For more information, see the VSU incident report and response page of this website. If you require hard copies of the information booklet, protocols poster or the Pilbara VSU Incident Report Form, please contact the PCADS.
VSU Working Groups in the Pilbara
In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, a range of actions to address volatile substance use (VSU) are being implemented in the East Pilbara region (Newman and Western Desert area) and the Town of Port Hedland.
East Pilbara
The East Pilbara Volatile Substance Use Working Group (EPVSUWG) was formed in 2011 as an interagency forum comprising representatives from Australian, State and local government and non‑government organisations. Its aim was to provide a strategic, coordinated response to reduce VSU in the East Pilbara area.
In 2015, the EPVSUWG amalgamated with a pre-existing alcohol and other drug (AOD) management group as prevalence of VSU in the region had reduced significantly. It was agreed that the VSU strategies that had been developed would continue as one of the priority areas of the broader AOD management plan.
The Newman and Western Desert Alcohol and Other Drug Management Group (NWDAODMG) is chaired by the Pilbara Community Alcohol and Drug Service (PCADS) and meets at least bimonthly.
The NWDAODMG continues to implement a number of initiatives addressing VSU, including:
- a VSU incident reporting and response system
- distribution of information resources to retailers, industry & contractors and tourists
- a media strategy to encourage the responsible reporting of VSU issues
- supporting the engagement of users into recreational/cultural activities, schooling and/or employment and training opportunities
- support for communities wishing to develop local VSU management plans
- provision of education and training for stakeholders
Port Hedland
In 2012, the Port Hedland Volatile Substance Use Working Group (PHVSUWG) was formed as an interagency forum comprising representatives from Australian, State and local government and non‑government organisations. Its aim was to provide a strategic, coordinated response to reduce VSU in the Port Hedland and surrounding areas.
In 2015, the PHVSUWG amalgamated with a pre-existing alcohol and other drug (AOD) management group as prevalence of VSU in the region had reduced significantly. It was agreed that the VSU strategies that had been developed would continue as one of the priority areas of the broader AOD management plan.
The Port Hedland Alcohol and Other Drug Management Group (PHAODMG) is chaired by Bloodwood Tree and meets at least bimonthly.
The PHAODMG continues to implement a number of initiatives addressing VSU, including:
- a VSU incident reporting and response system
- distribution of information resources to retailers, industry & contractors and tourists
- a media strategy to encourage the responsible reporting of VSU issues
- supporting the engagement of users into recreational/cultural activities, schooling and/or employment and training opportunities
- support for communities to develop local VSU management plans
- provision of education and training for stakeholders