NEWS DESK
Support for ‘ice families’ Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au GROWING concern over ice-related domestic violence and child abuse in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula has led to calls for more support for families struggling with the consequences of drug abuse. Police and counsellors report that ice use is devastating families and is now the leading cause of crime and domestic violence in both areas. Detective Sergeant Detective Sergeant Paul Busuttil of Frankston CIU said ice was destroying communities, with police making weekly referrals to the Department of Human Services about children in “ice families”, and directing parents or partners to services to help them deal with the destructive behaviour of ice users. “As police, we have the psychological training and are better skilled to deal with these confronting things, but we see families who are desperate for help,” he said. He said there was a growing demand for affordable support services. Detective Sergeant John Coburn at Mornington Peninsula CIU said the peninsula was experiencing the same issues as Frankston, with the problem affecting families across all socio-economic areas. The developer of the ‘BreakThrough’ ice education program for families, Angela Ireland, said a program she ran in Rosebud last year revealed many desperate families left to deal with the destructive behaviour of
Ice insight: Angela Ireland says training can help families deal with the destructive consequences of drug use and addiction.
Check before dip: EPA advising bayside beachgoers to check water quality before swimming. Pic: Gary Sissons
a family member taking ice. “I’ve seen families torn apart, scared of how to deal with it and where to turn, and often making things worse by responding in a way that escalates things,” she said. Ms Ireland said she had seen ice use disrupt all family members, including parents who are intimidated by their drug-using children, siblings who are left to deal with the dysfunction, and grandparents who are left to take over care of the grandchildren. Ms Ireland will run more programs at community centres across the peninsula in February and March in response to the demand in the region. She said the free programs are designed to help the families and friends of ice users manage their challenging behaviours and develop strategies to support those impacted by ice use. “Sometimes, in desperate situations, people will respond or do things that may not be helpful and may even inflame situations, so the training will show how best to respond when things
do take a setback,” she said. “We show family members how to remain calm in difficult situations — to understand what is happening to the brain when someone takes ice and can by psychotic or start to hallucinate.” “This drug has such a wide-reaching consequences for families, and we see people who are unprepared and unskilled to cope with the consequences of family members who use ice.” Ms Ireland said the programs, funded by the state government and presented by the Bouverie Institute, Turning Point and Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, included follow-up contact to provide ongoing support for families. There will be five BreakThrough evenings sessions for families at Sorrento (15 February), Dromana (16 February), Rye (23 February), Crib Point (1 and 8 February) and Mornington (9 March), and a one-day session at Rye for “frontline” workers. To register see turningpoint.org.au or call 1300 660 068.
Water quality still a concern BEACHGOERS and swimmers are still being urged to check water quality updates before going for a dip off bayside beaches this summer amid risks of illness from bacteria and faecal matter swept into Port Phillip Bay during stormy weather. Water quality is being monitored daily by the Environment Protection Authority until March. Earlier this month EPA applied sciences group manager Dr Anthony Boxshall said there is a higher risk of illnesses such as gastro to swimmers from higher bacterial levels after flash flooding. “Heavy rain and storms can create a risk to the public as they can flood stormwater systems that then carry pollution that has built up in drains into waterways,” Dr Boxshall said in a statement.
“In certain conditions, they can be home to bacteria from faecal pollution that poses health risks to swimmers.” The EPA issues twice-daily water quality updates of good, fair and poor for Port Phillip’s 36 beaches. It is not advisable to swim at all waterways and beaches for up to 48 hours after heavy rain since there may be a higher risk of gastro and other illnesses. Water quality information is also displayed on signs at Life Saving Victoria clubs around the bay. The water quality forecasts can be seen online at epa.vic.gov.au and via twitter @EPA_Victoria or by calling 1300 372 842. Text message alerts can be signed up for at yarraandbay.vic.gov.au online.
DONATE TO
THE BOURKE STREET FUND
The Victorian Government has set up a fund for the families affected by the incident For more information and to donate www.vic.gov.au/bourkestreet
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Mornington News 31 January 2017