108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
• Plan for community co-design workshops
• Workshop date and locations now live
• Register to have your say
• Release of topics that will guide workshop discussions
Having been selected to broker the Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Treatment Services grants opportunity across the Bundaberg-Hervey Bay region, IMPACT has announced four in-person and two online community co-design workshops.
These sessions are designed to bring together individuals and loved ones with lived experience of substance use, along with professionals, and community members.
Workshops will be hosted by IMPACT Mental Health Manager Jannene Thorn, and IMPACT General Manager for Innovation Nathan Spruce.
By listening to your experiences and insights, we can co-design AOD treatment services that truly reflect the needs of our region. The workshops are a chance to be heard, to share what’s working (and what’s not), and to help shape the future of support services in our community. Real change starts with real voices.
Each workshop will cover the same topics to ensure consistency and help you come prepared to share your thoughts. We will use the Local Service Plan as a foundation and seek feedback on the types of services the community believes need funding.
During the workshops, we will discuss the following:
• Early Intervention & Prevention: Strategies to identify and address issues before they escalate.
• Treatment & Rehabilitation: Approaches to support people already struggling with addiction or substance use.
• Holistic and Supportive Care: Non-clinical supports that promote connectedness and wellbeing.
• Systems & Workforce Development: Efforts to strengthen the sustainability, accessibility, and cultural responsiveness of services.
• Wildcard: An opportunity to discuss ideas not covered in the topics listed above, allowing for innovative and community-specific suggestions.
Registration is required to confirm attendance at all workshops.
For those unable to attend any of the planned workshops or who would prefer a more personal meeting, we offer small group or one-on-one workshops. Please email AOD@impact.org.au and Nathan or Jannene will contact you to arrange a mutually suitable time.
Read more about the AOD Australian Government program here
IMPACT Community Services has been selected to deliver an Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Treatment Services grants opportunity across the Bundaberg-Hervey Bay region. This initiative, funded by the Australian Government, aims to provide comprehensive support to individuals and families affected by substance use.
The Australian Government has allocated up to $49.256 million (GST Exclusive) for this grant opportunity, which will be distributed across four regions: Bundaberg-Hervey Bay (QLD), Ceduna (SA), East Kimberley (WA), and the Goldfields (WA). IMPACT has been selected for the Bundaberg-Hervey Bay region and will lead a community co-design phase before administering a grants process, where organisations will be able to apply for funding to deliver community supports that align with the needs identified through the co-design.
In collaboration with Indigenous Workstars, a specialist Indigenous Service Provider, we are committed to delivering culturally safe and community-led AOD treatment services. This partnership ensures that the unique needs of First Nations people and other priority populations are met with respect and understanding.
The initiative will begin with a community co-design phase, where we will engage directly with those affected by AOD issues, and those who support them. This collaborative approach will inform the development of funding opportunities and service delivery models that truly reflect the needs of our community. A start date for this has yet to be set. IMPACT will keep the community fully informed when it begins.
We invite you to bookmark and regularly check this page as well as follow IMPACT’s social media channels to stay informed about this initiative, and other important updates. All activities associated with this opportunity will be shared on our website.
With extensive experience in mental health and community services, IMPACT’s dedicated Mental Health Manager, Jannene Thorn, will play a key role in the project’s rollout to ensure effective communication with services across the Bundaberg and Hervey Bay region.
For more information, please contact Jannene Thorn at IMPACT Community Services on 07 4153 4233
or Email: AOD@impact.org.au
By working together, we can make a difference to improve the lives of those affected by alcohol and other drugs in our community.
Thank you for your support!
Please note: This website may contain references to, or feature images, videos, and voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have passed away.
