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NationalNational FamiliesFamilies && CommunityCommunity ConferenceConference onon DrugsDrugs VoicesVoices toto bebe HeardHeard Conference Pro Conference Pro Bringing Together Families Community Agencies ceedings ceedings OrganisedOrganised by:by: FamilyFamily DrugDrug SupportSupport && FamiliesFamilies andand FriendsFriends forfor DrugDrug LawLaw ReformReform At Soka Gakkai International Australian Culture Centre, Homebush Bay 1010 –– 1111 November,November, 20002000 NationalNational FamiliesFamilies && CommunityCommunity ConferenceConference onon DrugsDrugs VoicesVoices toto bebe HeardHeard ConferenceConference ProceedingsProceedings Edited by: Brian McConnell & Tony Trimingham National Families and Community Conference on Drugs - “Voices to be Heard” i 10-11 November, 2000 ISBN: 0 - 9579083 - 0 - X Published by: Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc. ACT Australia July 2001 Produced with the assistance of: Annette Ellis MP, Federal Member for Canberra Julia Irwin MP, Federal Member for Fowler Brendon Nelson MP, Federal Member for Bradfield Barry Wakeland MP, Federal Member for Grey ii National Families and Community Conference on Drugs - “Voices to be Heard” 10-11 November, 2000 Contents Conference Organisers ...................................................................................................................... 1 Family Drug Support .................................................................................................................... 2 Families and Friends for Drug Law Reform (ACT) Inc .................................................................. 3 The Conference in Outline ................................................................................................................. 5 Media Releases.................................................................................................................................. 7 Comments by Delegates .................................................................................................................. 13 Message from the Premier .............................................................................................................. 15 Official Opening ................................................................................................................................17 John Della Bosca, MLA, Special Minister for State..................................................................... 17 Plenary Speakers .............................................................................................................................. 21 Rev’d Tim Costello .................................................................................................................... 21 Prof Ian Webster AO ................................................................................................................. 27 Isabel Norvill ............................................................................................................................. 33 Douglas Walker ......................................................................................................................... 37 Anne Deveson, AO .................................................................................................................... 41 Stepping Stones to Success .............................................................................................................. 47 Agency Stories .................................................................................................................................. 51 Passion, Challenge and Hope ..................................................................................................... 51 Drug and Alcohol Issues in Rural and Remote Areas ................................................................... 53 Parent Bereavement Support Group for those Affected by Drug-Related Death ........................... 55 A New Sibling Peer Support Group ........................................................................................... 56 A Small Voice from Far North Queensland ................................................................................. 57 Life Education ............................................................................................................................ 59 Agency Workshops’ Outcomes ........................................................................................................ 61 Workshop 1 - Networking and Support ..................................................................................... 61 Workshop 2 -Threats to Agency Survival: Internal and external issues of governance and management of small organisations ......................................................................... 62 Workshop 3 - Volunteers – Recruitment, training and nurturing .................................................... 63 Workshop 4 - Working with Parents – Where do you start?........................................................ 64 Workshop 5 - Staff Development and Small Agencies – New options ......................................... 66 Workshop 6 - Performance Measurement – Steps to continued improvement .............................. 67 Workshop 7 - Current Issues, Future Perspectives...................................................................... 68 Family Stories ................................................................................................................................... 71 Julie’s Poem ............................................................................................................................... 72 Finding the light at the end of the tunnel, and knowing it’s not a train! ........................................... 73 A Personal Story ........................................................................................................................ 74 Betty’s Story .............................................................................................................................. 78 Dianne’s Story ........................................................................................................................... 79 Sandra’s Story ........................................................................................................................... 79 A Mother’s Story ....................................................................................................................... 80 Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds ................................................................................................... 81 A Parent’s Story ........................................................................................................................ 81 About Candace .......................................................................................................................... 82 A Sad and Unnecessary Waste of a Life ..................................................................................... 83 National Families and Community Conference on Drugs - “Voices to be Heard” iii 10-11 November, 2000 Jennifer’s Story .......................................................................................................................... 83 I’m OK Mum! ........................................................................................................................... 85 Laurel’s Story ............................................................................................................................ 86 Parenting a Heroin User ............................................................................................................. 86 Steffie’s Story ............................................................................................................................ 87 The Last Time I Saw Damien ...................................................................................................... 87 Dieter’s Story ............................................................................................................................ 89 Adam’s Story ............................................................................................................................. 89 Grant’s Story ............................................................................................................................. 91 Jessica’s Story ........................................................................................................................... 93 Looking Between the Lines ........................................................................................................ 94 If they are all panicking when you open your eyes, you probably really did drop .......................... 96 Make friends with an agreeable, easily manipulated person who owns a car ................................. 97 A User’s Story ........................................................................................................................... 99 The Life of a Drug Addict – By a Drug Addict .......................................................................... 100 A Police Officer’s Story ........................................................................................................... 100 God please help: where do we turn next? .................................................................................. 101 Marilyn’s Story ........................................................................................................................ 104 Families and Community