Eurobodalla Cares Local Drug Action Team has invited Deakin University to Moruya to run a drug and alcohol forum on Thursday, October 30, at Moruya Golf Club at 1pm.
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Robert Richmond chairs the Eurobodalla team and said the event was an important day for the shire.
"Deakin University has a drug and alcohol education and prevention program called Communities That Care (CTC)," Mr Richmond said.
"CTC programs have been running in 12 sites across Australia since 2002, with outstanding results."
Deakin researcher Dr Bosco Rowland will present the latest data from CTC sites in Australia at the Moruya event.
"His expertise is in developing and testing social behavioural principles on real world public health problems," Mr Richmond said.
"Communities That Care has the potential to build capacity in the Eurobodalla to support youth wellbeing and prevent health and social problems for young people.
"The benefits of this program flow through to the whole community.
"There are no CTC sites in NSW. Could the Eurobodalla be the first?
Imagine a healthy, resilient, strong and connected community
"Evidence tells us that many of the problems facing young people in the Eurobodalla, such as alcohol and drug use, mental health struggles and school disengagement, can be effectively prevented using long-term community planning.
"Using the CTC framework the whole Eurobodalla community (not just singular organisations or government departments) become the drivers of change."
Mr Richmond hopes the whole community will get behind the event.
"Imagine being able to mobilise a whole community to create a more healthy, resilient, strong and connected community? That's the potential of a CTC project," he said.
"This is going to require some significant funding, but cost/benefit studies done by Deakin University show very high returns for money invested in this program.
"The team will play an important role if we get a CTC program.
"The team will help build a coalition of relevant community stakeholders and become a potential source of funding."
More information on CTC can be found at communitiesthatcare.org.au
"The forum is open to the public and we particularly encourage organisations and staff working in this field to come along and see what can be achieved with a whole community approach, implementing an evidence-based CTC project," Mr Richmond said.
"Potential stakeholders will have the opportunity to meet Dr Rowland from 3.30pm to 5pm."
