Dear All
INTRA is extending the Safe Festivals Project to be a Party
Safe Northern Rivers Trial.
We already do breathalyser and roadside drug testing. We just
did Blues fest - extremely successful 3200 breath tests (700
more than last year) and about 100 enquiries per night about
the new roadside saliva drug testing.
INTRA are just in the last stages of organising a similar
service for Nimbin Mardi Grass. We are also going to trial
Chill Out for the Doof on Saturday night and possibly other
spaces to be confirmed. To ensure we do best practice we have
asked the Gold Coast Chill Out mob to come and do training
for Chill Out and help out on the night.
INTRA has decided to open up the offer of training
to interested community and/or health workers as well as those
people who will be working at Mardi Grass 07.
If you have a burning desire to work at Mardi Grass let me
know ASAP, or close of business Friday 20 April. I need to
say at this point that not everyone is suitable for this type
of work and there has been a lot interest already. If you
are working at Mardi Grass you will need to attend this training.
The worker criteria to do this work goes something like this.
Staff need to have a very tolerant and respectful attitude
to drug use, ability to give out accurate information, ability
to adhere to OH&S, legal and ethical guidelines, sense
of humour, ability to deal with intoxicated festival goers
(sometimes unco-operative), interest in drug law reform, reliability,
etc. We will be working over the weekend at different locations.
Sometimes doing breathalyser service at various locations
over the town, information stall, etc. The Chill Out space
will be operating at the Doof, 10pm - 4am Saturday night -
minimum qualifications for liability
reasons to work in Chill Out is Senior First Aid Certificate
or equivalent.
Training will be on Friday 27 April, 10am at the Buttery.
Three sections of training are Chill out, Breathalyser, Saliva
testing. Also includes relevant OH&S, ethical and legal
issues. If you have already done some of this training - just
come for what you need. Bring your lunch. There is no cost.
The Buttery is a drug free environment and anyone attending
is requested to respect this location as a Therapeutic Community.
Ring Deb (or leave message on answering machine) 6687 2835
or email deb@buttery.org.au
