Speaker Richard Nolan with President Warwick.
Photo: Doug Worthington
Encouraged by his wife who built up Richard’s sense of worth so that he gained his qualifications to be a drug and alcohol officer and has jobs in this role as an overdose prevention officer at festivals, then at Mission Australia as a drug and alcohol researcher among young people using drugs and what types of drugs. For example heroin in Sydney is 3 to 4 time cheaper than in Perth hence the tendency toward the cheaper methamphetamine.
Further qualifications were gained and Richard started working with young offenders who were very damaged for an organisation. The cost is very high at $10 to $15K per week to care for these young people.
Then employed by Alta1 as a regional manager to mentor and to monitor damaged young people them. Some of these young people had their accommodation in the country and required 72 hour shifts that affected home life.
Damaged and dangerous young people, some of whom were serious sex offenders and the frustration that the Department of Community Protection was not addressing their behaviours. From Richard’s experience these damaged and dangerous young people arise from their family environment that is one of abusive relationships. It is not an easy solution to simply take them from their family as they want to be there and love their parents, despite the misused relationship.
Richard has been part of team visiting schools in drug and alcohol education prevention. young people listen to young people. Further, the message is not prohibition but harm minimalization and self care.
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