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Attired to amuse Wyndham Vale mother-of-three Chloe Teao is bringing plenty of smiles to her suburb during lockdown. Miss Teao has been dressing up in costumes – such as a blow-up chicken, a nun and Michael Jackson – before driving to a friend’s house near her own and dancing in the street. She often attracts the attention of other residents who join in the laughter and film her, from their own properties. Miss Teao said she was inspired to launch her cheer-inducing campaign after talking to friends on the phone, who did not “sound like their usual bubbly selves”. “I thought, ‘You know what, I need to do something,” she said. “I just thought: ‘I’ll dress up and be silly. “More people should do it – it brings joy to you as well as others.” Miss Teao even scored a free meal after cracking up staff when she walked into McDonald’s while dressed as a chicken. “I just want people to know how, even in horrible times, you can find joy,” she said. See page 7 to read more about people spreading joy in lockdown.
CHLOE TEAO IN HER BLOW-UP CHICKEN COSTUME.
Drug users seek help By Alesha Capone The nation’s highest number drug users seeking help for amphetamine, cannabis and heroin use has been recorded in Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs, new data reveals. Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show that the North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) recorded the most people seeking assistance for drug-related issues in the nation in the year to July, 2020. The NWMPHN covers 13 municipalities including Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Melton, Moorabool,
Hume and Macedon Ranges. A total of 6077 people from these areas sought treatment for amphetamine use in the 2019-2020 financial year. South-east Melbourne recorded the second-highest number of people seeking treatment- 3710. The north and west also recorded the most people seeking help for alcohol (5725), with the Northern Territory coming in second (5268). Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs topped the list for those wanting help for cannabis use (3110 people) and heroin (1534 people). Out of the 19,863 people who received
treatment for drugs in the north and west, almost 30 per cent asked for support and case management, 25.9 per cent requested an assessment and 22.6 per cent obtained counselling. A Coroners Court of Victoria report released earlier this month revealed 4551 Victorians died by overdose in the past decade, with 183 deaths in Brimbank, 106 in Maribyrnong, 101 in Wyndham and 93 in Hume. IPC Health chief executive Jayne Nelson said the organisation provided free services for those in Melbourne’s west struggling with addiction. Ms Nelson said this included counselling
for alcohol, other drug or gambling problems; a needle and syringe exchange program; and GP, medical and allied health services. “Drug overdose is a devastating problem,” Ms Nelson said. “As the population grows rapidly in the west of Melbourne, there are more people in need of local community-based health and wellbeing services. “IPC Health is actively advocating for more services to be provided in the west, and in particular the need to address addiction.” For assistance, visit www.ipchealth.com.au, call IPC on 9296 1228 or email your referral to AODServices.Intake@ipchealth.com.au.
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