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NSW Minister for Community Services, Linda Burney, formally announced support last week for the Getting it Together Scheme (GITS), a Wesley Mission program on the Central Coast to help youth with drug and alcohol addictions.

The Central Coast GITS program is already providing support to 15 teenagers and hopes to be able to assist more. GITS targets young people 12 to 22 years of age who are suffering from drug and alcohol abuse and whose particular needs are not met by existing residential or community based services.

“GITS links young people to drug and alcohol programs to deal with substance abuse head on,” Ms Burney said. “Just as importantly, it provides these young people with ongoing support to improve their chances of staying clean in the long term.”

The GITS program works in tandem with Wesley’s Independent Living Program (ILP), an early intervention, living skills and accommodation initiative. GITS has already been introduced into Central Coast schools and communities with the help of Central Coast GITS Coordinator Sue Higgins.

“We have been able to hit the ground running and we already have a range of educational packages for groups and individuals,” said Alan Suters, Regional Manager for Wesley’s ILP.

Ms Higgins said GITS seeks to discover and solve the underlying causes of a young person’s drug and alcohol addiction. The program then aims to help youth overcome their addictions. It also enables young people to help their peers who are struggling with similar issues.

“We want to produce leaders who will want to go back into the schools and be peer educators,” Ms Higgins said.

GITS also works to provide youth with practical needs, including accommodation. Ms Burney said her favourite aspect of the program is its focus on more than just the emotional needs of its clients.

“It’s about the support they get emotionally and practically, which is a combination that makes eminent sense,” she said.

“Wesley is such an important partner for protecting children all over NSW,” Ms Burney said. “Our partnership is going to be growing in the years to come.”

-Lyle Moran, Public Affairs

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