February 10, 2017
MEDIA RELEASE
Burwood stop planned for Victorian
Dual Tools Roadshow
Picture caption: Bendigo Community Health Services Dual Tools Roadshow team members Anne-Marie
Kelly and Natalia Smith are getting ready to visit Burwood on March 20.
Burwood has been included on a Victorian roadshow for a revolutionary new training program
designed to improve the care of people experiencing both mental health and addiction issues.
The Bendigo Community Health Services-designed Dual Tools model has been successfully
trialled in the Loddon Mallee region and will now be offered across Victoria after funding was
secured through the Federal Government Department of Health.
The Dual Tools Roadshow will visit Bendigo, Ballarat, Warrnambool, Traralgon, Burwood,
Shepparton and Swan Hill in March.
Dual Tools uses online modules and videos to deliver free training to health and welfare
professionals caring for people with co-occurring addiction and mental health conditions.
BCHS CEO Kim Sykes said around 300,000 Australians with a substance use condition had at
least one mental health issue.
“This must be a horrible situation for these Australians and their families so we designed Dual
Tools to support the health and welfare workers that help them,” Ms Sykes said.
“We use this system because it is proven to support the workforce in increasing knowledge,
awareness and confidence of dual diagnosis.”
Northern District Community Health Services alcohol and other drugs counsellor Deborah Herron
was one of the health professionals to trial the Dual Tools model.
“Even though I knew a lot about mental health, I found the information to be very comprehensive,
all in one place (and) everything you needed,” Deborah said.
“I liked the quizzes as you were able to check your own knowledge … there was no failure … they
were there to help build your knowledge.”
Ms Herron said Dual Tools was helpful to organisations such as NDCHS.
“If everyone did it, it would build the base knowledge of mental health and alcohol and other drug
issues, which are often one of presenting problems in a variety of allied health disciplines,” she
said. “It allows for early detection and appropriate referral.”
The Dual Tools Roadshow will allow health and welfare professionals to learn more about the
Dual Tools training and ask questions of BCHS staff from the project team.
The roadshow will stop at Bendigo and Burwood on March 20, Traralgon on March 21, Ballarat on
March 22, Warrnambool on March 22, Shepparton on March 23 and Swan Hill on March 24.
Anyone wanting more information on the Dual Tools Roadshow or to book a place at the closest
stop should visit bit.ly/DualToolsRoadshow or call 5448 1600.
To get more information on the Dual Tools training model visit www.dualtools.com.au
Media contact:
Rod Case
Director, Media and Communications
Bendigo Community Health Services
(03) 5448 1629
0418 147 560
[email protected]