Clean Needle Program

Community Education

Community education aims to contribute to the evolution of community attitudes by implementing a range of community education strategies that reduce stigma, increase understanding and assist in building an environment that encourages access to support services. Additionally, community education strategies also aim to prevent substance misuse amongst young people.

CASSA facilitate educational programs/workshops to youths , parents and other community to raise awareness of AOD issues and information stalls at many community and local events

Clean Needle Program (CNP)

The CNP is part of a range of public health measures aimed at reducing the spread of blood borne viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C amongst people who inject drugs and the wider community. The program has been highly successful in reducing harms associated with intravenous drug use.

CNP services provide

• Free sterile injecting equipment for injecting drug users such as needles and syringes
• Disposal containers for used needles and syringes
• Health and safer injecting information and referrals to treatment and support services

The CNP service is staffed by a committed team of peer educators under the guidance of a Coordinator. All workers are passionate about educating and supporting people using intravenous drugs to reduce harms from their use. Peer education involves the provision of education and information, in both formal and informal ways, by people with personal knowledge and exposure to injecting drug use, while not necessarily engaging in injecting drug use themselves. Peer Educators’ own personal experience directs their work, ensuring a sensibility to client issues and concerns.