Community members from the ACT and across Australia come together in Canberra for the 29th Annual Remembrance Ceremony, honouring those who have tragically lost their lives due to overdose from illicit drug use.

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					Community members from the ACT and across Australia come together in Canberra for the 29th Annual Remembrance Ceremony, honouring those who have tragically lost their lives due to overdose from illicit drug use.				

Alexandra Hogan, Social Justice Lead at Uniting NSW.ACT said: “With overdose rates in Australia unacceptably high and a growing concern regarding nitazenes, this years’ service takes on added significance.

“According to recent data from the Penington Institute, overdose deaths have surged to almost double the road toll, highlighting the urgent need for change not just in the ACT but right across Australia.

“Every single overdose death is preventable. This solemn gathering is not only a tribute to those lost but also a rallying cry for a health and wellbeing response to drug use and dependency and an end to punitive policies that continue to cause harm,” Alex said.

Marion McConnell OAM, Uniting Church and Community member and drug law reform activist, said: “Our community cannot ignore the urgent need for stronger measures to combat the overdose crisis.

“Today we honour the lives lost, support the families left behind, and renew our commitment to advocating for compassionate and effective solutions and comprehensive drug law reform, not just in the ACT, but across Australia,” she said.

Uniting Church NSW.ACT’s Moderator, Rev Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau said: “Through today’s memorial service, we stand to honour those we have lost and work toward a future where fewer families endure the pain of drug-related loss. Join us in remembrance and in hope.”

This event will feature speakers for the community, including the Moderator of the Uniting Church NSW.ACT, Faaimata (Mata) Havea Hiliau, former Judge and community advocate Justice Richard Refshauge, and Marion McConnell OAM, drug law reform activist.

The event in Canberra takes place from 11:50am, Monday 21^st October at Weston Park, Yarralumla, ACT, in front of the dedicated memorial located on the right of Weston park road, opposite the Weston Lane junction.

The event will be livestreamed on our Fair Treatment Facebook page.

Uniting NSW.ACT runs the Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC) and has spearheaded the Fair Treatment campaign for fairer drug laws for over five years.

Interested in becoming a partnering organisation?

Partners align with Fair Treatment’s two main aims:

Law reform for a primary health-response to personal possession of currently illicit drugs or “decriminalisation” and;
More funding for alcohol and other drug treatment services. For more details, read the Discussion Paper.

If you are interested in becoming a new partnering organisation or for more information fill out the form below and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

New South Wales Needs Better Drug Diversion

Too many people in NSW face court instead of support

Strict eligibility rules, a two-strike limit and poor implementation mean many people in NSW miss out on drug diversion. To keep the people we love safe, this needs to change.