Substance Misuse Limestone Coast (SMLC) has been announced as a finalist in the Community Welfare Innovation Award for the South Australian Community Achievement Awards 2022.

The awards acknowledge, encourage and reward the valuable contributions of businesses, individuals and communities throughout the South Australian community.

The award winners will be announced at an awards night at The Hilton in Adelaide on December 2.

SMLC project officer Sophie Bourchier said she was honoured that SMLC had been recognised for its efforts in the Limestone Coast and hoped they could go on to win the award.

“It is not very often that any organisation in the alcohol and other drug sector is recognised for any of the work they do,” Ms Bourchier said.

“And because we are the most underfunded health sector in Australia it is a thrill.

“It is exciting to see that maybe there is a bit of a shift in community thinking about drug and alcohol issues, not just in our region but Australia-wide.”

Ms Bourchier believed what set SMLC apart from the other contenders was it was a fairly unique organisation.

“We have achieved a great deal with supporting all of the community really, with our trainings for workforce and supporting families who are supporting their own people who have drug and alcohol issues,” Ms Bourchier said.

“We also held the first regional summit to identify the gaps the allied sector see as issues.

“We have done a lot and I think the fact that we also celebrate our achievements by using our own social media platforms, it is recognised and seen.

“We do our work day-by-day but we are also not afraid to celebrate our own achievements.”

Ms Bourchier believed every Australian community needed an organisation like SMLC and said alcohol was the most prominent drug issue.

“Health promotion in the drug and alcohol sector is crucial because we do not hear from it in any other area, we do not see it on TV or radio about the harms associated with all drugs and alcohol,” she said.