Say Know To Drugs.
Peer to Peer Event and Festival Care
WHO is DanceWize?
4
FULLTIME
COORDINATORS
200+
VOLUNTEERS -
FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE:
STUDENTS & NURSES,
TO AOD WORKERS & ARTISTS
TO SOCIAL WORKERS & BARRISTAS...BUT
25
FULLTIME
HRVIC STAFF
SUPPORTED BY
ALL WITH LIVING OR LIVED EXPERIENCE AND
ARE FROM THE MUSIC/FESTIVAL COMMUNITY.
Event Managers
or Promoters
REQUEST
DANCEWIZE SERVICES
AT YOUR
NEXT EVENT
Drug Information
-SUBSTANCE INFO
-DRUG COMBOS
-ALERTS
-MORE
Volunteer
for DanceWIze
APPLY TO BE
A DANCEWIZE
KEY PEER EDUCATOR
(KPE) or
COUNSELLOR*
EST. 1999
DanceWize is the original, Australian, peer-based alcohol and other drugs (AOD) harm reduction program that delivers peer care and support services for music events and festivals across Victoria.
Starting as a grassroots Victorian group known as RaveSafe, DanceWize has been a program of Harm Reduction Victoria (HRVic) since 1999 and is a Victorian Department of Health (DoH) funded health promotion charity.
The DanceWize program model was adopted in NSW in 2017 and is administered there by NUAA. HRVic is part of a national network which is able to support the emergence of similar programs in other parts of the country too. This network promotes health rights, human rights and harm reduction.
EXPERIENCE &
EXPERTISE
DanceWize is a peer support and event care service. For over 20+ years we have been providing peer education, safer substance use resources and referrals for related mental & physical health and wellbeing issues in an understanding, non-judgemental safe spaces at music events and festivals throughout Victoria and Australia.
Our team members come with a range of their own work and lived/living experiences. We add the perfect mix of ongoing and up to date training to their skillset to equip them to care for intoxicated persons or people who need other support in party settings.
AWARD WINNING CARE
As DanceWize Team Leads and Key Peer Educators (KPEs), our volunteers undergo a range of training including First Aid (HLTFA003), Mental Health First Aid and but we do not operate as a First Aid provider, as this is not the program’s objective. We work as part of an event's Health Emergency Management Plan (HEMP) and alongside health providers and other on-site services.
The efficacy of this peer-based program model is evidence-based and in 2016 HRVic’s DanceWize won the Minister of Health’s award for Outstanding Achievement by Volunteers Supporting Diversity.
GENDER BASED VIOLENCE & MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE EQUIPPED
DanceWize have the resources to deliver full-scale peer support services on-site at a limited number of events each year, but we are designed as a public-private partnership. For example, DoH covers our core operational costs, which allows us to offer subsidised services, and event organisers are expected to contribute toward our expenses on a cost-recovery basis.
Dancewize also have resources to deliver comprehensive Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Mental Health services, including pre-event training and consultation and onsite service delivery that support festivals to prevent, recognise and respond to incidents of sexual and family violence onsite.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
“Dear DanceWize,
Your care, wisdom & sincere love held me so close to this world as I was falling out of it. Thank you so much.
I am filled with gratitude & respect for your work & guidance. Huge love to DW volunteer Andrew who helped me name my future llamas and filled my eyes with love.
All the best 4eva.
Love”
— M,undisclosed event
