Hailing from all over Victoria and all walks of life, DanceWize volunteers are bound by a shared passion for our music culture and harm reduction. We share a deep kinship with the festival, doof, EDM, and broader Victorian music communities. Together, we turn our love for the scene into peer-led support, sharing the knowledge, tools, and skills that empower our community to look out for one another and thrive on the dancefloor. Our living and lived experience provides a unique perspective and expertise that others in the event care space simply cannot offer. It is by working through that peer lens that we can offer deeper understanding and empathy to the community members we support before, during, and after events. We combine expert training with nonjudgmental care to support every festival patron honestly and safely. As a DanceWize Key Peer Educator (KPE), you will be offered a full induction and specialised harm reduction training from an authentic peer perspective. If this sound like you, find out more about the opportunities that Harm Reduction Victoria and its DanceWize program can offer you now. APPLY HERE

Contact Harm Reduction Victoria for more info on becoming a member, booking or sponsoring supplies to DanceWize or to book a workshop or training session contact us on info@hrvic.org.au Become a member of Harm Reduction Victoria today! HRVic is a uniquely peer driven, peer run and peer governed community organisation for people who use drugs. Harm Reduction Victoria Inc . ABN: 46 114 268 362 Street Address 299-305 Victoria Street Brunswick VIC 3056 Postal Address PO Box 87 Brunswick VIC 3056 Phone: (03) 9329 1500 Email: info@hrvic.org.au

COVID aka Coronavirus, SARS CoV-2, Covid 19 Last Updated 04.10.2021 Some Things You Should Know: for People Who Use Drugs WHAT IS IT? SYMPTOMS TRANSMISSION VACCINE INFO VACCINE LOCATIONS LIST First Things First- What Is A Coronavirus? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) . The most recently discovered coronavirus causes SARS CoV-2 or as we know it- COVID-19 ( The one we are dealing with now around the world.) WHAT This new corona virus (COVID-19) and it's variants were unknown before the outbreak was announced in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. What Are The Symptoms? SYMPTOMS COVID-19 affects different people in different ways. Most infected people will develop mild to moderate illness and recover without hospitalisation. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Less common symptoms are aches and pains, sore throat, conjunctivitis, headaches, loss of taste or smell, diarrhoea and a rash on skin or discolouration of fingers or toes. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Serious symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure and loss of speech or movement. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Seek immediate medical attention if you have serious symptoms. Always call before visiting your doctor or health facility. People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should manage their symptoms at home. On average it takes 5–6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however it can take up to 14 days. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, and immune deficiency issues are more likely to develop serious illness. How Does It Spread? Transmission Current evidence suggests that the virus spreads mainly between people who are in close contact with each other , typically within 1 metre (short-range). A person can be infected when aerosols or droplets containing the virus are inhaled or come directly into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus can also spread in poorly ventilated and/or crowded indoor settings, where people tend to spend longer periods of time. This is because aerosols remain suspended in the air or travel further than 1 metre (long-range). People may also become infected by touching surfaces that have been contaminated by the virus when touching their eyes, nose or mouth without cleaning their hands. Further research is ongoing to better understand the spread of the virus and which settings are most risky and why. Research is also under way to study virus variants that are emerging and why some are more transmissible. Infected people can be contagious and the virus can spread from them to other people, whether they have symptoms or not . Laboratory data suggests that infected people appear to be most infectious just before they develop symptoms (namely 2 days before they develop symptoms) and early in their illness. People who develop severe disease can be infectious for longer. While someone who never develops symptoms can pass the virus to others, it is still not clear how frequently this occurs and more research is needed in this area. **Research is ongoing and HRVic will update this information as new discoveries are made. Which COVID-19 vaccines are available in Australia? Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has provisionally approved vaccines for COVID-19: Comirnaty, the Pfizer -BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, provisionally approved for people aged 12 years and older Vaxzevria, the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine, provisionally approved for people aged 18 years and older Janssen, the Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd vaccine, known as Johnson & Johnson , provisionally approved for people aged 18 years and older — this vaccine is not included in Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination program Spikevax, the Moderna Australia vaccine, for people aged 12 years and older “Do you want a vax?” Here’s what Professor Margaret Hellard has to say about it. Margaret is known and loved and trusted by many in our community and has treated many of us for hep C and HIV over the years. VACCINES FAQs VACCINE VACCINE What Vaccines are what? What's the difference? Find Out HERE. What if I can't afford the covid vaccine? You do not need a money to get a COVID-19 vaccine. It is FREE. What if I don’t have a Medicare card? You do not need a Medicare card at Commonwealth State clinics to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Check with the clinic you have booked at I have a medical condition. Can I get an exemption? You may be exempt if you are unable to be vaccinated because you have a medical contraindication as determined by ATAGI clinical guidance . You will need evidence from a medical practitioner about this – such as a medical certificate or a letter. MASKS- Do I have to wear a mask and if so, when do I have to wear it? Anyone 12 years and over must wear a fitted face mask whenever they leave their home, indoors or outdoors, unless lawful exception applies . The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services has developed a series of badges for people who are unable to wear a face covering for a valid reason . The badges can be downloaded onto smartphones or printed to keep in a wallet or lanyard holder. Smartphone badges I am exempt from wearing a face-covering for valid reasons - blue badge (jpg) I am exempt from wearing a face-covering for valid reasons - white badge (jpg) For people who are deaf or hard of hearing and need the person they are communicating with to remove their face mask: Please remove your face covering so we can understand each other better - blue badge (jpg) Please remove your face covering so we can understand each other better - white badge (jpg) Print-ready badges I am exempt from wearing a face-covering for a valid reaso n (PDF) Please remove your face covering so we can understand each other better (PDF) HRVic's COVID-19 SEPT 13 UPDATE (Lockdown #2 Victoria) HRVic's COVID-19 SEPT 27th 2020 UPDATE (Lockdown #2 Victoria) HRVic's COVID-19 & Drug Use Resource #1 DOWNLOAD PDF HRVic's COVID-19 & Planning For the Substance Dependent Resource #2 DOWNLOAD PDF HRVic's COVID-19 & Pharmacotherapy Resource #3 DOWNLOAD PDF HRVic's COVID-19 SEPT 27 UPDATE (Resource #4 Lockdown #2 Victoria) DOWNLOAD PDF Some MORE Helpful Tips for People on Pharmacotherapy - Methadone and Buprenorphine (Suboxone and Subutex) : CLICK HERE

! !**DRUG ALERT**!! (Melbourne/Naarm, Victoria, and VIC wide) !!**COCAINE adulterated with opioid PROTONITAZENE**!! A white powder sold as cocaine in Melbourne has been found to contain the potent synthetic opioid 'protonitazene'. There have been recent serious harms in Melbourne/Naarm associated with a 'white powder' sold as COCAINE that contained the potent opioid PROTONITAZENE. The product appears to produce strong adverse effects such as loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and life-threatening hypoxia. (lack of oxygen in your blood) Protonitazene is faster acting and is much stronger (100x) than heroin. It is important for everyone- REGARDLESS of the substance you are planning to take- to CARRY NALOXONE. **CARRY iT ON YOU!!- not keep in a cupboard at home or your glove box in the car. It could mean the difference between life and death for someone. Naloxone is a FREE, easy-to-use, easy to get medication that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose – it is safe to use even if you are not sure whether someone has taken opioids. HRVic does FREE naloxone administration training EVERY 1st of the month. Naloxone can be accessed at HRVic's NSP and at participating pharmacies, other needle and syringe programs and from the medically supervised injecting centre. You can find an approved naloxone provider on the Take Home Naloxone program webpage. ( https://www.health.vic.gov.au/.../victorias-take-home ... ) Protonitazene is one of the many NITAZENES that have been circulating throughout Australia over the past couple of years. Read more about the types of Nitazenes and their effects in the latest WHACK magazine OUT NOW at your local NSP. Read the Nitazenes substance specific article here: If you are an HRVic Member and have not yet received a copy in the mail, email us at info@hrvic.org.au to UPDATE YOUR MEMBERSHIP. If you have any questions or want more info visit the Dept of Health alert : https://www.health.vic.gov.au/.../cocaine-adulterated ... or HRVic's Overdose page on our website: www.hrvic.org.au/dope

A pink and white capsule sold as ‘3C-P’ in Melbourne/Naarm contains the potent opioid protonitazene. The Department of Health has issued a new Drug Alert about a pink and white capsule or white powder sold as ‘3C-P’ or in Melbourne containing the potent opioid protonitazene. Opioids are central nervous system depressants, typically producing a range of effects including pain relief, sedation and respiratory depression (dangerously slow breathing). Respiratory depression often appears more quickly with novel synthetic opioids (NSOs), increasing the risk of life-threatening overdose. Protonitazene is an extremely potent NSO, which means it can produce strong effects in very small amounts. There has been one serious recent hospitalisation in Victoria associated with this pink and white capsule. Due to the potency of NSOs, the product produces strong adverse opioid effects such as loss of consciousness, respiratory depression, and life-threatening hypoxia (insufficient oxygen for normal functioning). It’s important to know the signs of opioid overdose and to carry naloxone to reverse opioid overdose-even if you don't plan to take opioids. HRVic has naloxone available for FREE from our NSP at 299-305 Victoria St Brunswick. We also have naloxone training EVERY 1st of the month ONLINE for FREE at 4:30pm. See website for details (www.hrvic.org.au/training) We can also do one on one training with you if you don't know how to use, when you come to pick up. Or check out our info on naloxone on our 'Recognise & Respond to Overdose' page. Anyone who experiences adverse drug effects or is present when someone has an unexpected reaction to a drug should seek help immediately by calling Triple Zero (000). See DoH drug alerts here: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/.../protonitazene-sold-as-3c-p