Harry Hunt OAM may have left us, but his spirit of community and philanthropy lives on in the Hunt Family Community Foundation headed by daughter Sue-Lei Hunt-Mingay.

The Foundation recently made a donation to Youth Solutions that will help the service’s Safer Summer Era campaign to provide robust resources like a ‘slay safe toolkit’ to help young people live their best and safest celebration season yet.

Youth Solutions Chief Executive Officer Geraldine Dean thanked the Hunt Family Community Foundation for its support and encouraged all community members to heed the campaign advice for a Safer Summer Era.

“Each year, at this time, we turn our focus to supporting safer celebrating practices across the summer and festive season,” Ms Dean said.

“We know this is a time when alcohol consumption can be at its peak and as a health promotion and drug and alcohol prevention service, we want to do all we can to prevent unsafe behaviours and reduce harm this summer.”

The Safer Summer Era campaign, launched this week, hopes to encourage community conversation and action across Macarthur and Wingecarribee to make safer celebrating the norm by sharing practical advice and strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm and increase safer partying practices.

Campaign lead and Youth Solutions Manager Marketing & Engagement, Amanda Dillon, said the campaign would employ a number of strategies to share its key messages this season.

“You can expect to see our social media and online communications dedicated to sharing these safety strategies, we’ll also be out and about in the community connecting with young people and their supporters at outreach activities,” Ms Dillon said.

Among the ways to get involved:

Safer Summer Era – tip highlights:

  • Decided to drink alcohol? Drink water or a non-alcoholic drink in-between each alcoholic drink. This helps to avoid feeling unwell. Also have a good feed – this helps to slow the absorption of alcohol
  • Avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs – this can be dangerous and potentially fatal
  • Plan ahead: how you are getting home? Make a plan and always have a trusted person you can call if things go wrong
  • Stay close with trusted friends, always, when you are out. Great friends make sure everyone gets home safe.
  • ALWAYS call for help in an emergency. If someone passes out and you are unable to wake them or if they become unwell, call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance – it could save their life. Tell ambulance officers if your friend has had alcohol or drugs – it’s vital so they can be given the right care.

You can view the full Safer Summer Era toolkit at https://youthsolutions.com.au/young-people/celebrating-safely/

Youth Solutions staff and Hunt Family Community Foundation board members with the campaign promo items