By Bonny Burrows
Drug rehabilitation and recovery practitioner Janice Ablett is among the nominees for the 2018 Victorian Australian of the Year Awards.
The Drouin resident and sister of AFL legend Gary Ablett senior has been named in the Victoria’s Local Hero category for her dedication to support those affected by methamphetamine addiction.
Her work in the field began after the deaths of several young locals who were using methamphetamines in the space of a few weeks in 2014.
These deaths prompted Ms Ablett – a registered nurse – to inform herself on methamphetamine addiction.
However, it wasn’t until she took in her friend’s 32-year-old son whose life was spiralling out of control on the addictive drug that she set up the Ice Meltdown Project, a community group that helps people overcome their addictions and rebuild their lives.
The man is now clean and employed in a steady job but his situation inspired a major cultural overhaul in the area as more and more residents reach out for help.
In an interview with the Gazette in 2015, Ms Ablett said fighting the epidemic was the only way to save youngsters from becoming more and more hooked on the illicit drug.
“It’s not getting better. We have had more deaths, more violent crimes, more families broken up – it’s just shocking. They have nowhere to go,” she said.
“I don’t think we will have a next generation.”
Ms Ablett’s detox support program offers an holistic and non-judgmental approach with professional advice, counselling and medical intervention, as well as almost nightly rehabilitation and check-up sessions over the two-year recovery program.
While the Ice Meltdown Project provides live-in support for three people and their families, Ms Ablett has big dreams to establish a larger rehabilitation centre.
“With unswerving dedication, the mother of five and grandmother of seven has helped more than 300 people and their families on the journey to recovery,” her nomination read.
Ms Ablett faces tough completion in the Local Hero Award category, which acknowledges extraordinary contributions made by Australians in their local communities.
She is up against diversity campaign and community volunteer Mohammed Alam of Preston, engineer and prosthetic limb innovator Mat Bowtell of East Burwood and disability justice campaigner Trevor Carroll of Whittlesea.
The recipients will be announced on Thursday 26 October at Government House in Melbourne.
The winners will then join a cohort of 32 state and territory recipients from around Australia in the national awards which will be held in Canberra on 25 January.
