The Gap, Opportunity, and Challenge
Significant gaps remain in community understanding of the evidence supporting overdose prevention services in Victoria. E.g., Faith communities and the Music Conservatory near The Harbour have at times experienced tension with the site, rooted in limited access to research findings and few opportunities for meaningful dialogue. Simultaneously, Indigenous peoples are disproportionately impacted by the overdose crisis, yet Indigenous-led harm reduction perspectives are often absent from knowledge mobilization efforts. This activity brings together diverse stakeholders to review research findings and explore opportunities for collaborative knowledge mobilization; bridging harm reduction, faith, and Indigenous knowledge systems.
Format, Venue, and Duration
We will host two three-hour in-person community meetings held several weeks apart to allow reflection between sessions. The first brings stakeholders together to review findings in plain language, discuss their relevance/accuracy through member-checking, & reflect on what the research means from their own perspectives; the second focuses on exploring opportunities for collaborative knowledge mobilization. Honoraria will be offered to PWLE and Indigenous knowledge holders in recognition of their expertise.
Event/Activity Participants
Participants will include PWLLE members of The Harbour, representatives from nearby faith groups, and members of QomQem, Victoria’s Indigenous harm reduction group. Frontline workers from SOLID Outreach, Island Health Authority staff, and neighbouring community members will also participate, reflecting a commitment to inclusive knowledge mobilization that honours Indigenous ways of knowing alongside the perspectives of communities who share space with the site.
Anticipated Outcomes
Research findings will reach audiences who have not previously had access to this evidence; building broader understanding of supervised consumption services. Structured dialogue between faith groups, Indigenous harm reduction advocates, PWLLE, and service providers will reveal shared values, and reduce stigma & tension in the Pandora community. QomQem’s participation will ensure Indigenous priorities shape how findings are interpreted & acted upon. Together, these meetings will identify priorities for future research/advocacy, strengthening collaboration between our research team, SOLID Outreach, Island Health Authority, QomQem & the wider Victoria community.