THE beneficiaries of a $3m cash injection for drug and alcohol support programs have welcomed the Federal funding windfall, saying it provides surety for service providers, advocacy groups and the community.
Service provider Uniting Communities and the Substance Misuse Limestone Coast were announced as the recipients of funding addressing the need for rehabilitation services throughout the region.
Uniting Communities chief executive Simon Schrapel said the $825,000 per year over the next three years would allow the not-for-profit to continue and build on the existing New Roads program.
Home detox – which will be delivered in conjunction with a GP and include withdrawal services, medical support and treatment plan will be one of two components of the program.
The non-residential rehabilitation program incorporates relapse prevention, recovery and individual counselling.
“It is a very intensive program over a number of weeks,” Mr Schrapel said.
“We have figured out what people need, particularly for people living in their own homes, is a level of structure.”
“The benefit of this announcement is that we will be able to hit the ground running pretty quickly in terms of being able to start recruitment.
“We’ll be getting some specialist councillor staff as well as nursing staff, which will actually improve our work in the community.”
Substance Misuse Limestone Coast’s Judy Nagy said the Federal Government’s $175,000 contribution would help the group continue their education and treatment programs and training for professionals.
She said the volunteer group funded a training session for frontline professionals and had previously funded a trial at a secondary school encouraging youth resilience.
Ms Nagy said the group, which covers the entire region, was also working with the seven constituent councils to identify service providers and stakeholders in a bid to create small programs.
“This funding for three years is really important for us because it gives us surety and allows us to get the job done,” she said.
