Ministerial Statement

DEPUTY STATE CORONER'S REPORT

The Hon. J.D. HILL (Kaurna—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for the Arts) (15:40): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.D. HILL: Today, I tabled the state government's response to the Deputy State Coroner's report following an inquest into the death of six Aboriginal people from the Ceduna and Yalata communities. The recommendations focused on reducing and managing the impact of alcohol on the Aboriginal community, particularly in the Ceduna area, as well as a range of broader issues, including Aboriginal wellbeing, education and employment.

Due to the complexity of the recommendations SA Health was asked to provide a consolidated response to the Coroner on behalf of the state government. SA Health has worked closely with a number of government and non-government agencies to develop a long-term strategy to address the complex issues raised in the Deputy Coroner's report.

There has already been significant progress made in addressing issues associated with excessive alcohol consumption in Ceduna. However, the Deputy State Coroner's inquest and recommendations provided an opportunity to review the effectiveness of current and proposed strategies. The recommendations cover a wide range of issues, so it is important that we take a cross-government and a whole-of-government approach to create and implement sustainable long-term strategies to provide long-term solutions. This process involved groups such as the Aboriginal Health Council of SA, the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council, local Ceduna, Tullawon and Aboriginal health services, Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia, universities, and South Australia Police.

Work has already begun on development and delivery of a number of initiatives to respond to the recommendations and to improve the health and wellbeing of Ceduna's Aboriginal community. One of the key activities is the enhancement of the Ceduna Sobering-Up Centre, which is operated by Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service and which is funded by SA Health. Work has started to move the centre to new premises connected to the Ceduna District Health Service facility. The new location will help increase capacity and improve the efficiency of the centre's interaction with the Ceduna Hospital, as well as providing improved access for clients who need emergency department services.

The service will also be expanded to provide 15 sobering-up beds seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Previously, the centre offered five beds four nights a week from 6pm to 8am. In addition, SA Health has funded the purchase of a mobile assistance van in Ceduna to transport intoxicated people at risk of harm to a safe place.

Other initiatives that are being implemented include the creation of a new out-of-hospital registered nurse position to assist the Ceduna District Health Service in the coordination and provision of acute primary health care and chronic disease service to at-risk Aboriginal people in the area.

Drug and Alcohol Services SA has also contracted the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia to run a three-year Aboriginal alcohol prevention project. The aim of the project is to build the capacity of Aboriginal communities in South Australia to address the prevention of alcohol issues. The commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing is currently in the process of selecting a preferred service provider to establish a new alcohol rehabilitation facility in rural South Australia. SA Health will also continue to monitor progress to ensure strategies addressing the Deputy State Coroner's recommendations are implemented.