Mount Gambier Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services

In reply to the Hon. C. BONAROS (15 May 2019).

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised that:

1. Since 1 January 2018, Uniting Communities has been funded by SA Health to provide six residential rehabilitation beds for alcohol and other drug treatment in Mount Gambier.

This new funding came about as a result of community consultations identifying residential rehabilitation as a service gap for the area.

On 27 February 2019, the Australian government Minister for Health announced $3 million in additional commonwealth funding over three years for alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services in Mount Gambier and the Limestone Coast. Uniting Communities will receive $825,000 per annum to deliver its New Roads Program in Mount Gambier, and the Substance Misuse Limestone Coast Working Party will receive $175,000 per annum in funding to develop a long-term strategy for the region.

There are also a range of statewide alcohol and other drug services provided by SA Health which are available to people in the South-East region, including:

The Alcohol and Drug Information Service, which provides confidential assessment, referral and telephone counselling to individuals and family members.

The Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service, which provides expert advice to health professionals.

The Woolshed Therapeutic community, which is based in the Adelaide Hills but is available to individuals from across the state.

DASSA Withdrawal Services (Glenside campus), which provides access to inpatient withdrawal for individuals from across the state. Inpatient withdrawal can also be arranged through the Mount Gambier hospital.

The 'Know your options' website provides a comprehensive online directory of the range of government and non-government services available in the South-East region.

2. In terms of work with our commonwealth and COAG partners to address this issue, I represent South Australia on the Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum, along with the Minister for Police, Emergency Management and Correctional Services. The ministerial forum oversees the implementation and monitoring of Australia's National Drug Strategy 2017-26. I have also written to minister Hunt on this topic.

The South Australian government welcomes the $20 million investment in the alcohol and other drug treatment in our state announced by the Australian government Department of Health on 13 March 2019, and the additional $3 million in funding over three years for alcohol and other drugs treatment services in the South-East region of South Australia announced on 27 February and commencing in July 2019.

These are both welcome investments and the state government will continue to work with our commonwealth, state and territory counterparts—both bilaterally and through the Ministerial Drug and Alcohol Forum—to implement strategies to prevent and minimise alcohol and other drugs related harms in line with the National Drug Strategy 2017-26.

3. I am advised that there is currently no waiting list for beds in the existing residential rehabilitation and counselling services based in Mount Gambier. As at 24 May 2019 data from these services show they have immediate capacity to take client referrals and that there are no significant waiting times to access services. The evidence therefore suggests that these services are meeting demand for alcohol and other drug treatment in the region and have capacity for new referrals.

4. I refer the member to the previous answer.

5. Acute psychiatric inpatient beds at the Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service are designed to provide treatment for psychiatrically acutely unwell patients who cannot be safely treated in an alternative setting.

Individuals with drug and alcohol dependence are not excluded from treatment provided they meet the primary admission criteria.