Matters of Interest

Aboriginal Sobriety Group

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:20): Recently I visited the Aboriginal Sobriety Group's Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal facility at Monarto. ASG has been operating since 1973 when it commenced as a voluntary self-help group for people wanting to overcome alcohol and/or drug abuse. Today ASG administers a range of drug and alcohol services which provide a complete substance misuse recovery pathway. Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal (LTW) at Monarto is one of those services. I was shown around the LTW site by site manager, Craig Minervini. Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal means 'clan, family, community' healing place, and it undertakes drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs that provide holistic support for clients using a cultural, social and emotional wellbeing framework.

Last year marked the 10^th year that the LTW's healing program has been in operation. During that year, LTW had 56 clients. These clients participated in one of LTW's three-month healing programs. Whilst most LTW clients are from South Australia, there are also clients who travel from as far away as Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. Increasingly, clients are being referred through drug courts.

LTW is a non-medical dry rehabilitation centre located on a farm at Monarto. Clients live in and are assisted, through a number of programs over a three-month period, to recover from drug or other substance misuse lifestyles. Programs include gardening, painting, woodwork and gym activities as well as activities dealing with life skills such as cooking, cleaning and financial counselling. These activities are backed up by both individual and group counselling and support.

LTW is undertaking an assessment on the possibility of providing agricultural programs, involving local farms. This could possibly extend LTW's programs to clients through farm schooling on animal husbandry and cereal cropping. LTW is always looking at extending the programs that can be offered to their clients, to hopefully help clients become more job ready. Prior to entry, clients must undertake a needs assessment with ASG's substance misuse team, to ensure that they are ready for stabilisation and receive appropriate care.

The team undertakes a detailed assessment of clients' needs and develops a case management plan which includes referral to appropriate external stabilisation services. Following stabilisation, some clients may be referred to LTW, ASG's rehabilitation program. To enter ASG's LTW program, clients must be able to maintain drug and alcohol free status throughout their stay at LTW. The LTW program takes into account common beliefs and rituals of various Aboriginal clans, so that all communities can share in the healing process. LTW's framework comprises four strategic directions and takes into account:

education with the program providing information about the nature of addiction and its effect on humans including physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, behaviour, characteristics and attitudes;

skills development, introducing clients to tools for sober living, structured activities for lifestyle skills, self awareness, communication skills, problem-solving skills, enhancing self-esteem;

counselling, be it one-on-one or group counselling;

culture, learning and spiritual growth with reference to Aboriginal heritage, mediation, elders' stories, dreamtime, lectures, smoke ceremonies and art and craft.

LTW has a no-tolerance attitude to drug and alcohol, which ensures that LTW is respected. I commend the Aboriginal Sobriety Group for their LTW program.