Page 4002 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
need for a range of culturally appropriate services and treatment options which reflected the complexity and maximised the chances of helping these individuals and families overcome substance abuse. The planned facility, a residential rehabilitation centre, would focus on taking a holistic approach, with therapeutic programs that would support those who needed the service through the rehabilitation and recovery process before making the transition back into their communities. It would link with existing services, including detoxification, diversion and existing methadone services.
The government committed $10.8 million dollars in capital funding for the purchase of an appropriate property and the building of a 16-bed facility. When questioned about his intent, in a recent Winnunga newsletter Jon Stanhope advised that his intention was that the facility would be a drug and alcohol residential rehab centre as this was traditionally and commonly understood, that there was nothing ambiguous about his statement and that his press release and budget papers meant exactly what they said. Maybe this government failed to get the correct handover from the then Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher, who, on releasing the design plans, affirmed her commitment to the facility for “ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people requiring alcohol and other drug rehabilitation”.
Ten years have gone by. In that time a suitable property was located. A purpose-built building was erected, though not with 16 beds as was originally planned. Only an eight-bed facility was eventually completed during that time. The land was cleared of asbestos, at more cost; the bridge was renewed, at more cost; a new access road was built, at more cost; and, because the government further delayed the opening, security had to be installed, at a further cost of $400,000 a year—more costs. More than $12 million has been spent. Ten years in the making, yet the Indigenous community still does not have a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre as originally intended.
We do not know exactly what it is, as a final model of care has not been released, but we do know from the minister’s press release that it is not an alternative to alcohol and other drug treatment. In the past few months the government has sought to deflect responsibility for its own shortcomings by insisting that the Aboriginal community was confused or had misunderstood the intended purpose of the facility. This simply inflamed the situation. But it would appear that from the outset the purpose was clear, as this property has always been referred to as a drug and alcohol rehabilitation service. In fact, in early 2016, Winnunga was approached by the Health Directorate to engage them in a single select tender process to develop a service delivery model of care for the facility. I have, of course, spoken on this previously but feel it bears repeating now.
In July 2016, ATODA and Winnunga were contracted and funded by ACT Health to prepare the model of care. The final model was submitted in October 2016. It was an evidence-based, robust proposal. At no time was there an understanding by Winnunga that the rehabilitation service to be delivered from the bush healing farm would include a detoxification component or methadone dosing on site. Clients who need this level of treatment were to be excluded and supported elsewhere. In their comprehensive 120-page model-of-care document, Winnunga outlined the mandatory specific eligibility for clients who could attend the facility. This was consistent with
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video