Hope Community Services asks State Government not to neglect Mid West after announcing Kimberley detox centre

A rehabilitation provider is again calling for investment into a detox centre in the Mid West after the State Government announced it would fund a new alcohol and drug detox facility in the Kimberley. Last week the State Government reiterated its commitment to establishing a low medical alcohol and drug withdrawal service in Kununurra, delivered by the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation the Wunan Foundation. Hope Community Services CEO Merinda March said although investment in a Kimberley detox centre was welcome news, the State should not neglect the Mid-West-Gascoyne. She said a similar Government commitment was needed to establish alcohol and other drug services in the region. “Any investment in AOD services is to be welcomed and it is really heartening to see this service will be delivered by an ACCO which has the cultural competency to build a service that will work for Kimberley communities,” she said. But, Ms March said: “There is an urgent need for a detox facility in the Mid West.” Those looking to detox at rehabilitation services such as Hope Springs Therapeutic Community in Walkaway, can only do so once a person has completed a detoxing process. People in the Mid West must travel to Perth, Kalgoorlie or Roebourne to access this support. In August and September last year, Hope travelled to Geraldton, Yalgoo, Mt Magnet, Meekatharra and Carnarvon to investigate the need for a low medical withdrawal, or detox, centre in the region. The results were alarming, Ms March said. “Our recent community consultation uncovered accounts of people detoxing in police cells or heading out to the desert to detox by themselves, simply because they had no other option,” she said. “That does not even consider the hundreds of people who want to start their recovery journey but can’t because the closest detox facility is a five-hour drive away.” After consultation with key stakeholders, service providers and local communities, Hope will put forward a business case to the State in the coming months calling for funding ahead of the 2024-25 State Budget. “We call on Premier Roger Cook and Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson to take a close look at the findings from our consultation, and to prioritise the creation of a low medical withdrawal service in the Mid West,” Ms March said. Hope Springs will hold an open day in March.