Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson has today launched a new culturally secure alcohol and drug and mental health support service at the Ngnowar-Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation (NAAC) in Wyndham.
NAAC, together with the Mental Health Commission, co-designed the service which will provide a 16-bed sobering up service as well as outpatient counselling, prevention and diversion services.
Local planning workshops and meetings ensured a culturally secure process and the local community had an opportunity to contribute to the development of the service model.
The new principles of the service include whole-of-family approaches, holistic consideration of social factors and adverse life experiences; increasing Aboriginal staff participation; developing local employment pathways; and more community awareness and education.
The new program will be delivered through a partnership between NAAC and Anglicare WA. It will also contribute to developing the capacity of the Wyndham community to respond to mental health, alcohol and drug issues and lead responses from within the community.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Ngnowar-Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation - Community Centre highlights the McGowan Government's prioritisation of high-quality culturally secure alcohol and drug and mental health services for our regional communities.
"Congratulations to all the stakeholders involved in the improvement of this service to make sure it aligns with the needs and expectations of the community."
As stated by Kimberley MLA Divina D'Anna:
"The McGowan Government is committed to being guided by the principles of: nothing for Aboriginal people without Aboriginal people; enabling Aboriginal-led solutions; and cultural understanding and respect.
"This new service in Wyndham has been designed by this guiding principle and I'm looking forward to seeing the impact the 16-bed sobering up service as well as the outpatient counselling, prevention and diversion services will have on this community."
