Media Release by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP

Helping young people tackle substance abuse in Alice Springs

Joint Media Release with:

  • Warren Snowdon MP

    Minister for Indigenous Health
    Member for Lingiari

The Australian Government is investing more than $1.8 million in a successful program that helps Alice Springs youth tackle alcohol and substance abuse.

The Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said the funding, delivered through the Alice Springs Transformation Plan, would enable the local BushMob rehabilitation service to relocate and expand its facility.

“Tackling alcohol and drug abuse is key to building safer, stronger communities, and it’s a critical part of our efforts to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage,” Ms Macklin said.

“BushMob runs a terrific service where young people in Alice Springs are able to receive round-the-clock care, as well as education and counselling to help them overcome alcohol, petrol-sniffing and substance abuse.

“This expansion to a new and larger facility means BushMob can lift its capacity from 5 to 20 beds, and help more young people in Alice Springs take control of their lives.”

This builds on the Australian Government’s investment of nearly $400,000 over three years so that BushMob can operate an Indigenous Parenting Service for local families.

The Minister for Indigenous Health and Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, said the BushMob service helped local young people deal with immediate issues as well as giving them new skills to get their lives back on track.

“From its humble beginnings as a pilot program more than a decade ago, BushMob has grown to become a real success story in Alice Springs, helping thousands of young people and their families overcome the harmful effects of substance abuse,” Mr Snowdon said.

“As well as investing more than $1.2 million to help them relocate to a larger facility, we are providing an additional $630,000 so that BushMob can continue its great work supporting young people in Alice Springs, town camps and nearby communities.

“This funding also means they can keep running trips to the bush, where counsellors and trained staff provide intensive case management and teach young people new life skills in a substance-free environment.

“With this support from the Gillard Government, BushMob can deliver even more services in its expanded facility and help more young Aboriginal people in Alice Springs turn their lives around.”