$49.3M Boost for Drug and Alcohol Services in Communities

The Australian Government has approved up to $49.3 million over four years for drug and alcohol services in regional and remote Indigenous communities across four states.

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, and the Minister for Ageing, Christopher Pyne, jointly announced the funding.

“Funding has so far been allocated to projects in South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia,” Mr Pyne said.

“This funding, announced following the Intergovernmental Summit on Violence and Child Abuse in Indigenous Communities last year, represents another major step by all governments toward tackling the high levels of family violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.”

Mr Brough said: “This forms part of the Council of Australian Government’s package to strengthen policing, justice, governance and supporting initiatives in Indigenous communities, valued at up to $130 million.”

Northern Territory services to receive funding include a volatile substance use treatment service in Alice Springs. Funding will also be provided to expand the capacity of existing rehabilitation and treatment services.

In Queensland, organisations providing services to communities in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York regions will receive funding for two new services to provide residential treatment.

A joint investment plan developed with South Australia will result in rehabilitation and treatment services in the Port Augusta area, while in Western Australia there will be a significant investment in drug and alcohol services in the Kimberley region.