Triple Care Farm, Robertson. Photo: Supplied.
In a pre-budget teaser, the Morrison Government has allocated $9 million to Mission Australia for a drug and alcohol rehab facility in Batemans Bay.
The three-year funding package for Mission Australia will support the development of a 10 bed, 12-week holistic rehabilitation program in the Batemans Bay area.
The service will be modeled on one that has operated at Robertson on the Southern Highlands known as Triple Care Farm.
Specialising in treating clients with substance dependence and mental illness, those taking part have their own room and en suite, a ‘home base’ during the individual and group counselling sessions.
Other elements of the experience planned for Batemans Bay incorporate education and training opportunities including accredited literacy and numeracy studies, and areas of interests like forklift and Barista courses, farming and landscape skills, music performance and recording, painting and sculpture.
A weekend sport and recreation program aims to build an ongoing interest in health and fitness through activities like canoeing, hiking, mountain bike riding and surfing. Triple Care Farm also boasts an onsite gym.
Engagement with the young person’s family takes place where appropriate, side by side with building living skills beyond the program including personal care, budgeting, cooking and household maintenance.
Funds to operate the program are raised from a number of sources including the Sir David Martin Foundation, the Commonwealth Department of Health, and through the support of community and corporate partners and individual donors.
“I have seen firsthand and listened to the success stories from young people who have graduated from Triple Care Farm,” says Member for Gilmore, Ann Sudmalis says.
“The development of this facility will offer a place where young people between 16 and 24 can attend the exceptional rehabilitation program that operates at Triple Care Farm, it will help them get their lives back on track.”
Mission Australia is currently seeking a semi-rural property in the Batemans Bay area for the role out of the program. Ideally, the property will be within 25 minutes of a hospital, ideas from the community are welcome.
Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm Program Manager, Gabriella Holmes says, “Mission Australia has long advocated for the need for more youth-specific alcohol and other drug residential rehabilitation and withdrawal services.”
“We welcome the Federal Government’s recognition of this need in Batemans Bay and look forward to working closely in coming months with the local community and government to develop a program to increase young people’s chances of successful recovery from alcohol and drug misuse.
“Adult rehabilitation and withdrawal services are often not appropriate for young people. Vulnerable young people need wrap-around support, tailored to their specific needs, in a comfortable and age-appropriate environment.
“Our focus will be on consulting with the community and developing partnerships in the sector so we can establish the best and most appropriate model for the region,” Ms Holmes says.
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