The Aboriginal medical service behind a proposed drug and alcohol rehab in Kempsey says the facility would increase community safety, provide jobs and keep vulnerable people out of prison.
“Our jails are full of Aboriginal men, despite us being two to three percent of the population,” Paul Morris, CEO of the Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service, told the Mid North Coaster.
“Inside jails, we're over 30 percent of the population, and a lot of those crimes are drug and alcohol related.”
The background: Kempsey Shire has been without an Aboriginal-led residential rehabilitation facility since the closure of Benelong’s Haven at Kinchela more than a decade ago.
The closest similar facilities in each direction are at Lismore, Moree, and the Central Coast.
Local solution: To address this gap, Durri has developed a proposal for a “healing centre”, featuring a 10-bed men’s residential rehab facility.
It would offer drug and alcohol treatment, mental health support, cultural programs, education and training, vocational pathways and structured aftercare.
“It’s going to be a life-changing centre that's going to give people the skills and experience to make them productive members of society,” Morris said.
The money: Durri estimates the facility would cost around $7 million to construct.
Morris claims the facility would create an additional 15 permanent jobs, and more during construction.
Whole of community: While the residential facility will cater only to men, the centre’s programs will engage women, families and youth too.
In the future, Morris hopes the facility can offer residential rehabilitation for women and family groups.
Locally targeted: While not exclusively for Indigenous people, Morris said the centre would "prioritise Aboriginal people from the local area”.
“However, if someone comes there and they're looking for help, we want to be able to be in the position to help everyone,” Morris said.
“Kempsey is the sixth most disadvantaged LGA in NSW, and the cohort we're looking to address is probably the most disadvantaged group within that.”
Location, location: No site has been officially proposed, but Morris said it should be “semi-isolated” and away from shopping centres, pubs and clubs.
“Ideally, just on the outskirts of town, next to water, somewhere open where we could have activities,” he said.
Funding pursuit: Durri staff travelled to Sydney earlier this month to pitch the proposal to relevant state ministers, joined by Oxley MP Michael Kemp and representatives of the Mid North Coast Local Health District.
MP’s support: Kemp backed the proposal in NSW parliament in June and said the concept is “fundamentally about giving people in Kempsey another pathway”.
“We can keep talking about the problems in Kempsey, or we can start investing in practical solutions,” he said.
“If we can give someone the support they need before they end up in prison, or help them stay on the right path when they come out, that is a good outcome for them, for their family and for the whole community.”