Southern Aboriginal Corporation continues push for residential alcohol and drug rehab in Great Southern

A long-running campaign to establish a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in the Great Southern has been met with enthusiasm but no promises from Roger Cook who told reporters last week there was a “shortage of people to staff them”. In Albany on Wednesday to announce funding for Albany Motorsport Park, the Premier said the State Government was “very keen” to fund a residential rehab centre for drugs and alcohol in the Great Southern — a service that operates in every other region in the State. Mr Cook said he had “looked into” the idea when he held the health portfolio, but that it was held up by a lack of local expertise. “I certainly have aspirations to do those sorts of services in the Albany region,” he said. “There’s no shortage of opportunities to fund these things but there is a shortage of people who can staff them, people who have the expertise to be able to run these services in a sustainable manner.” Principal petitioner, Southern Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Asha Bhat disagrees, having partnered with experienced AOD service Cyrenian House to lobby for a facility since 2016, putting forward a revised proposal as recently as November this year. In her latest change.org petition launched on October 25, Ms Bhat urges the Government to establish a local facility residents can attend in lieu of uprooting for treatment at the nearest centre in Nannup, more than 300km away. Ms Bhat said this renewed call for action was sparked to reignite public awareness of the campaign and amplify pressure on the State Government as the 2025 expected delivery date outlined by the WA Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Service Plan 2015-2025 approaches. She said the Government could “no longer delay” establishing a facility for the region, having undertaken “extensive” community consultation to determine the absence of a residential AOD facility as the region’s “most critical gap”. “The community has spoken loud and clear — this rehabilitation centre is not just needed, it’s demanded,” she said. “Since 2016, we have carried this mandate forward, consistently working to ensure the voices of those most impacted are heard. “This is not just a health crisis — it’s a social and economic one too. “Funding this centre will save lives, reduce pressure on emergency services, and create healthier, safer communities.” SAC first submitted a business case for the GSDARC in 2018 and has continued to refine it over the years, with the most recent proposal from November detailing a facility offering 22 residential rehabilitation beds, four low-medical withdrawal beds, and family cottages to support mothers with young children. Albany suffered the most unintentional drug-induced deaths of every WA region according to research from the Penington Institute, reporting 29 fatalities from 2018 to 2022. The recent change.org petition currently has 240 signatures, and Ms Bhat says signatures from a physical petition brought supporter numbers “into the thousands”. “The GSDARC is more than a facility — it’s a beacon of hope for the Great Southern region,” she said. “As an Aboriginal organisation, we bring a deep understanding of the cultural, social and historical factors that contribute to AOD challenges, and we are uniquely equipped to deliver culturally informed, trauma-integrated healing. “With nearly a decade of groundwork, strong community backing, and a clear implementation plan, we are ready to deliver this transformative service. “We need the State Government to join us in making it a reality.” Cyrenian House chief executive Carol Daws said her organisation was enthusiastic to partner with SAC on the project. “Generally speaking, for people struggling with drug and alcohol dependency, it’s far better for them to be close to home and their support networks,” she said. “AOD is a specialist kind of work and as a larger organisation with a long history of delivering such a service, we see it as part of our role to support them in their mission to deliver sustainable services.”