New Townsville centre to meet increasing demand for recovery services
New Townsville centre to meet increasing demand for recovery services
7 October 2017
The Salvation Army Recovery Services Centre in Townsville will open a new purpose-built facility this Saturday, 7 October.
The Salvation Army Recovery Services Centre in Townsville, which has served the people of North Queensland for almost 45 years, will open a new purpose-built facility on Saturday 7 October.
“This facility will be a centre of excellence for drug, alcohol and gambling services ,” said Gerard Byrne, Operations Manager, Recovery Services. “It will expand our existing capacity to provide residential and non-residential services to men and women, and to youth and those that support them, we will also be providing withdrawal management support. We hope to further expand our withdrawal management support services in the future.
“This new facility is the result of the coming together of The Salvation Army, the local community, the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, Queensland Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health.
“The Queensland Government, through Queensland Health, has provided operational funding and, together with local donors and The Salvation Army, contributed to the building costs.”
The state-of-the-art facility has capacity for 54 adult beds. The eight-bed residential youth program will cater for young people aged 16 and over, once funding has been secured for this service.
The accommodation offers four-bedroom houses, with a kitchenette and two bathrooms. There’s also common areas, a pool and a training centre.
A Salvation Army Youth Outreach Service will also operate from the facility, catering for surrounding areas such as Ayr, Charters Towers, Ingham and Palm Island.
A visiting medical officer, registered nurses, AOD case workers and a support worker will provide an integrated service for people seeking assistance.
“We are currently ready for 33 beds, and will expand that as further funding is made available,” said Major David Twivey, Recovery Support Officer North Queensland (Townsville, Mt Isa and Normanton), who was tasked with bringing this long-term project to fruition.
“We are expecting people to come from all over Queensland and even as far south as Melbourne. Many people are looking for a place in recovery, and want a new start, so will come here.
“We will be catering for people far beyond Townsville. We are very grateful to those who had a dream and a vision for this centre and all those who have worked long and hard to bring it to reality, especially the local community.”
Comments
No comments yet - be the first.