The Glen for Women, a rehabilitation centre run by Aboriginal women for Aboriginal women, was officially opened on Wednesday, August 30, by Federal member for Dobell Emma McBride.
Set in a picturesque Wyong Creek acreage, the centre provides a minimum 12-week residential program in a culturally safe and supportive environment and is the first Aboriginal community-controlled women’s rehabilitation centre in NSW.
The 20-bed centre offers holistic addiction treatment for Indigenous women to help them recover from addiction and build practical life skills.
The program includes group counselling, purposeful life skills, sports, cooking, personal training, parenting programs, Alcoholic Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings, community work and education.
“The Glen for Women is doing fantastic work and helping to turn around the lives of First Nations women struggling with drug and alcohol use in the Central Coast community and beyond,” McBride said.
“The facility is an important addition to the number of beds available for women in residential rehabilitation centres and is one of the few which offer culturally safe support for First Nations women.”
The Glen for Women program manager Natalie Purchase said the official opening was an “amazing day”.
“It was a beautiful day with a lot of community representatives coming out to support us,” she said.
Aunty Bronwyn Chambers performed the Welcome to Country while Aunty Leanne King led the smoking ceremony.
The Glen for Women was a 20-year-dream come true for the group of Indigenous women, all whose lives had been affected by addiction issues, including Coral Hennessey (whose late brother Cyril established the Glen for Men), Cheryl Baily, Gail Savage and the late Jan McKinnon.
Both Hennessy and Baily were at the official opening as were family members.
The event also attracted local dignitaries including local government representatives, Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch and Member for Swansea and Police Minister Yasmin Catley, as well as representatives from a number of community services and local Aboriginal health services.
The centre opened its doors to the first client 15 months ago and currently has 15 women in the residential program.
In that time, 84 women have been treated – 76 per cent of those Indigenous – achieving a very high success rate.
“They have been able to return home healthy to their families and communities,” Purchase said.
“We are doing really well.
“The community has been very supportive; we have a lot to look forward to.”
The Australian Government has continued an ongoing partnership with the Glen for Women with a $3.5M investment to support priorities under the National Drug Strategy.
“The amazing work of Glen for Women will go a long way in making a positive difference to the lives of women in the Central Coast region, their families and the wider community,” assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians and Indigenous Health Malandirri McCarthy said.
Denice Barnes