A rehabilitation centre for Aboriginal women, run by Aboriginal women, will open its doors in April following a $9M investment by the Federal Government.
The Glen for Women is a sister clinic to The Glen which has provided rehabilitation services for men on the Central Coast since 1994.
The new facility cost $6.5M to build, while initial operations costs have totalled $2.5m.
Providing drug and alcohol rehabilitation services for vulnerable women is the main purpose of The Glen for Women, however, it is pioneering a model of care that addresses physical, mental, cultural and spiritual needs.
The facility’s goal is to empower residents to acknowledge their issues and any underlying traumas to then return to their families and the community as active and positive members.
The Glen for Women will provide culturally-specific services so that women can find refuge, and drug and alcohol related support in up to 90-day programs.
The Glen Chairperson, Coral Hennesy, said she was proud to be part of a team launching what was a first of its kind service.
“The Glen for Women is going to be the first service of its kind in Australia doing rehabilitation and recovery which will focus on culture and community,” she said.
Joe Coyte, The Glen Executive Director, said he was pleased the team could offer everyone that same level of help.
“We are so excited that we will be able to help women in the same way we have been helping men for over 20 years,” he said.
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said it was exciting to see the facility come together.
“I have visited the Glen many times and I am absolutely confident that a holistic service specifically for women will deliver the same successful outcomes as achieved currently by the male service,” she said.
Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ken Wyatt, said The Glen had provided rehabilitative services successfully since 1994.
“This facility already serves an essential role for men in our community and the new services for women will fill a gap in rehabilitative services in NSW.
Ken Wyatt MP
“Our families have desperately needed this and I’m glad to see our commitment about to be delivered,” he said.
The new facility includes 20 beds, recreation facilities, a large kitchen, multipurpose rooms and clinical rooms.
As an organisation, The Glen works closely with the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Residential Rehabilitation Network (ADARRN) and National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) to share practices and provide training to clinical staff.
Nicola Riches
This is amazing I am so excited to see it running successfully just like the men’s program. Your program is saving many lives and we as a community are so appreciative of all the hard work all staff put into making this program a success. Could I ask when can women make referrals to the program, I am aware that beds will fill very quickly once opened.
Thank you to all staff for the amazing work you do for our people, much appreciated.