VICTORIAN Treasurer Tim Pallas has been urged to consider the need for better drug and alcohol rehabilitation services in Mildura in the 2021-22 State Budget.
State Parliament was told this week not enough had been done to assist people in Mildura recovering from drug and alcohol addiction despite the urgent need for a dedicated, culturally appropriate rehabilitation service in the city.
Upper House MP Fiona Patten said people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction required dedicated specialist services and, while significant investments in rehabilitation services had been made in recent years, not enough had been done to address the specific needs of patients in Mildura.
Ms Patten said Mildura had the second-highest Aboriginal population in Victoria, a high percentage of low-income households and patients with a reduced chance of full recovery due to receiving treatment away from home.
She said Mildura had a below-average general practitioner attendance, the highest rate of family violence incidents in Victoria and higher-than-average registered drug and alcohol patients, cases of emergency department presentations and death rate from preventable causes.
“Multiple government reports, the Member for Mildura, Ms Ali Cupper MP, and regional health experts have repeatedly highlighted the urgent need for a dedicated, culturally appropriate drug and alcohol rehabilitation service in Mildura,” Ms Patten said.
She called for an immediate needs assessment and funding for all stages of the establishment of, and ongoing operation for, a 12-bed alcohol and drug rehabilitation service in Mildura, in partnership with specialist providers and local area health services in the upcoming State Budget.
