May 27, 2019
Artist drawing of Lives Lived Well’s planned residential recovery service – “Wunya”
Progress has been made on developing a 20-bed alcohol and drug residential service in Caboolture, scheduled to open in December 2019.
This project has come about after the Commonwealth Government announced in June 2018 that Lives Lived Well would receive $11 million in funding for increased support services in the region.
We had seen this need for support firsthand with our other Caboolture services (withdrawal, case management and counselling) receiving referrals four times higher than expected in their first year of delivery.
The residential service, to be named “Wunya” which means “welcome” in the language of the traditional custodians of the area, will be a place of support where people can come and undertake a six-week structured, research-informed program to be free from the harms of drugs and alcohol.
The program will be based on the same clinical treatment that we deliver at our long-standing Mirikai (Gold Coast) and Logan House services. People participating in the program will be engaged in educational group sessions and therapies, be able to learn life and wellbeing skills and will be able to set their own treatment goals.
Lives Lived Well has a strict policy around no drug or alcohol use while participants are in our program. It includes a supported no-smoking policy. The centre will be staffed 24 hours/seven days a week.
The new residential recovery centre will be located at 55-57 Lower King St, Caboolture.
From June to November, 2019, there will be construction activities on these sites, involving alterations and additions to one of the buildings (which was previously used as a backpackers) and demolition of the other, making way for the building of a carpark.
Our builders will do their best to minimise noise and disruption during this time.
Once operational, we expect that impact on the area’s amenity in terms of noise, traffic or car parking should be less than what was experienced during the building’s previous use as a backpackers.
If you are a nearby resident and have issues with construction noise or have questions about this new service, please email info@liveslivedwell.org.au
For all media enquiries contact:
Michelle Saftich – Marketing & Media Officer
e michelle.saftich@liveslivedwell.org.au or marketing@liveslivedwell.org.au
Apr 2, 2019
Opening our new home at 65-81 Brisbane Street (from left) Lives Lived Well CEO, Mitchell Giles and Brisbane South AOD Team Leader, Ronelle Waring were joined by the Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz MP and the Queensland State Member for Scenic Rim, John Krause MP.
Aiming to deliver group programs including Smart Recovery and Breakthrough for Families information sessions, our Beaudesert team had outgrown its previous location at Illoura Carinity Care.
The new, centrally located office at Shop 10, 65-81 Brisbane Street was opened with an official event on 30 January. Lives Lived Well CEO, Mitchell Giles spoke at the opening alongside Federal Member Scott Buchholz MP, State Member Jon Krause MP and Brisbane South PHN’s General Manager of Commissioned Programs, Lucille Chalmers.
Lucille told the gathering that Beaudesert was one of the priority areas for alcohol and drug support as identified in the Brisbane South PHN’s 2018 Needs Assessment, so she was pleased to be able to support an extension of services in the region.
In the last financial year, Lives Lived Well supported 80 people through our Beaudesert service. Of those supported, most named methamphetamine (ICE) (42%) or alcohol (40%) as their primary drug of concern.
Our Brisbane South AOD Team Leader, Ronelle Waring, said the move to premises in the main street had already had a dramatic impact on the number of people the team was supporting.
“We have seen a 300 per cent increase in referrals, and many of these are self-referrals, which is fantastic,” she said.
Apr 2, 2019
Our Orange-based withdrawal and residential rehab services are under the name of Wyla – the Aboriginal name given to the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo local to the area.
These services (previously known as Lyndon Withdrawal and Wattlegrove) have always worked closely with each other. Being co-located will mean an even smoother transition for those completing withdrawal and then moving into our residential rehabilitation program.
We provide live-in withdrawal in a safe and supportive environment which includes educational and group activities. After an average length of stay of seven days, clients can then move into the recovery program for a live -in three-month drug and alcohol program for people aged 18 and over.
For more information about Wyla please call us on 1300 596 366.
Apr 2, 2019
Committed to partnership: Lives Lived Well CEO, Mitchell Giles and Bila Muuji CEO, Phil Naden.
Lives Lived Well has teamed up with Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Service to build capacity and professional development among regional health service providers through the Lives Lived Well Drug and Alcohol Network (previously the Murdi Paaki Drug and Alcohol Network).
The partnership was announced in Dubbo on 28 February, with CEOs of both organisations – Mitchell Giles and Phil Naden – signing a commitment to partnership to address health inequality in local communities.
Bila Muuji works with its members, including a large number of medical services across the region, to support the provision of improved services, addressing not just physical needs, but social, emotional and cultural well-being as well, for individuals and communities.
As a specialist alcohol and drug support organisation, we’ll bring our expertise to western NSW, by working to build capacity and professional development among regional health service providers.
Through the partnership both organisations will be stronger in their shared commitments, and are looking forward to realising genuine improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
1300 727 957
