TASMANIA’S only long-term residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation has warned it will have to reduce its services without a funding commitment from the state or federal government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
City Mission rehab centre Missiondale does not have public funding beyond 20 per cent of its operating costs in the next financial year.
Chief executive Stephen Brown said that without government backing its beds would reduce from 24 to 12.
The centre had hoped to increase capacity to deal with growing waiting lists.
City Mission estimates Missiondale saves the public health system $1.5 million each year by keeping its clients out of hospital.
“We receive approximately $200,000 at the moment but it costs $1.1 million to run the facility,” Mr Brown said.
“We were provided with some federal funding last year, a one-off grant, and that got us through last year and now we’re into the new financial year and we’re seeking an ongoing commitment to the place.”
Missiondale’s waiting list fluctuates between 35 and 45 and the service is dealing with increasing numbers of people addicted to methamphetamine.
However, the charity has been told it is ineligible for the recently-announced ice funding as the money will not be used for residential services.
“We’d like to receive an additional $500,000 so we have at least 70 per cent supported for. We’re an organisation that has traditionally supported this work in the community, we’ll continue to do that, but we need further assistance,” Mr Brown said.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government recognised the importance of residential rehabilitation services as demonstrated by the opening of 12 new state-funded beds at Ulverstone earlier this year.
He said the Department of Health and Human Services was developing a Tasmanian Residential Rehabilitation Framework to guide future investment in the area.
“The Tasmanian government has and will continue to provide funding to Launceston City Mission for these services,” Mr Ferguson said.
The federal government will comment on Monday.