The ACT Government has refurbished Karralika Therapeutic Community, a specialist alcohol and drug treatment service in Fadden, to provide modern, residential facilities for adults in alcohol and other drug rehabilitation.
The $1.3 million refurbishment upgrades the kitchen, lounge, art room, outdoor facilities, and bedrooms. The upgrades began in late March, and were completed in September.
“We are excited to have these refurbishments completed,” Karralika Programs CEO, Sharon Tuffin, said, “and we thank the ACT Government for investing in the upgrades and for recognising the importance of providing a safe and welcoming physical space alongside the therapeutically safe space that our staff and residents create for healing and recovery.”
Karralika Programs provides residential alcohol and other drugs recovery programs for adults and their family, Day Programs, non-residential withdrawal support, counselling and transition, and aftercare support.
Formerly known as the Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADFACT), it has operated in the ACT for 45 years. It was set up in 1976 by a group of community members who felt there was a paucity of drug and alcohol treatment services in the ACT. The Fadden facility, opened in 1978, was originally the homestead for a cattle property; the family gave it to the ACT Government on the proviso that it deliver drug and alcohol treatment programs.
The Karralika Therapeutic Community supports single adults and couples. The site includes accommodation, shared and common living areas, a communal activities space, grassed areas, vegetable gardens, and administrative offices.
Health minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Karralika Therapeutic Community provides a vital service to Canberrans experiencing harm from alcohol and other drugs.
“We want to ensure Canberrans seeking to address a drug or alcohol dependency have access to modern, residential facilities that best support the care they receive throughout their treatment journey,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Karralika Programs provides education, counselling, and support through their adult and family programs and the other services they deliver.
“These much-needed renovations will provide a positive and welcoming space to enhance residents’ healing and recovery, while also ensuring Karralika Programs can continue to support our growing community.”
Each year, the ACT Government invests more than $26 million in treatment for alcohol and other drugs. In the last financial year, more than $12.9 million of this funding was allocated to the non-government sector, including Karralika Programs, the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy, CatholicCare, Ted Noffs, Toora Women and the Salvation Army.
Last year, the government funded the Karralika Family Program Therapeutic Healing Garden: a new back garden, a bike track, play equipment, a sandpit, a hand-ball court, and a barbeque area.
“The ACT Government will continue working with NGOs and our community health providers to deliver evidence-based and practice informed policy that leads to better outcomes for individuals, their families, and the broader community,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The upgrades are funded through the Commonwealth Government’s Community Health and Hospitals Program.
