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March 24, 2022
Today Senator Zed Seselja launched the expansion of Karralika Programs Withdrawal Support Service which is supporting more Canberrans in the comfort of their own home to safely reduce their use of alcohol or other drugs.
Capital Health Network (CHN) CEO Megan Cahill said a need had been identified for a home-based withdrawal option to support people who could safely withdraw from substances at home, instead of in hospital, prior to admission to a residential rehabilitation, day program or alcohol or other drug (AOD) counselling service.
“Four years ago, we joined with ACT Health to fund Karralika Programs to pilot a home-based withdrawal program in the ACT delivered by a Registered Nurse. We saw the success of this program with 77% of participants improving their health and wellbeing by significantly reducing or ceasing substance use. Twenty nine participants successfully completed the pilot program at home, instead of in hospital, and were then admitted to one of Canberra’s residential rehabilitation programs to progress their treatment,” said Ms Cahill, CHN CEO.
Senator Zed Seselja said based on the success of the pilot, the Australian Government is delivering $2.9 million to support the expansion of the program.
“Our Government is committed to improving alcohol and other drug services across Australia, including right here in the ACT. To do so, we have invested considerable funding to improve services now and into the future. The expansion of this valuable program means that four Registered Nurses with AOD experience are now supporting participants to safely withdraw from or reduce their substance use at home,” said Senator Seselja.
Karralika Programs CEO Sharon Tuffin said 126 participants have been supported to withdraw or reduce substance use since the commencement of the program.
“Not only are our wonderful Registered Nurses providing such valuable care, our program is also supporting people through coordinated treatment planning, supported referrals to other service providers including GPs, education sessions and linkages to ongoing treatment or after care. We have received positive feedback from participants and service providers that this model of care is working,” said Sharon Tuffin, Karralika Programs CEO.
CHN has commissioned Karralika Programs to deliver the program, supported by $2.9 million funding over four years from the ACT PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program.