The Alcohol and Other Drugs (A&OD) Services Team aims to provide information and/or referral to those experiencing A&OD problems or those affected by another person’s A&OD use.

 

 

 

Free and confidential individual A&OD counselling for people experiencing issues related to their alcohol and other drugs use.

 

A&OD Counselling may include:

Free and confidential family counselling to A&OD clients and/or their family members. Parents, partners, siblings or children of the user who may have been impacted by a family member’s use are eligible for this service.

 

 

 

Cobaw Community Health offers a range of services covering A&OD issues to young people between the ages of 12 and 25 years. The A&OD Youth Outreach service can provide services in environments where young people feel comfortable, including at home, in schools or in cafes. Services include counselling, referral to detox/withdrawal, education around harm minimisation, support with family relationships including referral into Family Counselling, housing issues and community links. The team also offers group work opportunities to the community.

 

 

The rural withdrawal service is based at Cobaw Community Health and covers the Macedon Ranges Shire area.

 

A registered nurse, Clinical Nurse Consultant, [CNC], facilitates the program and takes referrals from our counselling staff. Counsellors are the first port of call and make a preliminary assessment to ascertain the need for Detox. Once a need is recognized, the counsellor will ask the CNC to attend a counselling session where the CNC will meet the client and if required,begin the process towards detox/withdrawal. This may be a home based withdrawal with a designated in house support person and the support of the person’s GP, or to arrange admission to a detox unit. There are some restrictions on the home based withdrawal which the nurse can explain at the assessment.  The Rural Withdrawal Service operates on Mon, Tues, and Thurs.

 

 

The Drug Diversion Programs provided by Cobaw are funded by the Commonwealth Government. These programs aim to divert people who have an illicit drug problem and have become involved with the police or the courts away from the criminal justice system.

 

The primary goal of the diversion program is to divert people into drug treatment rather than the courts and/or jail. The range of treatment options varies and we try to match the best possible treatment option with the client. The primary treatment may consist of individual counselling, outreach, assistance with court related matters and referral to other appropriate services. There are a variety of Diversion Programs available to people, some of which require specific entry criteria. We will be happy to answer any enquiries about these programs. Referral to the Drug Diversion Program is made directly by the police, courts or solicitors.

 

 

 

Solicitors or Clients who have an upcoming Court appearance may contact the A&OD service at Cobaw to request a Pre Sentence Assessment.  The normal channels of referral apply. See below.

 

 

 

All A&OD referrals go through our Service Access team.

 

A duty worker from the Service Access team can be contacted by calling 03 5421 1666five days a week between 9.30am and 12.00pm, or by dropping in at our Main office at 47 High Street, Kyneton.  

 

If the Service Access team is not available at the time of your contact, leave a message and you will be contacted as soon as possible. Our aim is to contact within 24 hours after your call.