During a Parliamentary debate last week on the Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill, Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes highlighted the need for better preventative treatment and supportive measures for people with severe substance dependency in country Victoria.
Dr Sykes said one of the biggest issues facing country Victorians is access to support, facilities and other specialist treatment.
“It is important to have appropriate facilities in country Victoria, such as Odyssey House at Benalla,” Dr Sykes said.
“Country Victorians can feel more comfortable going to an establishment in the country; it is critical that we have facilities such as Odyssey House available in the country for country people.
“You need the physical presence of the facility but you also need access to these sorts of facilities and other specialist treatment, and that is where we have a problem with country people being able to access facilities.”
Dr Sykes also raised the issue of the Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme (VPTAS).
“I am talking about the need for the VPTAS to be overhauled so that people in need of these sorts of supports and other medical specialists can access that support, as people living in metropolitan Melbourne do as a right.
“I am talking about the current draconian VPTAS eligibility criteria where people have to live at least 100 kilometres from specialist support before they receive a travel subsidy.”
Dr Sykes also raised the issue that prevention is better than cure and of the importance to have in place services which can support people so that they don’t go down the road of substance abuse and dependence.
“I am talking about the need to support people taken to the edge of their physical and emotional capabilities as a result of drought and natural disasters such as bushfires.
“That is why we have outreach workers such as Ivan Lister, who has now been working in the Benalla area for six of seven years, providing an outstanding service and winning the confidence of people who have dropped their bundle.
“The problem is that services such as these are subject to drip feed funding. The Government needs to ensure that, in relation to the Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill, that other parts of the jigsaw puzzle are in place and that it includes adequate funding for people such as Ivan Lister.
“The Government needs to look at some of the issues that have been raised in relation to the bill, particularly in terms of application. And by that I mean that the regulations and the detail reflect adequately the intention of the legislation.
“We also need to have in place an appropriate number of facilities, subsidies so that people are able to afford to access services and that prevention needs, such as that provided by Outreach Workers, are funded.”
Dr Sykes continued, “The discussion on ABC Country Hour on 17 March, 2010 highlighted the link between drought, water woes, government policy and depression, alcohol and substance abuse and suicide.
“I will continue to lobby the Brumby Government at every opportunity until these issues are adequately addressed.”
Media contact: Bill Sykes 03 5762 2100
