Traditional culture used as weapon against addiction

SBS World News Radio: Aboriginal men from South Australia are embracing traditional culture as a way to combat drug and alcohol addiction.But Aboriginal women don't yet have this opportunity.

Traditional culture used as weapon against addictionTraditional culture used as weapon against addiction

Traditional culture used as weapon against addiction

Aboriginal men from South Australia are embracing traditional culture as a way to combat drug and alcohol addiction.

But Aboriginal women don't yet have this opportunity.

A new rehabilitation centre has been built and is ready for business, but a lack of funding means it's standing empty.

Lakalinjeri Tumbetin Waal is a place of healing with a difference.

It sits on gently rolling former farmlands about an hour's drive east of Adelaide.

It's a rehabilitation centre for men battling drug and alcohol addiction.

As Chair of the organisation, Gary Paynter, explains, it's run by Aboriginal men, predominantly for Aboriginal men.

"One of the things I've noticed is that we get a lot of non-Aboriginals asking to come here, because we have a good success rate. We use culture, we have talking circles, smoking ceremonies, and all the other things that are culturally important."

Today, five residents are taking part in a smoking ceremony.

As the smoke from a piece of lit bark curls around them, it allows time for reflection.

"Every day I'm waking up, getting better and better. Enjoying everyone's company here. Enjoy the way I get treated. Best choice I've ever made, coming here. For my kids and my family, and myself."

In more than 20 years of operation, staff say they've seen a cultural approach to recovery help countless clients.

Some employees, like Ngarrindjeri man Henry Rankine, are also role models for battling addiction.

"If people can see me from 15 years ago, what type of person I was then, to how I've progressed through my life and the stages and that, I think it benefits clients to see that there is hope."

Though this centre is for men only, the Aboriginal Sobriety Group believes there's a clear need for a similar facility for women.

Women referred to the group from around the country are currently placed in mainstream centres.

Case Worker Lil Milera believes a cultural model would have a much higher success rate.

"I think it's about connection. Aboriginal culture is about connection. And connection for aboriginal women means to be more comfortable in that environment. With comfortability comes outcomes."

The ASG hopes to turn an unused building on the same property as the men's centre into a dedicated women's facility.

Despite having the building and the experience to run such a facility, it has been a difficult project to bring to life.

Last year, Adelaide-based not-for-profit Big Sunday helped secure a state government grant, and rallied volunteers to prepare the building for business.

Director of Big Sunday, Joshua Brett explains.

"The Aboriginal Sobriety Group has had a dream for a facility like this for ten years, and were never successfully able to find that funding for it. And in their communication with us, they expressed that in order to get the funding for the program, they needed to have the facility ready to go. And so, it was a bit of a catch 22."

When it opens, the House for Hope will be the only one of its kind in South Australia, and one of just a handful across the country.

But it needs the security of further funding to be able to open its doors.

The group is hoping to secure federal government funding to meet the need.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, told SBS in a statement: "The Australian Government supports many programs and providers that deliver culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people."

Joshua Brett is optimistic the funding will come through -- but says even if it doesn't, the project needs to go ahead.

"We will help wherever we can to see it get done, as I said, whether that's government or whether that's through private funding."

 






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