New sobering-up service in Carnarvon

• New dual-purpose centre to provide community alcohol and drug service by day and sobering-up service overnight

• Facility will be first of its kind in WA

• Carnarvon Family Support Services to manage Carnarvon sobering-up service

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton has today announced that a local service provider has won a State Government contract to manage an overnight sobering-up service that will be part of the new Carnarvon dual-purpose Alcohol and Drug Centre.

The dual-purpose centre, which is nearing completion on the Carnarvon Health Campus, is the first of its kind in Western Australia.  It will serve as the Carnarvon base for the Midwest Community Alcohol and Drug Service during the day, and a 10-bed sobering-up service for intoxicated people overnight.

"I'm very pleased to announce today that the contract for the sober-up service has been won by local provider Carnarvon Family Support Services," Mrs Morton said.

"This is a great outcome for the Carnarvon community and a win for a local provider already doing good work in Carnarvon running the local women's refuge.

"Over coming months, Carnarvon Family Support Services will be getting ready to open the centre which they expect to open in September by recruiting and training staff.  After construction is completed in August, work will also start on fitting out the new building with beds, furniture and other materials needed for the service."

Carnarvon Family Support Services was engaged to manage the overnight sobering-up service through an open tender process.

The day-time operation of the Midwest Community Alcohol and Drug Service will be provided by the WA Country Health Service, which will also move into the centre alongside Carnarvon Family Support Services once the building is ready for occupation.

        Fact File

• The Carnarvon sobering-up service will bring the total number of sobering-up services in WA to 10. Sobering-up services provide safe, supervised overnight care to intoxicated people and free-up police and hospital resources

• The latest data shows the rate of all alcohol-related hospitalisations in the Mid-West was significantly higher (1.31 times) than the corresponding State rate

• The Department for Child Protection and Family Support provided funding of $1.05million to Carnarvon Family Support Services for the operations of Gascoyne Women's Refuge, Carnarvon Sexual Assault Response Service, Public Tenancy Support Service Murchison and the Carnarvon Financial Counselling Service

Minister's office - 6552 6900