Koori Healing Service

The Koori Youth Alcohol and Drugs Healing Service (KYA&DHS) is an interim six-bed, statewide residential youth rehabilitation service for young Koori people. It is based in Bittern on the Mornington Peninsula and is the first service of its kind in Australia.

A permanent 14 bed facility will be established on the Mornington Peninsula by 2010.

KYA&DHS is available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people throughout Victoria irrespective of their individual cultural practices, spiritual beliefs and geographic region.

KYA&DHS aims to give residents tools for lasting change. The program focuses on culturally relevant core interventions that support and respect the values of the Koori community, building on its strengths to provide healing. KYA&DHS adopts a harm minimisation approach that includes relapse prevention, primary health assessment and care, supported behaviour change, art, traditional healing, and the fostering of family and community connections.

YSAS has partnered with Ngwala Willumbong Co-operative Ltd to develop KYA&DHS. Ngwala has more than 30 years’ experience in specialist alcohol and drug rehabilitation and outreach support.

Referrals to KYA&DHS can be made:

• by individual young people or family members
• through YSAS Community Programs
• through community alcohol and other drug services, GPs, primary and mental health services, youth justice and homelessness services.

View Koori Youth Alcohol and Drugs Healing Service (KYA&DHS)