When Alison Miles attended the new Glen for Women drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre on the New South Wales Central Coast it was her seventh attempt at getting clean.
The Kamilaroi woman, who is turning 39 this year, has been addicted to ice since she was 15 years old.
She is one of dozens of women to have successfully come through the rehab program during its first year of operation.
“This place loves you back to life,” she said.
“It’s the best rehab I’ve ever been to and I’ve been to a few.”
The Indigenous community-controlled centre is designed off the Glen for Men program, which has been helping men overcome all kinds of addiction for nearly 30 years.
The program has been adapted based on a culturally safe model of care, aiming to reconnect clients with their Indigenous culture during their recovery journey.
Ms Miles has completed the program and is now living independently for the first time since she was in her early 20s.
“I feel happy again. I feel like a part of me is back, like I’m Ali and I am alive again,” Ms Miles said.
“I’ve learned that I can do this, that I’m capable and I have a purpose.”
The centre celebrates its one-year anniversary today.
Fifty-seven women have been through the program since it opened last year. Of those women, 21 completed the program at the 12-week mark, 18 asked for an extension and eight returned.
Reconnecting to culture
Many of the women were not connected to their Indigenous cultural identity before coming to the centre, but former client and Wiradjuri woman Angela Keanelly said that has now changed.
“Just to connect with how I am was amazing for me and my soul,” she said.
“I’m really eager to find out a lot more about my culture and to trace down my ancestors.”
The 20-bed facility accepts clients from all over Australia and the standard 12-week program is driven by the women.
Each day their busy schedules can be filled with life skill workshops, counselling and drug and alcohol meetings but what sets the centre apart is how it integrates Indigenous culture.
During their stay, the women might learn how to weave, dance or paint.
They also have yarning circles, go on early morning swims and engage with the broader community.
“I hadn’t done an Aboriginal dot painting until I came here,” Ms Keanelly said.
“Now, I’m on like number four painting.”
Ms Keanelly grew up disconnected from her culture.
Her mother was part of the Stolen Generations and she says she was in the “silent generation.”
“I felt like I didn’t know who I really was,” she said.
“And then I have four children. So, I couldn’t pass any of the knowledge down to them because my mum never spoke about it.”
The 60-year-old is now working at the centre, making her the first ex-client employee, which she is “quite proud of.”
‘Sets the standards’
The centre is set on a 4.45-hectare property surrounded by picturesque rural properties and the sounds of bellbirds.
Chief Operating Officer Kylie Cassidy said the first year has been a success.
“We’ve got women out there that have got their 12 months sober now and reunited with their children and got their own homes or cars,” she said.
“All of those kinds of successful things that we take for granted.”
Chief executive of the NSW Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (NADA) Robert Stirling said the program “absolutely sets the standards.”
“We’re really fortunate in New South Wales to have a number of specialist women’s services but we’ve never had one that was specifically for Aboriginal women,” he said.
“So, that’s what makes the Glen unique.”
Ms Cassidy wants to expand the program to offer transitional housing, which is already in place at the Glen for Men.
“We know that 12 weeks isn’t often enough,” she said.
“That transitional style of care can really help someone prepare for getting back out into the real world so to speak.”
In 2019, the organisation received $9 million from the previous federal government to set up and start operating.
That funding dries up in June.
Ms Cassidy said the program needs $1.7 million to continue operating for another year.
The organisation will find out whether it will receive that funding when the federal budget is delivered tonight.
Local MP and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health Emma McBride said the government was committed to delivering longer-term funding but would not give specific details.
“We’re determined as a government to provide more certainty and more stability,” she said.
“We know that particularly with community-run and community-led organisations, that more certainty means that they can recruit and retain staff … and continue to provide the services that our community needs.”