Victoria AOD Services
In the state of Victoria, admission to all government funded alcohol and other drug treatment services, including those run by The Salvation Army, is managed by a centralised intake system. To access this system please call DirectLine on 1800 888 236.
Alternatively, use the Service Finder on DirectLine’s website.
Access Health (St Kilda)
Access Health is located on Bunurong lands at 29-31 Grey Street, St Kilda. It is a specialised Comprehensive Primary Health Care Service that supports the health and other needs of people who use drugs. The service also provides support to people who may be experiencing homelessness, engage in street-based sex work and/or are experiencing difficulties managing their general health, mental health and chronic diseases.
Services provided include access to GPs, psychologists, pharmacotherapy prescribing, peer education, naloxone program, sexual health services, hepatitis C testing and treatment, and a 24/7 needle and syringe program. All services are confidential, non-judgemental, flexible, free and provided on a ‘drop-in’ basis.
The St Kilda 24/7 Needle and Syringe Program is a free, confidential, anonymous and non-judgemental service staffed by a harm reduction worker 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
For enquiries, please call:
Telephone: 03 9536 7780
or drop into 29-31 Grey St, St Kilda, Vic. 3182.
Aurora (Eastern metropolitan region)
Aurora is a supported accommodation service for those identifying as female, with or without accompanying children. It provides support for those experiencing housing and alcohol and other drug issues.
We work to empower women, reduce the drug-related harm they are suffering and help them achieve a stable, healthy life for themselves and their children.
Barwon AOD and Mental Health Services
Barwon AOD and Mental Health Services are located on Wadawurrung lands at 91-95 Goldsworthy Road, Corio. It provides the following services:
Geelong Withdrawal Unit
A 12-bed, community based, medically assisted residential drug and alcohol withdrawal program.
Stage 1: a six-to-10-night stay
Stage 2: an extended stay of a further approximately six nights (if beds available)
For admission enquiries, please call our Clinical Intake Worker on 0427 299 677.
Non-residential services
Assessments: provides a comprehensive screening process that enables the provision for drug and alcohol treatment referrals to be made according to the person’s individual needs and services available.
For enquiries, please call 0417 371 924 or 0419 893 675.
Aftercare program: provides outreach support, intensive case management and counselling to individuals and families who are experiencing the impacts of harm associated with alcohol and/or other drugs.
For enquires, please call 0429 130 214.
Counselling: individual counselling provides the opportunity to clarify issues of concern, develop strategies for relapse prevention and to reduce the harms associated with alcohol and/or other drug use and explore options for positive change.
Care and recovery coordination: offers assistance in accessing appropriate treatment options, continuity of care and bridging support while participants wait for treatment or services to be available.
Bridgelink program: provides intensive case management support to those identifying as female (with or without accompanying children) who are experiencing alcohol and/or other drug issues and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
For enquiries, please call 0407 508 185.
Mental health
Accommodation and Psychosocial Support (AAPS) Program: the focus of this program is to provide short-term supported accommodation (for a period of up to 12 weeks in total) that acts as a stepping stone to more permanent housing for participants who are at risk of homelessness when discharging from a stay at the Barwon Health Swanston Centre.
For enquires please call 0408 059 402.
Bendigo AOD Services – Bridge Program
Bendigo AOD Services are located on Dja Dja Warrung land at 65 Mundy Street, Bendigo. It provides residential rehabilitation for Victorian residents between 18 and 35 experiencing issues related to their substance use. The length of stay is usually six weeks. The service can accommodate up to 18 individuals in two-bedroom self-contained units, with everyone having their own bedroom and sharing amenities.
While taking part in the program, individuals have access to a nurse practitioner, evidence-based therapeutic groups including relapse prevention, harm reduction, psycho-social education and individual case management.
We can work with individuals to create a plan to begin the process of building skills to help achieve a more balanced life. Recovery goals are person-centred and developed in collaboration with the participant ensuring we meet them where they are. Outcomes are different for everyone, and we support individuals to progress and achieve their goals.
The aims of the program are to:
- Establish an individual treatment plan to assist with achieving goals
- Improve overall health and wellbeing
- Link participants in with other specialised service providers (such as housing, mental health, legal)
- Address underlying issues that have led to substance use
- Gain an understanding and awareness of substance use
- Build self-efficacy to support ongoing recovery
- Re-build relationships that have been impacted by substance use
Bridgehaven
Bridgehaven is located on Wurundjeri lands in Preston. It provides residential rehabilitation for people affected by substance misuse who are over 18, identifying as female, with or without accompanying children. The service has 17 bedrooms, participants have their own room with a shared bathroom. The program usually involves a four-month stay, with options for supported accommodation after the program.
The service has a family worker onsite, access to childcare/primary schools, art therapy, yoga and Zumba classes.
Eastern Care and Recovery Coordination
The Care and Recovery service operates in the Eastern metropolitan area. It provides case management to those affected by substance misuse. The service aims to help individuals develop treatment plans, set goals and navigate through alcohol and other drug services to achieve their plans.
Eastern Bridge Program (The Basin)
The Eastern Bridge AOD Services operates on Wurundjeri lands in The Basin. It provides residential rehabilitation programs to people over 18 affected by substance misuse. The program generally involves a 12-week stay. Shared accommodation is provided in four-bedroom units, where each person has their own bedroom and shares amenities.
The program consists of structured therapeutic interventions and activities, including group work and one-on-one case management. Onsite there is a gym, recreation spaces and a chapel.
The aims of the program are to:
- Establish an individual treatment plan to assist with achieving goals
- Improve overall health and wellbeing
- Link participants in with other specialised service providers (such as housing, mental health, legal)
- Address underlying issues that have led to substance use
- Gain an understanding and awareness of substance use
- Build self-efficacy to support ongoing recovery
- Re-build relationships that have been impacted by substance use
Eunike (North and West Metropolitan area)
Eunike is a supported accommodation service for those identifying as female, with or without accompanying children. It provides support for those experiencing housing and alcohol and other drug issues.
We work to empower women, reduce the drug related harm they are suffering and help them achieve a stable, healthy life for themselves and their children.
Gambler’s Help service (Melbourne Counselling Service)
Melbourne Counselling Service is located in Melbourne CBD on Wurundjeri lands. The service is for those affected by gambling, and the broader community who require support and information regarding gambling. The service provides support to those residing in inner Melbourne or are willing to travel to inner Melbourne.
It is funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation to provide:
- Therapeutic counselling
- Community education
- Venue support
To access the service please call 03 9653 3250 or visit melbournecounsellingservice.org.au
Goulburn Valley Alcohol and Drug Services
In partnership with Goulburn Valley Health and Odyssey House Victoria, this program provides alcohol and other drug (AOD) assessment, counselling, care and recovery coordination, non-residential/residential withdrawal services, to people living in the Goulburn Valley and Lower Hume regions. Services operate in various locations, including the day program below.
Therapeutic Day Rehab Program – Shepparton
Goulburn Valley AOD Services are located on Yorta Yorta lands in Shepparton. The service offers an eight-week structured day program and two weeks of aftercare. The program offers the foundations of recovery for people wishing to address their AOD use problems.
Muslim Youth and Families (MYAF)
MYAF is a program aimed at creating pathways and connection to drug treatment services from within the Islamic population of north-west metro Melbourne. This program is delivered in partnership with Odyssey House Victoria, Youth Support and Advocacy Service, Self Help Addiction Resource Centre, MyCentre (the Islamic community organisation in Broadmeadows) and the Islamic Council of Victoria.
Northern Victoria Alcohol and Other Drugs Services
Northern Victoria Alcohol and Other Drug Services operate in various locations in the Loddon Mallee region covering Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, Barapa Barapa, Wamba Wemba, Wadi Wadi and Latji Latji Nations. Staff are located in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Maryborough, Kyneton, Gisborne, Inglewood, Rochester, Wedderburn, Charlton, Echuca, Swan Hill and Mildura.
The services are designed to respond to a range of AOD needs and support the achievement of goals aimed at promoting wellbeing of people, their families and communities. Collectively, they offer a range of services including assessment, brief interventions, counselling, care and recovery coordination, overdose prevention programs, family reunification programs and AOD prevention and early intervention.
Some services offered are outlined below.
Overdose prevention case management services – Bendigo
The Salvation Army overdose prevention case management service is an intensive case management program designed to support people in the Loddon region who have been identified as high risk of overdose. Our practitioners will support people with safer AOD use strategies, including harm minimisation.
Family reunification case management services – Loddon Mallee
The family reunification case management service assists parents to reunify with their children. The program is designed to support people who have family reunification orders in place. Our staff will support parents to meet the AOD goals within their order, with the primary goal to reunify them with their children.
Building Bridges Therapeutic Day Rehabilitation Program – Bendigo
Building Bridges offers an eight-week structured day program and two weeks of aftercare in Bendigo. The program offers the foundations of recovery for people wishing to address their AOD use problems.
For enquiries and admission to all Northern Victoria Alcohol and Other Drug Services, please call DirectLine on 1800 888 236.
Safe Place
Safe Place is located on the land of the Wurundjeri people in Ngar-go (Fitzroy). In response to the changes in Victoria’s public intoxication laws, seeing the decriminalisation of public drunkenness (due November 2023), Safe Place has been established as a trial harm-reduction site providing sobering-up services to people in the City of Yarra.
Staffed by a nurse and a harm reduction worker, Safe Place is a six-bed service that people can access when they are too intoxicated to make it home or are intoxicated, and do not have a safe place to go.
All participants are met by welcoming, non-judgemental staff who can provide low-acuity medical support and monitoring, to ensure that all participants remain safe while they rest and sober-up.
The duration of stay is flexible – some people may choose to come in for as short a period as three to four hours to receive monitoring and support, before becoming well enough to return home. Other participants may require a longer stay or choose to stay overnight to regain their health.
Safe Place also provides light meals/nutrition, an accessible shower, laundry facilities and assistance in getting home. Participants interested in accessing further AOD, health or community supports can also seek assistance from Safe Place staff, who can arrange appropriate assessment or referral.
Safe Place is open 24 hours across the weekend, starting from 2pm on Friday until 4pm on Monday.
Participants can be referred by external health providers, community agencies, emergency services, or can self-refer by presenting at the site.
For more information, call Safe Place on 0472 590 158.
Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) – inner north and northwest suburbs
STAR is a non-residential alcohol and other drugs service located on Wurundjeri lands primarily at Level 2/24 Devonshire Road, Sunshine. It provides professional AOD counselling, care and recovery coordination, family sessions and group work along with the facilitation of comprehensive AOD assessments. It operates as a consortium partnership between The Salvation Army as the lead agency and VincentCare.
STAR services both forensic (court-appointed) and community clients alike, in the inner north and northwest suburbs of Melbourne.
Additionally, in collaboration with a group of culturally diverse key providers, STAR offers treatment and engagement through a culturally specific lens for members of the local Islamic community in the Broadmeadows/Hume region.