What we’re doing
We’re investing in new residential rehabilitation and withdrawal services to support people experiencing problematic alcohol and other drug use.
The services will:
- offer specialist residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management
- improve local access to alcohol and other drug treatment and support
- better meet the health needs of our communities
- partner with local services to help more people get the support they need.
Our investment includes:
- evaluating and buying land for new service locations
- the design and building of treatment centres
- funding for service providers to provide treatment.
The planning, design and building process is in progress. We expect building to finish in 2025.
During our planning process, we’re working with local communities and stakeholders to get community feedback. The site development for all our planned services follows the Ministerial Infrastructure Designations (MID) process. Learn more about the MID process on the Queensland Government Planning website.
Locations
The new services will be in Bundaberg, Cairns, Ipswich and Rockhampton.
The Rockhampton service is now open.
We’ve chosen these locations based on the local need for additional treatment services in Queensland. The new services will help support existing funded and public health services.
We've planned the services through consultation with local Hospital and Health Services and people with lived experience of problematic alcohol and other drugs use.
Find out more about what treatment and services will be available at each location.
What are residential treatment services
Residential treatment is a health service that provides live-in and bed-based care in the community. It includes:
- 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, specialist alcohol and other drug treatment and care from qualified staff
- treatment planning and comprehensive assessments that are designed to meet a person's individual needs
- pre-treatment and post-treatment care to support a person's continued recovery and everyday living in the community.
All residential treatment services are alcohol and non-prescribed drug free zones.
There are 2 types of residential treatment services provided at the new centres.
Residential rehabilitation
Residential rehabilitation is a service for people to get intensive treatment for problematic alcohol and other drug use. It provides live-in treatment where a person will stay at the service and take part in a structured rehabilitation and recovery program.
The program generally takes 6 to 12 weeks but can be up to 6 months. It includes different therapeutic activities that involve clinical, cultural, social and other skills to support a person's continued recovery.
A person must stop the use of alcohol and non-prescribed drugs to start residential rehabilitation.
Withdrawal management and care
Withdrawal management and care is a short term, supervised intervention. It's also known as detox. Withdrawal generally takes 3 to 10 days.
The intervention helps people safely reduce or stop using alcohol and other drugs and manage their withdrawal symptoms. A specialist nursing team will manage a person's care through the program.
Withdrawal management can include medication, psychosocial support and therapy to support a person. This helps prevent medical and psychological issues and complications when a person stops using a substance.
Who can access residential treatment
Residential treatment is available for adults, as well as (separately) for young people, who are experiencing problematic substance use.
It's a voluntary service. Many people ask for help when they're ready to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing. A person must choose to take part in treatment.
A person can refer themself to a service. Family, carers or health professionals can also refer a person. For young people, parent or guardian consent may also be needed.
Benefits to the community
Residential treatment services can make a big difference to a person’s care. It provides local specialist treatment which helps people make positive behaviour changes and get:
- better and quicker access to care
- treatment and care closer to home
- custom care plans based on their needs.
Residential treatment also helps reduce the harm caused by problematic alcohol or other drug such as illness, losing a job or negative impacts on relationships.
Better and quicker access to treatment also reduces the stress on families and loved ones.
Who will provide the services
We'll choose a specialist provider of alcohol and other drugs treatment to operate the new services. They’ll manage all:
- staffing and recruitment
- treatment and individual care planning
- referrals and admissions.
We have a procurement process to choose suitable service providers. Find out more about procurement and tenders on the Business Queensland website.
The local Hospital and Health Service will own the land and buildings for the service.
Lives Lived Well manages our Rockhampton service. Learn more about what they do on their website.
Community consultations and updates
We’re working with local stakeholders and communities to make sure our planned services offer safe and effective residential treatment from the new centres. Our consultations include information sessions where you can:
- ask questions and give feedback
- learn about our planning process
- understand what residential treatment services are.
We publish regular news and updates about our projects. Check the planned locations to get the latest news for your community.
Contact us
Email AOD_CapitalProjects@health.qld.gov.au if you have any questions about the new services.
If you're concerned about your own or someone else's substance use, call Adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833.
You can also visit their website for more information or to chat with a counsellor online.