Eligibility criteria

Namatjira Haven Drug and alcohol healing centre – eligibility guidelines

Please note: There may be ongoing disruptions to processing applications due to the pandemic. If your application is successful you may be required to undergo rapid antigen testing before admission and after you are admitted. Our priority is limiting transmission of the virus in our local community.

You are welcome to submit an application, but please be aware there could be delays depending on the local situation. Keep coming back to this webpage for further updates. Thank you for your patience and understanding at this time.

To be accepted as suitable for admission you must:

• Be an Aboriginal male (there are very limited beds for non-Aboriginal men);
• Be aged 18 years or over;
• Have a current drug and alcohol problem or dependency;
• Have no requirement to attend court during your residency;
• Have a desire and willingness to make change.

You will not be accepted if you:

• Have Supreme Court Bail applications;
• Have a Sentence Appeal before the courts;
• Are in custody on remand or on appeal;
• Are subject to any type of electronic monitoring;
• Have current or recent Sexual offence charges or are on a Register of Sex Offenders (Historical sexual offence charges/convictions more than 10 years ago are assessed on a case by case basis);
• Have current or recent charges for major crimes of violence (Historical charges/convictions of major violence more than 10 years ago are assessed on a case by case basis);
• Are subject to an ADVO/AVO where there are strict no contact orders in place or a serious assault has occurred where the protected person is living in the local area (Lismore or Ballina LGAs). ADVOs/AVOs relating to protected persons living outside the local area are assessed on a case by case basis;
• Are under the care of Public Guardian or a Trustee, or have high needs physically (self-care and mobility) or intellectually;
• Are on an Opiate Treatment Program e.g. prescribed Methadone or Buprenorphine;
• Are on anti-psychotic medications or opiate medications (medications that are anti-psychotic but only for temporary reasons are assessed on a case by case basis);
• Do not consent to us collecting, using and sharing your personal information where needed so we can assess your application and evaluate our service

Referrals where applicants have legal matters must be voluntary (including referrals via MERIT, Circle Sentencing, Legal Aid, Aboriginal Legal Services, Private Solicitors and Probation and Parole) and applicants must show a motivation to change.

Applications for persons mandated into treatment will not be accepted unless diverted through the MERIT or TSA Programs. Any person referred who has current matters before the courts, or who is under the conditions of any Court orders, or where requested by the Intake Officer, will be required to provide the current facts, criminal history, bail or bond or AVO/ADVO orders. We do not do assessments for court to be bailed to Rehab unless referred through the MERIT Program.

We are predominately a self and health referral service and have minimal capacity to accept applications for men with current legal issues unless referred through the MERIT Program or Circle Sentencing.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call (02) 6628 1098 and ask for the Intake Officer before you submit an application.

When you have submitted an application, it is your responsibility to follow it up within 2 working days. Please call (02) 6628 1098 and ask for the Intake Officer. The Intake officer is only available Mondays to Thursdays 10am to 4pm.