Fair Treatment Tamworth Region
The Tamworth region deserves fair and equitable access to health services, including for people who use drugs! Right now people in the Tamworth region are working together to campaign for the kinds of services the region needs!
There is a consensus amongst local community members and stakeholders that there is a need for more local alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment, including:
- Mentoring program
- Residential rehab and local detox
- Culturally Appropriate Trauma Informed Wellness Centre
These asks were based on our community survey and consultation of local people and organisations on what is needed most in the Tamworth region.
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Pledge your support for additional services in the Tamworth region and call on the State Government to commit to fund them!
Fair Treatment in Tamworth
Fair Treatment was invited by members of Tamworth who had previously premiered our documentary Half A Million Steps in town, to visit and present on the work of the Fair Treatment campaign and have conversations about treatment. This was also a wonderful opportunity for us to hear from Tamworth locals about their own concerns and experiences around drug use and dependency and what their needs are.
Inspired by our work in helping to secure funding for a rehab in Dubbo, the message from local people was that the gaps in treatment services in town were great and that they wanted to work with us to make change happen in their community. There was also a willingness to have a more open and honest conversation about drugs and to learn more about why we are advocating for decriminalisation.
Fair Treatment in the News
Fair Treatment campaign believes Tamworth deserves fair share of biggest ever drug aid funding
Northern Daily Leader
Locals pushing for further mental health services
NBN News
Fair Treatment campaign looks to council, state government for drug treatment change
Northern Daily Leader
FAIR TREATMENT CAMPAIGN HITS TAMWORTH
NBN News
A push for better, access to treatment for drug dependency in the region
ABC Radio
Fair Treatment for Tamworth Community Planning session
88.9FM
Fair Treatment in the Community
Would you like to bring the Fair Treatment team to talk to your community group, workplace, church or association?
Community Meeting
We talked to the community about what they want to see in terms of service and support access for drug users and dependency in Tamworth and how they can be a part of making change. From long-standing members to recent additions, we had some great discussions and came away feeling optimistic about our ability to push for action.
Meeting the Councillors
The Fair Treatment team has met with two thirds of the Tamworth Regional Council (including the Mayor!) to talk about the campaign and discuss how they can help to support it. We look forward to working with them to ensure the community in Tamworth get the services they need.
Community Yarning
We attended a Community Yarning hosted by the local Aboriginal medical services Walhallow Health and Tamworth AMS to discuss the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities in the Tamworth region. We discussed the need for a culturally appropriate, trauma-informed Wellness Centre to address the interconnection of mental health and drug and alcohol concerns
Rosalie House
We visited Rosalie House, a drug health day program located in Tamworth and met some of the clients who are about to complete their 6-week program. A big theme of our discussion was around the impact of stigma in dehumanising those who experience drug dependency and the barriers this creates for people wanting help. Many community members acknowledged that there was work to be done in changing the conversation.
Community
Forum
We heard from local doctors, nurses, teachers and other professionals, as well as staff of nearby alcohol and other drug services about the challenges for people experiencing drug dependency and other issues – such as mental health – in the region. Most have to travel hundreds of kilometres to access detox to begin their recovery journey and face waiting lists for in-demand residential rehab services more than an hour away.
West Tamworth and Calala Rotary
We were invited by the West Tamworth and Calala Rotary Clubs to present on the campaign, why we want #FairTreatmentforTamworth and why we are advocating for a health response to drug dependency. We appreciated the member’s willingness and openness to discuss what can be a really challenging issue and are so grateful for the wonderful hospitality shown to us.
Community Strategy Meeting
We gathered in Tamworth to share your stories, thoughts and ideas about how to create change in your community and – even in the face of a mean storm – to start planning for a local campaign.
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