Keysborough Active Recovery Centre management committee chairperson Mario De Losa, program manager Judith Tom, former Greater Dandenong councillor and Dandenong Drug Action Committee Forum member Angela Long, Greater Dandenong mayor Peter Brown and Heatherton Christian Resource Centre Senior Pastor Dan Parker.
By Shaun Inguanzo
A WHOPPING grant and five years rehabilitating drug and alcohol addicts was cause for celebration at Keysborough’s Active Recovery Centre (ARC) last week.
The fifth anniversary of the residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation house was also a time for reflection by the home’s committee.
The Heatherton Christian Resource Centre operates the ARC, and committee member Owen Challender said since 2001 more than 90 drug and alcohol-addicted men had rehabilitated in the house.
He said during their stay the men engaged in programs that would later see them leave the house with stable employment and cured of their addictions and underlying problems.
“We only take people who have gone through detoxification,” Mr Challender said.
“These are guys who need a longer-term stable environment and who have underlying issues and problems.
“We provide counselling for them, they go to support groups during the week, and we address other specific needs like anger management.”
Mr Challender said the home’s main supporters included the City of Greater Dandenong Council and the Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Fund (AERF).
He said the Federal Government established the AERF after it received a windfall from alcohol excise when the GST was introduced.
The AERF granted the Keysborough centre $275,000 recently to expand and refurbish the home.
“Currently it’s a six-bedroom double-storey house,” Mr Challender said.
“What is happening is we are completely refurbishing the bottom level and extending the upper floor so we have a bed capacity of nine and a total of eight rooms.
“Plus we are installing a staff meeting area and new fittings.”
