Drug and alcohol support services aimed at multicultural communities will continue after a successful rescue by Odyssey NSW.
The Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre (DAMEC), based in Liverpool, provides drug and alcohol counselling for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The service caters to CALD communities across western and south-western Sydney and will continue under the name of the Odyssey Multicultural Program.
Federal Member for Fowler Dai Le MP, who will open the new facilities in Liverpool on Friday 2 December, welcomed the new services and said culturally-specific community outreach is key to supporting those in need. “Thank you to Odyssey House NSW, NSW Health, SWSPHN and WSPHN for providing our multicultural communities with the resources and support they need to improve their health and well-being,” she said.
“Having a counsellor that can speak the same language as a client can break down communication barriers to effectively educate them on the dangers of harmful substance abuse, as well as ensuring they feel heard and supported through their rehabilitation journeys.”
Julie Babineau, CEO, Odyssey NSW said this added service aims to strengthen and support community partnerships to collectively contribute to preventing harm related to substance use, identified within cultural and linguistically diverse communities.
“The organisation’s key priority is to ensure that clients can receive continuity of care and have equitable access to services that are culturally responsive, safe, and of high quality,” she said.
“Odyssey NSW is proud to continue the research and education work for which DAMEC was well known and respected within the Multicultural communities.
“To support the service transition, Odyssey NSW has recruited qualified and culturally diverse staff to deliver the AOD services.”
Odyssey NSW will be funded to deliver the support services for up to two years to June 2024. Together we will work with CALD and other communities across Western and South Western Sydney on a plan for longer term AOD service delivery arrangements.
