Clients of Bass Coast Health’s (BCH) Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselling Service in need of emergency relief will benefit from a donation by the Wonthaggi RSL Sub-branch.
The RSL donated $1000 to BCH raised through the RSL’s bingo sessions, which have now ended. As veterans are clients of the BCH Counselling service, the RSL and BCH agreed the donation would be dedicated to funding emergency relief vouchers that recipients can exchange for essential supplies at local retailers.
Members of the RSL visited Wonthaggi Hospital to present the donation on Thursday 30 March.
Wonthaggi RSL Sub-branch President Dan Lucas said, “We are pleased this donation will go towards benefiting the valued veterans within our community who come upon difficult times and require food and other relief when they may not be able to afford it.”
BCH Acting Executive Director of Clinical Services Fiona Christensen thanked the RSL for their donation.
“It’s a very generous donation that will be put to great use and will take the pressure off our clients when they need relief in the moment,” she said.
Counsellor Jasmin Friend said, “The AOD team is extremely grateful for the generous donation from the RSL to help support our clients in times of need. Alongside their donation, it was amazing to be able to sit and network with the RSL members and discover the supports that both of our services provide.
“This donation will help benefit both our clients and any veterans requiring our programs’ support in the local community.”
The Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Counselling Service at BCH is delivered to the community from Wonthaggi Hospital and the Phillip Island Health Hub at Cowes.
The AOD team assists clients with various services, from Counselling, Pharmacotherapy and Withdrawal Support to Care and Recovery. They also help facilitate referrals to inpatient Detox Services and Residential Rehabilitations, and provide a Needles Syringe Program to the local community.
AOD services at Wonthaggi Hospital now provide services from new private rooms in the Allied Health building, accessible via the Outpatients’ reception.
The dedicated space offers a comforting, welcoming space for clients to access our services.
People can access the services of the Alcohol and other Drugs Counselling Team by phoning the Australian Community Support Organisation on 1300 022 760 or filling in the e-referral form at acso.org.au/aod-mh-support