Why is this service needed?

Alcohol and other drug use can have damaging impacts on the physical, social, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing of people. This is particularly evident among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the context of social health determinants, racism, and colonisation. 

The majority of mainstream AOD treatment focuses on biomedical models, which fail to recognise Indigenous values such as spirituality, family relationships, culture and community. Cultural interventions offer the hope and promise of healing from addictions for Indigenous people. There are unique aspects of Aboriginal culture that can significantly influence health outcomes through empowering Aboriginal people to maintain cultural continuity and their concept of health.

About the Service 

The social, emotional and wellbeing approach to alcohol and other drug treatment will look to move away from the traditional, Western-based approach to recovery and healing. The model will empower recovery and healing through protective factors such as connection to land, spirituality and ancestry.

The social, emotional and wellbeing initiative requires respondents to:

a) Design and implement a social and emotional wellbeing approach to alcohol and other drug treatment in Frankston/Mornington Peninsula, with a focus on a broader, holistic view of health-including mental health.

b) Ensure the approach considers the safety and well-being of individuals, families and communities engaging in alcohol and other drug treatment with particular focus on:

• centrality of culture
• Aboriginal healing practices
• trauma informed treatment (with a focus on intergenerational trauma)
• family-centred therapeutic practices
• protective factors and support
• social, and cultural determinants of health.

c) Develop a set of holistic wellness outcomes to measure the efficacy of this treatment model. These outcome measures may include physical, social, emotional, cultural and spiritual well-being measures, for both the individual and the community.

How to apply

• All applications must be submitted through SEMPHN’s eProcure.
• All questions about the tender must be submitted through SEMPHN’s eProcure.

Key dates

3 October: Tender opens
21 October, 3pm: Questions close in eProcure
28 October, 3pm: Tender closes
Early/mid December 2022: Contract commences
30 June 2024: Contract ends.