A new family drug treatment court will be set up in Broadmeadows to protect children and “rebuild” families torn apart by alcohol and drug abuse.
Mental Health Minister Mary Wooldridge says the new court will be part of Broadmeadows Children’s Court once construction is finished at the end of next year.
Ms Wooldridge says the court will work with parents whose drug addictions have played a significant part in their child protection involvement, to give them the best possible chance to rehabilitate and be reunited with their children.
“Parental alcohol and drug abuse is often a key factor in the decision to remove a child from the care of their parents,” she said.
“Parents referred and accepted into the Family Drug Treatment Court will be assisted to address their substance abuse issues and be able to access other supports which may be needed, including housing, mental health and family violence services.”
Ms Wooldridge said the new court approach would offer a proactive, non-adversarial environment where court officers developed relationships with parents through frequent hearings. The parents would work closely with a multidisciplinary support team to monitor treatment for both themselves and their children. The parents will be required to attend court weekly and take part in drug testing up to three times a week as part of their individual parenting recovery plan.
The minister said the work of the new court would be supported by funding of $1.1 million as part of a three-year pilot to employ alcohol and drug clinicians and provide additional drug treatment beds at Odyssey House.
Family drug treatment courts are common in the United States and evaluations show that parents have significantly higher treatment completion rates, children spend significantly less time in out-of-home care and reunification rates are considerably higher than those achieved through the conventional system.
Over the past three years the number of family violence units within Victoria Police has tripled, with more than 30 now operating across the state. Reported assaults arising from family incidents in the state rose from 16,740 to almost 20,000 between 2010 and 2012.
This increased activity has led to enormous pressure on the court and welfare systems.
Berry Street Victoria’s Northern Family and Domestic Violence Service, which supports women in northern Melbourne, received 2089 family violence referrals from police in 2009-10. By 2012-13, the figure was 5010.
This financial year, referrals had reached 5700 with three months still to go.
