The Orana Haven Rehabilitation Facility is working to see an old facility converted into a women’s rehabilitation centre in a bid to keep local women on Country while seeking assistance. 

Orana Haven has been assisting local men from their Brewarrina location since 1982, yet women have been left to search further afield for rehabilitation options. 

The organisation is now inviting the community to help them repurpose the former Yetta Dhinnakkal Correctional Centre - between Nyngan and Brewarrina - to help build the women-specific service.

Orana Haven Acting CEO Tracy Gordon said that the need for a facility for women is undeniable. 



“We get about 20 calls per month from women who can’t access treatment on Country,” Ms Gordon said. 

For women seeking assistance, the closest to home includes four beds in a facility in Forbes, and another four in Moree. 

Consultation with locals of Coonamble, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke earlier this year found a consensus of support and need for the facility.

“We had a very good response from everybody in regards to the needs of the service and keeping it local for a lot of local community members that are unable to relocate and go out to other communities for help and treatment,” Ms Gordon said.

The consultation informed the business case and feasibility report, which has now been finalised. 

“From there, we look at our next steps and look at funding, how we promote the business plan to funding bodies and then we go from the outcome is,” Ms Gordon said. 

While Orana Haven will look to state and federal governments for the funding - which has funded the original Men’s facility - there has so far been little contact between Orana Haven and government, according to Ms Gordon. 

Since the closure of the Yetta Dhinnakkal Correctional Centre, however, ownership was transferred to the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council and Shire Council, with plans to lease to Orana Haven for the purpose of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility. 

Ms Gordon is motivated by the findings of the 2020 Ice Inquiry, which found significant evidence highlighting the need and support for a women’s service in Western NSW, as well as a desperate need for more culturally appropriate treatment options. 

Unfortunately, the inquiry Orana Haven is relying on has been called out time and time again for inaction from the Government who only released their response to the inquiry in September this year, two and a half years after the report was released. 

Orana Haven Deputy Chairperson Alistair Ferguson said that the government response could be promising for some action to finally arrive.

“The actions of Health Minister Hazzard, Commissioner Howard SC and State Government to adopt 86 of the 100+ recommendations are critical steps in achieving essential health and social outcomes for the community,” Mr Ferguson said.

The already established Orana Haven is facing its own accessibility issues, with flooded roads isolating the facility.

"There is four-wheel drive access, but that's only for locals," Ms Gordon said.

A workshop due to be held on 27 October has been postponed due to wet weather. The workshop was designed to highlight key findings of the report, and to allow stakeholders and community members a chance to walk through the Yetta Dhinnakkal facility. 

So far, no new dates have been established for the workshop as wet weather continues throughout the region.