Children to aid parent's recovery

The centre would be open to all families in the region with supervised care for rehab patients.

Nguumanbiny (a Wiradjuri word meaning trust for help) Indigenous Corporation founding member Lynn Field said the newly formed support group vowed to tackle rising crime in its Wellington home and change the "ice city" to a haven of security.

"Everyone whinges about the break and enters, vandalism and crime from drugs and alcohol but the community needs to treat the problem instead of living with the consequences," she said.

Mrs Field said the 27 room centre would be the first in the state to cater for all aged children to live with their parents while they recovered from substance abuse.

Several families were being torn apart because services were not available locally to them, she said.

Wellington resident Rebecca Chirps shared her anguish and pain at losing her three children to the NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS) due to a lack of support.

To numb the pain of domestic violence from her partner, she used synthetic speed for six months which ended in deep psychosis.

"I woke up in hospital not knowing where my kids were so I decided I'd call it quits," she said.

Ms Chirps contacted several services who refused to accept her for rehab with her children due to their age limits which left her alone to seek help in Cowra and Canberra.

"If this service was available I'd have my kids with me and not lose them...none of this would've happened," she said, shaking her head.

On return to Wellington she sought help and was knocked back due to her lack of children which were taken by DOCS.

"I never understood why they'd take my kids away from me," she said.

"They're my motivators, the ones who are keeping it together for me."

After completing rehab, anger management, parenting and other programs she was adamant to have her children back from DOCS.

Margie McDonell, a recovered drug user, said it was extremely important to have a local centre for rehab.

"The simple fact is there is nothing out here... it's ridiculous," she said.

"You have to go to Sydney and with no family or friends support a lot of people won't do rehab for that reason.

"It needs to change as domestic violence and drug and alcohol are a growing problem in the area."

Mrs McDonell said the Wellington rehab centre would open the door for a better life for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous to recover while they have their children with them.

The centre would also create employment opportunities, offer hope for positive change and drive crime rates down.

The Nguumanbiny Indigenous Corporation is on 116 Percy Street, Wellington.

Several programs from anger management to parenting are offered to all residents and for assistance call the centre on 6845 3877.