As reported in our February newsletter, in early 2017 Gorman House became a medicalised detoxification unit that is fully funded by NSW Health . The value and need for this service was recognised after over 10 years of commitment and support from Order of Malta NSW Branch volunteers and donors raising over $1.8million to ensure the doors remained open 24/7, 365 days a year, to Sydney’s addicted seeking help, since funding for the unit was cut back in 2006.

The Order of Malta NSW Branch’s commitment to Gorman House still continues, with volunteers attending weekly barbeques to provide support and camaraderie to patients.

For most of the patients, their time at Gorman House is only the beginning to their recovery as many suffer from mental health and other medical issues.

Whilst Gorman House helps them withdraw from their dependencies in a safe and supportive environment, when they leave the unit there is still a desperate need for further mental health treatment to prevent relapse and allow them to move forward with their lives.

However, services Nationwide for mental health patients are often under-funded, over-burdened and largely insufficient for the demands placed on them.

To address the challenges of improving the health outcomes for mental health patients in our Community, St Vincent’s Hospital, in conjunction with the Order of Malta’s NSW Branch, has the opportunity to provide a 12 bed residential treatment facility for mental health patients. This service will promote early intervention to reduce acute admissions, provide rehabilitation care with medical supervision and encourage participation in community life, which is important for recovery.

The Order of Malta Prevention and Recovery Centre will be a “step-up and step-down” support service. This transitional care service will support mental health patients needing either a “step up” from their place of residence or a “step down” from an inpatient unit. It will also ensure services for Homeless people are included in the model.

The Order of Malta Prevention and Recovery Centre will provide much needed mental health services that are currently lacking.

Already $1million has been committed by a donor to enable the Centre to be established.

The NSW Branch of the Order of Malta has committed to fundraise an upfront contribution of $600,000 by the end of the year, and then an ongoing contribution of $100,000 per annum for the next 9 years towards the set-up and operations costs.

“The Order of Malta Prevention and Recovery Centre is an ambitious but desperately needed initiative” explained NSW Branch Chairman, David Hall AM. “Like Gorman House, I am confident that in the years to come the services at The Order of Malta Prevention and Recovery Centre, will be recognised as an essential and invaluable facility, providing services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. However again we must turn to our supporters for help”

Please consider a donation to The Order of Malta Prevention and Recovery Centre.