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Our Programs
DASA has been delivering drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs to Alice Springs and Central Australia for over thirty years.
Our team of enthusiastic and dedicated staff across each of its branches continue to advocate on behalf of and support the Alice Springs and the Central Australia community.
DASA offers a range of services to provide rehabilitation from misuse or dependency on alcohol and other drugs, and education to the broader community.
Our Residents don’t live in our workplace, we work in their Home.
Aboriginal Outreach Program
DASA’s Outreach Program was established in 2004 and is an intervention and referral program providing case management and outreach support to the clients in the Sobering-Up Shelter and other services within DASA.
Outreach clients are encouraged to have further professional interventions to break the cycle of addiction. Our Outreach team, work throughout the community with a vast range of clients, linking them with not only the services DASA has to offer, but also other appropriate services within the community. They link in with other service providers to conduct brief interventions and assist clients with a range of needs.
Our Outreach workers are accessible to our client group, and make themselves available in places within the Alice Springs Community, including visiting town camps and other places of service provision.
Eligibility Criteria
- Aboriginal people - working, unemployed, regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
Sobering Up Shelter
The Shelter provides supervised accommodation and care as an alternative to the police cells for people ‘apprehended without arrest’ for being intoxicated in a public place. Clients of this service are given a bed for the night, a meal and shower facilities; and are monitored throughout their stay.
The Shelter is staffed by Care Workers who are empathetic and professional in their duties. These staff offer the clients a safe and clean place to ‘sober up’ and when appropriate they offer brief intervention and referrals to our Outreach Team and Aranda House Therapeutic Community.
In 2021, with support from the NT Department Health, DASA commenced a bus pick up service to facilitate the safe transport of patients from Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department to the Sobering Up Shelter. Patients are triaged, examined and if eligible, discharged where they can come to the service and 'sober up', alleviating pressure on the Alice Springs Hospital Emergency Department.
This transport service is available each night the Shelter is open - Monday to Saturday with collection times being 10pm, 12am and 2am (Sunday).
Eligibility Criteria
- People aged 17 and over - working, unemployed, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Young people aged 14 to 18 who are referred by Alice Springs Youth Accommodation and Support Services (ASYASS)
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
Shelter Information:
- Referrals are also accepted from other service providers, and we also encourage self-referral to the Shelter.
- The Shelter is open six nights a week - Monday through to Saturday night, 1pm to 9am.
- The Shelter is closed on Sunday night.
The Team
Aranda House Therapeutic Community
Aranda House is a 20 bed residential rehabilitation facility that offers a 12 week program, and an 8 or 16 week program for Volatile Substance Misusers.
This service is a Therapeutic Community, where residents are encouraged to be actively involved in their own personal recovery, in a supportive and caring environment. Aranda House also offers an initial detoxification and withdrawal service that can be co-managed with other health services should a medical detox be necessary.
Therapeutic Communities use a participative, group-based approach to the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction where residents help to run group therapy as well as practical activities. This service model has a demonstrated evidence base in Therapeutic Communities across the world. Aranda House was independently assessed and re-certified against the Australian standard for Therapeutic Communities and Residential Rehabilitation services in late 2020.
The guiding principle of Aranda House is to recognise the community itself, through self-help and mutual support, is the principle means for promoting personal change.
Aranda House provides one-on-one case work, group therapy, sport, recreation and healthy lifestyle activities. External service providers and professionals are also engaged to provide appropriate services to our residents.
Residents also participate in outings, bush trips and cultural activities such as NAIDOC. The residents are supported to manage the kitchen and meals as part of the program.
Aranda House has a fully equipped gym and music room which residents can access at designated times.
Eligibility Criteria
- People aged 17 and over - working, unemployed, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
Transitional After Care Unit
The Transitional After Care Unit (TACU) is a semi-independent residential facility where residents have their own bedroom and bathroom and shared common areas.
Residents can link in with the Aranda House residents at meal times or cook for themselves in the TACU kitchen.
If TACU residents have not secured employment, volunteer work or study then they are expected to participate in some of the Aranda House programs, these are to be determined with the residents case manager.
The focus of the Transitional After Care Unit is to provide a safe, supportive, clean and sober environment for residents to further progress in their journey of drug and alcohol rehabilitation, whilst Case Managers work with the resident to engage them in employment and education; and to reconnect with their families prior to moving back into the community.
To be accepted into the Transitional After Care Unit residents must have already undergone a period of abstinence from alcohol and other drugs (excepting those prescribed by a medical practitioner), either in a like facility, or in a custodial / monitored setting. Transitional After Care Unit residents must be capable of living semi independently and managing their own personal needs and maintaining their personal space to an appropriate standard.
Transitional After Care Unit Residents are permitted to live in the Unit for up to twelve months, provided they are either employed or undertaking educational studies – or are actively seeking employment or education. This is non-negotiable and volunteer work is accepted.
The Transitional After Care Unit is staffed by a Manager and a Case Worker and is supported by the Aranda House staffing compliment.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be referred to the Transitional After Care Unit, the resident must have abstained from alcohol or other drugs (unless prescribed by a medical practitioner) for a minimum of three months; which is confirmed by a referring agency such as a rehabilitation facility, a branch of Correctional Services or other health care provider. A referral form must be completed (see link below). Once the referral is received the referrer will be contacted by a staff member to arrange a suitable assessment time.
- For self-referrals or referrals outside of these guidelines, contact the Residential Manager on 08 8950 3700 for a confidential discussion prior to completing the referral form.
- People aged 17 and over - working, unemployed, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
Independent Living Program
The Independent Living Program is DASA's final stage of rehabilitation.
Resident enters a lease agreement and can reside with their families in 1 of 3 fully equipped units. Independent, apart from a DASA case manager, residents are responsible for paying for their power bills, food and taking care of the premises.
The Program models life in the community as closely as possible.
Please contact 08 8950 5000 to discuss referrals to this service.
Eligibility Criteria
- People aged 17 and over - working, unemployed, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
The Team
Alternative to Custody: Alice Springs
Alternative to Custody is a 10-bed residential service that offers a 26-week program for Aboriginal women over the age of 18 who are at risk of offending or reoffending.
Alternative to Custody is a community-based approach to reducing Aboriginal incarceration and recidivism in the Northern Territory. It provides the courts, community and Aboriginal women with an alternative option to a term of imprisonment.
Residents have access to tailored rehabilitation services that target the risk factors for criminal behaviours, as well as employment and training opportunities.
Alternative to Custody provides one-on-one case management, group therapy, recreation and healthy lifestyle activities. External service providers and professionals are also engaged to provide appropriate services to our residents.
Residents participate in outings, bush trips and cultural activities. They manage the kitchen meals and cleaning roster under the guidance of a 24/7 roster of support workers.
Alternative to Custody is set in a tranquil rural setting with individual accommodation units and a shared kitchen.
The Alternative to Custody program is an initiative of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and is funded by the Department of the Attorney-General & Justice Northern Territory. Click here for more information.
Eligibility Criteria
- Aboriginal women over the age of 18 at risk of offending or reoffending.
- Working, unemployed, regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
Methamphetamine Outreach Program
The Methamphetamine Outreach Program is an intervention, referral and intensive case management program that helps people to reduce the impact of ice on their lives, and to recover from their addiction.
This program provides outreach support in the community as well as the option for intensive support through residential rehabilitation at Aranda House if the person feels this is necessary.
Our team develops a plan with each client to identify their goals for reducing the harms of their ice use, and to make sure basic needs like food, money and housing are met.
Clients are supported to achieve their personal goals for recovery with:
- Case Management and advocacy
- Counselling (including drug awareness, relapse prevention and harm minimisation)
- Mental Health support
- Exercise activities for well-being
- Mentoring, including peer support and sharing of recovery stories
- Family reconnection
- Family drug awareness education, how to provide positive support
- A wrap-around service including coordination and case meetings with other key service providers and stakeholders
- Court support
- Help finding employment
Our team also provides:
- Community awareness and education
- Prison in-reach support and community re-integration
If you are concerned about your own or someone else's alcohol or other drug use, contact The National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015 or visit drughelp.gov.au
Eligibility Criteria
- People with methamphetamine addiction aged 17 and over – working, unemployed, aboriginal, non-aboriginal, regardless of (dis)ability, culture, sexual orientation or ability to afford services.
- Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, inter-sex, or just not sure, you are ALL very welcome here.
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
‘This program is supported by funding from the Northern Territory PHN. DASA acknowledges financial and other support of the Northern Territory PHN and the Primary Health Networks Program – an Australian Government Initiative.’
Anindilyakwa Healing Centre
The ATC program on Groote Eylandt is in development and will become a 32-bed facility that offers a tailored residential program of 6 months for Aboriginal men who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing interactions with the justice system.
Therapeutic programs will target risk factors that contribute to interactions with the justice system.
This program will be developed and led with a cultural lens, in partnership with the Anindilyakwa Land Council & the Aboriginal Justice Unit (Northern Territory Government).
The project will provide access to employment and training opportunities as well as tailored rehabilitation services, to ensure men do not have any further negative contact with the criminal justice system.
It is expected that intakes to this service will commence in late 2023.
The Alternative to Custody program is an initiative of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement and is funded by the Department of the Attorney-General & Justice Northern Territory. Click here for more information.
DASA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Anindilyakwa people of Groote Eylandt.
Eligibility Criteria
- Aboriginal or TSI
- Male
- 18 years or older
- Must be a resident of the Northern Territory
- Must have cultural connection to Groote Eylandt, as confirmed by representatives of the Marble Point Justice Camp Referral Group
- Involvement or risk of involvement with the Justice system
To make a referral, complete the referral form below:
The Team
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DASA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, the Arrernte people of Central Australia.
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Artwork by © Amunda Gorey