Community
17 October, 2025
Fundraising dinner for WRAD birthday
WRAD Health is celebrating its 40th anniversary with a special fundraising dinner that will help it launch into the future.
The $100 per head dinner on Thursday, November 13 at The Pavilion in Warrnambool will honour the health service’s history while helping it to continue expanding its services for the community.
“Every dollar raised will go directly back into improving healthcare services for south-West Victoria, including bulk-billing GP, mental health, alcohol and other drug support, family and loved ones’ support, youth outreach and more,” CEO Mark Powell said.
“As a not-for-profit service, we’re always limited in funds to provide the types of free and low-cost services that we do for the community so this is an opportunity to raise much-needed funds to continue offering our diverse range of services.”
There will also be a 40th birthday sausage sizzle at the WRAD Health building in Merri Street on Wednesday November 19, between 12 and 2 pm.
WRAD Health was registered as a not-for-profit charitable organisation on January 1, 1986.
The organisation started as the Western Regional Association for Alcohol and Drug Dependence (WRAADD) in 1986 with three staff members, a rented residence and less than 40 clients.
It later changed to Western Regional Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD) and more recently WRAD Health to better reflect its broader health services.
Mr Powell said WRAD Health was born out of community need, having started after concerns in the local Apex club about the high rate of alcohol use in the region.
“It’s important to honour our origins as a community-based service which has continued to grow to meet the changing needs of the community,” Mr Powell said.
“Over time, WRAD Health has expanded to support people, including pharmacotherapy and more recently providing a bulk-billing medical practice to provide accessible and affordable care to the broader community.
Mr Powell said WRAD Health was grateful for the ongoing partnerships with key agencies.
“We will continue to expand our partnerships to ensure we provide the best possible services,” he said.
WRAD Health is continuing to lobby for a residential rehab centre and has almost completed a new feasibility study to seek funding for the Lookout.
“We are also very aware of the need for integrated health services to meet the co-morbid health conditions of people presenting to our medical services,” Mr Powell said.
“We will be seeking to expand our services to house integrated health care for the community from a new purpose-built building.”
