Community
30 May, 2025
Lookout Centre back on agenda
THE proposed Lookout Residential Rehabilitation Centre is back on the agenda, with funding secured to investigate its feasibility.
WRAD Health has received one-off funding from the Victorian Department of Health to undertake a comprehensive feasibility study for The Lookout — the proposed alcohol and other drug (AOD) residential rehabilitation centre for south-west Victoria.
The funding will enable WRAD Health to explore site options in partnership with Eastern Maar Traditional Owners, co-design a culturally safe and effective model of care for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples, develop a detailed business case and governance model, and ensure strong community input at every step.
It is the first time that the long-mooted project has received any government funding.
WRAD Health and the south-west community have been campaigning for a regional residential rehabilitation facility for almost a decade.
More than $600,000 was committed locally to a fund-raising campaign to support the project.
Warrnambool City Council mayor Ben Blain said this was a great step forward for WRAD and for community health.
“It’s widely acknowledged that our region is in need of a dedicated alcohol and other drug rehabilitation centre,” Cr Blain said.
“Well done to WRAD and the agencies pushing for this to occur.”
WRAD Health CEO Mark Powell said the feasibility study was a major step forward for the project.
“We are pleased that the Department of Health is supporting the feasibility study for the Lookout,” Mr Powell said.
“We are especially proud that this process will be led in genuine partnership with Traditional Owner groups and supported by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), with workshops involving Elders, health leaders, community members, and people with lived experience.”
Mr Powell had earlier met with Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt to discuss the proposal for The Lookout — a culturally safe, trauma-informed residential rehabilitation centre.
It is expected the feasibility study will start soon and be completed within 12 months.
“We see this feasibility study as an important step forward in establishing a local healing and recovery centre for the Great South Coast,” Mr Powell said.
“We remain committed to seeing this important missing part of the treatment continuum to be ‘on country’ in this region.”
Residential treatment is seen as an important part of a continuum of services that also includes early intervention, outpatient and day treatment to address clients’ individual needs.
