In a significant win for Greater Bendigo’s most vulnerable residents, Bendigo Community Health Services has been awarded a $750,000 Victorian Government grant to enhance its Specialist Pharmacotherapy Program.
BCHS AOD and Mental Health Services Operations Manager Cilla Boucher said the Department of Health funding, to be delivered over three years, will improve how opioid dependence treatment is delivered and address critical service gaps that have long challenged patients and healthcare providers.
“This is absolutely transformative,” said Cilla.
“For too long, we’ve had to turn away new clients due to limited prescriber capacity. Now we can open our doors again to those who desperately need this life-saving treatment.”
The funds will support four major service improvements: a dedicated Long-Acting Injectable Buprenorphine clinic, an Integrated Care Clinic for primary health needs, a dedicated AOD Navigator to support clients with service access, and a telehealth partnership with Western Health’s addiction specialists.
Cilla said the partnership with Western Health is particularly groundbreaking for regional clients.
“This collaboration is a game changer,” she said. “Accessing specialist knowledge in the regions means people won’t have to travel to Melbourne. They can simply attend the clinic as normal at Kangaroo Flat, in the safety and familiarity of the service and staff they already know and trust.”
BCHS has delivered Opioid Dependence Treatment since 1992 and currently supports 173 clients, with nearly two-thirds being men aged between 41-60 years.
Among these clients, 79 per cent do not have a current GP and 78 per cent are unemployed, highlighting the complex social barriers many face.
“These aren’t just statistics – they’re people with real struggles who deserve compassionate, comprehensive care,” Cilla said.
John, a client who has been with the service for eight years, said before coming to BCHS, he was constantly in and out of hospital.
“Now I have stability, I’ve reconnected with my family, and for the first time in 15 years, I have hope for my future,” he said. “The staff here don’t judge – they treat you like a person, not a problem.”
Cilla said for those struggling with opioid dependence in Greater Bendigo, this announcement represents hope, dignity, and a community that cares.
“Our clients are at the heart of everything we do,” she said. “This grant means we can now say ‘yes’ to more people who reach out for help.”
BCHS CEO Mandy Hutchinson said the grant will have flow-on benefits for Greater Bendigo’s strained healthcare system.
“By providing specialised, community-based treatment, BCHS will help alleviate pressure on emergency departments and acute services,” Mandy said.
“And we’re not just treating individuals; we’re strengthening the entire system. By collaborating and sharing knowledge, we’re building something sustainable that will benefit our community for years to come.”
The enhanced model is expected to increase service capacity from 173 to more than 250 clients – a substantial boost in a region where only 28 percent of people with opioid dependence receive treatment, with even lower rates in outlying rural areas.
The project will begin in mid-2025, with services gradually expanded over the three-year funding period.
ABOVE: AOD Clinical Services Senior Leader Amanda Gould and AOD and Mental Health Services Operations Manager Cilla Boucher.
