Northern Australia Service Area H&I Hub Report – July 2026

Northern Australia Service Area H&I Hub Report – July 2026

Summary

Below is an overview of Northern Australia H&I activity, highlighting distribution by facility type, monthly presentation load and comparison of metro and non-metro H&I delivery.

H&I Presentations by Facilities

Northern Australia delivers H&I presentations into four rehabs, three correctional centres, three mental health facilities and two detoxes.

H&I Presentation Breakdown

Each month, Northern Australia delivers 32 H&I presentations across 12 facilities.

Metro vs Non-Metro H&I

Metro delivers 27 H&I presentations per month compared with 5 in non‑metro areas, signalling opportunities to expand service capacity in rural and regional communities.

Breakdown of H&I Hub Service Delivery – July 2026

Facility Coverage

Northern Australia currently delivers H&I presentations across detox units, rehabilitation centres, mental health units, and correctional facilities. The table below summarises the distribution of facilities and presentation frequency across Cairns, Darwin, and Brisbane.

South East Queensland H&I Activity

The following facilities are located within SEQ and are already included in the totals above. Volunteer numbers and presentation frequency are listed to show current service capacity and gaps.

Current Key Initiatives and Requests in Progress

ARSC H&I Workgroup

The Region’s H&I Workgroup continues to operate as an open forum where members collaborate, share knowledge, and strengthen H&I service delivery. Northern Australia remains a strong contributor, with 14 representatives actively involved. There is also consistent crossover between Workgroup participation and H&I service delivery across Northern Australia.

Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court

The H&I Hub delivered a presentation to Qld Court Link staff in July to raise awareness of how NA can support their clients. Court Link is a voluntary, bail‑based support program within the Magistrates Courts that assists defendants in addressing underlying issues linked to their offending. The Hub has also been invited to present at the Court Link staff training day in November.

H&I Workshops

• Orientation Workshops

In collaboration with the ARSC H&I Workgroup, Northern Australia members supported the launch of monthly online orientation workshops for members preparing to begin H&I service. These sessions feature a panel of experienced H&I members who outline the core do’s and don’ts of H&I service and help new volunteers gain a clear understanding of expectations before entering facilities.

• H&I Workshops

An online H&I workshop was held on 26 July for Northern Australia members interested in learning more about H&I service, how it works, and the types of facilities we visit. The workshop featured a speaker panel with H&I experience and included a Q&A segment.

Correctional Centres

• Literature

Where face-to-face presentations cannot be delivered due to limited volunteer numbers, literature support continues. This month, literature was provided to Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.

Service Positions – Current Status

• H&I Hub Coordinator

The H&I Hub Coordinator stepped down in August 2025. The ARSC H&I Workgroup Coordinator has been covering the role in an acting capacity. The position will be open for nomination at the August Local Service Conference.

• H&I Workgroup

As a result of increasing demand, the Hub is looking to create a dedicated Workgroup to coordinate facility liaison, literature distribution, PR activities, volunteer recruitment and orientation.