Our Odyssey Multicultural Programs team deliver specialised Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services in western and south-western Sydney. These services included AOD counselling and support for individuals from CALD backgrounds as well as community engagement, research, and resources development to support CALD individuals and families.
“This added service aims to strengthen and support community partnerships to collectively contribute to preventing harm related to substance use, identified within cultural and linguistically diverse communities. Our organisation’s key priority is to ensure that clients can receive continuity of care and have equitable access to services that are culturally responsive, safe, and of high quality.” Julie Babineau, CEO, Odyssey NSW. We’re very excited by this opportunity and look forward to providing this new suite of services.
Services
We provide culturally appropriate support services for individuals and families from a CALD background affected by drug and alcohol-related issues.
Counselling Services
Our counselling service is a specialist multicultural service that has a particular focus on meeting the needs of people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Our service is based on a strengths based model modified to be culturally sensitive, and where possible provided in appropriate community languages. Our team of qualified Counsellors, Psychotherapists and Psychologists provides:
- Drug, alcohol and psychological assessments
- Counselling for individuals, families and couples
- Referrals to other services
- Culturally appropriate treatment
- We have bilingual counsellors that can speak: Akan, Arabic, Cantonese, English, Ewe, Farsi, Ga, Hindi, Khmer, Lao, Liberian Creole, Mandarin, Samoan, Tamil, Teo Chiew, Tongan Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese and some African languages.
Transitions Program
After being released from prison, reintegrating into society may be a difficult process for many formerly incarcerated people, who frequently face substantial difficulties along the way. These difficulties may be further exacerbated by factors such as socioeconomic adversity and the presence of multiple complexities such as substance use, mental illness, homelessness and unemployment.
For people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds who are just released from incarceration, reintegrate back into society may be difficult due to factors such as stigma and shame, language barriers, community constraints and lack of knowledge or misinformation.
The Transitions Program as part of the Multicultural Program at Odyssey House NSW is a culturally appropriate service that provides intensive case management and a range of supports during pre-release, assessment, and post release. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of people from CALD backgrounds utilising a holistic approach, as they make the transition from incarceration to community.
The Transitions program is designed to promote cultural safety, respect cultural values, and bridge the culture gap in the health system around understandings of health, which encompasses mental health, physical health, cultural health, and spiritual health.
With the objective of reducing recidivism and risk to the community, the Transitions Program program strives to work towards 10 crucial areas as the significant determinants of effective reintegration:
- Embrace diversity and accommodate cultural differences
- Promote open and cross-cultural communication
- Connection to culture, beliefs and community
- Obtain accommodation
- Assist with Centrelink payments and services
- Gain employment and/or return to work
- Foster daily living skills
- Improve relationships with family and peers
- Provide brief intervention for drug and alcohol harm minimisation
- Referral pathways to other services
For participants
- Intensive case management support for up to 6 months post-release.
- Home visit/community-based support.
- Information and referrals to services and programs including:
- Housing and accommodation
- Family and community support
- Financial support services
- Alcohol and Other Drug Services
- Employment
- Education
- Training
- Health
- Legal
Family support
- Information and support for families and transitional support issues
- Home visit/community-based support
Criteria
- Priority for this service is given to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse individuals in custody.
- Due for release (referrals will be accepted at any time up to 12 weeks prior to release)
- A history of AOD and other related issues
- Over 18 years of age
- Participation in the Transitions Program us not a condition of parole
The Transitions Program acknowledges the significance of linguistic and cultural identity and encourages communicative practices that are both open and culturally sensitive in order to establish robust cultural ties. Case managers are culturally informed and speak a variety of languages, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic, Samoan and some African languages.
Other Services
- Education for CALD communities and services on alcohol and other drug issues
- Research; and
- Training for other drug and alcohol services to help services provide culturally appropriate treatment and support to people from CALD backgrounds
Referrals
Odyssey Multicultural Programs – please contact 02 8706 0150 or multicultural@odysseyhouse.com.au
Who can make a referral:
- Correctional Services
- Community Corrections
- Health services
- Community organisations
- Self
- Family
- Friends
Contact the Odyssey Multicultural Program
Location: Liverpool
Suite 15, Level 4
13-15 Moore Street
Liverpool NSW 2170
T: 02 9030 1758
Location: Blacktown
Suite 102, Level 1,
114-116 Main St
Blacktown NSW 2148
T: 02 9030 1758
