WA Diversion Progam

Accessible to offenders via WA’s court system, our Diversion Program helps people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) concerns break the cycle of AOD use and related offending and harm.

About the program

Our early intervention program provides three one-on-one counselling sessions that help offenders address their AOD-related behaviours. One of our specialist AOD counsellors will listen to participants’ experiences without judgement and provide a space to talk freely, helping them to:

• identify and avoid AOD-use triggers
• assess the role AOD substance may play in their lives
• prevent relapses and access other support services
• improve their physical health and mental wellbeing
• promote behavioural change and reduce the likelihood of reoffending.

The program also serves as an opportunity for participants to experience the counselling process and potentially recognise the value of seeking support – not only AOD counselling, but other support services that may help them make better decisions and achieve positive changes.

Accessing the program

The program operates in Midland, Armadale, Perth, Northam and Joondalup. Participants are not restricted to the location their offences take place.

Each location (or court) has its own Diversion Officer who is responsible for assessing the suitability and eligibility of offenders for the program. Our officers liaise with key stakeholders, including Legal Aid, court orderlies and the Court Welfare and Prosecution teams to identify potential participants.

Prospective participants can also approach the Diversion Officer directly in court on the day of their appearance and ask to participate in the program. Duty lawyers can also approach our officers on behalf of their clients to request an assessment by one of our officers.

Our officers will assess prospective participants and then direct the assessment to the magistrates as a report describing the participant’s current stressors and suitability for the program. On approval, the participant will have a 6-8 week remand period in which to complete their counselling sessions.

The Diversion Officer will assign a counsellor that best suits each participant. The counsellor will then book a minimum three counselling sessions with the participant, although more than three sessions can be completed in the remand period. At the end of the remand period, when the participant returns to court for sentencing, we will send a report to key stakeholders, including the prosecution team, the Legal Aid team and the court for the magistrate to review a week prior to the return court date.

If the approved participant is unable to complete the minimum three counselling sessions, we can make a request for a further remand period of 4-6 weeks.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the program, offenders must be open to participating in AOD counselling and meet the following criteria:

• they must have pleaded guilty
• they must not have an extensive criminal record for serious offences (i.e. sexual offences, drug trafficking or intent to sell or supply, high-level violence offences)
• they must not be facing a mandatory prison sentence (eligible participants are typically facing a fine, Community Based Order or Intensive Supervision Order)
• they must admit to using alcohol and other drugs, illicit or volatile substances, or illicit use of prescription medication.

The WA Diversion Program is managed by the Mental Health Commission with support from key stakeholders, including the Department of Justice and the WA Police. For more information, contact us on 9416 4444 or email clientservices@holyoake.org.au

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