The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, has seen the work of Defence’s own alcohol rehabilitation program during a visit to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Richmond today. The Alcohol Rehabilitation and Education Program (AREP) is a four-week course which seeks to rehabilitate members who have been identified as having an alcohol dependency.

“AREP forms a part of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Mental Health Strategy, offering our Defence members a supportive, caring environment that focuses on the goal of alcohol abstinence in both the short and long term,” Mr Snowdon said. “It provides in-patient and out-patient rehabilitation for alcohol dependent Navy, Army and Air Force personnel. The program demonstrates Defence’s proactive stand on helping members with alcohol dependency, and returning them as effective members of the Defence workforce.”

Developed at RAAF Base Richmond in 1980, AREP was moved in to a dedicated facility in November 1997. In-patient courses typically take up to 12 members through at a time and offer them residential facilities while they receive treatment. “Trained counsellors and a dedicated facility at AREP give members the best qualitative care while they are in residence,” Mr Snowdon said.

During his visit, Mr Snowdon also visited other units at RAAF Base Richmond, which was formed in June of 1925 and remains the oldest operational Air Force base in Australia. “Personnel serving at RAAF Base Richmond are some of the most operationally active in Defence, and the base is home to our fleet of C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, which have been a vital part of our Defence airlift capability since the original C-130As were delivered in 1958.”