A Lifeline, Not a Cost | 1 | The Aborigines & Islanders Alcohol Relief Service (AIARS) has been providing accommodation and drug and alcohol counselling to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians for thirty one years. The service has always been funded by the Australian Federal Government with approximately $1.6 million each year. In October this year, staff and patients received news that funding was to cease at the end of November, giving them only six weeks notice of the closure of the service. This abrupt decision has left AIARS no choice but to close its doors. The service will no longer operate after this date. AIARS owns two properties, Douglas House in Cairns, and Rose Colless Haven near Mareeba. The clients of AIARS now face an uncertain future, many of whom admit that without AIARS they will have little hope of battling, let alone beating, their addictions. Nelson, from Mareeba, has already done one stint of six months at Rose Colless. This is his second visit and had only been here for eight days when he heard about news of the closure. As he sits by the campfire at Rose Colless Haven Nelson ponders his immediate future. "I'll just have to go back home."

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The Aborigines & Islanders Alcohol Relief Service (AIARS) has been providing accommodation and drug and alcohol counselling to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians for thirty one years. The service has always been funded by the Australian Federal Government with approximately $1.6 million each year. In October this year, staff and patients received news that funding was to cease at the end of November, giving them only six weeks notice of the closure of the service. This abrupt decision has left AIARS no choice but to close its doors. The service will no longer operate after this date. AIARS owns two properties, Douglas House in Cairns, and Rose Colless Haven near Mareeba. The clients of AIARS now face an uncertain future, many of whom admit that without AIARS they will have little hope of battling, let alone beating, their addictions. Nelson, from Mareeba, has already done one stint of six months at Rose Colless. This is his second visit and had only been here for eight days when he heard about news of the closure. As he sits by the campfire at Rose Colless Haven Nelson ponders his immediate future. "I'll just have to go back home." : A Lifeline, Not a Cost : Sean Davey / Photographs

The Aborigines & Islanders Alcohol Relief Service (AIARS) has been providing accommodation and drug and alcohol counselling to indigenous and non-indigenous Australians for thirty one years. The service has always been funded by the Australian Federal Government with approximately $1.6 million each year. In October this year, staff and patients received news that funding was to cease at the end of November, giving them only six weeks notice of the closure of the service. This abrupt decision has left AIARS no choice but to close its doors. The service will no longer operate after this date. AIARS owns two properties, Douglas House in Cairns, and Rose Colless Haven near Mareeba. The clients of AIARS now face an uncertain future, many of whom admit that without AIARS they will have little hope of battling, let alone beating, their addictions. Nelson, from Mareeba, has already done one stint of six months at Rose Colless. This is his second visit and had only been here for eight days when he heard about news of the closure. As he sits by the campfire at Rose Colless Haven Nelson ponders his immediate future. "I'll just have to go back home."

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