Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I had the pleasure of visiting Nas Recovery Centre in Cranbourne West last week. The vicious circle of substance abuse issues often makes a person feel isolated and ashamed, making it even harder to ask for help. It's no secret that the pathway to recovery can be particularly daunting for young people from a CALD background, who are confronted with the unique challenges of their cultural identity.

Nas Recovery Centre, a community based alcohol and other drug and mental health treatment service, focuses tirelessly on breaking this vicious circle among African communities. Its mission is to create a safe space for people of African backgrounds, by reducing sociocultural barriers to accessing treatment and providing evidence based and culturally informed support.

NRC's signature eight-week intensive Path2home program offers a range of therapeutic cultural and social events to assist consumers to reintegrate with their community in healthy ways. I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated team at Nas Recovery Centre for their commitment to empowering African-origin youth in my community. Thanks to my high-school friend Managing Director Nyachan Nyak for inviting me to visit their premises and putting on a delicious afternoon tea.

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