Public Intoxication Response

Ngwala’s Public Intoxication Response has been designed to prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of people who are intoxicated in public, rather than a justice led response. The service model provides culturally safe, welcoming supports for people who are intoxicated in public.

The PIR reform is central to the government progressing work including Burra Lotj pa Dunguludja, in responding to the Yoorook Justice Commission’s priorities, aligning with the Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework, and implementing the recommendations from the Royal Commission into mental health. More broadly the reforms also align with the national priorities of Closing the Gap.

The main aim of the PIR is to reduce the contact that Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who are intoxicated in public have with the justice system. In its place, the PIR provides access to a health-based response

How We Help

The PIR Program is based on the Department’s PIR Service Framework.

The Program consists of six key functions:

Engagement with people who are intoxicated with alcohol in public in a way that is respectful, culturally safe, approachable, builds trust and establishes rapport.

Screening to form an impression of a person’s presenting needs once a person is identified as requiring assistance or a call has been received notifying services that someone requires support.

In-place supports and assistance with consent, to provide immediate supports to the person including minor first aid, food/water, phone charging, support to locate friends or family, access to interpreters, assistance to get to public or private transport, or de-escalation if the person is distressed.

Transport with consent, to support a person to get to an identified place for them to sober up. This may be their home or place of residence, that of a friend or family member, or if no other options exist, a place of safety or sobering centre.

Monitoring and short-term care in a safe place where the person can sober up with consent, including supervised places of safety with regular checks undertaken to ensure a person’s condition has not deteriorated and that their care needs are met.

Follow-up and referrals after support has been provided with consent, to continue to support the person including appropriate referrals and information for the person to seek help with ongoing support.

Who can use this service?

A person who:

presents as intoxicated in public, is known to be or identifies as Aboriginal and appears to require support
can provide informed consent to a PIR, which requires them to have decision-making capacity and it is their preference to be referred to an Aboriginal-led service
might otherwise come into contact with the justice system
is within the Frankston, Gippsland, La Trobe, Metropolitan Melbourne, Mildura, Swan Hill or Wyndham area
does not have known serious health issues that require urgent medical attention.
does not pose a safety risk to themselves or other individuals.

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