Community
14 January, 2026
More support for addicts in clinic expansion
Orticare, the Grampians Loddon Mallee Pharmacotherapy Network, has expanded its Opioid Management Clinic hours in the Grampians Loddon Mallee region from January 1, 2026.
A LIFE-saving harm reduction Opioid Management Clinic has expanded its reach across regional Victoria.
Orticare, the Grampians Loddon Mallee Pharmacotherapy Network, has expanded its Opioid Management Clinic hours in the Grampians Loddon Mallee region from January 1, 2026.
Based in Ballarat, the expansion follows the recruitment of the immediate past chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP) Alcohol and Other Drug committee, Dr Eric Hadinata, an Addiction Medicine Specialist. Dr Hadinata will join the clinic’s existing Addiction Medicine Physician, Dr Adam Straub.
The clinic supports healthcare professionals and improves access to opioid pharmacotherapy services.
Orticare manager Pauline Molloy said the service is growing to meet demand and provide equitable access to services across regional Victoria.
“We have been at full capacity with an appointment wait time of up to seven weeks and there has been no similar program operating in the Barwon and Gippsland, so this expansion is timely,” Ms Molloy said.
The clinic provides expert opioid pharmacotherapy support for prescribers such as GPs and Nurse Practitioners to manage patients that are using opioids.
Ms Molloy described the clinic as an important service that gives prescribers expert advice to continue managing their patients.
Over the past year, Orticare has received 222 patient referrals from healthcare professionals from 130 different prescribers, including 37 that were referred more than once.
The clinic is designed to reduce barriers and support consistent engagement and achieves a 92.34% attendance rate. “We know as we’ve been told by the number of repeat referring prescribers that the model we have works,” Ms Molloy said.
“Feedback from practitioners has highlighted how the clinic has increased their confidence in prescribing opioid pharmacotherapy and empowered them to continue caring for patients.”
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