Our history
The need for a local service that would provide support for Yarrabah people who were battling with alcohol/drug dependency issues was first identified by the local community in the late 1970’s/early 1980’s.
The current location of Gindaja’s Residential Recovery Centre was approved by the then Yarrabah Community Council , surrounding families and the Traditional Owners ‘the Gunggandji People’ at Juyuga. During this time the Gindaja Committee sought the support of Douglas House and was later incorporated as a separate organisation under the Aboriginal Corporations Act, in the name of Yarrabah Substance Misuse Aboriginal Corporation (YSMAC). Since then, the Centre changed its name to Gindaja Substance Misuse Aboriginal Corporation and in 2015 became known as ‘Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation’.
Gindaja has come a long way since these early days thanks to the dedicated work of many community members and volunteers, the Gindaja Board of Directors, the various funding bodies that have supported our mission and vision, and of course the deadly staff who have been so committed over the years to making Gindaja a ‘safe and healthy place for our people to come’. The service now has a streamlined, professional approach and more programs than ever available to clients.