Guides & Resources > Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT)

Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT)

Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) is a voluntary program available in most Local Courts in New South Wales that provides the opportunity for adult defendants with substance abuse problems to work towards rehabilitation as part of the bail process.

Defendants can be identified by the Magistrates, solicitor, police or the defendants themselves as suitable for assessment for the MERIT program.

The MERIT team will then conduct an assessment after which the defendant may be accepted into MERIT to receive targeted drug and alcohol treatment. The Court may make the defendants involvement in MERIT a bail condition of bail.

MERIT program targeting alcohol is available only at selected courts, whereas the majority of courts entry is restricted to those whose primary concern is illict drugs.

Participating Courts

Albion Park
Tel: 4254 2700
Fax: 4254 2771

Junee
Tel: 6923 5761
Fax: 6923 5751

Parramatta
Tel: 9840 3474
Fax: 8838 2025

Ballina
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

Katoomba
Tel: 4734 2131
Fax: 4734 3145

Penrith
Tel: 4734 2131
Fax: 4734 3145

Bankstown
Tel: 8778 0700
Fax: 8778 0768

Kempsey
Tel: 6586 6030
Fax: 6586 6040

​Picton
Tel: 8788 0700
Fax: 8788 0768

​Bathurst
Tel: 8788 0700
Fax: 8788 0768

​Kiama
Tel: 4254 2700
Fax: 4254 2771

​Port Kembla
Tel: 4254 2700
Fax: 4254 2771

​Blacktown
Tel: 9840 3474
Fax: 8838 2025

​Kyogle
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

​Port Macquarie
Tel: 6586 6030
Fax: 6586 6040

​Blayney
Tel: 6369 2070
Fax: 6361 4629

​Lismore
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

​Queanbeyan
Tel: 6299 1725
Fax: 6299 1426

​Broken Hill
Tel: (08) 8088 7199
Fax: (08) 8087 8970

​Liverpool
Tel: 8778 0700
Fax: 8778 0768

Raymond Terrace
Tel: 4016 4656
Fax: 4016 4661

Burwood
Tel: 9515 7611
Fax: 9515 3722

Maclean
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

Singleton
Tel: 6543 2677
Fax: 6541 4004

Byron Bay
Tel: (07) 5506 7010
Fax: (07) 5506 7022

Maitland
Tel: 4016 4656
Fax: 4016 4661

Sutherland
Tel: 9540 7464
Fax: 9540 7579

Campbelltown
Tel: 8778 0700
Fax: 8778 0768

Manly
Tel: 9462 9199
Fax: 9439 2973

Tamworth H
Tel: 6766 8081
Fax: 6766 8083

Casino
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

Milton
Tel: 4422 5822
Fax: 4422 9684

Toronto
Tel: 4016 4656
Fax: 4016 4661

Cessnock
Tel: 4016 4656
Fax: 4016 4661

Mt Druitt
Tel: 9840 3474
Fax: 8838 2025

Tweed Heads
Tel: (07) 5506 7010
Fax: (07) 5506 7022

Coffs Harbour
Tel: 6650 0126
Fax: 6650 0098

Mullimbimby
Tel: (07) 5506 7010
Fax: (07) 5506 7022

Wagga Wagga
Tel: 6923 5761
Fax: 6923 5751

Cooma
Tel: 6299 1725
Fax: 6299 1426

Murwillumbah
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

Wauchope
Tel: 6586 6030
Fax: 6586 6040

Downing Centre
Tel: 9332 8788
Fax: 9332 8789

Muswellbrook
Tel: 6543 2677
Fax: 6541 4004

Waverley S
Tel: 9211 9277
Fax: 9281 5490

Dubbo
Tel: 6881 4064
Fax: 6885 4577

Newcastle
Tel: 4016 4656
Fax: 4016 4661

Wellington
Tel: 6884 7089
Fax: 6885 4577

Fairfield
Tel: 8778 0700
Fax: 8778 0768

Newtown
Tel: 9515 7611
Fax: 9515 3722

Wilcannia
Tel: (08) 8088 7199
Fax: (08) 8087 8970

Forbes
Tel: 6369 2070
Fax: 6361 4629

Nowra
Tel: ​4422 5822
Fax: ​​4422 9684

Wollongong
Tel: 4254 2700
Fax: 4254 2771

Gosford
Tel: 4320 3057
Fax: 4320 2423

Oberon
Tel: 6392 6800
Fax: 6392 6805

Woy Woy
Tel: 4320 3057
Fax: 4320 2423

Grafton
Tel: 6620 7650
Fax: 6621 6212

Orange
Tel: 6369 2070
Fax: 6361 4629

Wyong C
Tel: 4356 9300
Fax: 4356 9305

Hornsby
Tel: 9462 9199
Fax: 9439 2973

​​Parkes
Tel: 6369 2070
Fax: 6361 4629