Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT)

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

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