Only a few days out from August 31st – International Overdose Awareness Day – and Harm Reduction Australia applauds the decision by Victorian Coroner Simon McGregor to recommend that there be better access to evidence-based drug harm reduction services – including a supervised injecting facility (SIF) – in Greater Geelong.
A campaign to establish a SIF has been running for quite some time due to the significant increase in heroin related overdose deaths over the past decade. Between 2015 and 2024, the annual number of heroin-involved deaths increased from 172 to 248 in the Geelog Region. Preliminary figures indicate the number has grown to 261 in 2025.
The Coroner’s recommendation follows an investigation into the death of a Geelong woman. The 33-year-old was found unresponsive in her bedroom by a family member on December 5th 2025 at approximately 7:25pm. Ambulance paramedics attended the scene and pronounced her deceased. Several drugs were found near the deceased and a post-mortem examination showed combined drug toxicity – including heroin – caused her death.
In Victoria only one SIF is currently in operation, the Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR) located in North Richmond. Evaluations of MSIR have consistently shown that this facility has successfully reversed thousands of overdoses and up to 63 lives saved (2023). However, current State legislation only permits one MSIR in the state of Victoria. The law will need to be changed to permit a similar facility to be set up in Geelong.
The Coroner stated, “I have been unable to identify any public health grounds to justify limiting Victoria to one medically supervised injecting centre at a time.”
Given this statement, a SIF should be establishe as soon as possible in Geelong.