During our visit, Dr Nico Clark, who was the director of the facility at the time, guided Helen Clark and our film crew through the service, explaining how it operates. Our visit was featured in the recap video we produced for the conference’s closing ceremony. Now, we’ve created a longer, more in-depth version of this memorable experience. Watch our short documentary below and join Helen Clark as she explores Melbourne’s supervised injecting room.

Since 2018, the North Richmond MSIR has provided a safe, hygienic environment where people can inject their own drugs under medical supervision. Established in response to a high number of fatal heroin overdoses in the area, the facility also offers healthcare, infectious disease testing and treatment, addiction treatment, and social support.

Originally launched as a pilot project, the facility became a permanent service in 2023. By the end of 2025, it had recorded more than 600,000 visits and managed over 11,000 overdoses, without a single overdose fatality. Research published in 2026 found a 70.7% reduction in heroin-related ambulance attendances in the surrounding area between 2018 and 2023.

Despite these achievements, the facility has faced controversy. In 2025, the local council called for its relocation, citing concerns from nearby residents and a neighbouring primary school. While acknowledging the service’s life-saving role, the council argued that a more suitable location was needed. However, the Victorian government rejected calls to relocate the facility and reaffirmed its support for its continued operation at the current site.

During her visit, Helen Clark expressed her appreciation for the staff and the comprehensive range of services provided by the facility.

“The truth is that people are alive because of what you do.”

She emphasised the importance of seeing such services firsthand and added:

“And to see the holistic range of services you have here, supporting the most vulnerable in the community, is really heartwarming. And to think that it’s all paid for by the public purse is particularly encouraging.”

She also stressed the need to expand these services:

“And clearly there’s a need for much more of it, not only in this city and state, but across Australia. My own country has nothing like this.”

Video: István Gábor Takács