“Practitioners are telling us quite powerfully that there just aren’t enough support services and diversionary programs available in time, particularly with those suffering from ice addiction or other forms of addiction such as alcohol abuse,” Mr Pesutto said.

“That is quite concerning because a lot is happening in Melbourne and we just want to make sure that the government is responding to that need and not ignoring the regions.”

Criminal lawyer Matthew Senia from Dwyer Robinson said limited resources were available for people with alcohol and mental health problems.

“It’s very difficult to find programs for those people, particularly in the criminal realm,” he said.

“The residential rehabilitation programs are far and few between and there are huge waiting lists so sometimes they have to wait months and months to get into a program.”

He said mental health issues or drug abuse are often the underlying causes of offending.

“The lack of services can lead to an increase in offending or a decrease in the likelihood that they’re going to be able to integrate back into the community,” he said.

South West Coast MP Roma Britnell said the meeting’s emphasis was to listen to those working “on the ground”.

“One thing discussed today was that the programs that aren’t available actually do need to be in the region because the disconnect with families is one of the reasons people won’t participate,” she said.

“That intense need for family is heightened when you’re in crisis mode.”

This month the state government announced $57.6 million as part of its Ice Action Plan, including a new $32 million Drug Court in Melbourne and $6 million for an 18-20 bed mental healthy facility in the Grampians region.