Apr 2, 2019
Our Orange-based withdrawal and residential rehab services are under the name of Wyla – the Aboriginal name given to the Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo local to the area.
These services (previously known as Lyndon Withdrawal and Wattlegrove) have always worked closely with each other. Being co-located will mean an even smoother transition for those completing withdrawal and then moving into our residential rehabilitation program.
We provide live-in withdrawal in a safe and supportive environment which includes educational and group activities. After an average length of stay of seven days, clients can then move into the recovery program for a live -in three-month drug and alcohol program for people aged 18 and over.
For more information about Wyla please call us on 1300 596 366.
Apr 2, 2019
Committed to partnership: Lives Lived Well CEO, Mitchell Giles and Bila Muuji CEO, Phil Naden.
Lives Lived Well has teamed up with Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Service to build capacity and professional development among regional health service providers through the Lives Lived Well Drug and Alcohol Network (previously the Murdi Paaki Drug and Alcohol Network).
The partnership was announced in Dubbo on 28 February, with CEOs of both organisations – Mitchell Giles and Phil Naden – signing a commitment to partnership to address health inequality in local communities.
Bila Muuji works with its members, including a large number of medical services across the region, to support the provision of improved services, addressing not just physical needs, but social, emotional and cultural well-being as well, for individuals and communities.
As a specialist alcohol and drug support organisation, we’ll bring our expertise to western NSW, by working to build capacity and professional development among regional health service providers.
Through the partnership both organisations will be stronger in their shared commitments, and are looking forward to realising genuine improvements for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Apr 2, 2019
Gambling harm doesn’t happen in isolation – it intersects with substance use, mental health, and everyday life.
At Lives Lived Well, we see the impact of gambling harm every day in our Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) services. Many of our clients don’t seek help for gambling, even when it’s causing significant distress. In fact, gambling often remains in the background – unspoken, unrecognised, and untreated (Hing et al., 2015). Yet, when we look at the bigger picture, the connection between gambling and substance use is undeniable (Yarbakhsh et al., 2023).
Our recent data shows that more than half of our AOD clients gamble, and within that group, nearly 1 in 3 are experiencing high-risk gambling. The overlap is even greater for certain substances: high-risk gambling is over four times more likely when methamphetamine use is present compared to alcohol use, and over than three times more likely compared to cannabis use. Additionally, we see that as gambling severity increases, so does depression and anxiety. These patterns highlight why gambling harm can’t be treated as an isolated issue, it needs to be considered alongside substance use and mental health.
Why Gambling Harm Often Goes Unnoticed in AOD Treatment
When we think about gambling harm, we are often guided by statistics from the general population. However, most people in the general population will never require treatment for gambling-related issues, with 0.67% of Queensland adults estimated to experience high-risk gambling (Department of Justice and Attorney-General, 2024). In AOD treatment settings, we see a very different picture – one where gambling harm is more concentrated and where the usual risk patterns shift. This means we must challenge common assumptions about who is at risk and ensure that our interventions are based on real-world data from those actually seeking support.
By embedding standardised screening, we remove subjectivity and prevent outdated stereotypes from influencing who gets help. Gambling harm doesn’t fit a single profile – it affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. AOD treatment presents a critical opportunity to engage people who are experiencing gambling harm but may never seek gambling-specific support. Many clients feel comfortable discussing their substance use but hesitate to talk about gambling due to stigma, shame, or simply not viewing it as an issue. Through systematic screening and proactive intervention, we help clients recognise and address gambling harm earlier, preventing crisis situations and supporting long-term recovery.
Putting This Into Perspective
Based on recent population data and gambling help-seeking rates, an estimated 4,458 people in Queensland with gambling problems accessed gambling counselling services in the past year (Australia Bureau of Statistics, 2021; Department of Justice and Attorney-General, 2024). However, within Queensland AOD treatment services alone, approximately 7,630 clients may have co-occurring gambling problems, yet many of them may not be receiving gambling-specific support (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024; Cowlishaw, 2014).*
*Please note that these numbers are based on available data and estimations, and actual figures may vary depending on various factors, including help-seeking behaviours and service access trends.
This highlights a significant gap between need and service access, reinforcing the importance of integrating gambling screening and intervention within AOD services to ensure clients receive comprehensive care. By taking a proactive, integrated, and harm reduction-focused approach, we can ensure that gambling harm is addressed within AOD treatment, helping more people access support before they reach crisis point.
Lives Lived Well’s Gambling Intervention team is available to present free workshops which focus on identification of gambling harm and brief interventions. This is available in workplaces across Queensland and can be tailored to your service. For enquiries please call 1300 727 957 to speak with the program coordinator, Georgia Dellosa or email georgia.dellosa@liveslivedwell.org.au.
To complete our free online Gambling Screening training, register here.
References
Australia Bureau of Statistics. (2021). 2021 Queensland, Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics. https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/3
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia annual report, Data. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services/alcohol-other-drug-treatment-services-australia/data
Cowlishaw, S. (2014). Comorbid problem gambling in substance users seeking treatment. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation.
Department of Justice and Attorney-General. (2024). Queensland Gambling Survey 2023: Final Report. Queensland Government. https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/50ba6699-7699-483b-bc27-ee737698a667/queensland-gambling-survey-2023-final-report.pdf?ETag=d597678c1f1a0d325a1a3b6dc6eca6d9
Hing, N., Russell, A., Nuske, E., & Gainsbury, S. (2015). The stigma of problem gambling: Causes, characteristics and consequences. Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation. https://responsiblegambling.vic.gov.au/documents/351/Hing-Stigma-of-problem-gambling-2015.pdf
Yarbakhsh, E., van der Sterren, A., & Bowles, D. (2023). Screening and Treatment for Co-occurring Gambling and Substance Use: A Scoping Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 39(4), 1699–1721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10899-023-10240-z
Dec 17, 2018
Unveiling the plaque: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon Michael McCormack, with Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen (left) and the Hon Di Farmer, State Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence.
Queensland families will have access to a unique drug and alcohol support service starting in the new year, following the official launch of our Family Recovery Units at Logan House on 12 December.
The program makes it possible for parents to receive support, while their young children stay with them on site in the two and three-bedroom units.
Parents can access wrap-around support on site at Logan including specialist alcohol and drug counselling and information, group sessions and parenting, life and health support, whilst having appropriate care arrangements set in place for their children.
The opening was jointly conducted by the Hon Michael McCormack, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, the Hon Di Farmer, State Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women and Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; along with Lives Lived Well Chair Damian Wright. The Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen and the Acting Logan Mayor, Cherie Dalley also attended.
The Australian Government invested $986,000 in the construction of the units, jointly funding it with Lives Lived Well, which contributed more than $1M. The Queensland Government has committed to providing $1.7M in funding over three years to support the operation of the family alcohol and drug recovery program at the units.
Speaking at the launch, Mr McCormack said he knew Logan House, set among gum trees in Logan’s rural southwest, would be a special place.
“People will look along this deck at this beautiful view and will see there is hope, there is a future. They will experience the warmth of the counsellors here, people who will share their expertise, their care, their compassion, their love and it will make a difference.”
Lives Lived Well Chair Damian Wright expressed gratitude for the funding support of both state and federal governments.
“This funding allows us to work closely with families to turn their lives around after the harms and disruption of alcohol and drugs,” Mr Wright said.
Dec 17, 2018
Our ICE Help service in Mackay in north Queensland is hosting a family support group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families affected by methamphetamine use.
The service provides counselling and other supports to family members – regardless of whether the person with the ice dependency is accessing our support. Offering support to families has proven to be a powerful early intervention strategy for our ICE Help service.
Lives Lived Well’s ICE Help service came into effect in April 2017, enabled by funding from the Northern Queensland PHN. From 1 April 2017 to 1 November this year, the service supported 305 clients – made up of a mix of people seeking help for problematic ice use, as well as their families.
Sixty-four per cent of the people seeking help for their own use of methamphetamine were male, while 55 per cent of people seeking help for a family member were female. The most common age range of clients and family members was 18 to 45 years.
Many of the people accessing ICE Help go on to engage with other Lives Lived Well services in Mackay, including psychosocial supports, day withdrawal and outreach. More information about our Mackay services here.
Dec 17, 2018
Opening our new space: From, left Lives Lived Well CEO Mitchell Giles, Lives Lived Well Board Members Raylee Taylor and David Tapsall, Senator James McGrath, Lives Lived Well Board Chair Damian Wright and Lives Lived Well Clinical Services Manager Leah Tickner.
Almost immediately after opening the doors of our Brisbane North service early in 2017, our staff were receiving referrals four times higher than predicted. Recognising this high demand for alcohol and drug support services in the region, the Federal Government announced an additional $11M in funding for the service in June 2018. That funding has now been put into action, with the opening of our new service for drug and alcohol support in Caboolture.
The extra funding has enabled Lives Lived Well to significantly boost the level of support we provide to people affected by the problematic use of alcohol and other drugs, including methamphetamine (ice).
Part of this funding will go towards constructing a 20-bed live-in recovery residence, due for completion in 2019.
Lives Lived Well CEO, Mitchell Giles said “the addition of withdrawal and rehabilitation day supports puts extra counsellors in the field and means more support for more people at different stages of their recovery over a longer period.
“Since opening in late 2016, our Brisbane North services have supported 1813 people, including 570 from the Caboolture area. Most named methamphetamine (ice) as their primary drug of concern, with alcohol and cannabis also presenting strongly,” Mr Giles said.
“In some ways this is a positive sign. It means people are recognising that they have a problem and are comfortable in coming forward for support. That step alone takes courage.”
People wishing to access our support services can refer themselves online or phone 1300 727 957 (QLD) or 1300 596 366 (NSW).
1300 727 957
