Oct 4, 2018
Lives Lived Well had its footy debut on Saturday 15 September when it sponsored the Mudjilali Men’s Group to compete in a regional NSW rugby league knockout carnival. The Mudjilali Men’s Group drew its players from Wallaga Lake, Bega and Eden, ranging in ages from 16 to 42 years.
The NSW South Coast United Koori Rugby League Knockout carnival brought together 16 teams from across NSW for a one-day drug and alcohol-free event that helps to promote good health and lifestyle choices. LLW was proud to support this community event – for those involved in the team and in helping to spread positive health messages.
Dennis Scott, the Men’s Group Facilitator at Lives Lived Well’s South Coast Drug and Alcohol Service, who helped organise the team said it was a great outcome for them as many had not played together before and had not pulled on the boots for a few years. The team were proud to place fourth overall but more importantly enjoyed coming together as a community.
LLW was proud to support this team and congratulates them on their fine efforts.
Oct 4, 2018
Our mobile day support program Roadmaps is having a positive impact on the lives of people living in regional and rural NSW.
Roadmaps has only been operating since April but already, this free mobile alcohol and drug support program for adults is changing lives. Funded by the Western NSW PHN and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the six-week program has run in Gllgandra, Dubbo, Wellington, Nyngan and Warren.
David*, aged 25, participated in the program and is making big changes as a result.
David was referred to Roadmaps by Community Corrections. Since the age of 15 he has had a serious problem with cannabis. Community Corrections staff gave him two choices: enter live-in rehabilitation away from country or complete the Roadmaps program.
“The support and acceptance I got from the Roadmaps team encouraged me to keep going and the strategies I leaned have given me hope for the future,” he said. “My relationship with my partner has improved and I am doing things I never imagined. I’ve been out for lunch at a café and eaten my first ever ‘melt’. I’m walking the dogs and I’ve enrolled in TAFE to study a Certificate 2 in Construction.” Belonging to the Kamilaroi mob, David is taking his interest in art to the next level and has started selling his artwork online.
Jane* is another person whose life has turned around thanks to Roadmaps. She participated in the program when it ran in Gilgandra recently. Jane had been living a hermit lifestyle and was misusing ice on a daily basis.
“Roadmaps has provided me with a safe place to talk about things,” she said. “In the Roadmaps group I am around people who are making changes to their lifestyle, so we are all learning together and trying new skills. “I am feeling heaps better. I’m eating better and have put on some weight. We talk about respecting yourself and I am learning to do that and to believe in myself.”
Roadmaps provides intensive rehabilitation support which includes individual and group counselling sessions, information and referrals to other services.
People can join the program by self referring or being referred. For more information email DubboOutreach@liveslivedwell.org.au or phone 0429 927 714.
*Client names changed to protect privacy.
Oct 4, 2018
This quarter we were fortunate to acknowledge three of our people who received community or sector-based awards.
Our NSW Group Manager for Clinical Services, Michele Campbell (below right) was recognised for her alcohol and other drug support work, receiving an Outstanding Contribution Award at the Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (NADA) Conference in Sydney on 7 June.
This is an outstanding achievement for Michele, who has spent most of her working life in the AOD sector, in city-based and rural services.
Also awarded, by being named a Westfield local hero, was Jade Mirabito (below left), our LGBTIQAP+ Specialist Worker at headspace Southport.
His award acknowledged his work in supporting young people from the LGBTIQAP+ community. He was among 74 other community members nominated from the northern Gold Coast region and was thrilled to come away with $10,000 to be spent in his workplace on enhancing his role and its capability.
Jade certainly has been helping to make a difference at headspace Southport with the number of people accessing the service who identify as LGBTIQAP+, increasing by almost 100 people in the past year.
He has also shared his professional knowledge and lived experiences with his colleagues to help enhance our inclusive culture and shared understanding of the issues LGBTIQAP+ people face.
Jade facilitates a monthly LGBTIQAP+ Mental Health Professionals Network, which supports the region’s professional development options for those in the sector wanting to learn about LGBTIQAP+ people. Anyone can come along to these free sessions.
The third award went to Donna Meyers (above), our Team Leader at Lives Lived Well Mackay who received a Sarina Community NAIDOC Award for her outstanding contribution to the Sarina Indigenous Community. Donna accepted the award on behalf of all the work her team does in delivering alcohol and drug support to the community as part of their regular outreach services and in supporting brighter futures for community members.
The team also held an Ice Forum in Sarina in July to provide more information about how they can support people and families in Sarina.
We congratulate Michele, Jade and Donna on these work-based achievements.
Jun 20, 2018
Our support service in Caboolture, on Brisbane’s northern doorstep, has received a boost, with the Federal Government committing additional funding over three years to the region.
Federal Health Minister, Greg Hunt visited the service on 13 June to announce the funding. He said the Government’s decision to fund Lives Lived Well was based on the Brisbane North PHN’s needs assessment and acknowledged the work we’ve done in the area over the past 18 months.
We’ve started planning for a day-rehab, an ambulatory detox service, and additional services to complement our existing AOD program. The Federal Government also committed to capital development and funding for a new 20-bed residential facility – the first of its kind in the Caboolture region.
These new services are very much needed in this area. Since opening our Brisbane North Services 18 months ago, we’ve received referrals at a rate four times higher than predicted.
Our Caboolture team has seen 532 people from the area since early 2017, with most naming methamphetamines (Ice) as their primary drug of concern. Alcohol and cannabis also present strongly. About one in three people identify as having a co-occurring mental health condition.
The new Caboolture withdrawal service will be modeled on similar services we introduced late last year in Cairns and Mackay. These services are a vital stepping stone for people when they reach out for help to address problematic use of alcohol or drugs.
Jun 20, 2018
Western NSW PHN CEO, Andrew Harvey (left) with the Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton (fifth from left) joined us to celebrate the launch of Roadmaps.
Help to address drug and alcohol concerns is now closer at hand for those living in regional and rural NSW, with the launch of our new Roadmaps service.
Roadmaps is a mobile day support program providing intensive one-on-one and group counselling for adults in Nyngan, Wellington, Gilgandra and Warren. Each person can attend the free program for two days per week over six weeks.
The program is funded by the Western NSW PHN and the Australian Government. We were delighted to have the Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, and Western NSW PHN CEO, Andrew Harvey, officially launch the program in Dubbo on 14 June.
Speaking at the launch, Mr Coulton commended Lives Lived Well for introducing a service which is “mentoring people in their own communities to try and get through issues relating to drugs and alcohol”.
People entering the program will complete a comprehensive assessment, including a mental health assessment. Sessions will address concerns around alcohol and drug dependence, mental health, harm reduction, overdose and relapse prevention and family education.
More information about Roadmaps here.
Jun 20, 2018
Our Cairns team are providing intake and assessment, withdrawal support and community re-entry services.
We have a new service hub in Cairns, providing a central place for people to access withdrawal support, intake and assessment for residential treatment at Shanty Creek, and community re-entry support services for people leaving correctional services.
Moving to larger premises to host this hub, the new building also features two two-bedroom units, which are available to people transitioning into and out of our services.
The Member for Leichhardt, Warren Entsch, recently joined our CEO, Mitchell Giles, for the official opening of the new building at 139 Sheridan St, Cairns.
This is the first time we’ve been able to offer our clients transitional housing in Cairns. The units provide safe and secure accommodation for people while they participate in our withdrawal day program or prepare to return to country after completing residential treatment at nearby Shanty Creek.
If you’re in Cairns please pop in and say hello to our team. You can’t miss our building – it’s the one with bright green and blue tiles on the front!
1300 727 957
