I was brought up by parents who were ‘functioning alcoholics’ and I have been nursing in the AOD sector for over 12 years. I feel my family history may have been the reason I was drawn to this area of nursing. I love connecting with people and hope I can help them and their families along their journey to recovery.

I realised that people who become addicted aren’t bad people, they’re regular people who’ve faced adversity in their lives and been led to drugs as a way to cope or even survive. We need to recognise that addiction is a signal that people need help and that it is a health issue that can be treated.

Our job is not to “fix” people. It is to facilitate their individual recovery journey and embrace the notion that from “little things big things grow”.

GP put me in touch with a service. They saved my life. Don’t quit till the miracle happens they tell me. Funny how it works out if you give yourself a chance.

I realised I had to stop lying. Lying to myself and to them. Two kids, no house, no mates. I had nothing. I thought, I need to stop this. Now I go once a week to see my counsellor. I made a promise to myself I would try this. It’s working so far.

Looking back, addiction in one form or another had always controlled my life. In the end the drinking, gambling and drugs caught up with me and those I loved. But rehab gave me the break I needed. My life has turned around thanks to the support I received and the courage I took to look for help.

I spent three years using various substances to feel ‘ok’ in my own skin after years of vicious bullying from my peers. After two years of multiple attempts I completed my final detox and began to engage in peer support communities for help. I am now over 11 years clean and work in the support communities that helped me.

I was a professional woman with great hair and make-up by day, and a virtual derelict in my own home after 5 o'clock. Now, almost 6 years recovered from alcoholism, I will always advocate fiercely for hope, change, and possibilities.

I had experienced significant childhood trauma which I normalised. From the age of 13 I drank to blackout. One day a friend asked, ‘how’s the drinking going’ and I broke down. I rang a helpline that morning and my life started to turn around.

I’ve learnt to be more careful with who I have in my life, I guess that’s been one of the biggest changes. I have choices now. Before it was just drink, gamble, repeat