Anglicare programs support the supporters

Are you affected by someone else’s use of alcohol and/or other drugs? Anglicare offers a range of programs in the North and North West that can support you.

Anglicare’s SMART Family and Friends program offers face-to-face group sessions where people come together to meet other people experiencing similar challenges, develop coping strategies and build resilience. Registrations are essential. They can be made by emailing smart@anglicare-tas.org.au, phoning us on 1800 243 232 or using an online form on our website. There are spots available in two-day sessions to be held at the Northern Suburbs Community Centre in Newnham in October and November.

Anglicare’s Family Support Service is free and confidential. It provides one-to-one support to family members such as partners, children, siblings and grandparents. It also provides support to people who have an unrelated love one. Anyone living in the North and North West can access the Family Support Service. You don’t need a referral from another service to enroll. It is available on the phone or in person at your nearest Anglicare office (Burnie, Devonport and Launceston). We can also come to your home. Your support can run for as long as you need it to.

Another avenue for support is for people living in the Break O’Day municipality in the North East. The Break O’Day Alcohol and Drug Service offers counselling and practical help to both people with addiction and their loved ones, either over the phone or face-to-face in your home or at Anglicare’s St Helens office. Further details are available on 1800 243 232 or you can email Anglicare’s community engagement team at ConnectSupport@anglicare-tas.org.au

A good first port of call is the Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline, which Anglicare operates from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. The number is 1800 161 266. Callers will speak with a counsellor who can explain the various programs so you can choose an option that best suits you. If you live in the South, we can direct and refer you to other government services.

Anglicare Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service Practitioner Katie Fisher is a Practitioner working in Anglicare’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment Service in Launceston.

“Being able to walk alongside people on their journey of change is an amazing feeling. I feel very privileged to share this space with the individuals I support,” she said.

Alveen’s* story

Alveen’s close family member, a young woman named Justine*, died in a vehicle accident where speed and alcohol were found to have been contributing factors.

Alveen says that on the surface, Justine functioned very highly in her employment and personal life and often showed no signs of having consumed large quantities of alcohol.

When Alveen brought up her concerns with Justine, they were quickly brushed off.

“When Justine entered a room, the room became brighter,” Alveen recalls. “None of her friends suspected her dependence on alcohol until they began to reflect on some of her behaviour traits towards the end.”

Alveen encourages people who are grieving the loss of a loved one, or who hold safety concerns for a loved one, to reach out for support.

“I didn’t know what to do or where I could go until it was too late,” she said.

*Names have been changed to protect individuals’ privacy.  

Are you experiencing grief?

Anglicare’s services can help people to process the grief that comes from watching a loved one being harmed by alcohol and/or other drugs. Please call the Alcohol and Other Drug Helpline on 1800 161 266 and ask to be put in touch with one of our counsellors.

Lifeline Tasmania can also help. In the event of an emergency, always contact 000.