What is your story? Tell us about your story from the beginning to where you are now?
21st September 2007 I was taken from Long Bay gaol (Ngara Nura program) to MTAR (methadone to abstinence rehab) I had just spent five and half years in prison for drug related crimes. During that time both my parents had died, I did not get to say goodbye or attend their funerals, no one’s fault bar mine. I had got out for a 7 week period during 2016, from Goulburn and two weeks later had received my inheritance. I thought at the time, this was the new start I had been waiting for, unfortunately I was an addict who did not understand his disease.
Five weeks later I was back in prison having used my inheritance on drugs. I was that broken I handed myself into Police, I wanted to be back in prison, where I had no responsibility and things made sense.
I ended up on 150mg of methadone. Lost, alone and scared that this was my lot in life, using and prison. I was that terrified this time, I asked for help.
I was 37 years old and had used for the last 23 years. My addiction had destroyed any potential I once had, I never set out on this path, but found myself in the middle of a nightmare.
At MTAR I was reduced off methadone and taken to Narcotics Anonymous meetings. I stayed in the program for 16 months, transitioning from residential to the community living part of the program. During this time I finished my parole, the first time in 20 years I wasn’t in prison or on some corrections order and started to study at Tafe. My life was starting to change.
I moved into public housing, which I’m forever grateful, finished my study and stated to work as a youth worker. First with the city of Sydney, then with the Youth Drug Court Program. Amazing in two years I’d gone from prison to working with young offenders, recovery was delivering the goods, all I had to do was turn up and do my best.
I then met my wife, who was also in recovery, both of us had made it out of addiction and Kings Cross. We then got custody of her son, who was 7 and began the next part of the journey. I have continued to participate in 12 step program and found it very important to go back in to prison regularly to give hope to other addicts.
I moved jobs into mental health and my career kept progressing. We then moved out of public housing into private housing. The two most empowering things I’ve achieved in recovery are, lodging my last Centrelink form and handing back the keys to my housing property, someone else just like me needed it more.
My wife and I then got married in Byron Bay, where we had met at an 12 step program convention 2 years earlier. It was an amazing day, with friends and very happy family.
In 2015 my daughter Ella was born. Wow, what a trip, I never thought this would happen for me, again recovery delivered, I just kept fronting up. I was now a manager at Foster House, a homeless shelter for men in Sydney. Crazy really, as I had lived there 15 years earlier as a homeless drug addict, I was so grateful how life had changed.
2016 I was invited by the NSW Premier to celebrate Australia day on a Navy ship in Sydney Harbour, I was invited for my service to the community, which made me proud, as all my addiction did was have me cause great harm to the community, the turnaround recovery offers still has me pinching myself.
2017 and I moved jobs and progressed my career further, working with homeless youth, where I continue to work, I love my job. I also sit on the board at Rainbow Lodge, a program for high risk men leaving prison, I was once a resident and I’m the first ex resident to sit on the board, a board that has two serving and two former judges, again if anyone said this to me nearly 13 years ago. I would never have thought anything that has happened possible.
My marriage ended in 2018 and I have been in a custody dispute since, which has been hard. I’m currently in the family court with 60% custody of my 4-year-old daughter and in the process of getting primary care of her by years end. I took my daughter and stepson to Europe in 2019 including Disneyland, standing on the Eiffel Tower with them, I was overcome with gratitude of what recovery has made possible.
I’m 12 years clean, thanks to choosing recovery over addiction, it’s not all roses, I been shown through 12 step program and a group of special men and women that no matter what happens using is not the solution and I wouldn’t change a thing. I am the man I am today, someone I’m very proud of because of my experiences in recovery, good and bad
What support systems helped you in your recovery?
Last but of most importance, my story was only possible because treatment centres receive funding, half way houses receive funding, our governments are spending 4 billion dollars on prisons and only a fraction of that on treatment, it’s crazy , makes no sense, the Ngara Nura program that started my journey has just been closed. Please support Recovery not Prisons.
Before and After
If you would like to share your story please email us at changetosurrender@gmail.com.
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