Conversation With...

This weekend I will... take my grandkids food shopping which we do every Saturday. Clean up the house, check that my disabled partner is comfortable and then get my computer and see what work needs completing.

I wish I'd never... there are too many to list but I guess my first time I got into trouble with either the police or drug and alcohol. Who knows how my life may have been different.

I'd originally planned to work... wherever I could get a job and the last place on my mind was working in drug and alcohol. Growing up in Darwin meant that I was a user and abuser of substances and to have now come full circle is very strange but rewarding.

The qualities I most value in my colleagues are... honesty, and commitment to working for an NGO which means a lot of unpaid hours. That we all get on and are supportive of each other both with work and personal issues.

I'll never forget... … the first client who graduated from our Resi Rehab who was so excited that not only were his mental health issues dealt with but he was also drug and alcohol free. He has moved back to his community where he is now a functioning and valued member.

If I had more time, I'd... write a book, learn to play a guitar, write more funding submissions, run for Parliament.

I'm most scared of… life slipping by whist all around me people are still consumed by drug and alcohol issues with not a lot of help. 

For my next holiday... Bali which I have been to multiple times. Love the people, love the weather. Although I would love to take the grandkids to Disneyland.

I can't get enough of... like most people sleep. I average 5-6 hours a night. My partner has carers come in at 6.30am. I never get a sleep in…haha.

I'm really terrible at… time management. Recognising what’s important as everything is. Meeting new people and remembering them later.

Career wise, I’m most proud of… completing my Masters Degree at Sydney Uni which meant I was the first in my family and extended family to do so. My daughter is currently completing hers as well. Also being the Opening Delegate at the 2008 UNGASS convention in Vienna.

My big hope for the drug and alcohol sector is... when a client presents for change we can get them in straight away rather than putting them on waiting lists. Putting people who need help on waiting lists means we may have already lost the client when they walk out the door. 

The sector's biggest challenge going forward is... ensuring that there are enough services to deal with people when they need help. AOD is a chronic relapsing disease and should be treated as such rather than everyone being put on the back burner due to a lack of services.