JAMES ’ STORY
‘ I ’ ve always been a drinker . I ’ m 38 this year and I ’ ve had a drink most days of my life . For a long time I would wake up in the mornings with the shakes . I ’ m here now because I needed something to change . I want to reconnect with my family , with my son . I want to try a life of sobriety .
‘ I ’ ve been here 14 weeks so far and it hasn ’ t taken me too long to get involved in the different programmes . I ’ ve learned a lot here , especially from the mindfulness and yoga programmes . Every aspect of the TC , and the different activities and programmes , it all helps in different ways . I ’ m learning different skills that I ’ m going to need when I ’ m back in the world , when I ’ m exposed to alcohol and other drugs .
‘ I do worry that I ’ ll relapse . I really do . But I am learning about relapse prevention and understanding my own triggers . I am focusing on that right now . I always made the worst decisions when I was drinking . I can ’ t change my past , but right now I have a chance to change my future .’
What effect do my actions have on myself and other people ? Am I taking more than I need ?
Permaculture aligns with the goals of the community – indeed one of the 12 design principles is around the use of slow solutions that lead to permanent fixes . Not only does the learning programme enable residents to develop practical horticultural skills , it encourages a deeper consideration of the ethics behind permaculture and how these can be applied in real life situations .
When they aren ’ t getting their hands dirty , residents can often be found in the big shed up the
Pictured above : Hope Springs is a sprawling property , which includes a picturesque lake where residents earn the privilege to spend time . TC Facilities manager Harley Royce works on a project inside the woodworking workshop . Left : Resident housing and The Shadehouse where produce is grown to feed the community .
back . The big shed is in fact a fully equipped woodworking workshop where residents combine donated timber and fallen native tree branches to create some truly magnificent pieces of furniture . Residents recently spent six months designing and crafting a unique table that combined wood from a 120-year-old wool press with donated hardwood beams .
Facilities and maintenance coordinator Harley Royce considers the woodworking programme an integral learning opportunity for residents . ‘ As well as the practical hands-on skills , woodworking promotes teamwork and encourages residents to develop patience , planning skills , maths skills , problem solving and mindfulness ,’ he says .
TRANSITIONAL SUPPORT Most residents will spend around eight months at Hope Springs , working through the TC programme . When they ’ re ready to leave , they can still access support through the Transitional Housing And Support Program ( THASP ), again run by HOPE .
Residents can move from Hope Springs into shared accommodation in the nearby regional centre of Geraldton , where they receive practical assistance . Building on the skills they learned at Hope Springs , THASP residents are supported as they learn financial literacy and independence , connect with essential support services ( such as healthcare and housing agencies ), access education and training , and find meaningful work .
NEXT STEP DETOX THASP provides an essential final step on what is an almost complete AOD recovery pathway for Mid West residents . It ’ s the ‘ almost ’ that HOPE is currently advocating to rectify . At the start of any AOD recovery process comes the withdrawal or detox step . It ’ s often the hardest step to take , and one where many individuals could use the additional support of a detox service or facility .
For Mid West residents , that support does not exist nearby – the closest facility is more than 250 miles away , and waiting lists are more than two months . A regional consultation conducted by HOPE revealed just how dire the situation was .
‘ We had reports of people detoxing in jail cells or going into the desert to detox by themselves ,’ says HOPE CEO Merinda March . ‘ Travelling to Perth is a huge undertaking , and once down there , people are separated from their family , community and any support networks they could turn to . In reality , the distance really is stopping people from even starting their AOD recovery journey .’
HOPE is finalising a business case for a medical withdrawal facility to be built in nearby Geraldton . It plans to put the case to the state government for consideration ahead of the coming state election .
‘ We want to see that entire recovery pathway available here , from detox to rehabilitation at Hope Springs and through to THASP ,’ says March . ‘ It ’ s about giving people the best chance at a successful recovery .’
Shannon McKenzie is communications coordinator at Hope Community Services
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