Marrin Weejali Aboriginal Corporation

“Life was going good before my partner and I separated, and after separation I was going through a tough time through the legal system. It was a longshot, but I gave Marrin a phone call and spoke to the ladies in the office and they put me in the right direction. Being at Marrin doing all of the courses has chilled me out. I have done the Better Man Program for DV – a 10-week program – and I have learned a lot from that about my attitude towards other people… the way I carry myself and how not to overreact to things like I used to. I have been in positions where I would have been under the pump and jumped the gun too quickly and opened my mouth when I should be listening. Since being a better person, everyone else enjoys me as a person now instead of thinking I am going to blow up, because I probably would have before.”

“I haven’t touched drugs for nearly two years now and I am feeling a hell of a lot better. Before coming to Marrin I was always feeling depressed and felt everyone let me down and pushed me around. I want to share my story to try and help people who might be scared to come through the door to get help. The turning point for me was that my mum’s dying wish was for me to get off the drugs and try to live a better life. I tried to get off the drugs myself first and it didn’t work – I ended up smoking more. I did a few anger management and living with addiction groups at Marrin Weejali and they all seemed to help me. I realised during the groups that the things said in groups stay with you and impact on you so that you can get well. Now I am in recovery and I have two beautiful granddaughters who I spend a lot of time with. I am doing a lot better and feeling a lot healthier.”

“My drug misuse was out of control for many years. The rehab pointed me in the direction of Marrin. From the first phone interview I had, I could feel the fact that they cared, which was really positive for me. The care plan itself was moulded according to what I needed. We smashed it out of the ballpark. Every goal that was set, we achieved. All I can do is work on myself. I have to say I am a lot more in tune with my emotions and anger. We did 10 weeks to work through my anger and I have come a long way in that regard. The Living with Addictions Group is well worth it. There were a few little things, the videos, the content in that program helped me understand it. Now, I am working two jobs; that’s massive for me. They get me by and I have my licence back and a car and my own place. I have actually got a life now. It has been quite some time since I had that. For the first time I can wake up every morning and I am happy, smiling and content with how things are going.”