Lady (Suzanne) Martin OAM has been honoured for her 30-year commitment to helping young people in crisis.
Lady Martin was presented with Lifetime Membership of Mission Australia by Chairman, Ken Dean, at the Annual General Meeting and formally acknowledged as Founding Governor of Sir David Martin Foundation.
Mr Dean said Lady Martin’s personal contribution was critical to the success of the partnership between the two organisations. He also thanked her for her leadership, friendship and outstanding service.
As the major philanthropic partner of Mission Australia, Sir David Martin Foundation has raised over $65M since 1990. This partnership has enabled a best practice model of treatment for young people with drug and alcohol addiction at Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm.
Thirty Years of Service
Lady Martin has been on the Sir David Martin Foundation Board since its inception in 1990 and has been the driving force behind the Foundation’s work to realise Sir David’s dream of safety, hope and opportunity for all vulnerable young Australians.
During his time as Governor of NSW, Sir David Martin witnessed many young people caught in the destructive world of drugs, alcohol, homelessness and abuse. Whenever he met them, he sought to encourage them to develop their undiscovered potential to better their lives. Sir David’s concern for young people in crisis lead to the creation of Sir David Martin Foundation, creating a lasting legacy of hope and support for over 3,000 young people and their families.
You can read more about Sir David Martin and Lady Martin’s early life, achievements, contribution to public office and lasting philanthropic legacy here
Congratulations Lady Martin – you continue to inspire us all in our mission to help young people in crisis.
Photo Caption: Sir David Martin Foundation Philanthropy Manager, Anna Beaumont pictured with Lady Martin receiving her Mission Australia Lifetime Membership.
Billed by critics as the most realistic depiction of addiction seen on Australian TV screens – the series has received praise for its casting of “ordinary Australians” in its raw depiction of treatment and recovery.
As Louise Rugendyke wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald:
“One in five Australians will have a problem with drugs, alcohol or gambling at some point. That’s someone in your family. Someone at work. Someone you play sport with. And that’s what makes Addicted Australia such compelling television: it’s the ordinariness of those involved – the chef, the IT guy, the student, the admin officer, the retired mum – and the extraordinary grip their addictions have on them”.
The series steps into the lives of 10 individuals and their families as they undertake treatment at the Melbourne-based Turning Point facility for addiction (heroin, alcohol, gambling and crystal meth).
The participants are diverse in age, ethnicity and background and at different stages of their treatment journey. What they do share is a common desire to break free from the enormous burden of their dependencies.
And while Addicted Australia doesn’t feature any young people under 18, it soon emerges that many of the participants’ addictive behaviours started in their teenage years.
“So much stigma and shame”
The four part series was created by Blackfella Films, the team behind recent SBS documentary series such as Filthy Rich and Homeless and First Contact.
In an interview with Sir David Martin Foundation, Jacob Hickey, Head of Factual at Blackfella said one of the key drivers behind making the series was to ignite informed conversations about addiction.
“We made the series because we felt there was a vacuum in intelligent and thought-provoking content in the media space about this subject matter.”
There’s so much stigma and shame surrounding addiction and you just have to break that down.”
A standout of the program has been the bravery and honesty of the participants and their families in sharing their struggles.
“We keep calling them ordinary – but I call them extraordinary for what they were willing to share,” said Hickey.
“They weren’t just signing up to a treatment program, they were signing up to a treatment program that we would be filming so there was a really high level of responsibility and a huge duty of care on us as filmmakers, which we took very seriously.”
Could be any of us
Hickey said the reaction to Addicted Australia has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s been great. People have responded in the way we hoped they would – and it has obviously been an education for some. Blackfella Films has tackled many social issues about Aboriginal communities, homelessness, mental health in the past and what we’ve found is that at ground level Australians generally have a huge amount of empathy, sympathy and goodwill for people that are struggling. And I think that’s because people identify with these stories so much.
“It was just so obvious very early on in our filming that addiction is about trauma and it’s about so called ‘ordinary Australians’ who have suffered that trauma and have turned to something to help deal with it. So that means addiction can affect anyone who’s been down that road – which in reality could be any of us.”
Hickey says he hopes those conversations encourage more people to seek help.
“We just hope people reach out and request help and are inspired to do so by the bravery, humility and the deep dignity of the people that have been involved.
“Hopefully people sit on their living room couches and watch it and say ‘well, that’s a bit like me actually, or that’s a bit like my brother… or she’s a bit like my mum, or gee I think my sister might have a problem and maybe we should talk about it…’”
Changing the narrative on addiction
Sir David Martin General Manager Helen Connealy says she hopes Addicted Australia will help change the narrative on addiction in this country.
“There is so much stigma and misconception in the community about addiction, which is a very real barrier to many young people seeking treatment.
“Addiction Australia has been compelling viewing and I’m confident that the bravery and unfiltered honesty of the participants will leave a lasting impact on many viewers. But more than that, I hope it will encourage more people to reach out for help for either themselves or their loved ones.
“Addiction is a health issue and we know that treatment works.
“Through the youth drug and alcohol programs our Foundation supports, we hear amazing stories of resilience and recovery every day. Sadly, due to the pervading stigma surrounding addiction, many people are still reluctant to hear these stories and have these discussions.
“Early access to best practice youth treatment services greatly improves the recovery prospects for young people – giving them the support to get well and build pathways to a healthy future.”
Addicted Australia screens on Tuesdays at 8.30pm on SBS. Find out more at sbs.com.au/AddictedAustralia or catch up on episodes via SBS On Demand Donate and help young, vulnerable Australians break the cycle of addiction and have hope for a brighter future.
It comes as no surprise that in a year characterised by disruption and uncertainty, stress and mental health issues are top of mind for young Australians.
Mission Australia’s 2020 Youth Survey reveals that young people aged between 15 to 19 years old have significant concerns relating to equity and discrimination, COVID-19, mental health, education and employment.
The report found that dealing with stress (43%) was the top personal concern identified by the 25,800 survey respondents, followed closely by mental health (34%) and body image (33%).
However, concerns about dealing with stress was more prevalent for girls, with more than double the proportion of females extremely/very concerned about coping with stress (56%) compared with 25% of males.
In a first for the Youth Survey, equity and discrimination was the top national issue for young people, rising from third place in 2019 (24.8%) to the number one spot in 2020 (40.2%) – an increase of more than 60 per cent since last year. COVID-19 (39%) and Mental Health (31%) ranked in second and third place.
When it comes to what young people value most in their lives, friendship topped the list (82.5%), followed by family relationships (78.9%) and school or study satisfaction (67.5%). Close to two thirds of respondents also placed a high value upon mental health (65.9%) and physical health (65.4%).
Sir David Martin Foundation General Manager Helen Connealy congratulated Mission Australia on the release of the 2020 Youth Survey.
“We care about the things that matter to young people and are proud to partner with Mission Australia who help those in need,” said Ms Connealy.
“Our Foundation has been providing care for youth in crisis for 30 years, and everything we do is informed by our core mission to offer safety, hope and opportunity for all young people.”
“Having access to real time insights into the opinions, worries and values of young people, especially at a time when they face great challenge and uncertainty, is invaluable to the Foundation and to the best practice models of care that we support.”
“To help young people get well and build recovery pathways to education and employment we need to first understand and approach their physical, mental and emotional health needs in a non-judgmental and authentic way.”
“Young people need access to youth-specific services and programs that address their needs and meet them where they are in their journey and overall development.”
Ms Connealy said that young people’s heightened awareness and understanding of issues relating to mental health was evident throughout the 2020 Youth Survey Report.
“Mental health is clearly an issue of concern for young people, and it’s particularly interesting to note that two-thirds of respondents said they place high value on mental health.
“Young people today are increasingly aware that many people experience mental illness, but also that treatment is there and it works.
“We know that the majority of young people seeking help for drug and alcohol addiction have underlying mental health conditions. So it’s encouraging to see mental health confirmed in this report as priority issue for young people – both in their own lives and in the lives of those around them.”
Mission Australia shares the results of the Youth Survey with governments, non-government organisations, schools and social commentators to inform the debate around the circumstances of young people in Australia and to support the development of policies, services and programs that have the needs of young people at their core.
Download the full Mission Australia 2020 Youth Survey Report and infographic:
The Martin family recently spoke to Highlife Magazine Southern Highlands about Sir David’s extraordinary life and legacy.
The special feature describes the establishment of the Foundation and explores how its enduring philanthropic support for Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm in Robertson is helping to save lives.
The article co-incided with the 30th Anniversary of Sir David’s death and the establishment of the Foundation in 1990.
You can read more about Sir David and the Martin Family here
Thank you Highlife Magazine Southern Highlands for showcasing our work and passion for helping vulnerable young Australians in crisis so beautifully.
Read the full article
Highlife magazine publishes 6 times a year and gives readers insider, authoritative, must-have information about the NSW Southern Highlands. Visit https://www.highlifemagazine.com.au
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October is Mental Health Month in Australia – a time to shine a light on mental health and wellbeing in a bid to reduce stigma, spark converstions and help people get the assistance and support they need.
According to Mental Health Australia, 1 in 5 Australians are affected by mental illness annually, yet many don’t seek help because of stigma.
We know that many of the young people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol addiction have experienced mental health conditions (both diagnosed and undiagnosed). It is often the stigma surrounding these conditions that stop young people and their families from reaching out for the help they desperately need.
World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilising commuity, political and policy action to raise awarenes and drive action to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.
In Australia, the theme of World Mental Health Day 2020 is “Look after your mental health, Australia.”
Get involved!
There’s lots of ways to get involved in World Mental Health Day and Mental Health Month, with many national and state-based organisations hosting a range of events and initiatives. This includes:
Reset Challenge: Sir David Martin Foundation has extended the Reset Challenge to run throughout Mental Health Month – encouraging the community to reset their lives and establish a new healthy habit, in support of young people in crisis. Learn more about Reset Challenge and our work to help young people in crisis
The Big Event for Mental Health is a global online advocacy event hosted by the World Health Organisation on 10 October. You can tune in from one of WHO’s social media channels Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok
Mental Health Australia: Each year Mental Health Australia hosts World Mental Health Day on 10 October and their 2020 theme is Look after your mental health, Australia. They have a range of resources (including factssheets, posters and social media tiles) to download and are also inviting individuals and workplaces to make a mental health promise
Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA): hosts National Mental Health Month to advocate for and raise awareness of Australian mental health. Their theme in 2020 is Mental Health Matters.
WayAhead NSW: hosts Mental Health Month NSW. Their theme in 2020 is Tune in
Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH): WA Mental Health Week kicks off on 10 October. This year’s WA Mental Health Week theme is Strengthening Our Community – Live, Learn, Work, Play.
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It’s been amazing to see so many people involved in the inaugural Reset Challenge – setting new goals and restting their lives to form new habits and support young people in crisis.
The good news is there’s still time to get involved.
As part of Mental Health Month this October we have decided to extend our Reset Challenge and keep the momentum going.
Visit www.resetchallenge.org.au to follow the progress of our participants, show support via a donation, or better still, sign up and start your own challenge!
Together we can make a difference for young people in crisis!
This September Sir David Martin Foundation will launch the inaugural Youth Recovery Month to create community awareness and greater understanding of the complexities faced by young people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction.
As part of this health promotion initiative we will be hosting roundtable discussions with stakeholders from across the Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector during a virtual forum event.
This follows the recent launch of our new research report ‘Evolve 2020: Are we doing enough for young people with drug and alcohol addiction?’
Evolve 2020 reveals high demand and unmet need across Australia. The Report makes seven key recommendations, calling for a nationwide expansion of youth-specific services to prevent vulnerable young people being caught in a debilitating and lifelong cycle of addiction.
The report also advocates for a future focus on Awareness, Collaboration and Funding.
Overall, it is our hope that the Youth Recovery Forum roundtable discussions will provide a valuable opportunity for the Youth AOD sector to come together during Youth Recovery Month to share learnings and explore challenges and new opportunities.
Register your Expression of Interest to participate in Youth Recovery Forum
Sir David Martin Foundation is currently inviting Expressions of Interest from the AOD sector to participate in our upcoming Youth Recovery Forum roundtable event. Please register your Expression of Interest below.
Our Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC, Governor of New South Wales formally launched the Evolve 2020 research report this evening at a special virtual event commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Sir David Martin Foundation.
You can view Her Excellency’s full video message above
Read the full Evolve 2020: Are we doing enough for young people with drug and alcohol addiction report
A new report released today by Sir David Martin Foundation reveals there is high demand and widespread unmet need for treatment services and support for young Australians with drug and alcohol addiction.
‘Evolve 2020: Are we doing enough for young people with drug and alcohol addiction?’ makes seven key recommendations calling for a nationwide expansion of youth-specific services to prevent vulnerable young people being caught in a debilitating and lifelong cycle of addiction.The report shows that almost 40% (76,000) of all those requesting help for drug and alcohol addiction in Australia each year are under the age of 30. However, a lack of youth specific treatment options leaves many of these young people in adult programs not tailored to their needs.
“Young people have the strongest recovery rate of any age group if given the opportunity,” explained Helen Connealy, General Manager of Sir David Martin Foundation.
“But their needs are different and varied than other stages of life. Many have suffered trauma, mental illness or suffered domestic violence. Family are so important in their recovery but not always available. Often these young people haven’t had the space to grow up and mature in the traditional sense.”
Sir David Martin Foundation has been helping young people in crisis for 30 years, and is the primary funder of Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm in the NSW Southern Highlands, a best practice, holistic treatment centre for young people affected by drug and alcohol issues. In that time, over 3,000 young people’s lives have been saved, with 200 students each year now supported through the program’s Rehabilitation, Withdrawal and Aftercare components.
“This report (which is the first of its kind in Australia) shows that although there is good work happening, collaboratively the sector needs to do more if we are to reach more young people.”
A lack of adequate rural and regional treatment options was a key finding of the research.
“The report found that young people living in rural and regional areas in all Australian states and territories are more likely to experience disadvantage, engage in harmful substance use and have poorer access to essential programs. Yet almost 60% of treatment agencies are located in major cities and only 6% in remote or very remote areas.
Find out more…
Read the Media Release here
View the full Evolve 2020 Report here
For more information contact Communications Manager, Natalie Peck on 0400 627 260 or via [email protected]