Sasha:

When Sasha* landed her dream job at a leading wildlife and conservation zoo, it was a milestone moment in her recovery.

Only six months earlier, substance use had forced her to defer her TAFE studies and apply for a place at the Triple Care Farm Walawaani residential rehabilitation program. Trying to manage the course work and in-person placements for a qualification in animal care felt overwhelming in the face of her addiction.

At Triple Care Farm, Sasha turned her focus to building coping strategies and relapse prevention skills that will support her long-term recovery. School and her future career would have wait.

But the Triple Care Farm team had other ideas: they helped her to defer her studies so she had something to go back to. And go back she did: at the end of her 12-week residential rehabilitation program, and with the support of her Youth Network aftercare worker, Ebony, she re-started her TAFE course.

This time, she was armed with the life skills and confidence to succeed.

From rehabilitation comes transformation

On a recent work placement, Sasha’s employer was so impressed by her positivity and determination that they recommended her for a role at Tasmania Zoo. For the old Sasha, the thought of flying interstate and attending a job interview and trial day might have felt overwhelming. The new Sasha, bolstered by the support of her course advisor and her aftercare worker, was ready.

Within a few days, the job was hers.

Now, she’s in the throes of transporting her life to Tasmania. She and Ebony are working together to find her somewhere to live, and she’s also finishing a driving program so she can get her provisional licence.

Ebony is also arranging referrals to various services in Tasmania, including psychosocial support and drug and alcohol counselling, as well as Narcotics Anonymous and social groups that will help Sasha build connections in her local community.

The goal, , is “to ensure Sasha is set up with as much support as possible to succeed in her dream role.”