Eastern Health - Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre

As Australia’s leading national addiction centre, Turning Point has 30 years of experience changing the lives of people living with addiction.

For Benn Veenker, the manager of their Lived Experience Workforce, every single day at Turning Point is rewarding. Benn knows from his own experiences just how tricky it can be to reach out for help, having spent over a decade battling his own addiction. “My mum and dad said for years they would spend a Friday and Saturday night praying for the phone not to ring out of fear that their son had been killed”, he says. “That sort of really hit home with the impact it had on them.” Shame and guilt prevented him from seeking help for years. But in rehab, he realised he was surrounded by people with similar stories. “They were normal, everyday people trying to cope in the best way they could to trauma.” he says. “It was a massive relief.”

That experience led him to retrain as an alcohol and drug counsellor, and he now helps others to access life-changing treatment, including peer support. “It’s great to see people change and find hope. I love what I do,” he says. By integrating treatment programs with education and research, Turning Point provides high-quality, evidence-based support for people experiencing addiction. The team are committed to collaborating with partner organisations, building upon their track record by advocating for systemic change that can prevent stigma and remove barriers to care.

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