In the challenging journey of overcoming addiction, the hurdles span physical and Mental battles. Seeking assistance from an addiction recovery center is crucial for ensuring a complete and effective recovery. This is where First Step, a distinguished not-for-profit addiction, mental health, and legal services hub in St Kilda, Melbourne, steps in.

First Step stands out in the field of addiction recovery with its unique approach, tailoring its services to each individual’s needs. The organization, led by CEO Patrick Lawrence, is more than just a recovery center; it is a place that offers hope and lasting change. Patrick has propelled First Step into a comprehensive resource for those seeking transformation.

The mission of First Step is twofold. Firstly, it aims to provide a welcoming and hope-filled environment for individuals seeking Support for alcohol and other drugs or mental distress. Secondly, the organization strives to create an integrated community of care, enhancing each person’s agency, resilience, and connection.

Under Patrick’s leadership, First Step envisions a community where individuals grappling with substance use and mental distress can not only recover but also thrive in a safe and supportive environment.

Our team recently had a conversation with Patrick Lawrence to delve into the profound impact of First Step and his instrumental role in advancing the organization’s mission.

Please introduce yourself and share about your career transition into the world of social justice.

I come from a family of professional musicians and had a first career as a classical pianist working and studying in Australia, Europe and the US. Upon return to Australia in 2002 I found myself in a notorious suburb of Melbourne, volunteering at a small not-for-profit organisation that was detoxing people off heroin in what was essentially a specialized GP practice. I was drawn to the practical nature of the work with the capacity each and every day to provide support for people with pretty complicated lives. I still make music, but gradually the community work took over.

Brief our readers about the First Step. What were the core values and mission that led to its establishment?

First Step was created at the height (July 2000) and heart (St Kilda) of the heroin overdose epidemic in Melbourne. The building we still occupy was purchased to provide a place where everybody had every chance to turn their lives around. Over time our focus broadened to include clinical and psycho-social mental health services and legal services, and we now provide an integrated community of care and support, maximizing each person’s agency, resilience and connection. We value compassion, respect and innovation, and provided our services free of charge.

Shed some light on your journey at First Step that led you to the CEO position.

While maintaining a part-time role at First Step for many years, I developed my management capacity in other organisations, primarily at the extraordinary Asylum Seekers Resource Centre. Having a Director role there, as well as periods as acting GM and acting CEO, I felt well-qualified to apply for the CEO role at First Step in 2016.

How does First Step approach addiction recovery differently from other treatment centers, and what makes it unique?

What makes First Step unique is the multi-disciplinary and highly collaborative team that ensures we can provide people with almost all the help they need, from one team in one place. This means a) people get access to the professionals they need, b) those professionals work together as a team, and c) progress can be consolidated to achieve incremental, whole-of-life improvements. First Step is literally the only outpatient service in Australia with GPs and nurses, psychologists and mental health nurses, psycho-social workers and lawyers.

What are some of the biggest challenges that First Step faces as a non-profit organization in helping people overcome addiction? How does the organization address them?

First Step works with people with co-occurring needs across substance use, mental health, housing, social inclusion and legal support, which is the norm for people who grew up in out-of-home care, survivors of childhood or adult neglect and abuse, and people who grew up in poverty. Bringing compassion and respect to the process of understanding the whole person, including their trauma, is essential to treatment and support, along with a welcoming, hope-filled environment. Funding is a constant challenge in a heavily siloed industry, but we keep our eyes on the goal of integrated care and keep telling our story.

How does First Step approach mental health issues that may be associated with addiction, and what resources are available for patients?

Clients come to First Step, usually self-referred, looking for a group program, a GP that does Opiate Replacement Therapy (such as methadone), or mental health supports. Whichever door they enter through, the staff will talk to them about other support needs. Their GP, for example, will likely bring mental health or legal professionals into the care team. The team and client will constantly liaise through case conferences and meetings, prioritising different aspects of support according to each client’s current needs and wishes.

Are there any new programs or initiatives that First Step is planning to launch in the near future to enhance its services?

We are in a constant state of innovation.

What are the goals you have in mind for the future of First Step?

First Step’s long-term goal is to influence the mental health and alcohol and other drug sectors to aim for high-quality and comprehensive integrated care as standard treatment. First Step as at the start of a two-year impact evaluation, which will provide unique insights for First Step, the State Government and Victoria generally. First Step can provide intensive support (multiple weekly consultations) to 25+ people for the cost of incarcerating just one person. State government commissioning practices need to change in order to create a community where people who use drugs and people living with mental distress can live well, be safe and be supported.

What advice would you give someone looking to positively impact lives in the recovery industry?

This is an amazing industry with room for people from so many different disciplines and walks of life. Lived experience and peers are prized in the Australian recovery sector, and the balance between clinical and non-clinical roles is essential for any good service.

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