AOD & Gambling Support Services

How We Support Our Community

Kaydo Kertheba (We can walk together) in Woi wurrung language

AOD & Gambling Support for Stronger Families

BWAHS offers the Kaydo Kertheba Program to provide culturally safe, trauma-aware support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families impacted by alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and/or gambling harm. Delivered by dedicated AOD Practitioners, the program blends outreach, counselling, care and recovery coordination, and cultural connection across three interconnected pathways.

Path - 1

Healing Pathways

For individuals seeking support with substance use and or gambling, this pathway offers intensive, person-centred care. Through yarning, outreach and therapeutic support, community members are guided with dignity and respect through harm reduction, relapse prevention and recovery. Practical support is available to access detox, rehab, housing and justice system navigation.

Path - 2

Strong Families

This pathway supports families - including parents, carers, Elders and children - impacted by a loved one’s AOD and/or gambling use. The practitioners provide one-on-one family education, brief interventions and yarning sessions that help families strengthen communication, resilience and cultural connection. Referrals and advocacy are offered to promote whole-of-family wellbeing.

Path - 3

Knowledge Sharing

The practitioners also support local workforce capacity through secondary consultations, cultural guidance and information sharing. This helps strengthen culturally safe engagement and promotes healing-informed approaches across community and partner services.

Summary

The Kaydo Kertheba Program is grounded in the principles of self-determination, cultural identity, and relational healing. The Program provides meaningful, consistent support across all stages of recovery and change - walking alongside individuals and families with care, flexibility, and cultural integrity.

hOW TO get access?

What Our Clients Say About BWAHS?

This is the feedback that some of our clients have given us about working with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Team.

“I really value having an AOD Worker like this in my life at this point. Growing up, I looked up to things I thought were “cool” at the time, but my understanding of what that really means has completely changed.

To me now, being “cool” is about stable relationships, emotional balance, being financially responsible, having independence, and doing things the right way.

My Worker genuinely represents all of that. They live these values every day, and that has had a powerful impact on me. I appreciate them more than I can properly put into words.”

“My Worker is really genuine and caring. They’re easy to talk to and just get people from all walks of life. I always feel heard and respected around them.

They understand the struggles with alcohol use and support me without judgment.

They’re flexible too, happy to meet me wherever I feel comfortable, not just in an office.

Overall, they’re kind, reliable, and really care about helping people through recovery.”

“I’m eternally grateful for the help my AOD Worker has bestowed on me as I initially thought engaging with a drug counsellor would be a case of someone just doing a job, dotting the I’s and cross the T’s just to pay the bills. So glad to have my cynicism made redundant thanks to my worker.”

“I’m very grateful for the support provided by my Worker. Their guidance helped me become more aware of how relationships can act as triggers, and because of that insight, I was able to pause, reflect, and make healthier choices.

This support strengthened my awareness and self-control during a challenging moment, and I’m genuinely thankful for the positive impact it had on my recovery.”