Family Recovery

Family Recovery works with the family and household members of people experiencing addiction. This includes children whose parents are gripped in the vice of drug, alcohol and other addictions such as gambling.

A recent study released by the Australian Government from the Australian Institute of Family Studies highlighted that even with a restriction on gambling venues during the COVID-19 lockdowns, overall gambling increased by 9%.iv Of major concern from the study was the identification of 79% of participants classified at being at risk of, or already experiencing gambling related harm.

For every person experiencing addiction, the impact is felt six-fold by family, friends and community.

Uniquely, the Family Recovery program works directly with the children of people experiencing addiction to help them cope with the trauma, confusion and the burden of living with a person with an addiction. Children from as young as five participate in the program.

Our Family Recovery program has a proven record of success. Independent assessment has shown significant reductions in our families' anxiety, depression and stress levels, as well as improved wellbeing and stronger family relationships.

Key outcomes from FY20/21 Family Recovery gambling addiction:

Families & Adults

100% of participants reported that their using family member has reduced or ceased their use
95% of participants found the program useful *(DASS21 Scores)
78% of participants had improvements in depression, anxiety and stress

Funding from CACF for FY22 will be used to improve the support material used within the Family Recovery program.

For further information on Family Recovery please visit www.catholiccare.org/familyrecovery

[1] “Children in care’. CFCA Resource Sheet— September 2018. Accessed at https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/publications/children-care on 10/7/20. Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney estimates.

[1] Targeted Earlier Intervention Program Outcomes Framework, July 2018. Accessed at https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/591790/FACS-TEI-Program-Outcomes-Framework_210618.pdf

[1] “Forecasting Future Outcomes 2018”. Accessed at www.theirfuturesmatter.nsw.gov.au

[1] Bassuk, E. L. (2010). Ending child homelessness in America. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 80, 496–50; Haber, M. G., & Toro, P. A. (2004). Homelessness among families, children, and adolescents: An ecological-development perspective. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 7, 123–164.

[1] For example, Kirkman, M., Keys, D., Bodzak, D., & Turner, A. (2010). “Are we moving again this week?” Children's experiences of homelessness in Victoria, Australia. Social Science & Medicine, 70(7), 994-1001.

[1] Kilmer, R. P., Cook, J. R., Crusto, C., Strater, K. P., & Haber, M. G. (2012). Understanding the ecology and development of children and families experiencing homelessness: Implications for practice, supportive services, and policy. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 82(3), 389;

[1] Bassuk, E. L., Weinreb, L. F., Dawson, R., Perloff, J. N., & Buckner, J. C. (1997). Determinants of behaviour in homeless and low-income housed preschool children. Pediatrics, 100, 92–100.

[1] Flatau, P., Conroy, E., Spooner, C., Eardley, T. and Forbes, C. (2013) Lifetime and intergenerational experiences of homelessness in Australia, AHURI Final Report No. 200, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/200. Noble-Carr, D. (2007). The experiences and effects of family homelessness for children: a literature review.

[1] Machin, S. (2006). Social disadvantage and education experiences; Vinson, T. (2009). Intergenerational disadvantage. Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, Canberra.

[1] Sollis, K. (2019). Measuring Child Deprivation and Opportunity in Australia: Applying the Nest framework to develop a measure of deprivation and opportunity for children using the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. Canberra: ARACY.