Stories of Recovery Windana

Welcome to the new season of Stories of Recovery.
Stories of Recovery shines a light on residents at Windana who share their unique stories, lived experience and insights on dependence and recovery.
Our second season introduces you to Nicholas, Adam, Marie and others on their journeys of recovery – no two stories are the same but each is a moving portrait of resilience and hope.
The new season of Stories of Recovery begins next week.

In this episode, you’ll hear from *Starbuck Visnu – a graduated Windana Therapeutic Community resident - about how he’s always searched for a sense of belonging in all the places he’s found himself.
He shares how his drug use escalated over time, what kept him in rehab, and how this transformed his relationship with his trauma.
*name changed for privacy 
Content advisory – this episode discusses drug use, physical abuse and includes course language.
 
Produced and recorded by - Gaby Georges (@gab_georges)
Post-edit sound engineer - Mark Lambert Sound
 

"For men, the quicker you learn to drop the armour...break down the barriers and learn that its OK to show your feelings and emotions [you'll see that] is really what being a man is."
In this episode, you’ll hear from *Mick, a Koori/Māori Windana TC graduate, who speaks about his journey of unlearning what it means to be a man.
Growing up in an environment where being vulnerable was seen as a weakness, he had to do the hard work of breaking down his barriers in the support of the therapeutic community.
He speaks about the benefits of being vulnerable and now supports young men and adults in the community through his love of boxing and peer work.
*name changed for privacy
 
Content advisory – this episode discusses drug use.
 
Produced and recorded by - Gaby Georges (@gab_georges)
Post-edit sound engineer - Mark Lambert Sound

“…its not an easy journey, but please don’t give up on anyone, or yourself because change is possible.”
In this episode you’ll hear from a former Windana Therapeutic Community resident, 30 year-old *Michael, about his challenges as a teenager, the moment he decided he no longer wanted to be in jail, and what he did when he was close to being discharged from rehab.
Michael shares what he’s looking forward to after rehab and gives advice to those who are supporting someone through addiction and recovery.
*name changed for privacy
 
Content advisory – this episode discusses drug use.
 
Produced and recorded by - Gaby Georges (@gab_georges)
Post-edit sound engineer - Mark Lambert Sound
 

In this episode, you’ll hear from young Aboriginal man and Windana graduate *Oliver. He faced many challenges in his childhood and teenage years before entering one of Windana’s Therapeutic Communities, but he shares how his determination has helped him through.
Oliver speaks about breaking intergenerational cycles and the consistent work it has taken to be the first in his family to reach certain milestones.
*name changed for privacy
 
Content advisory – this episode discusses drug use, abuse, homophobia and contains course language.
 
Produced and recorded by - Gaby Georges (@gab_georges)
Post-edit sound engineer - Mark Lambert Sound
 
 

“Recovery is about connection…talking to people who were like-minded helped me learn how to trust.”
*Gwen is an AOD Worker on her own journey of recovery. She shares her insights of recovery, the impacts of being diagnosed with PTSD and the importance of connection.
She speaks about the struggles of being a mother in recovery, and her passion for supporting other women and mothers through their recovery.
*name changed for privacy
 
Content advisory – this episode discusses drug use and contains course language.
 
Produced and recorded by - Gaby Georges (@gab_georges)
Post-edit sound engineer - Mark Lambert Sound