Anthony, Canberra

“Drinking, smoking, thieving. That was the only life we knew,” recalls Anthony of his childhood. “I first smoked heroin when I was 16. My cousins would rock up with gear and money. And the dealer lived next door. You just couldn’t get away from it.”

The decade that followed was one of extremes. It saw Anthony become a parent, and get recognised for his work with indigenous kids. But it also saw him struggle in and out of a serious heroin dependency, relationship troubles and jail where he was terrified of contracting Hepatitis-C from dirty equipment. Like many, his treatment journey was far from simple, and not always successful. “The first time I was offered something, it just wasn’t what I wanted,” Anthony says.

There was also pressure to do things quickly, something he strongly cautions against. “You need to do things slowly, properly. Or it can fall apart and you have to do it all over again.” So what was his turning point? “My Nan had a stroke a couple of years back, and that was it. I decided to get on a program for good.” This time Anthony tried a different approach.

“It was a better option for me, less chance to stray off. It’s definitely made me more stable.” It’s also giving him the freedom to enjoy what’s really important. His family. “Being able to go away with the kids, without having to worry. You just feel good about yourself.” He looks up and nods. “It took a while, but I’m there. That’s all that matters.”