Family Drug Support 2024 Annual Report

4 Chairperson Report Dr John Della Bosca AM I am again pleased to report that FDS continues to provide much-needed support and services for families facing alcohol and other drug issues in their homes and lives. FDS has staff based in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the ACT to help deliver its services, including support groups, educational sessions and knowledge of our National Support Line that ensures families can access support at any time regardless of where they live. As an organisation, we are grateful for the funding from the Commonwealth, NSW, Queensland, South Australia and ACT governments, which together with donations from those aware of the great work of FDS, has seen FDS continue to expand its face-to-face reach across Australia. The incredible support and help that families gain from engaging with FDS staff, volunteers and services is evident throughout this report and given the persistent high level of unmet need in the community, the goal of continued expansion remains a focus of the Board and Executive staff. However, one of the challenges for FDS and many non-government organisations is managing the extraordinary rise in operational costs over the past few years. Apart from the inflationary pressures in the post pandemic period, there have rightfully been significant salary increases for people working in these demanding fields. Unfortunately, the simultaneous budgetary constraints across all governments have diminished their ability to assist us in meeting these increased costs. As a result, it is a constant challenge for all Boards to navigate these difficult financial times, which is why we are so grateful for those members that community that donate their time and funds to help FDS. Indeed, volunteers remain the cornerstone of FDS success, and we can’t thank them enough for their commitment to helping families in need. As many of you would know, the FDS CEO & Founder, Tony Trimingham, has been the driving force and leader of FDS since its inception, and while Tony takes some time to focus on his own health needs, after a long period of focus on others, I want to thank Cigdem Watson for taking on the role of Acting CEO and Sandra Trimingham for her leadership role. My gratitude extends to all staff across FDS for also maintaining the high standards of FDS services and keeping Tony’s vision at the forefront of their work for FDS. Finally, I need to thank my fellow Board members, for their contributions and assistance in guiding this extraordinary organisation to help people in times of intense difficulty .