Family Drug Support 2024 Annual Report

5 CEO Report Tony Trimingham OAM While the past 12 months have been difficult at times for me personally, I have been incredibly heartened and strengthened by the love and support I have received from FDS staff and volunteers. I founded FDS in 1997 after I lost one of my children to a heroin overdose. It was a tragedy I never envisioned could happen to our family. The shock and ongoing pain at the loss of Damian has fuelled my relentless drive to not only help families facing their own alcohol and other drug related difficulties, but to also advocate strongly for the policies needed to reduce the potential of this harm. My fight for families to be able to access the support they need, as well as reduce the stigma and shame they face, will never end for me. I know that my continual pushing for reform of some entrenched policies of government can make life difficult for some organisations and people associated with FDS. This is why I am so appreciative of the unconditional support of the Board, staff, volunteers, colleagues and many in the community for FDS, for me and for the work we undertake. As much as I am inspired by this support It is disheartening at times that after more than 25 years, there appears to be an ongoing need to argue for the importance in ensuring access to support for families. It remains my hope that FDS will one day be appropriately funded by every government so we can have people on the ground helping families across Australia. Of course, as John Della Bosca has highlighted, FDS services rely on the work of our staff and volunteers, and we would simply not exist without them and their passion for FDS. I can’t express the pure pride and joy I feel when I see FDS staff and volunteers helping families find their pathway to a better place after what they were all but convinced was destined to be a lonely and never-ending journey in the darkness. I know these feelings only too well and thank everyone that has helped FDS help families get the support they need. The next 12 months, like all things in the future, has many unknowns, but one thing I do know will occur is that FDS and our staff and volunteers will literally help thousands of families. They will support them through some of the most difficult times imaginable and many of those families will in turn seek to support other families. This is the heart of FDS. Families supporting families. Finally, I want to thank the Chair and the Board, and especially my wife Sandra, for their continued support of me as I deal with some trying health issues and which I am overcoming.