Acknowledging our Volunteers
This week is National Volunteer Week. SHARC would like to acknowledge and thank our wonderful volunteers who support our Family Drug and Gambling Helpline, support groups and other program areas. Every day our volunteers make a profound difference in the lives of so many. Our volunteers in addition to connecting with communities, are able to continue […]
Lived experience learning ramps up for LLEAH
The testing and pilot phases of the Lived and Living Experience at Heart program, or LLEAH, are well underway. Launched in November 2024, LLEAH is an organisational support program for Victoria’s mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) sectors. It aims to ensure the invaluable contributions of Lived and Living Experience Workers (LLEW) are […]
Regina Brindle Grant Recipient 2025
We are pleased to announce, Inner South Family and Friends (ISFAF), a voluntary group of family and supporters, as this year’s recipient. Their committed members have been calling for change in the mental health service system for over 30 years. ISFAF plans to use the grant to host a weekend retreat in Bendigo. The goal […]
Together we rise, SHARC’s CEO tells packed Forum
Lived experience workers are more united and more fierce than ever before, Clare Davies told the 2025 Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) Forum in Melbourne on Thursday. In a rousing keynote speech, she urged LLE workers across the alcohol and other drug and mental health sectors to stay connected and open to each other’s […]
High-Impact Honour for Manal
Warmest congratulations to SHARC’s Manal Shehab, whose tireless efforts to end family violence in faith and diverse communities have been recognised with a national award. Manal has been named the 2025 Woman of Impact by migrant and refugee settlement agency, AMES Australia. The annual award acknowledges women who make a significant difference in the lives […]
SHARC Turns 30
The SHARC community is set to celebrate three decades of transforming lives through our lived experience of alcohol and other drugs, gambling and gambling harm. This year marks three decades since SHARC was formed thanks to the vision of a small group of people committed to supporting each other and others like them. In 1983, […]
Vale Nic Thompson
The SHARC community is profoundly saddened by the loss of Nic Thompson, our beloved Deputy CEO. Her job title doesn’t come close to describing Nic’s place in our community. As well as a deeply respected colleague, she was a confidant, advocate, champion and friend. Nic died suddenly of natural causes at home on 23 January. […]
New resource launched: Stigma posters
New resource launched: Stigma posters We’ve collaborated with the Alcohol and Drug Foundation on a new series of downloadable posters to encourage the use of inclusive and person-centred language to reduce the impact of stigma for people who use AOD. The fact is that alcohol and other drug dependence are some of the most stigmatised […]
SHARC Out & About — Midsumma Carnival 2025
SHARC Out & About — Midsumma Carnival 2025 On Sunday, 19 January 2025, SHARC participated in the Midsumma Carnival at the Alexandra Gardens in Melbourne. We had a terrific response to our presence with members of the LGBTQIA+ community, who could hear and learn all about SHARC. We networked with other service providers, provided information […]
TLC Participants Announced
TLC Participants Announced Eleven Victorian organisations have been selected to participate in what is believed to be Australia’s first Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) learning collaborative. The organisations, from across Victoria’s mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) sectors, form the first cohort of The Learning Collaborative (TLC). This groundbreaking workforce development project […]