Odyssey House NSW

Odyssey House NSW Trauma-informed alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs, education and support in New South Wales. He opened Odyssey House in Sydney on 30 October 1977.

Odyssey House in New South Wales was founded in 1977 by Sydney businessman, Walter McGrath, following the death of his son from a heroin overdose. As a testament to his son, Mr McGrath committed himself to finding a program to help other people who suffered from problems with drug dependence. Mr McGrath brought the Odyssey House concept of long term residential rehabilitation from the United States of America to Australia. From humble beginnings, the program has expanded to be one of the largest and most successful alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services in Australia. More than 35,000 people have been assisted over the past 40 years. Today, Odyssey House provides a diverse range of services from The Withdrawal Unit, Parents and Children’s Program, MERIT (Magistrates Early Referrals Into Treatment program), residential rehabilitation, numeracy and literacy education and community based services. Odyssey House aims to build safe and healthy communities by minimising the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on the person’s health and by extension our society. We have a holistic treatment model that focuses on the person and helping them develop skills to cope with the underlying reasons they resorted to alcohol and other drug use. This often involves changing the habits of a lifetime and teaching self –awareness, responsibility, self-care to practical skills that have been missed due to addiction such as numeracy and literacy, life skills such as cooking and eating healthy food, budgeting and parenting. Odyssey House complements the direction of the National Drug Strategy (NDS) and aligns with the health and community goals of the NSW Government’s NSW 2021 plan. The organisation is closely linked to the Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA), and the Australian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA).

Today is FASD Awareness Day. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is more common than many realise – research shows th...
09/09/2025

Today is FASD Awareness Day. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is more common than many realise – research shows that one child in every classroom lives with FASD. ('Estimating the Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Australia', Drug and Alcohol Review, 2025).

Stigma and shame often prevent people from seeking help; whether it’s someone who is trying to stop using alcohol during their pregnancy or a parent who is worried about their child, we believe no one should feel judged when reaching out for support.

By breaking down stigma and having open conversations, we can ensure people living with FASD, their families, and carers get the understanding and care they need. This can make a huge difference to the quality of life that a person has.

To find out more, please visit FASD Hub Australia and National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Australia

Read more about the University of Sydney study here: https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/06/03/one-child-in-every-australian-classroom-affected-by-fetal-alcoho.html

🌟 You’re invited to our Odyssey Open Day! 🌟 📅 Sunday 26th October | 🕚 11am – 3pm Come along for a fun-filled day with ...
02/09/2025

🌟 You’re invited to our Odyssey Open Day! 🌟

📅 Sunday 26th October | 🕚 11am – 3pm

Come along for a fun-filled day with the whole family! There’ll be face painting, a petting zoo, and plenty of activities for everyone to enjoy.

You’ll also have the chance to learn more about the impact of Odyssey and celebrate with us as our newest class graduates from the residential program.

✅ Please register here - https://odysseyhouse.com.au/get-involved/events/open-day/

31/08/2025

💙️ Today is International Overdose Awareness Day – a time to remember those lost to overdose, support those who grieve, and take action to save lives.

Odyssey House NSW provides free naloxone through the NSW Health Take Home Naloxone Program. Naloxone is a medicine that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and give people the chance to survive until help arrives.

It’s simple, effective, and saves lives.

Learn more about naloxone and how we are making it available to our clients, families, and carers: https://odysseyhouse.com.au/news-stories/odyssey-house-nsw-is-a-proud-participant-of-the-nsw-health-take-home-naloxone-program/

For participating Take Home Naloxone providers visit NSW Health website.

We’re excited to announce that Odyssey House NSW is a proud partner in the new Medicare Mental Health Centre opening soo...
20/08/2025

We’re excited to announce that Odyssey House NSW is a proud partner in the new Medicare Mental Health Centre opening soon in Campbelltown, delivered by Grand Pacific Health and funded by South Western Sydney PHN.

The Emma McBride MP, Dr Mike Freelander MP, and Odyssey House NSW Executive Director, Programs David Kelly visited the development site last week to see the progress first-hand.

Chosen for our expertise in working with multicultural communities and providing integrated support for people navigating both mental health challenges and alcohol and other drug concerns, we bring a vital contribution to this much needed model of care.

This free, walk-in service will offer timely support to people experiencing moderate to severe mental health distress.

Odyssey’s role at the new Centre will include:

• Providing specialist support for people facing both alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and mental health concerns

• Tailoring care navigation for clients from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

We look forward to working with Grand Pacific Health and South Western Sydney Primary Health Network to deliver this valuable service.

We were proud to host a Hepatitis C testing day at our Redfern Community Hub last week, thanks to the amazing team at He...
11/08/2025

We were proud to host a Hepatitis C testing day at our Redfern Community Hub last week, thanks to the amazing team at Hepatitis NSW.

Testing was quick and easy - just a simple finger-prick! And if treatment is needed, it’s free, effective, and can cure a Hep C diagnosis.

A huge shoutout to the peer workers from Hepatitis NSW who made everyone feel welcome and supported. These are people with lived experience who truly understand what it’s like - and they help break down fear, stigma and barriers to getting tested. They work alongside healthcare workers to deliver quality care.

Harm reduction saves lives. And days like this are all about meeting people where they’re at, and making health care more accessible for our community.

Thank you to everyone who came along.

Homelessness Week is a reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. 💙 At Odyssey we see how alcohol and ot...
07/08/2025

Homelessness Week is a reminder that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. 💙

At Odyssey we see how alcohol and other drug use often go hand in hand with housing instability. In fact, 28% of our residential clients were experiencing homelessness or staying in temporary accommodation when they came to us for help.

We know recovery is much harder without a stable place to live. That’s why the final stage of our Residential Program (re-entry) includes access to community housing, helping our clients transition safely back into the community.

Everyone deserves that chance. 💙

🔗 Learn more about our Residential Program: https://odysseyhouse.com.au/find-support/residential-program/

A huge thank you to the Harcourts Foundation Australia for visiting our Blacktown Community Hub to see the impact of our...
22/07/2025

A huge thank you to the Harcourts Foundation Australia for visiting our Blacktown Community Hub to see the impact of our work in action.

Your kind donation to our Family Recovery Centre will provide tailored support for parents with alcohol and drug use issues to overcome their own challenges whilst creating healthy relationships with their children. Our Family Recovery Centre provides a safe place for children to stay together with their parents whilst the parents take part in our Residential Program.

Thank you for being part of the Odyssey community. Together, we're keeping families together and breaking the cycle of addiction.

Our Odyssey team loved getting out into the community during NAIDOC Week - hosting stalls, connecting with locals, and c...
22/07/2025

Our Odyssey team loved getting out into the community during NAIDOC Week - hosting stalls, connecting with locals, and celebrating the culture and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

A big thank you to everyone who stopped by for a chat, had a go of our spinning wheel and took the opportunity to learn more about how we can support each other to be free from the harms of substance use.

As NAIDOC Week wraps up, we’re reminded that celebrating Indigenous culture is ongoing - it’s about listening, learning, and standing alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities every day of the year.

Cam has spent the last 10 years developing Odyssey’s Community Programs, helping to create a quality service for all cli...
21/07/2025

Cam has spent the last 10 years developing Odyssey’s Community Programs, helping to create a quality service for all clients.

As both a valued team member and a graduate of Odyssey’s Residential Program 16 years ago, Cam brings a genuine understanding of the challenges clients face. His own experience gives him insight and empathy that shapes how he supports others.

His work at Odyssey is driven by a commitment to making a real difference and giving back to the community.

Read more about what inspires Cam here 💙 - https://odysseyhouse.com.au/news-stories/cam-celebrates-10-years-at-odyssey/

The Mingu Yabun Group from Mount Druitt Community Corrections took part in the ‘Blue Tree Project’ to raise awareness fo...
16/07/2025

The Mingu Yabun Group from Mount Druitt Community Corrections took part in the ‘Blue Tree Project’ to raise awareness for mental health.

Through this creative project, the group engaged in conversations about mental health as part of their recovery journey.

Mingu Yabun is a specialised, culturally appropriate support program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples combining clinical treatment approaches with cultural practices.

Read more about the meaning of the Blue Tree Project here.

🖤💛❤️

https://odysseyhouse.com.au/news-stories/painting-hope-mingu-yabuns-blue-tree-of-support/

🖤💛❤️ NAIDOC Week 2025 🖤💛❤️ We began this year’s NAIDOC Week with a day of cultural activities at our Eagle Vale Reside...
09/07/2025

🖤💛❤️ NAIDOC Week 2025 🖤💛❤️

We began this year’s NAIDOC Week with a day of cultural activities at our Eagle Vale Residential Centre. Indigenous Residents and Staff led the events including a Smoking Ceremony, basket weaving, earring making and rock painting.

NAIDOC Week is a time to recognise and honour the rich history, diverse cultures, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’, marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week. The theme is an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of past generations while celebrating the strength and vision of those shaping the future.

Speaking with Aboriginal Liaison AOD Treatment Workers Clifford Cutmore and Donna Shipley on what this means to them, they said:

“When we think about the theme of this year’s NAIDOC Week we’re reminded of Recovery Songlines and the work of Professor Judy Atkinson. The Songlines are pathways of cultural knowledge which are a framework for healing. Through the Songlines, strength comes from Indigenous voices, speaking proudly; vision is about offering inspiration and guidance; and legacy stands for what we believe in.”

We look forward to more activities and connecting with communities this week 🖤💛❤️

26/06/2025

💙 Every day, we receive calls from people just like Poppy seeking support for their alcohol and other drug use.

Poppy's journey hasn’t been easy, but after 10 months in Odyssey’s Residential Program, she can now look forward to a brighter future, free from alcohol and other drug harms.

With the support of our community this EOFY, we can continue to welcome people with open arms, expert care, and the tools and resources to make anything possible. To support more people like Poppy, make a tax-deductible donation before 30th June 💙 - https://bit.ly/46k7p5U

Address

Ground Floor 2/199 Regent Street Redfern
Sydney, NSW
2016

Telephone

1800 397 739

Website

https://give.odysseyhouse.com.au/

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Odyssey House in New South Wales was founded in 1977 by Sydney businessman, Walter McGrath, following the death of his son from a he**in overdose. As a testament to his son, Mr McGrath committed himself to finding a program to help other people who suffered from problems with drug dependence. Mr McGrath brought the Odyssey House concept of long term residential rehabilitation from the United States of America to Australia. He opened Odyssey House in Sydney on 30 October 1977. From humble beginnings, the program has expanded to be one of the largest and most successful alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services in Australia. More than 35,000 people have been assisted over the past 40 years. Today, Odyssey House provides a diverse range of services from The Withdrawal Unit, Parents and Children’s Program, MERIT (Magistrates Early Referrals Into Treatment program), residential rehabilitation, numeracy and literacy education and community based services. Odyssey House aims to build safe and healthy communities by minimising the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on the person’s health and by extension our society. We have a holistic treatment model that focuses on the person and helping them develop skills to cope with the underlying reasons they resorted to alcohol and other drug use. This often involves changing the habits of a lifetime and teaching self –awareness, responsibility, self-care to practical skills that have been missed due to addiction such as numeracy and literacy, life skills such as cooking and eating healthy food, budgeting and parenting. Odyssey House complements the direction of the National Drug Strategy (NDS) and aligns with the health and community goals of the NSW Government’s NSW 2021 plan. The organisation is closely linked to the Network of Alcohol and Other Drugs Agencies (NADA), and the Australian Therapeutic Communities Association (ATCA).