MEET THE LIFE RETURNING TEAM
Simon Lewer
Simon founded Life Returning in 2008 after he experienced a significant lack of support services for individuals (over the age of 18) recovering from alcohol and other drugs dependency both before and after detoxification and rehabilitation.
During his personal battle to quit an alcohol dependency he found that the waiting times to enter public sector detox and rehab units were unacceptable and inadequate. He discovered that a 5 week waiting list to enter a rehab unit resulted in a 90% relapse rate, and the NSW Health Service’s answer to sobriety was to go and attend AA or NA forever. There was little follow-up and few medium to long-term relapse prevention programmes. The medical profession treated addicts as a lost cause and reviewing the relapse rates, Simon could see why.
Through developing Recovery and Support programmes and services Simon has gained many years experience successfully treating the clients of Life Returning and has helped to change many lives through evidence-based recovery and support models. He is passionate about helping to motivate people to change their alcohol and other drugs risky behaviour, manage urges and cravings, avoid lapsing and successfully reconnect with their lives.
Tim Van Den Hoek
Tim, a businessman in our Community, has been volunteering with Life Returning since 2009. He has built up a wealth of experience helping people quit alcohol and other drugs through a passionate belief that people can change their risky habits through persistence and practical short, medium and long-term recovery plans. Tim spends many hours talking to people with dependency or risky Alcohol & Other Drugs (AOD) behaviour and challenging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Tim is a trained Recovery Facilitator and has experience running weekly support meetings and meetings with individuals and families on a one-to-one basis.
Rebecca Kennedy
Rebecca is a full-time Marketing Manager with a Mining Equipment company and is also studying for a Diploma in Graphic Digital Design. On top of these activities Rebecca is a trained Recovery Facilitator and specialises in supporting Life Returning clients with their day-to-day recovery, as well as providing Life Returning with graphic design expertise.
Sam Gardiner
Sam has been a long standing friend of Life Returning and has generously offered his skills free of charge to create and maintain our website. Sam currently works for an Advertising Agency located in Sydney.
Debbie Van Den Hoek
Debbie has been a long-time supporter of Life Returning and has donated a large amount of her time to arranging the Life Returning Newsletters and managing their fundraising and donations.
Life Returning’s Friends
There are many other people who make what we do at Life Returning possible – including our generous donors and friends and family (all energetic fundraisers) who help us keep our doors open.
