FFSP

WHAT ARE THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPPORT PROGRAMS?

The Family and Friend Support Programs are a set of online interventions and support packages designed by clinicians and researchers to help families and friends supporting a loved one who may be using alcohol and/or other drugs. They also offer information and support for people who may be experiencing domestic and family violence, as well as people who are living in rural or remote regions.

WHAT DO THE FAMILY AND FRIEND SUPPORT PROGRAMS OFFER?

A set of free online programs and access to trusted and reliable information to assist, families, friends and health professionals supporting loved ones or themselves.

Online programs to help you manage your situation

Helpful activities

Real stories from families and friends

Online resources and services information

WHO IS BEHIND THE FAMILY AND FRIEND SUPPORT PROGRAMS?

These online programs were developed by researchers and clinicians, with the help of real families and friends who are supporting loved ones.

The program was created by The University of Newcastle with project partners:

Australian Government, Department of Health

The University of Sydney

PREMISE – NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence

WHAT IS THE FAMILY AND FRIEND SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE SUPPORTING SOMEONE WHO IS USING ALCOHOL AND/OR OTHER DRUGS?

Alcohol and other drug use not only affects people who are using the alcohol or drugs, but it also has an adverse impact on their family, friends, and community. Family and peer support networks are critical to a person’s recovery from alcohol and/or other drug use, but too often, relationships become strained and users become isolated from their families, friends, and social networks due to the problems arising from their alcohol or drug use. Families and friends can play a critical role in the recovery of people who are using alcohol and/or other drugs. However, there is little support for families and friends in this situation. This is an online intervention for families and friends supporting someone who is using alcohol and/or other drugs. It includes information on how families and friends can best help their loved ones and protect them from the adverse impacts of their lifestyle of drinking alcohol and/or using drugs. The program recognises that supporting someone can be extremely stressful, and therefore aims to assist families and friends in best managing the demands of this role.

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE?

This program is designed to provide people with information about how they can help support themselves, or a family member or friend, who may be experiencing some form of violence. In any violence situation, seeking information and support is a big first step, which we want to acknowledge. It can be challenging to speak about what is happening, and even more challenging to seek support. This module is therefore designed to provide people with knowledge about how they can identify signs of violence and keep themselves or the person they are supporting safe from harm.

WHAT IS THE PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN RURAL OR REMOTE REGIONS?

This module is designed for people who are living in a rural or remote area of Australia and would like some extra resources for supporting themselves or others during difficult times. You may be supporting someone who is using alcohol and/or other drugs and would like some information about how you can best care for and support them in rural or remote parts of the country, where other resources or supports might be limited or more difficult to access. This module is therefore designed to provide you with knowledge about some of the experiences, strengths, and challenges, that people who live in rural or remote areas may encounter. In turn, this may prompt you to identify and respond to some of these either in your own life, or when supporting someone who is using alcohol and/or other drugs.