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Welcome
This page is for people who have someone in their life experiencing issues with alcohol or other drugs, mental health or family violence. It contains information on how your loved one can access support, and information about who to contact for advice and help for yourself.
In an emergency, dial 000. Other 24-hour hotlines (including crisis services) are listed in the drop-down menu that appears at the top of each page on this website.
Helping a loved one
How your loved one can self-refer
To access treatment through Victoria’s public alcohol and other drug system for people 18 and over, a person first needs to have an Intake and Assessment session.
Intake and Assessment can be over the phone or in-person and involves a trained clinician talking with the person to understand their needs, goals and exploring suitable treatment options together. During Intake and Assessment, the person is welcome to tell the clinician that they are interested in coming to Windana.
To have an Intake and Assessment session, the person can call DirectLine (Victoria’s central alcohol and other drug referral service) on 1800 888 236 or contact them via www.directline.org.au. The person can also contact their Intake and Assessment provider that looks after the local area where they live.
Young people aged 12-25 can directly contact our youth outreach team if they live, work or study in the cities of Cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Casey or Monash.
If they don’t live here, or aren’t sure, they can call , Victoria’s youth drug and alcohol advice service on 1800 458 685, 9 AM – 8 PM Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours you can contact on 1800 888 236.
Having conversations
If you choose to talk to a friend or family member about their alcohol or drug use, there are resources available – and services you can talk to first – to help you feel more prepared.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s website has a helpful ‘Having the conversation’ page for friends and family. This includes strategies you can consider when talking to someone about their alcohol or drug use.
Positive Choices has some helpful tips for talking to young people about alcohol and other drugs as well as a more detailed guide to starting the conversation.
Health Direct (an Australian government website offering health advice) also has a helpful and detailed page: ‘How to help someone who is misusing drugs or alcohol’. This includes information about what alcohol and drug misuse is, how to prepare for conversations with someone you are concerned about and advice/suggestions for when the person chooses not to seek treatment.
You can also consider contacting one of the services in the section below for advice if you are preparing to have a conversation.
If your loved one prefers, they can also talk to their GP (doctor) or a social worker who will be able to help start the Intake and Assessment process. For some services, GPs or other workers may also be able to refer to us directly.
If you have any general questions about how accessing treatment works, you are also welcome to contact Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955 between 9:00am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Your support can make a big difference to people in your life experiencing mental health challenges. At the same time, caring for someone with mental health challenges can be challenging, and it’s important you look after yourself.
Luckily there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
The Australian Government’s Head to Health website has useful guides for talking to someone, supporting them to seek help, and looking after yourself in the process, as well as resources for supporting young people specifically if you’re a parent or carer.
R U OK also has detailed guides and resources for starting a conversation with someone about their mental health.
If you are in a role in your work or personal life where you feel you could build your skills to help listen, connect people with supports, and help when it matters most, you could also consider completing a Mental Health First Aid course with Windana or another Mental Health First Aid training provider.
Your support can make a significant difference to people who have experienced domestic or family violence. At the same time, we know this can be fraught for many people.
There are many resources that can support you.
Safe Steps have put together a guide that will help you understand the signs of family violence, what you can do to help, and some important tips about what you shouldn’t do in this situation.
1800 Respect have a similar resource.
Safe Steps and 1800 Respect are also available 24/7 to help provide you with advice and support.
If your friend, family, loved one or colleague is a man who may be using family violence, support is available to help them change their behaviour. You can call the Men’s Referral Service 24/7 on 1300 766 491 for advice and resources.
Support for you
Your needs are important too. There are special services available in Victoria that are there to help friends, family members, partners and other loved ones of people who use alcohol and other drugs, have mental health needs, or are experiencing family violence. These are free and confidential. These services can listen to your story and provide compassion, support and information based on what you’re experiencing.
Alcohol and other drugs
Family Drug Support
Phone: 1300 368 186 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.fds.org.au
Family Drug and Gambling Hotline (SHARC)
Phone: 1300 660 068 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: https://www.sharc.org.au/sharc-programs/family-drug-gambling-help/
You can also contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or at www.directline.org.au for confidential counselling and information about services that can help your loved one and you, including referral steps for alcohol and other drug treatment.
Mental health
Mental Health Carer Helpline
1300 554 660
Tandem
1800 314 325 (9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday)
https://www.tandemcarers.org.au/
Lifeline (available 24/7)
13 11 14
Lifeline also has a tool kit for carers of people with mental health challenges, which provides information about:
- The impact of being a carer
- Strategies for supporting and sustaining yourself as a carer
- General principles for supporting a person living with a mental illness
- Carer’s rights and entitlements
- Where to go for help
Family violence
Safe Steps (available 24/7)
1800 015 188
1800RESPECT (available 24/7)
1800 737 732
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
13 YARN (Crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.13yarn.org.au
Brother to Brother (For Aboriginal men)
Phone: 1800 435 799 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.dardimunwurro.com.au/brother-to-brother
Contacting someone staying at Windana residential facilities
There are different processes in place for phone calls and visiting clients/residents at our detox (withdrawal) and rehabilitation programs.
If you need a message to reach a client or resident at Windana, it’s best to contact the location (via Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955) and leave a message.
Information for family and friends.
Welcome
This page is for people who have someone in their life experiencing issues with alcohol or other drugs, mental health or family violence. It contains information on how your loved one can access support, and information about who to contact for advice and help for yourself.
In an emergency, dial 000. Other 24-hour hotlines (including crisis services) are listed in the drop-down menu that appears at the top of each page on this website.
Helping someone access alcohol and other drug treatment
How your loved one can self-refer
To access treatment through Victoria’s public alcohol and other drug system for people 18 and over, a person first needs to have an Intake and Assessment session.
Intake and Assessment can be over the phone or in-person and involves a trained clinician talking with the person to understand their needs, goals and exploring suitable treatment options together. During Intake and Assessment, the person is welcome to tell the clinician that they are interested in coming to Windana.
To have an Intake and Assessment session, the person can call DirectLine (Victoria’s central alcohol and other drug referral service) on 1800 888 236 or contact them via www.directline.org.au. The person can also contact their Intake and Assessment provider that looks after the local area where they live.
Young people aged 12-25 can directly contact our youth outreach team if they live, work or study in the cities of Cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Casey or Monash.
If they don’t live here, or aren’t sure, they can call , Victoria’s youth drug and alcohol advice service on 1800 458 685, 9 AM – 8 PM Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours you can contact on 1800 888 236.
Having conversations
If you choose to talk to a friend or family member about their alcohol or drug use, there are resources available – and services you can talk to first – to help you feel more prepared.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s website has a helpful ‘Having the conversation’ page for friends and family. This includes strategies you can consider when talking to someone about their alcohol or drug use.
Positive Choices has some helpful tips for talking to young people about alcohol and other drugs as well as a more detailed guide to starting the conversation.
Health Direct (an Australian government website offering health advice) also has a helpful and detailed page: ‘How to help someone who is misusing drugs or alcohol’. This includes information about what alcohol and drug misuse is, how to prepare for conversations with someone you are concerned about and advice/suggestions for when the person chooses not to seek treatment.
You can also consider contacting one of the services in the section below for advice if you are preparing to have a conversation.
If your loved one prefers, they can also talk to their GP (doctor) or a social worker who will be able to help start the Intake and Assessment process. For some services, GPs or other workers may also be able to refer to us directly.
If you have any general questions about how accessing treatment works, you are also welcome to contact Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955 between 9:00am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Helping someone with mental health challenges
Your support can make a big difference to people in your life experiencing mental health challenges. At the same time, caring for someone with mental health challenges can be challenging, and it’s important you look after yourself.
Luckily there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
The Australian Government’s Head to Health website has useful guides for talking to someone, supporting them to seek help, and looking after yourself in the process, as well as resources for supporting young people specifically if you’re a parent or carer.
R U OK also has detailed guides and resources for starting a conversation with someone about their mental health.
If you are in a role in your work or personal life where you feel you could build your skills to help listen, connect people with supports, and help when it matters most, you could also consider completing a Mental Health First Aid course with Windana or another Mental Health First Aid training provider.
Helping someone experiencing family violence
Your support can make a significant difference to people who have experienced domestic or family violence. At the same time, we know this can be fraught for many people.
There are many resources that can support you.
Safe Steps have put together a guide that will help you understand the signs of family violence, what you can do to help, and some important tips about what you shouldn’t do in this situation.
1800 Respect have a similar resource.
Safe Steps and 1800 Respect are also available 24/7 to help provide you with advice and support.
If your friend, family, loved one or colleague is a man who may be using family violence, support is available to help them change their behaviour. You can call the Men’s Referral Service 24/7 on 1300 766 491 for advice and resources.
Support for you
Your needs are important too. There are special services available in Victoria that are there to help friends, family members, partners and other loved ones of people who use alcohol and other drugs, have mental health needs, or are experiencing family violence. These are free and confidential. These services can listen to your story and provide compassion, support and information based on what you’re experiencing.
Alcohol and other drugs
Family Drug Support
Phone: 1300 368 186 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.fds.org.au
Family Drug and Gambling Hotline (SHARC)
Phone: 1300 660 068 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: https://www.sharc.org.au/sharc-programs/family-drug-gambling-help/
You can also contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or at www.directline.org.au for confidential counselling and information about services that can help your loved one and you, including referral steps for alcohol and other drug treatment.
Mental health
Mental Health Carer Helpline
1300 554 660
Tandem
1800 314 325 (9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday)
https://www.tandemcarers.org.au/
Lifeline (available 24/7)
13 11 14
Lifeline also has a tool kit for carers of people with mental health challenges, which provides information about:
- The impact of being a carer
- Strategies for supporting and sustaining yourself as a carer
- General principles for supporting a person living with a mental illness
- Carer’s rights and entitlements
- Where to go for help
Family violence
Safe Steps (available 24/7)
1800 015 188
1800RESPECT (available 24/7)
1800 737 732
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
13 YARN (Crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.13yarn.org.au
Brother to Brother (For Aboriginal men)
Phone: 1800 435 799 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.dardimunwurro.com.au/brother-to-brother
Contacting someone staying at Windana residential facilities
There are different processes in place for phone calls and visiting clients/residents at our detox (withdrawal) and rehabilitation programs.
If you need a message to reach a client or resident at Windana, it’s best to contact the location (via Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955) and leave a message.
Welcome.
This page is for people who have someone in their life experiencing issues with alcohol or other drugs, mental health or family violence. It contains information on how your loved one can access support, and information about who to contact for advice and help for yourself.
In an emergency, dial 000. Other 24-hour hotlines (including crisis services) are listed in the drop-down menu that appears at the top of each page on this website.
Helping a loved one.
Helping someone access alcohol and other drug treatmentHow your loved one can self-refer
To access treatment through Victoria’s public alcohol and other drug system for people 18 and over, a person first needs to have an Intake and Assessment session.
Intake and Assessment can be over the phone or in-person and involves a trained clinician talking with the person to understand their needs, goals and exploring suitable treatment options together. During Intake and Assessment, the person is welcome to tell the clinician that they are interested in coming to Windana.
To have an Intake and Assessment session, the person can call DirectLine (Victoria’s central alcohol and other drug referral service) on 1800 888 236 or contact them via www.directline.org.au. The person can also contact their Intake and Assessment provider that looks after the local area where they live.
Young people aged 12-25 can directly contact our youth outreach team if they live, work or study in the cities of Cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Casey or Monash.
If they don’t live here, or aren’t sure, they can call , Victoria’s youth drug and alcohol advice service on 1800 458 685, 9 AM – 8 PM Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours you can contact on 1800 888 236.
Having conversations
If you choose to talk to a friend or family member about their alcohol or drug use, there are resources available – and services you can talk to first – to help you feel more prepared.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s website has a helpful ‘Having the conversation’ page for friends and family. This includes strategies you can consider when talking to someone about their alcohol or drug use.
Positive Choices has some helpful tips for talking to young people about alcohol and other drugs as well as a more detailed guide to starting the conversation.
Health Direct (an Australian government website offering health advice) also has a helpful and detailed page: ‘How to help someone who is misusing drugs or alcohol’. This includes information about what alcohol and drug misuse is, how to prepare for conversations with someone you are concerned about and advice/suggestions for when the person chooses not to seek treatment.
You can also consider contacting one of the services in the section below for advice if you are preparing to have a conversation.
If your loved one prefers, they can also talk to their GP (doctor) or a social worker who will be able to help start the Intake and Assessment process. For some services, GPs or other workers may also be able to refer to us directly.
If you have any general questions about how accessing treatment works, you are also welcome to contact Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955 between 9:00am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Helping someone with mental health challengesYour support can make a big difference to people in your life experiencing mental health challenges. At the same time, caring for someone with mental health challenges can be challenging, and it’s important you look after yourself.
Luckily there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
The Australian Government’s Head to Health website has useful guides for talking to someone, supporting them to seek help, and looking after yourself in the process, as well as resources for supporting young people specifically if you’re a parent or carer.
R U OK also has detailed guides and resources for starting a conversation with someone about their mental health.
If you are in a role in your work or personal life where you feel you could build your skills to help listen, connect people with supports, and help when it matters most, you could also consider completing a Mental Health First Aid course with Windana or another Mental Health First Aid training provider.
Helping someone experiencing family violenceYour support can make a significant difference to people who have experienced domestic or family violence. At the same time, we know this can be fraught for many people.
There are many resources that can support you.
Safe Steps have put together a guide that will help you understand the signs of family violence, what you can do to help, and some important tips about what you shouldn’t do in this situation.
1800 Respect have a similar resource.
Safe Steps and 1800 Respect are also available 24/7 to help provide you with advice and support.
If your friend, family, loved one or colleague is a man who may be using family violence, support is available to help them change their behaviour. You can call the Men’s Referral Service 24/7 on 1300 766 491 for advice and resources.
Support for you.
Your needs are important too. There are special services available in Victoria that are there to help friends, family members, partners and other loved ones of people who use alcohol and other drugs, have mental health needs, or are experiencing family violence. These are free and confidential. These services can listen to your story and provide compassion, support and information based on what you’re experiencing.
Alcohol and other drugs
Family Drug Support
Phone: 1300 368 186 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.fds.org.au
Family Drug and Gambling Hotline (SHARC)
Phone: 1300 660 068 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: https://www.sharc.org.au/sharc-programs/family-drug-gambling-help/
You can also contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or at www.directline.org.au for confidential counselling and information about services that can help your loved one and you, including referral steps for alcohol and other drug treatment.
Mental health
Mental Health Carer Helpline
1300 554 660
Tandem
1800 314 325 (9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday)
https://www.tandemcarers.org.au/
Lifeline (available 24/7)
13 11 14
Lifeline also has a tool kit for carers of people with mental health challenges, which provides information about:
- The impact of being a carer
- Strategies for supporting and sustaining yourself as a carer
- General principles for supporting a person living with a mental illness
- Carer’s rights and entitlements
- Where to go for help
Family violence
Safe Steps (available 24/7)
1800 015 188
1800RESPECT (available 24/7)
1800 737 732
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
13 YARN (Crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.13yarn.org.au
Brother to Brother (For Aboriginal men)
Phone: 1800 435 799 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.dardimunwurro.com.au/brother-to-brother
Contacting someone staying at Windana residential facilities.
General infoThere are different processes in place for phone calls and visiting clients/residents at our detox (withdrawal) and rehabilitation programs.
If you need a message to reach a client or resident at Windana, it’s best to contact the location (via Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955) and leave a message.
Welcome
This page is for people who have someone in their life experiencing issues with alcohol or other drugs, mental health or family violence. It contains information on how your loved one can access support, and information about who to contact for advice and help for yourself.
In an emergency, dial 000. Other 24-hour hotlines (including crisis services) are listed in the drop-down menu that appears at the top of each page on this website.
Helping someone access alcohol and other drug treatment
How your loved one can self-refer
To access treatment through Victoria’s public alcohol and other drug system for people 18 and over, a person first needs to have an Intake and Assessment session.
Intake and Assessment can be over the phone or in-person and involves a trained clinician talking with the person to understand their needs, goals and exploring suitable treatment options together. During Intake and Assessment, the person is welcome to tell the clinician that they are interested in coming to Windana.
To have an Intake and Assessment session, the person can call DirectLine (Victoria’s central alcohol and other drug referral service) on 1800 888 236 or contact them via www.directline.org.au. The person can also contact their Intake and Assessment provider that looks after the local area where they live.
Young people aged 12-25 can directly contact our youth outreach team if they live, work or study in the cities of Cities of Port Phillip, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Frankston, Greater Dandenong, Casey or Monash.
If they don’t live here, or aren’t sure, they can call , Victoria’s youth drug and alcohol advice service on 1800 458 685, 9 AM – 8 PM Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours you can contact on 1800 888 236.
Having conversations
If you choose to talk to a friend or family member about their alcohol or drug use, there are resources available – and services you can talk to first – to help you feel more prepared.
The Australian Drug Foundation’s website has a helpful ‘Having the conversation’ page for friends and family. This includes strategies you can consider when talking to someone about their alcohol or drug use.
Positive Choices has some helpful tips for talking to young people about alcohol and other drugs as well as a more detailed guide to starting the conversation.
Health Direct (an Australian government website offering health advice) also has a helpful and detailed page: ‘How to help someone who is misusing drugs or alcohol’. This includes information about what alcohol and drug misuse is, how to prepare for conversations with someone you are concerned about and advice/suggestions for when the person chooses not to seek treatment.
You can also consider contacting one of the services in the section below for advice if you are preparing to have a conversation.
If your loved one prefers, they can also talk to their GP (doctor) or a social worker who will be able to help start the Intake and Assessment process. For some services, GPs or other workers may also be able to refer to us directly.
If you have any general questions about how accessing treatment works, you are also welcome to contact Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955 between 9:00am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday.
Helping someone with mental health challenges
Your support can make a big difference to people in your life experiencing mental health challenges. At the same time, caring for someone with mental health challenges can be challenging, and it’s important you look after yourself.
Luckily there are plenty of resources out there to help you get started.
The Australian Government’s Head to Health website has useful guides for talking to someone, supporting them to seek help, and looking after yourself in the process, as well as resources for supporting young people specifically if you’re a parent or carer.
R U OK also has detailed guides and resources for starting a conversation with someone about their mental health.
If you are in a role in your work or personal life where you feel you could build your skills to help listen, connect people with supports, and help when it matters most, you could also consider completing a Mental Health First Aid course with Windana or another Mental Health First Aid training provider.
Helping someone experiencing family violence
Your support can make a significant difference to people who have experienced domestic or family violence. At the same time, we know this can be fraught for many people.
There are many resources that can support you.
Safe Steps have put together a guide that will help you understand the signs of family violence, what you can do to help, and some important tips about what you shouldn’t do in this situation.
1800 Respect have a similar resource.
Safe Steps and 1800 Respect are also available 24/7 to help provide you with advice and support.
If your friend, family, loved one or colleague is a man who may be using family violence, support is available to help them change their behaviour. You can call the Men’s Referral Service 24/7 on 1300 766 491 for advice and resources.
Support for you
Your needs are important too. There are special services available in Victoria that are there to help friends, family members, partners and other loved ones of people who use alcohol and other drugs, have mental health needs, or are experiencing family violence. These are free and confidential. These services can listen to your story and provide compassion, support and information based on what you’re experiencing.
Alcohol and other drugs
Family Drug Support
Phone: 1300 368 186 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.fds.org.au
Family Drug and Gambling Hotline (SHARC)
Phone: 1300 660 068 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: https://www.sharc.org.au/sharc-programs/family-drug-gambling-help/
You can also contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236 or at www.directline.org.au for confidential counselling and information about services that can help your loved one and you, including referral steps for alcohol and other drug treatment.
Mental health
Mental Health Carer Helpline
1300 554 660
Tandem
1800 314 325 (9 AM – 5 PM, Monday to Friday)
https://www.tandemcarers.org.au/
Lifeline (available 24/7)
13 11 14
Lifeline also has a tool kit for carers of people with mental health challenges, which provides information about:
- The impact of being a carer
- Strategies for supporting and sustaining yourself as a carer
- General principles for supporting a person living with a mental illness
- Carer’s rights and entitlements
- Where to go for help
Family violence
Safe Steps (available 24/7)
1800 015 188
1800RESPECT (available 24/7)
1800 737 732
https://www.1800respect.org.au/
Services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
13 YARN (Crisis support)
Phone: 13 92 76 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.13yarn.org.au
Brother to Brother (For Aboriginal men)
Phone: 1800 435 799 (24-hours a day, seven days a week)
Website: www.dardimunwurro.com.au/brother-to-brother
Contacting someone staying at Windana residential facilities
There are different processes in place for phone calls and visiting clients/residents at our detox (withdrawal) and rehabilitation programs.
If you need a message to reach a client or resident at Windana, it’s best to contact the location (via Windana Reception on 03 9529 7955) and leave a message.
Contact Details
For phone numbers, please visit our Contact Us page
Quick Links
Windana acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Australia and we welcome all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to our service.
Windana is committed to providing inclusive and safe services for LGBTIQ+ communities, and is working towards becoming a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation.
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