Odyssey Victoria

16/02/2026

We have Mental Health First Aid courses coming up in March and May. To find out more information go to: https://education.odyssey.org.au/mental-health-first-aid/

15/02/2026

An Australian-first study is prompting ‘cause for alarm’ over potential rising harms from the drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), reinforcing the need for prevention and harm-reduction strategies, as a GP expert calls for improved follow-up care.

The UNSW Sydney’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) study reveals that despite relatively low use compared to other illicit drugs such as M**A, co***ne and methamphetamine, GHB’s popularity is rising.

GHB-related deaths have increased 10-fold since 2013, the NDARC study reveals, while the number of hospitalisations more than tripled.

https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/rising-harm-from-party-drug-cause-for-alarm

Australia is seeing an ‘accelerating trend’ in harms from GHB, and GPs have a key role in follow-up care to reduce further risk.

14/02/2026

Thought for a Sunday...

12/02/2026

ADHD is common and is progressively being recognized as a disorder affecting people across the lifespan. ADHD is associated with multiple negative personal outcomes, including lower education, unemployment, poor marital outcomes, and reduced mortality. Substance use disorders are also common. Almost half of all individuals with ADHD have cannabis use disorder. Some studies have concluded that this abuse is a type of self-medication to correct an imbalance in the activity at endogenous cannabinoid receptors and dopamine neurons.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology is the study of substances that influence mental states. Such agents induce changes in mood, sensation, thinking, or behavior, and may be derived from plants or other natural sources or chemically synthesized in a laboratory. Psychopharmacology encompasses medications used in the....

06/02/2026

The Pride March was held in St Kilda last Sunday. Odyssey was proud to have staff and residents from our three therapeutic communities take place in the parade and festivities. Odyssey Victoria is a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation and we welcome all members of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Note: No homophobic comments will be tolerated on this page. Any of these comments will be deleted and the individuals blocked.

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27/01/2026

The Victorian Labor Government has announced new funding to strengthen early intervention mental health support for young Victorians. As part of this investment, additional resources will be used for at‑risk youth services including support for Project Sunrise, which we are proud to be part of.

Project Sunrise is a specialised, culturally appropriate, and tailored alcohol and other drug (AOD) initiative supporting young Victorians aged 12–34 from African communities and their families.

We welcome this additional funding and look forward to expanding our support for African young people and their families across the community.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/supporting-young-victorians-through-early-intervention

The Allan Labor Government is strengthening early intervention and mental health support for young Victorians – helping them stay engaged and connected with their communities as they approach adulthood. Minister for Mental Health and Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt and Minister for Youth Natali...

25/01/2026

Today is a national public holiday, intended to celebrate ‘being Australian’.

For many, however, it is a reminder of what was lost through colonisation and the terrible harms inflicted on Australia’s first peoples.

While many people believe that we should have a way to celebrate being Australian, the country remains divided as to whether this should be on a date that offends so many people, and is associated with the forceful and violent dispossession of our First Nation’s Peoples.

For this reason, and in support of our Reconciliation Action Plan, Odyssey House Victoria allows staff to choose whether they mark the day with a public holiday, or substitute another day.

For those of you who would like to take action in other ways here is a guide to events you can participate in around Victoria on Monday 26th January:

https://nit.com.au/21-01-2026/22230/invasion-day-2026-a-guide-for-victorian-events

Please be respectful in the comments. Any racist/offensive comments will be deleted and individuals blocked.

The 2026 January 26 events are taking place all over Victoria, with the large rally to take place on the steps of State Parliament in Naarm. The following are several events taking place across the st...

23/01/2026

We had a lot of fun last weekend with our stand at the Midsumma Carnival. We had some great talks with community members about safe drug use and inclusive treatment pathways.

21/01/2026

Odyssey Victoria were proud to be participants in this collaborative.

Congratulations to the first-ever cohort of The Learning Collaborative (TLC), who graduated in December 2025! This round, 11 organisations completed the program:

- Anglicare Victoria
- Ballarat Community Health
- Bayside Health Alfred
- Better Health Network
- Latrobe Regional Health
- Mind Australia
- Odyssey Victoria
- St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne
- The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
- Wellways
- Youth Support + Advocacy Service

TLC is Australia’s first Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) program to help AOD and mental health organisations strengthen their LLEW. The program, delivered in partnership with Yale University, Dr. Louise Byrne and SHARC, offers guidance on policies, processes and culture, while creating networks for mentoring, learning, and collaboration.

Find out more about TLC and LLEAH: www.sharc.org.au/lleah