Towards the end of 2017, Leah made her way to Mission Australia’s Triple Care Farm for the very first time and was treated at the newly opened David Martin Place Withdrawal Centre.

When David Martin Place opened in May 2017 it was NSW’s first dedicated youth residential withdrawal program. Since then, it has treated hundreds of young people desperately in need of help.

“I’ll never forget my first day at Triple Care Farm, I was absolutely terrified. But I just wasn’t ready… I still couldn’t trust anyone.”

Leah left after only 48 hours, requiring acute hospital care after a serious and violent outburst. Once stabilised, she was re-admitted to David Martin Place and her journey of healing began.

“Triple Care Farm offered the help I’d been looking for. They didn’t ask, ‘can’t you just stop?’ They listened and they cared. They didn’t judge me!”

As a result, Leah thrived with positive routines in her life. “I ate well, my medication stabilised and I was busy with counselling and classes. I also discovered my love of exercise.”

When the time came to leave the program, Leah found temporary accommodation in a women’s hostel.

“Although I started well, the loneliness of the hostel was awful, and when my depression returned, so too did the alcohol and drugs. I was slipping back into old ways. I rang my Aftercare worker Todd and said ‘I need to come back – I don’t want to fall back into this pit’. He literally came down the next day and brought me back to David Martin Place.”

This final stay at Triple Care Farm changed the course of Leah’s life forever.

“I had to detox off everything again. The staff changed my life and were like family to me. If I was in a bad headspace they’d say ‘Ok Leah, let’s go down to the gym’ and that could happen three times a day. It was the understanding and acceptance I had craved my whole life!”

Today, Leah is working full time in Early Childhood, whilst studying to become a Personal Trainer. Now 23 years old, she recently purchased her own home with her partner. What a huge achievement! After years of instability, Leah has created her very own safe place to call home.

“Things were rough when I first left Triple Care Farm, so I just decided to keep busy. Soon I had three jobs in early childcare, afterschool care and at a fast food place. Often I was working from 7am in the morning until 1am the next day. But I had a steady income for the first time in my life. I met my  partner at work, and together we saved every inch of money we could. Three years later we had a deposit and bought a house together.”

“Honestly, it was really tough sometimes. But I woke each day with purpose. I had a purpose to stay clean, a purpose not to drink. Even when everyone around me was still making the wrong decisions, I somehow found the courage to say no.”

Reconnecting with family was the next big step in Leah’s recovery.

“My family found out I was working and was clean and they were really proud of me. They invited me to visit and slowly I regained their trust. I opened up to Mum about things we’d never spoken about. I had caused them so much hurt and I didn’t know if they would ever forgive me.

“I felt so ashamed … especially about the physical violence towards my family. But they have been able to forgive me and through that, I’ve been able to forgive myself.

“Today, I’m just trying my best. When I have a rough day, I remember I have so much to lose. I have a house, a job, a partner, a new relationship with my family, including a new baby nephew and some great friends. I have everything to live for now.”

As the primary funder of Triple Care Farm, Sir David Martin Foundation relies on the generosity of our supporters. Leah shared her story as part of this Tax Appeal because she wants to help other young people find safety, hope and purpose in life. She wants others to get the chance to build a better life too. But we need your help…

“I honestly don’t know where I’d be without Triple Care Farm.  I owe so much to the program for helping me get back on the right track.  If Triple Care Farm wasn’t there I’d still be on a path of self-destruction, if not in jail or dead. They gave me a sense of hope that life could get better.”