About Us

Odyssey House New South Wales was founded in 1977 by Sydney businessman, Walter McGrath, following the death of his son from a heroin overdose. From humble beginnings, Odyssey House NSW has since grown to become one of Australia’s largest and most successful rehabilitation services; over the past 45 years we have helped more than 45,000 people turn their lives around.

Today Odyssey House offers Community Programs and Residential Programs as well as the Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) program.

Our Community Programs include Alcohol and other drug counselling, mental health services as well as family and parent support programs in locations across Sydney.

Our Residential Programs include withdrawal and residential rehabilitation programs, mental health programs, a Parent’s and Children’s Program and specialised group services, as well as numeracy and literacy education; family/relationship issues; domestic violence and other trauma, parental drug use; and physical and mental health problems.

Our Mission

To build safe and healthy communities by reducing the impact of substance misuse on individuals, families, carers and communities.

Our Vision

A world free of addiction

Our Values

Professionalism

We are committed to excellence by maintaining our professional boundaries and fulfilling responsibilities in an accountable, inclusive and objective manner.

Integrity

We act with honesty and adhere to consistent moral and ethical values and principles through our personal and professional behaviours.

Respect

We demonstrate consideration and regard for the feelings, beliefs and rights of others.

Creativity

We trust in our limitless potential.

Our Diversity and Inclusion Statement

Odyssey House NSW recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and waters now known as Australia. We acknowledge the continuing impacts of western settlement on this country.

We are committed to providing a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to supporting opportunities for cultural connection wherever possible. We commit to working in partnership with local Aboriginal communities.

Odyssey values the richness of people’s backgrounds and identities. Bullying, harassment and discrimination are not tolerated. Treating people fairly and with respect is at the core of everything we do.

Our commitment is clearly communicated in our policies, Code of Conduct and Client Charter.

We are motivated to providing a safe and inclusive environment for everyone from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, religions, spiritualities, and ages.

We recognise the contributions and resilience of the diverse communities we work with, and we are dedicated to working alongside them in partnership, mutual learning, and to elevate their voices.

We welcome people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities. We aim to provide a workplace and a service that is inclusive and culturally safe for people of all gender, sexual and bodily identities.

We know that our clients, residents, students, volunteers and staff come from many culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In order to provide them with the best outcomes, we need to better understand and respect their cultural sensitivities, customs and beliefs.

We are committed to supporting and developing the competency of staff to deliver diverse and culturally responsive health care services. Odyssey is committed to making the services we provide more accessible for everyone.

Wherever possible we work to identify and remove the things that make it difficult for people with a disability to use our services.

Odyssey recognises that discrimination and structural inequalities contribute to poor health, mental health and social outcomes. Social justice and equality are at the heart of everything we do.

We realise that individuals and communities who have multiple identities of culture, religion, sexuality, gender identity and disability may face even more disadvantage and discrimination.

We understand that people who experience problematic drug and alcohol use hold multiple identities, roles and needs and we support them best when we understand, honour, and celebrate difference.

This Statement has been developed using Odyssey House Victoria’s Diversity and Inclusion materials – we thank them for permission to utilise their work.