Lord Mayor Clover Moore visits new Odyssey House NSW HQ.

Leading drug rehabilitation provider Odyssey House NSW has officially opened its new Redfern headquarters, offering a range of services to help Sydney-siders overcome alcohol and other drug dependence problems, manage mental illness, prevent relapse and access support.

Odyssey House NSW CEO Julie Babineau, staff and clients hosted a tour and afternoon tea on 5 September with City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Deputy Lord Mayor Jess Miller and City Life Director Ann Hoban, local health and social welfare organisations and indigenous community representatives.

Located at 199 Regent Street, Redfern, the Odyssey House offices are home to its Admissions and Intake Centre, its MERIT Program (Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment) and its Central & Eastern Sydney Community Services Hub, one of eleven community-based centres the organisation now runs across Sydney.

Odyssey House Community Services provides local people with free assistance to overcome alcohol and other drug problems including group therapy, individual psychological counselling, education sessions, support and referrals.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she always valued opportunities to meet the people behind the city’s most important local services.

“I was really pleased to speak with CEO Julie Babineau and recent Odyssey House graduates and hear how they’ve turned their lives around,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The City of Sydney is very supportive of Odyssey House and the vital work they do to support people with addiction, which is a significant health issue in our City.”

Ms Babineau said Odyssey House was pleased to be an integral part of the inner-Sydney community, with its expansive new premises enabling the organisation to help more people get expert help without necessarily ‘going to rehab’.

“Local communities are a key gateway to effectively helping people from all walks of life overcome drug dependence and mental illness.

“Odyssey House provides accessible treatment and after care in collaboration with local support networks and tailored to local challenges.

“By delivering integrated, stepped care targeted to clients’ needs – and treating drug dependence and mental illness at the same time – Odyssey House is reducing barriers to treatment, making the healthcare system easier to navigate, increasing the likelihood people will continue with treatment, and ultimately improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by alcohol and other drug problems,” she said.