The Farm

 "I I've buried a lot of young people in Canberra who should not have died... This is a big social issue."

We were privileged to visit The Farm a couple of weeks ago and find out about the difficult and rewarding work that Kate Cleary is doing in helping women reclaim their lives and families after addiction. Having worked for many years as a social worker, Kate was struck by how many stories were the same - women in abusive relationships, with significant addiction problems whose children had been taken away from them. It became her mission to restore these families - by addressing a lot of the issues that had led to these upsetting cycles. Kate joked that she needed to live with the women to really change the outcome for them -and thanks to an abandoned old convent some very serindipidous help, Kate now runs "The Farm". This home-like facility, is a place where women come to live and heal themselves for 12 months, working through the program, learning to believe in themselves again, become equipped to work, and are given tools and time for self reflection. Ultimately, they become well and supported enough to get their children back.

"Society needs to become a bit more aware of what the heck is this drug problem? Like, why is there such a demand for drugs in Australia? What's going on here?"

The women were all kind enough to sit down and chat with us and are each positive for their future. Avery* was clear that she wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the second chance at life that The Farm offered her.

"You've got to really want it, because if you don't want to change, then, like, you're not going to."

Amy* thinks purpose is the key to why they are likely to succeed:

"I think that's the big difference. It's your purpose, because - the produce and stuff? We eat that. We have to look after the animals, make sure they're okay, and then keep where we live clean. So it's sort of getting us back into the routine of a normal life. Here you're not just someone with a problem..."

*Hilary has come through the program, has completed her certificate IV in Community Service and now is working at The Farm to help other women get back on track too.

"My son got restored fully back to my care last June. It was the best day of my life. It's where he should be at the end of the day and where he's going to stay forever. He's the love of my life, that little boy..."

It was confronting to meet these women and listen to their stories. You really get a sense of how precarious life is, of how vulnerable we all are. Of how easily it could be you or someone you love sitting there.

"There's so much badness out there, and there's not enough out here in the world to help people out."

Tracy is probably just a bit younger than me and used to run her own business, own her own house and has 4 kids. Now she has lost her job, her children, her home and all her teeth.

"I think you really need to remove yourself and just start fresh, somewhere like this is just perfect to be able to do that. I hate being so far away from my son but I find the remoteness, the quietness, the stillness, all of that, it's very helpful."

Nikki* is an incredibly articulate 22 year old who reminds me of my own children. Clever, insightful, perceptive. Her mum begged her to get help and so far The Farm is proving successful.

"When you're using drugs to escape not only the world around you, but yourself, you don't really have any idea of who you are. And I just feel like a completely different person now, after being here."

You can find more about the work Kate is doing here.

You can donate here: https://thefarmingalong.com.au/donate