Journal
Published stories, reflections, and research from across the community.
Explore how celebrity influence is shaping young people’s attitudes to gambling, and learn how families and communities can respond with support.
Explore Digital Addiction in young Australians – signs, stats and smart recovery tools to help reclaim balance in screen-driven lives.
The rise of youth gambling in Australia is changing teen culture - learn why betting is booming and how to tackle the risks.
Stories Lessons in empathy: Why homelessness education belongs in every classroom Written by Lucas Patchett OAM, CEO and Co-Founder of Orange Sky. When you ask a class of students what the word “homelessness” means, you’ll often hear the same answer: “someone sleeping on the stre
Discover Orange Sky’s reflections from Garma Festival 2025 on Yolŋu Country- listening and learning from First Nations communities.
As we mark Homelessness Week, it’s time to look beyond the stereotypes and understand the types of homelessness affecting Aussies.
Australia’s youth face an addiction crisis. It’s time to stop harmful alcohol ads and invest in real support like SMART Recovery’s youth programs.
Addiction is a cost-of-living issue — discover why Australia needs inclusive, evidence-based recovery options beyond the 12-step model.
Meet Maygan Grischy, the new board member at Orange Sky Australia bringing her passion for community connection.
Keiron Lander, a proud Dieri and Mithaka man, brought a deep commitment to First Nations peoples in his years within our Board of Directors.
SMART Recovery Australia Celebrates 20 Years with National Awards Night as Member Base Triples.
On National Philanthropy Day, Orange Sky celebrates the incredible support from our philanthropic community who helps us with our mission.
Join SMART Recovery Australia on Wear It Purple Day 2024 to support LGBTIQA+ recovery and promote inclusive, compassionate care for all.
Webinars WEBINAR: What is SMART Recovery and how does it work alongside AOD treatment? Staff SMART Recovery Australia Join us for a special webinar
#RecoveryStories Tallulah
Research Thinking about your smoking? Professor Amanda Baker Clinical Psychologist and proud member of the SMART Recovery Global and Australian Research
Webinars Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Health & Alcohol Presenters: Liz Dale and Dr Sharynne Hamilton WEBINAR: Strengths-based approaches:
#RecoveryStories "Feel your grief. But don’t live there, dude. You can do something about it" Get SMART You know that feeling when you wake up after yet
#RecoveryStories My addiction recovery story You might say that my story has come full circle... I was a very happy and social teenager. I had a beautiful
The following is reposted with permission from Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s mailing list. I love a quiet achiever. If we were to hand out awards
Research SMART Recovery Participant Survey SMART Facilitator Pete Currie is working on a research project with RMIT University and is asking SMART
Feature Article Mental Health during COVID-19 Emily Carstairs Contributor Pandemic. One seemingly simple word that is defined as a
SMART Recovery Australia takes great pride in our status as Australia’s leading evidence-based mutual aid addiction recovery program. A huge part of this
Empowering youth at-risk through fitness and mentorship from mentors with lived experience of incarceration.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Community Justice Group Community Justice Group PICC continues to auspice the Community Justice Group (CJG), which works towards reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders and victims within the crimin
As dawn broke over the University of Sunshine Coast, the air was charged with anticipation for the inaugural day of our Conversation Camp.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Family Participation Program Family Participation Program The Family Participation Program (FPP) helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families who are going through the child protection system and those who are at risk of going through
In the heart of Hue, Vietnam, a beacon of hope and empowerment shines brightly - The Hope Centre. This center, with its profound mission to uplift disabled and disadvantaged individuals, is transforming lives through vocational training and work opportunities.
Discover how Orange Sky supports remote communities with free laundry facilities, local employment, and meaningful partnerships. Learn more about our impact and how you can help.
This post delves into the life of Vireak, a man who grew up in the challenging environment of Cabramatta, Sydney, in the 1980s and 1990s. Surrounded by crime, gangs, and drug addiction from an early age, Vic's story is one of resilience and redemption. Despite falling into the...
Orange Sky's Transitional Accommodation service offers laundry support to those in crisis housing, enhancing wellbeing and dignity.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Diversionary Service Diversionary Service The Palm Island Diversionary Service provides a safe place for intoxicated clients to sober up. The Services delivered are those required for the provision of assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strai
It's overwhelming, isn't it?
There's a different quality to time when you sit with Jimmy Frank Jupurrurla. It stretches and breathes, unfolds in layers that connect the boomerangs he crafted with old fellas at nineteen to the housing revolution he's leading today. In his presence, you understand that wisd...
Playing with Chat GPT this morning building an A Curious Tractor comic
We owe it to our young people, our communities, and our society as a whole to do better. The time for change is now, and the Diagrama model shows us that a brighter, more hopeful future is within reach. Together, we can create a youth justice system that reflects our values, h...
Learn how Orange Sky supports Australians affected by natural disasters with free laundry services and safe spaces for community support.
Facebook Latest News Date 02/09/2025 Call for Nominations for Election as Member-Elected Directors Nominations are called for candidates for election as Member-Elected Directors of the Palm Island Community Company Ltd. Persons interested in nomination for election at the Company
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Service Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Service The Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Service provides a single, dedicated team focused on reducing the rate of domestic and family violence
Welcome to the A Curious Tractor Community newsletter where once a fortnight you can get all the news from the farm.
Empowering youth at-risk through fitness and mentorship from mentors with lived experience of incarceration. See our impact!
Discover the inspiring tale of Joe Kwon, a man who turned personal adversity into a mission to transform lives. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the power of resilience and the need for innovation in our social systems.
In Queensland, our youth justice system is failing our most vulnerable young people, with a billion-dollar plan that prioritizes punishment over addressing the root causes of offending. It's time for a fundamental rethink - one that empowers Aboriginal communities, invests in ...
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Bwgcolman Healing Service Bwgcolman Healing Service COVID-19 ALERT If you have any flu-like symptoms, including a fever (particularly above 37.5°C), cough, headache, sore throat or shortness of breath, it is important that you seek medical ca
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Family Care Service Family Care Service The Family Care Service finds carers for Palm Island children who cannot stay at home. Carers are members of the child’s family or of the Palm community. Providing this service means that Palm Island ch
Category: General Orange Sky Laundromats Our innovative laundromats allow us to reach more people who need access to laundry and meaningful connection. Spotlight: Tranby Engagement Hub, Perth How one partnership became our new Internal Laundry Service Model. Lucas Patchett Shortl
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Women’s Service Women’s Service The Women’s Service provides safe short-term crisis accommodation for women who have experienced, or who are at risk of experiencing, domestic and family violence. The Women’s Service can accommodate the childr
Discover the ways in which we support youth at-risk and/or currently incarcerated. Learn where we work and about our current programs.
I'm going to help you trace the authentic thread, but first I need to ask: when I stood in that Bolivian prison and saw families living inside, inmates running restaurants, children playing in courtyards...how did that feel...what is punishment all about.
A reflection on connection, knowledge-sharing, and the weaving of futures on Stradbroke Island
The Global Laundry Alliance represents a radical reimagining of how social change manifests—not through isolated interventions but through collective wisdom, not through competition but through collaboration, not through prescription but through possibility.
This is Part 1 of an ongoing series exploring the intersection of personal transformation and systemic change. A Curious Tractor exists to create spaces for this kind of collective reimagining—working with organisations and communities ready to move beyond fixing broken system...
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Telstra Call Centre Telstra Call Centre The Telstra Call Centre is an exciting project for Palm Island, and arose through a partnership between PICC, Telstra, Queensland Government, TAFE Queensland, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, and R
We actively promote our work in the media to challenge stigma, raise awareness, and advocate for systemic change in the youth justice system.
At A Curious Tractor, we believe in the power of action to transform uncertainty into possibility. Our innovative PTO (Power Take-Off) approach allows us to channel our energy, resources, and knowledge into diverse initiatives, from youth justice to healthcare worker support. ...
Share this if you're done watching children being destroyed for profit while we pretend it's justice.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Safe Haven Service Safe Haven Service The Safe Haven is designed to respond to domestic and family violence issues within the Palm community. It targets children and young people aged under eighteen years and families caring for children who
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Social and Emotional Wellbeing Social and Emotional Wellbeing The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Service provides social and emotional wellbeing pathways and services to members of the community who would like to enhance their wellbeing. Thes
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services NDIS Services NDIS Services General Enquiries Email : ndis@picc.com.au Phone : 4791 4041 Operational Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Location : Palm Island and Townsville PICC NDIS Service Delivery Community Access Personalised
I've been wrestling with whether to share this story. It's personal, raw, and still very fresh. But in the spirit of Ros, a woman who taught me to "Just f%@# do it - if it feels right, do it," I've decided to share. Last week, we lost Ros. Despite the pain of her passing, her ...
From the moment A Curious Tractor sowed its first seeds, we've been dedicated to cultivating a culture of curiosity, creativity, and authenticity. Now, we're excited to introduce a new value to our fertile field - Raucousness.
Discover how Orange Sky Australia supports students and families with free laundry and life skills, and how to become a school partner.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Community Hub Community Hub The PICC Community Hub is Palm Islanders’ central point for community-based activities and a trusted place to access essential services. Located in the Palm Island Mall, the Hub is an innovative space designed to b
This story captures a transformative journey to Palm Island, where the process of building beds becomes a powerful metaphor for community connection, cultural respect, and regeneration.
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Blue Card Liaison Service Blue Card Liaison Service A co-designed initiative between the Palm Island Community Company and Blue Card Services, the Blue Card Liaison Officer connects and empowers applicants and organisations to confidently nav
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Our Services A large proportion of the Palm Island population (32 percent) is aged 14 years or younger. This is a large contrast to the Queensland average, where those 14 years old and younger make up only 19.4 percent of the population. Furt
Empowering youth at-risk through fitness and mentorship from mentors with lived experience of incarceration. See our impact!
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Early Childhood Services (CFC) Early Childhood Services (CFC) The Children and Family Centre (CFC) provides playgroup 5 mornings a week, Monday to Friday. But we are more than just a playgroup. The CFC is a hub where parents and caregivers ca
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Family Wellbeing Centre Family Wellbeing Centre The Family Wellbeing Service offers support services to families in need, including families who are having contact with the Child Protection system. The Service offers support and help such as
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Safe House Safe House The Safe House provides short-term residential placements for children and young people under 18 years old who have been referred from the Department of Child Safety, Senior and Disability Services. The service provides
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Women’s Healing Service Women’s Healing Service The Women’s Healing Service (WHS) provides holistic support to women across all stages of engagement with the criminal justice system, from early intervention to post-release reintegration. We o
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Social Enterprises Social Enterprises PICC Community Coffee Shop and Variety Store The PICC Community Coffee Shop and Variety Store provides Palm Islanders with the option to purchase a wide range of products on Palm Island. Our product range
Facebook Quicklinks Home Our Services Youth Services Youth Services We provide a range of youth services to support our young people on Palm Island. Programs include: Indigenous Youth Connection to Culture (IYCC): provides activities recommended in the Palm Island Indigenous Yout
Sometimes I feel like life is hard - I have had a tough week and when I let that drive my attention it was debilitating. But my life is not hard really…
Confit Pathways empowers youth at-risk or incarcerated through fitness and mentorship from mentors with lived experience.
Empowering youth at-risk through fitness and mentorship from mentors with lived experience of incarceration.
Discover who we are and the story behind Confit Pathways. Meet the team and learn how we
Innovation is in Orange Sky’s DNA! Learn how our ideas, pilots and breakthroughs have evolved to better serve our friends and volunteers.
Orange Sky's Young People program helps those under 24 access essential services through our School Laundry Program and education.
Learn about homelessness and its complexities to inspire change and empathy in your community. Education can make a difference.
Discover how Orange Sky supports remote communities with free laundry facilities, local employment, and meaningful partnerships. Learn more about our impact and how you can help.
Discover Orange Sky's innovative services for diverse communities, like Women’s Only shifts and School Laundry Programs.
Discover how Orange Sky fosters social inclusion and combats loneliness through free laundry, shower services, and genuine conversations. Learn about our impact on community connection and wellbeing.
Explore Orange Sky’s vision to double our impact by 2030 and help more Australians access free laundry, showers and positive connection when they need it most.
Ready to make a difference in your career? View opportunities and find out more about what makes an Orange Sky Person.
Your philanthropic gift to Orange Sky makes a massive difference, providing free laundry, showers and connection to Aussies doing it tough.
Browse our locations and find a shift near you. Orange Sky's mobile laundry and shower services operate in over 40 locations across Australia.
JusticeHub is a community-driven platform that connects these solutions, amplifies success, and shifts funding directly to what works.
2019 was a huge year for SMART Recovery Australia. Our growing community has helped more people than ever before realise their potential and overcome
Katie Horneshaw writes about mental illness, addiction and women
The Baader-Meinhof Effect, known also by its less tongue-tying name the frequency effect, is that feeling when you hear of something for the first time,
Welcome mick palmer Drug law reform advocate and former Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer becomes SMART Recovery Australia ambassador SMART Recovery
This post originally appeared at http://www.williamwhitepapers.com/blog/2018/11/a-recovery-stigma-case-study-bill-white-and-shiv-sharma.html and
SMART Recovery Australia recently appointed Tania Skippen to our Board of Directors. Her wealth of experience in the world of mental health policy and
There’s no such thing as an ideal time to quit, or an ideal time to create change in your life. Change can be chaotic and traumatising, and the safety of
Unless you’re colour-blind or live under a rock, you’ll notice that this weekend features St Patrick’s Day, when the 80-million strong Irish diaspora (and
SMART Recovery Australia doesn
If you
Recently, the tragic case of the young British man who died of a blood clot deep in the midst of a mammoth twelve-hour gaming session hit the news. The
As the Turnbull government introduces its mandatory drug testing policy for welfare recipients, I’ve spoken to a few people about SMART Recovery
Max* was savouring a cigarette in the sun when he received a phone call telling him not to pick up his seven-year-old daughter Karen* from school. It was
There are over 175 SMART Recovery meetings happening every week across Australia, giving thousands of people free access to ongoing addiction support.
We’re excited to announce New Zealand has joined the SMART Recovery international community. The move came about after the SMART Recovery Board
THE City Mission has established a Launceston support group for 12 to 25-year-olds living with addiction. City Mission youth and outreach supervisor Tyson
The NSW Government will invest $197 million in 2016-17 on drug and alcohol services including prevention and harm reduction programs across NSW. Assistant
The NSW Network of Alcohol and other Drugs Agencies (NADA) just wrapped up its annual conference at The Grace Hotel in Sydney on June 6 and 7. This year’s
Matthew was 14 when he first began using methamphetamine. Sometimes he used it with his friends; other times he would use it with his mother. "I first
A team of doctors is planning to roll out pill testing at musical festivals in New South Wales, but Premier Mike Baird has ruled out ever supporting the
In 1956, the American Medical Association declared alcoholism a “disease.” More than half a century later, the American Society of Addiction Medicine
There are over 135 SMART Recovery meetings across Australia, and this number continues to grow. Here are some of the latest to have opened their doors. To
SMART Recovery Australia provides professional training courses for individuals and organisations wanting to learn the SMART Recovery behavioural change
Dubbo Daily Liberal A CITY first "life-saving" program aimed at helping residents overcome addictive behaviour will be launched tonight at the Dubbo
Our good friends at The Australian published a timely article on the 27th December regarding abstinence versus management in addictions, which
A group of students studying SMART Recovery in China created a movie that dramatizes addictions and behaviors that are of concern to young people, and how
6 May 2007 COMPASS: A NEW MISSION Summary Four homeless men sign up for a chance to change their lives. They are offered places at a new centre run by
SMART RECOVERY APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR November 21 2013: Not for profit organisation SMART Recovery, whose programs focus on providing support to
SMART Recovery is Launching a New Program for Teen/Youth Smart Recovery Australia (working in collaboration with Juvenile Justice NSW) will soon be