Working towards recovery: A treatment model of care that works for workers
July 2025
Most people who use alcohol and other drugs are working. But for many, being employed is the very thing that makes it hard to get help.
We’ve just wrapped up an exciting project with Odyssey Victoria and the Victorian Workers Health and Wellbeing Foundation, where we codesigned a model of care for a specialised alcohol and other drug treatment service tailored for Victorian workers.
The service will offer intensive, short term residential and community based treatment and support — not just for alcohol and other drugs, but also gambling problems.
The issue? Work can be a barrier to treatment
Longer term treatment programs often don’t fit with the realities of working life. Shift work, job insecurity, fear of stigma, or the risk of losing employment if someone discloses an issue – these are just some of the reasons workers don’t reach out for support when they need it.
So we set out to create something different.
A model built with workers, not just for them
Together with Odyssey Victoria, 360Edge consulted widely with unions, workers, families, and employers across a wide range of industries. We wanted to hear directly about the roadblocks – and what would make treatment accessible, effective, and genuinely worker friendly.
We also looked into the evidence: What works in community and residential rehabilitation? What supports people to stay engaged in work while recovering? And how do we make early intervention part of the workplace culture?
Then we brought everyone to the table – alcohol and other drug providers, unions, health professionals, and people with lived and living experience – to codesign a model of care that reflects real world needs and evidence based best practice.
What we landed on
The final model is designed to:
- Support workers to stay employed while they recover
- Offer flexible effective treatment options – both residential and community based
- Deliver harm reduction and early intervention through workplace education and health promotion
This is a major step forward in bridging the gap between treatment services and working people. Workers shouldn’t have to choose between getting help and keeping their job.
How we can help
Service and workforce improvement can be challenging. The real world is messy, and working on the frontline you need clear practical solutions that work.
We provide practical tailored solutions for any service who works with people who use drugs. We support better responses to alcohol and other drug issues in mental health, primary care, welfare, justice and education sectors, as well as the specialist alcohol and other drug sector. Learn more about how 360Edge can help your service.
Are you interested building your skills in responding to alcohol and other drugs? Check out our diverse range of clinical practice workshops.
