In September 2024, with no rental history and nowhere safe to go, Sean, 41, was bailed from prison to The Sydney Retreat’s 28-day residential recovery program. That moment became the turning point he didn’t know he needed.
“I was on orders from the court not to drink. Going to The Sydney Retreat with an open mind and being welcomed by happy, friendly people made it easy to start over,” Sean shares.
A qualified tradie, Sean had half-started renovations on his flat while in addiction. “My neighbours were alcoholics. I was in a relationship with an alcoholic. If I had gone back home after the 28 day program, I would’ve just started drinking again.”
Instead, he moved into one of The Sydney Retreat’s sober houses – a supported living environment for people in early recovery. It’s a decision he credits with everything that’s followed.
Why Sober Housing Matters
The sober house has given Sean structure, community and accountability – things he says no traditional professional could offer in the same way.
“I had a psychologist, psychiatrist, drug and alcohol counsellor, magistrates, family, friends – all telling me to stop. But I didn’t want to. At The Sydney Retreat, it was a different approach – and it worked.”
Living with four other men who are also committed to staying sober has made a huge difference. “Everyone here wants to be here. We do four recovery meetings a week. The accountability helps. And we try to do stuff together – it’s not just about sobriety, it’s about living.”
Now the longest-standing resident in the house, Sean takes pride in showing new people around and helping them settle in. “It can be daunting, living with strangers. But someone helped me when I came in, so I do the same now. That connection is what makes it work.”
A Safe Place to Grow
Sean’s found stability in his sober home – financially, emotionally, and practically. “I’m paying rent, managing my money better, getting my business stuff sorted. There’s so much freedom. Midnight curfew, meetings, structure and I still get my own privacy – it’s a nice way to live.”
He’s not rushing to leave either. “I know I can’t stay forever, someone else will eventually need the space, but I’m not being rushed out. I’ll know when I’m ready to leave.”
Sober housing has even helped him return to the life he left behind. “I’ve started playing golf again and I’ve been able to start working on my house again. That only happened because I came here. Before, I’d bought the same set of tools ten times because I kept selling them for alcohol and drugs.”
The Power of Connection and the 12 Steps
Sean continues to work through the 12 Step program and has begun making amends and repairing the damage caused in his addiction. Recovery, he says, has changed how he sees everything.
“It’s opened up a whole new way of looking at things. I’ve got peace, serenity. I focus on the positive, not the negative. What I’ve achieved in eleven months, I couldn’t do in ten years.”
What made the difference wasn’t just the program – it was the people. “The thing about being part of a recovery community is that someone has always been where you’ve been. They’ve had the same work problems, legal problems, relationship issues. There’s always someone who can help you through it,” he says. “With a psychiatrist or psychologist, I always felt like I was being diagnosed and put on the spot”
“You have to want it,” Sean says. “It’s not just a place to live – it’s a place to continue your recovery and work your way into the world. You have to give it a chance… The Sydney Retreat definitely changed my life for the better.”
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