Smart Recovery Australia

SMART Recovery provides drug and alcohol addiction treatment through evidence-based group self-help meetings that focus on managing addictive behaviours.

What is SMART Recovery?

SMART Recovery (Self Management and Recovery Training) is a global group-based programme using evidence-based tools to help people help each other manage addictive behaviours.

SMART Recovery is completely based on research-backed scientific methods. The emphasis is on people’s thinking and behaviour and not on the substance or addiction.

The groups are guided by evidence-based principles and tools derived from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), particularly in the version called Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

SMART Recovery began in the USA in 1994. There are now almost 1500 weekly meetings in 13 different countries, including 140 in Australia (locate Australian SMART Recovery meetings here: http://smartrecoveryaustralia.com. au /what-we-do /find-a-smart-meeting / ).


About the meetings

• Free and inclusive to people challenged by any type of addiction (e. g. substances, gambling, internet, sex).
• No registration required to attend a group.
• 90 minutes in duration.
• Groups usually range from 5-15 attendees.
• Participants may attend if they are still using but cannot come intoxicated to the group.
• Guided by a holistic approach located in CBT principles and tools, and focused on practical solutions located in the ‘here and now’.
• Each participant has an opportunity to determine their own goals and derive ideas on how to achieve them.
• Group members help each other to set realistic and achievable goals.
• Groups run by professionals will identify potential peer ‘champions’ who then go on to co-facilitate, and eventually run groups themselves.


SMART Recovery Australia

SMART Recovery Australia is a non-profit organisation whose vision is to make the SMART Recovery programme accessible to everyone across Australia.

First successfully piloted at St Vincent’s Hospital in 2004, there are currently around 140 SMART Recovery groups held weekly in Australia, facilitated by a combination of professionals and peers (people recovering from addictive behaviours).

SMART Recovery Australia is committed to the programme adapting as scientific knowledge evolves.

To ensure this, SMART Recovery Australia formed its Research Advisory Committee in 2014 to keep abreast of the latest thinking, which includes leading Australian addiction and mental health experts, Professor Amanda Baker, Professor Frank Deane, Professor Anthony Shakeshaft, Assistant Professor David Best, Assistant Professor Jane Burns, Dr Peter Kelly, and Dr John Kelly.

SMART Recovery Australia has also developed culturally appropriate and specific materials in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

SMART Recovery Australia’s specially adapted ‘Getting SMART’ programme is running in correctional services across Australia.


Power of choice

Abstinence from the drug causing the addiction is ideal, but that is not how SMART Recovery measures success.

“If someone who drinks for seven days a week is able to change to drinking five or six days, that’s success, ” says Josette Freeman, SMART Recovery Australia’s National Programme Coordinator.

“Some people will say, ‘I really shouldn't be here - I only have two glasses of wine a day’, but if those two glasses are causing problems in your life you’re in the same situation as someone who uses a gram of heroin a day, " says Freeman.

Becoming a SMART Recover facilitator

SMART Recovery groups are facilitated by both professional and peers (people recovering from addictive behaviours). 45% of SMART Recovery facilitators have had a previous problem with addictive behaviours.

To ensure the national growth of the SMART Recovery programme, SMART Recovery Australia offers 2-day training workshops across the country for would-be facilitators.

About the training

• 2 days face-to-face training, to be supplemented by online materials. Held at various venues across Australia.
• Introduction to the SMART Recovery principles and tools; CBT and Motivational Interviewing.
• Explanation and practicing of incorporating these into group processes.
• Exploring and practicing of the role of the facilitator, managing group dynamics, difficult clients etc.
• ‘Real’ group exercise to allow facilitators to have the experience of an attendee.
• Facilitator leave with the SMART Recovery handbook and other materials to assist meeting setup.
• The SMART Recovery Australia team, now located both in Melbourne and Sydney, are on hand to provide whatever support is required.

Register for SMART Recover Facilitator training here.

Future plans

In 2013, Smart Recovery Australia appointed former Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Ryan McGlaughlin, who, in collaboration with the newly appointed board – a diverse range of prominent professionals from alcohol and other drugs (AOD) researchers and practitioners, to governance and corporate lawyers, an accountant, human resource director, fundraising consultant, senior public servant and a representative from the international SMART Recovery Board – has forged a robust 5-year Strategic Plan.

One of the key objectives of 2015 is to establish innovative online ‘real-time’ interactive groups for those unable to attend ‘face-to-face’ meetings or who are just looking for additional support.

“We’ve set ourselves the goal of running 400 SMART Recovery meetings per week by 2017, ” says SMART Recovery Australia Executive Director, Ryan McGlaughlin.

“Meetings will be found in every state and territory across the country but some will be completely digital – meaning people located in rural and remote areas, where physical meetings may not exist yet, can also access these vital services, ” says McGlaughlin.


For more information:

Ryan McGlaughlin
Executive Director
SMART Recovery Australia
Suite 150, Level 3, 416 Pitt Street, Haymarket, NSW
Phone: + 61 2 9373 5111
Mobile + 61 425 382 800
Email: rmcglaughlin@srau.org. au
Website http://smartrecoveryaustralia.com. au /