Community Participation
The Buttery’s community outreach services cover vast areas of the NSW Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers Regions – from Port Macquarie in the south to Tweed Heads in the north and west to Grafton and Nimbin.
Community Drug Action Teams (CDATs) NSW
Community Drug Action Teams arose from the NSW Drug Summit 1999, as a way to bring together community members, government, and non-government service providers. Each CDAT builds a network with key service providers in their region where they collaborate to develop, design, and deliver activities that positively impact their specific community.
CDATs aim to make their local communities safer, healthier and stronger by reducing the harms associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs through evidence-based, primary prevention activities. There are currently more than 70 CDATs across NSW and are supported by a consortium led by Odyssey House and in partnership with Karralika Programs Inc., Bila Muuji Aboriginal Corporation Health Services Inc. and The Buttery.
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At The Buttery, we walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across NSW, offering culturally safe, trauma-informed support for people navigating drug and alcohol challenges. We understand that many First Nations people face complex and intersecting experiences such as intergenerational trauma and colonisation, and the impact this can have on their mental health and substance use concerns. Guided by Elders and community leaders, our programs create safe spaces for healing, connection, and growth. Through respect, cultural strength, and shared learning, we empower First Nations people to reclaim their stories and build strong, healthy futures.
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At The Buttery, we’re committed to supporting young people across New South Wales through early intervention and education. Our school-based group programs create safe, inclusive spaces where students can openly discuss the challenges of drug and alcohol use, build resilience, and develop practical strategies for making informed choices. Led by experienced facilitators, our sessions are interactive, evidence-based, and tailored to meet the unique needs of each school community.
Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG)
The Buttery is committed to providing inclusive, safe and high-quality care. To do this, we established a Lived Experience Advisory Group (LEAG) to support meaningful participation across all residential and community-based services. We understand that each person’s journey is different and we value and welcome your expertise and views.
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The role of the LEAG is to partner with The Buttery to:
provide feedback and expertise on issues related to people living with substance use and/or mental health concerns, their family members, kin and supporters
provide information and advice to the CEO and The Buttery Board to inform our service development
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The LEAG meets on the third Tuesday of every month from 5-7pm. Members can meet on site at Binna Burra or via Zoom. The Buttery provides admin support to the LEAG and payment via $100 vouchers for attending members.
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We encourage applications from people of all ages, First Nations people, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and from lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people (LGBTIQ). This Advisory Group is not limited to our Residential Rehab as we seek broad representation from all of our services and sites
Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group
The Buttery has a long-standing commitment to reconciliation, demonstrated through the ongoing development and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Our RAP Working Group has been active for many years and continues to play a vital role in guiding, implementing, and monitoring RAP outcomes. The group meets regularly and is deeply engaged in fostering meaningful relationships, respect, and opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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We welcome and value the voices of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community members and Elders, recognising that reconciliation is a shared journey. Your expertise, perspectives and lived experiences help ensure our services and workplace continue to grow in cultural awareness, respect, and safety.
At The Buttery, our RAP is a genuine, long-term commitment to reconciliation. It is not a symbolic exercise, but a framework that guides meaningful action and accountability across our organisation.
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Role of the RAP Working Group Committee:
Provide feedback, cultural knowledge, and expertise to inform RAP goals, strategies, and actions
Strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across our service regions
Offer advice to the Buttery Board to embed reconciliation commitments in service delivery and organisational culture
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Meetings: Last Wednesday of every month, via Microsoft Teams or face-to-face at Binna Burra.
Support: The Buttery provides administrative support and $100 vouchers for attending members (non-staff).
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We encourage expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Elders, non-Aboriginal community members, people of all ages, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTIQ community members.
Research and Evaluation Committee (REC)
Established in 2023, The Buttery’s Research and Evaluation Committee is a cross-organisational committee of staff who conduct projects that research outputs evaluating, supporting, improving and promoting the work of The Buttery.
Rainbow Committee
The Buttery’s Rainbow Committee includes LGBTQIA+ staff and allies who meet monthly to provide advice that ensures The Buttery services are safe and inclusive for LGBTQIA+ and other vulnerable communities. The group has grown to be a safe, inclusive space where people feel welcomed and are able to be open and validated.
The Buttery has invested in training via PRIDE in diversity and up-skilled all arms of the organisation, assuring inclusivity remains at the heart of our organisation. This ensures staff know how to ask clients/ families about their needs and how they wish to be engaged with and addressed (i.e. pronouns request). In 2024, The Buttery recognised that our committees require more project officer resource and, as a result, will dedicate more secretariat support to the Rainbow Committee. .
Enquire Now
For program enquiries please ring 02 6687 1111 between 9:00am and 4:30pm. Alternatively, you are welcome to fill in the form below and we’ll be happy to answer all your questions.