Our Vision

A World Free of Addiction.

Thank you for taking the time to look at what Teen Challenge Tasmania is doing here in Tasmania, right now.  I would like to take this opportunity to share a little about our journey and the heart of what motivates us to do what we do.

My husband, Peter and I, are incredibly passionate about our next generation and the world they will live in. We have a personal faith in Jesus, which is important to us. Through our own different journeys, it has shaped us to look outside ourselves and what we can do to help others. This has included using our own personal resources to do so.

Early Intervention & Prevention:

Before we considered opening an AOD rehabilitation centre, we felt compelled to do something for our youth. Medical and scientific data shows that any drug, legal or illicit, including alcohol, introduced to a  developing brain (up to 25y.o for females and 28y.o for males), will have an impact on it’s future potential.                                             

In response, we took up the fight for the brains and future potential of our precious young people from the dealers and scourge of the drug world, within our communities. 

Having seen kids as young as 8 years old being given ICE (methamphetamine) by dealers (sometimes their own parents) to activate addiction and deal to their own friends as a source of income for the adults, we couldn’t sit back and ignore what was happening. We will lose a whole generation if we don't do something.

So we created and implemented our Early Intervention projects:

• Connections Mentoring Projects (2012/13)
• #NotEvenOnce® AOD Education & Resilience Building Projects (2014/15)

Today we have just over 60 trained mentors.  Our mentors positively impact the lives of young people every week, to reach their full potential and engage in their education.

Our #NotEvenOnce® Projects have reached, educated and encouraged approx 19,000 young people, teachers, parents, sporting club and community members, here in Tasmania, nationally and internationally.

AOD Rehabilitation:

Initially, it was our intention to open a men’s centre and follow the traditional pathway, modelled by other Teen Challenge Centres throughout Australia.

We soon realised however, that the greater need here in Tasmania was for a women and children’s centre, with most of the people seeking help being either youth or women with children.  We literally had nowhere to send them and it broke my heart - in order for these mum’s to get help, they had no choice but to give up their children.

So, true to style, we got out there and we are doing something about it. Home of Hope will be the fruit of years of prayer and hard work.  We believe that for  women who are hurting, Home of Hope, will provide hope once more to those who have all but given up.

This will be more than just a facility, it will be a place where lives are transformed, where the chains of addiction are broken and where women and children are empowered to lead the lives that they were destined to live. 

We strive to empower and equip our young people with resilience, to choose a healthier life path and provide hope to those who have already fallen over the cliff into addiction.

Our dream is to see an end to the need for rehabilitation services.  It is an industry born out of necessity and out of people’s misery.  

As an organisation, our vision is to see "A World free from addiction" with future generations living ‘free from addiction’, who are ‘successful’ and contributing members of society and who live a life of  ‘significance’, steering others away from the same path they took. 

We also don't keep our sights of educating and empowering young people, parents and communities just at home in Tasmania, we believe there is value in these approaches within the international community too.

If we can make a difference to just one person, we know we are doing the right thing.

If you would like further information or to discuss any aspect of our vision, I would love to speak with you personally.

Together we can be part of many new miracles!

Thank you for your time

Tanya Cavanagh

Executive Director

Teen Challenge Tasmania