Founded in 1967 by Eric Gray, Sydney Drug Education and Counselling Centre has been in the community for almost 60 years.
In the beginning, SDECC was known as the “Drug Referral Centre” which opened before Christmas in 1970 in founder Eric Gray’s family home in Fairlight. It was a place of refuge for the homeless, those struggling with addiction, and for people escaping violence. Initially, it was Manly based and Manly focused. But with lack of funding, the organisation had to change course and broaden its reach.
After securing support from the health commission, the service transformed to MDECC, the Manly Drug Education and Counselling Centre. After many years as MDECC, it changed again in 2016 to its current name, Sydney Drug Education and Counselling Centre.
There are two offices, a Northern Beaches location in Manly, and a North Shore location in St Leonards. The not-for-profit specialises in free counselling for young people between the ages of 12 and 25 who are experiencing the effects of alcohol and drug use. The vision of the organisation is to empower young people to live fulfilling lives, while minimising the harm of substances and mental health issues.
SDECC offer free individual counselling, groups for parents, groups for young people, and mental health assessments. In 2024, SDECC saw 744 new clients and offered over 6,900 services. According to SDECC, the most common substances that this age bracket encounter are alcohol and cannabis.
Alongside the counselling, SDECC is heavily invested in educational harm reduction. Their program “Elevate” allows SDECC to meet young people at their level. The organisation enters local schools to start conversation about drugs and offer a safe space for those who may be negatively involved. Schools SDECC has worked with include Mackellar Girls, Balgowlah Boys, NBCS Cromer Campus, Forest High School, Killarney Heights, Killara High, and Narrabeen Sports High. Booked in are Pittwater High and Marsden High School for upcoming “Elevate” presentations.
‘We are developing the next 3-to-5-year strategy,’ explains Dominique Robert-Hendren, CEO of SDECC. ‘One of our key priorities is to make sure we break down the stigma around alcohol and drugs. It is a reality and the more we can have the community lean in and support, it will help people to feel they can get help. The data shows that most people take 17 to 19 years to ask for support.’
SDECC is funded by Sydney North Primary Health Network and NSW Health.
For more information, visit sdecc.org.au