Our Team
Jason Bowman - Manager - Rehab at Home
Dip AodMh, Dip BusMgt, MACA, MMHA, MAICD
"I love my work. Talking with clients and families, getting to know them, and seeing them recover, never ceases to inspire me. My experience of working within several leading Drug and Alcohol addiction rehabilitation services within Melbourne and across Victoria has provided me with many transferrable abilities. I use my skills, knowledge and life experience to develop solution-focused recovery plans for the individual and their family and loved ones. Being able to share the hope of positive change and show people that recovery is possible is incredibly important to me. It motivates me to inspire and lead the ASV organisation to maintain our vision of providing affordable, evidence-based addiction treatment and rehabilitation options to all Victorians."
Over the last 14 years, Jason has enjoyed working in senior roles within leading private and not-for-profit addiction treatment, recovery support and rehabilitation services across Melbourne, Victoria. During this time, he has seen many people find and achieve sustainable recovery from substance misuse and dependence (addiction and alcoholism). From senior support worker through community relations consultant, program director to ASV manager, he has focused on supporting people and families to change their lives.
"Despite my relevant industry experience and professional training and qualifications, both factors I am incredibly proud of, my greatest achievement by far is my lived experience of the many challenges of chronic addiction combined with finding my way into a sustainable recovery. I am extremely proud to report that on February 25th, 2022, I achieved 17 years of total abstinence from all substances. Over the last 16 years, I have developed a strong sense of self, identified and addressed many of my underlying psychological and emotional issues, defeated my substance use issue and am now more than content with the man in the mirror. Please believe me when I say addiction is treatable and recovery more than possible."
Angela Ireland - Manager - Family Solutions
Angela is a Master's qualified Family Therapist with extensive experience in the addiction recovery and family support field. For over 20 years, she has worked evidence-based with families impacted by a loved one's alcohol or drug use. She has also developed several family education programs across the state, including creating educational booklets for families.
"When people are working on changing their behaviours related to drug and alcohol misuse, dependence, alcoholism or addiction, the involvement of those close to them can help. When families and friends work together, problematic behaviour and negative effects can be dealt with more quickly. My experience and the systematic study of evidence-based research prove that individuals do better when families are directly involved".
Debbie Sesso - ASV Board Member - Secretary
Debbie is an enthusiastic advocate for recovery and understands the importance of effective, evidence-based addiction treatment and recovery support. As a family support group leader, Debbie expresses her passion through her interest in finding ways to help families and people with alcohol and/or other drug problems and addiction challenges.
"It's great to see how far ASV has come in a relatively short time; I am wrapped to be a part of it all and can't wait to see what the future holds."
Emma Hooper - ASV Board Member
Emma has worked in community health, related government, and private sectors for over 17 years. She is a qualified and experienced clinician in mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, dependence, addiction and alcoholism. Emma has had previous experience as a volunteer Board Member in the Non-For-Profit Sector. She brings her professional and personal experience of addiction, and commitment to recovery, to the team at Addiction Solutions Victoria.
Rosa Good - ASV Board Member
Rosa is a communications and marketing specialist with experience in the not-for-profit and education sectors. Passionate about helping others, Rosa is an enthusiastic supporter of ASV and is motivated to ensure that ASV delivers best practice, evidence-based Drug and Alcohol treatment and rehabilitation, and family and recovery support, providing all ASV program participants with the very best opportunity for sustainable recovery from issues related to substance misuse or dependence (addiction/alcoholism).
Is recovery possible?
Addiction is a life-altering experience. Addiction can bring out intense struggles and challenges, not the least of which are behavioural changes that transform your entire lifestyle in ways you never thought possible.
Recovery is possible, and recovery is achievable. The idea that addiction cannot be beaten stems from uninformed, negative views of addiction.
No matter how desperate the circumstances seem, there are several different paths to help a person recover from addiction, whether it's inpatient or outpatient rehab centres, support groups like 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous programs, even church groups and grassroots organisations with social efforts aimed at ending drug abuse in the community.
Many people recovering from debilitating addictions need assistance and guidance after their initial rehabilitation and emotional healing journey has ended. Addiction therapy can offer those struggling with relapse prevention skills or ways to deal with the many triggers before they happen so people don't relapse into addictive patterns.
Some people are fortunate enough to recover from addiction simply by observing the suffering they have created and deciding it is time to address their problematic behaviours. This process of surrendering through contemplation occurs when an addict realises that continuing in this direction will lead only to self-destruction or the demise of those around them.
Others who have been more deeply wounded require professional care, medication, rehabilitation, counselling and aftercare support to heal their damaged nervous system, which has become overactive due to prolonged drug use. The length of time required for any individual to realise change varies depending on a person's needs. Once completed, clients can celebrate holidays with family members and friends without struggling with cravings for drugs or alcohol.
"An experienced, qualified and passionate treatment team can provide many benefits when delivering addiction rehabilitation services" - Jason Bowman - ASV Rehabs Victoria 2023.