Second client (for want of a better word) for the day was Grace.

I at first did not recognise her. The last time we met was 4 months ago in court. We have spoken though weekly on the mobile and sent her a little present when she had her baby, 3 months ago. She was 4 months ago “off her face”, gaunt even though she was pregnant and talking incoherently. Her lawyer and I could not believe the woman in front of us was Grace. She looked healthy, and we could see the love she has for her daughter. She told us that she had stopped using methadone, her pscyche pills, as well as her valium and xanax. She said she had no more cravings for drugs, could think straight now and was totally committed to her daughter. She also had no feelings or urges to do rorts as she had been doing till 4 months ago. We were granted an adjournment till next year and in the meantime she has to produce urine samples twice weekly. I was asked by the Magistrate to do a report on Grace’s past and present to show how she had changed for the better etc.

Met up with Helen and we had an hour of counselling so to speak. She was in a mess as she had been on a 2 week heroin binge and couldn’t take it anymore. We pinpointed the trigger that gave her the urge to use (even though she was on 50ml of methadone) and made contingency plans to circumnavigate that trigger.

Then had a meeting with Ron, teacher at Swinburne re the 3 placements they have with us.

HJS