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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 10am - 6pm Wednesday 10am - 6pm Thursday 10am - 6pm Friday 9am - 5pm

SDECC

As a family inclusive service, SDECC offers support for parents and carers affected by their young person’s alcohol and/or drug use.

SDECC is a non-profit organisation offering free drug and alcohol counselling services and support for young people aged 12-25 and their families across Sydney. Sydney Drug and Education Counselling Centre (SDECC) is a not-for-profit organisation providing free alcohol and drug counselling services for young people aged 12-25, based in the Sydney North area. We offer support for parents and carers

through our 6-week online group, Paving Ways. SDECC offers services at various locations across the Sydney Norther area; including St Leonards, Hornsby, Ryde, Manly and Avalon. Our services are free and confidential. A Medicare card is not required. Get in touch with us to find out more. We recognise that sometimes people need immediate help and support. If you need immediate assistance please call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Lifeline on 13 11 14, call 000 or go to the emergency service at your local hospital.

19/08/2026

Welcome Grace – our new Office Administration Coordinator!

We’re so pleased to welcome Grace Quinn to the SDECC team. Whether you’re visiting us at Manly or St Leonards, calling the office or emailing us, Grace will often be one of the first people you connect with.

We know taking that first step to reach out for support can sometimes feel daunting. Grace brings exactly the warm, calm and welcoming approach we want young people and families to experience when they first connect with SDECC. 🧡

From welcoming you with a coffee or hot chocolate and helping organise appointments with your counsellor, to keeping our offices running smoothly and supporting our CEO and counselling team behind the scenes, Grace will be an important part of the day-to-day at SDECC.

Outside of work, Grace enjoys cooking, hiking, pottery and spending time with her young family – and she’s currently working towards an impressive 5 km ocean swim! 🌊

Welcome to SDECC, Grace!

12/08/2026

Today is International Youth Day. 12 August 2026. 💛

The United Nations theme for 2026 is Different Contexts, Common Aspirations. And it says something important: no matter where a young person comes from, what they have been through, or what they are navigating right now, their hopes are not so different from anyone else's. To feel supported. To have someone in their corner. To know that things can get better.

At SDECC, we support young people aged 12 to 25 across the Northern Beaches and Northern Sydney region. Every young person who walks through our door arrives with their own story and their own context. And every one of them deserves support that meets them where they are.

Our services are free and confidential. No referral or Medicare card is required. If there is a young person in your life who could use someone to talk to, we are here for them and for you.

We walk alongside young people.

10/07/2026

For NAIDOC Week, we're reflecting on how we can continue strengthening the way we work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, families and communities.

Recently, the whole SDECC team had the privilege of completing Cultural Safety training with Jemmason Power, a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander facilitator whose thoughtful, strengths-based and relational approach created space for meaningful discussion, reflection and learning.

The workshop encouraged us to think more deeply about culturally safe practice by replacing assumptions with curiosity, reflecting on the values and experiences we each bring into our work, and considering practical ways to create safer, more inclusive experiences for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.

Thank you, Jemmason, for creating a space that encouraged honest reflection, respectful discussion, and practical learning. We're grateful for the opportunity to learn from you.

27/05/2026

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week 2026, running from 27 May to 3 June.

The theme this year is All In, a call for every one of us to commit to reconciliation not just during this week, but every single day.

SDECC operates on Gayamaygal Country in Manly and Cammeraygal Country in St Leonards, both part of the Eora Nation.

Our vision is a society free of stigma where young people feel respected and empowered to access timely support. That vision only means something if it reaches every young person, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families who face greater barriers to accessing care.

At SDECC, we walk alongside young people and their families, taking the time to understand their world and help them break down the barriers to living a healthy life. Ensuring our services are welcoming, safe and culturally appropriate is something we are continuously working to strengthen.

If you or someone you care for needs support, please know you are not alone. SDECC is here.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia's First People and the Traditional Custodians. We value their cultures, identities and their continuing connection to country, waters, kin and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. SDECC is committed to making a positive contribution to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families by providing services that are welcoming, safe, culturally appropriate and inclusive.

All In. Together. 🖤 💛 ❤️

22/05/2026

Real talk ❤

We are here for young people aged 12 to 25.

No pressure, no judgement, no Medicare card needed.

Just a free, confidential chat whenever you feel ready.

FreeSupport

05/05/2026

A little look back at Youth Week 2026 💜

We spent time out in the community across the week, connecting with young people and being part of spaces that felt welcoming, relaxed and easy to take part in.

From sitting together and creating to simply spending time in a shared space, these moments help young people feel comfortable and connected.

Thank you to all the organisations and partners who made these events possible. It was great to work alongside you and be part of something positive for young people.

At SDECC, we see how these kinds of environments support connection, trust and early conversations.

16/04/2026

💙 Youth Week is here.

This year’s theme, Dream. Dare. Do., is all about supporting young people to feel hopeful, confident and ready to take the next step.

For young people aged 12–25, Youth Week is a chance to connect, get involved and feel part of their community.

It’s also a great time to make support more visible and easier to access, especially when young people are navigating challenges like stress, mental health or alcohol and other drug concerns.

At SDECC, we support young people with care that is compassionate, practical and focused on what comes next.

Read our latest article to learn more about how early support can make a difference: https://sdecc.org.au/youth-week-2026-aod-support-young-people/

NSW Government headspace Brookvale headspace Chatswood Taldumande Youth Services .sydney

15/04/2026

Every young person deserves a safe place to call home.

On Youth Homelessness Matters Day, we recognise the complex challenges that can lead to housing instability for young people, including family breakdown, mental health concerns and disruption to support networks.

For some young people, alcohol or other drug use can also be part of this experience, often connected to coping with difficult circumstances.

Young people aged 12 to 24 represent around 23% of people experiencing homelessness in Australia.

At SDECC, we support young people with compassion and understanding, helping them feel safe, heard and supported.

Because with the right support, young people can rebuild stability and move forward.

02/04/2026

🐣 Easter closure notice 2026

SDECC will close from 5:00pm Thursday 2 April 2026 and will reopen at 9:00am Tuesday 7 April 2026.

This time of year can mean different things for different people. We hope the Easter period offers moments of rest and care in whatever way feels right for you.

If you or someone you care about needs support while we are closed, assistance is available through the following services:

🔹️ Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support)

🔹️ Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

🔹️ Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511

🔹️ National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015

🔹️ 13YARN: 13 92 76

🔹️ eheadspace online chat 3pm-10pm everyday by creating an account via headspace.org.au

We wish our community a safe and gentle Easter period.

We will be here to support our community again when we reopen.

Address

91 Pittwater Road, Manly
Sydney, NSW
2097

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://sdecc.org.au/

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