Volunteer

The Retreat Approach relies heavily on the powerful role that voluntary, selfless service plays in the achievement and maintenance of recovery. This distinguishes it from the medical or therapeutic approachs that use salaried staff who, though trained, generally lack the experience of recovery. The voluntary help of those in recovery has proven to be a most effective way of convincing distressed alcoholics/addicts – new Retreat Guests - to stop drinking and doping and embark on a programme of recovery. By the same token, this provision of voluntary selfless service by those already in recovery is vital to their own prolonged recovery and happiness. The New Zealand Retreat provides an excellent venue for bringing together these two sets of beneficiaries.

In view of its crucial role, the NZRA devotes lots of attention to ensuring the easy availability to Retreat guests of service volunteers with mature recovery. This is done in two ways. First, our Volunteer Coordinator arranges daily transport/supervision to/from local AA, Al-Anon and NA 12-step meetings for Retreat Guests. Second, mature members of these 12-step meetings, being quick to appreciate the beneficial impact on their own recovery, are willing – indeed anxious to volunteer to conduct/lead meetings, study groups, etc. at The Retreat. Although all 12-Step Fellows from outside The Retreat are welcome at these events, it has been found to be more orderly for different local meetings to undertake to design and provide volunteers for specific events – called “sponsored events”.

In view of the most safety sensitive nature of the programme - a life and death issue- volunteers are supervised continuously by the most experienced specialists in the international addiction recovery field.