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First Floor program providing a ‘family’ for the force

31 October 2012

... my life really began to unravel, I was injured at work and basically I did not know how to deal with it. It was a significant injury and it affected my home life and my ability to do my job ... my marriage, my career and perhaps even my life were disintegrating before my eyes. I was self- destructing. 

– Anthony.

It was not until he had lost his family, his health, and had been on the point of planning to take his own life that police officer Anthony finally realised his need for emotional and spiritual support. Today, he is a deeply committed member of The Salvation Army First Floor Wollongong “Ohana” support group for police personnel, which, Anthony explains, means “family”.

Anthony

“It is an idea from the Hawaiian culture [that goes] beyond family bloodlines,” he says. “It includes friends, colleagues, neighbours, associates. The Ohana idea is that we are all bound together and we must support, encourage, work and look out for each other.”

The group was formed several years ago when Illawarra police rescue chief Manii Verzosa -who has a Hawaiian heritage - lost his wife and son in childbirth. Officiating at the funerals was The Salvation Army’s Envoy Jayne Wilson who also oversaw the First Floor program. Jayne and Manii kept in contact.

Manii would swim or paddle his canoe and then meet Jayne for coffee and a chat. As time went on, the pair decided to form a group to include all police personnel who needed support or friendship. Anthony is one of many police and ex-personnel who have since joined.

After some struggles in the job and then the major injury, he says: “I had sought some professional assistance for my mental health but I was really very ill, physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually. I thought that everyone, including God, had abandoned me so there was no point in living. No-one would miss me anyway. I was ready to take my own life.”

Anthony was hospitalised and during this time, had a deep and life-changing encounter with God. He is now a deeply committed Christian.

“A few weeks after my discharge from hospital I received a telephone call from a former workmate,” he says. “During that conversation he told me that he had been going to Ohana and that I should get along to one of the sessions.

“It has become a very important part of my healing and growth as a person. You are not judged. You are free to say as much or as little as you like [and] some of the things discussed are challenging and you leave exhausted. (Then) sometimes you leave feeling like you are on top of the world, but you never leave with the feeling that you should not have gone.

“I now have a completely new perspective on life and my future, something that a few years ago I would not have imagined to be possible!”

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.