Finding Peace Beyond the Battle: AA Offers Hope and Mateship Sydney | 13 April 2026
Alcoholics Anonymous Australia is a fellowship open to anyone who wants to stop drinking, no fees, no rules, just shared experience and mutual support.
This Anzac Day we want to particularly acknowledge that for many veterans and first responders, the challenges don't end when service does. For some, those challenges can include problems with alcohol.
The story of one veteran, JJ and his journey, from service to sobriety, is so apt.
"I joined the Army at 18 and deployed to East Timor in 1999/2000. Later, I served twice in Afghanistan. Like many, I was searching for purpose and belonging, but over time, the weight of those experiences built up.
Alcohol became my way of coping. What started socially turned into something I depended on. It helped numb what I couldn't process, but it also took me further away from myself, my family, and the life I wanted.
Eventually, I reached a point where something had to change. I was broken, but not beyond repair.
Through Alcoholics Anonymous, I found a new way to live. AA didn't just help me stop drinking. It helped me rebuild my life. I found connection, support, and people who understood.
Today, I am 9 years sober.
Sobriety has given me clarity, purpose and a new identity. I now support other veterans and first responders, as well as young people, sharing my story to help others find direction and hope.
Service didn't end when I left the Army. It just changed form.
AA members understand that this struggle can feel like a lonely, private battle, and we offer a different path.
That path is grounded in the same values many servicemen and servicewomen know well: courage, honesty, and mateship. AA meetings are a confidential space where people with lived experience support one another toward recovery, one day at a time.
"AA is about people helping each other recover from alcoholism," said Andrew, a spokesperson for Alcoholics Anonymous Australia. "For some, that first step takes immense courage, but no one has to do it alone. Recovery happens through connection, understanding, and shared experience."
Alcohol misuse continues to impact individuals, families and communities across Australia. Veterans and first responders may face unique challenges associated with trauma and transition, making access to support especially important.
Alcoholics Anonymous provides a free, confidential and accessible support network for anyone who wants to stop drinking. Meetings are held in person across Australia, as well as online and via phone, offering support wherever and whenever it is needed.
Each week, thousands of AA meetings take place across Australia and New Zealand, providing safe spaces where people can share openly and find strength through connection. In this way, AA continues its long-standing tradition of peer support - one person helping another.
