Mental Health and Wellbeing Local senior wellbeing navigator peer Josh Maude is passionate about using his own experiences to help others.
Photo by
Hailey Wight
For Shepparton’s Josh Maude, asking for help was the turning point after substance abuse had made his life “quite small”.
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Now, he uses his lived experience to support others through his role as a senior wellbeing navigator peer at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.
“When I sit opposite somebody, I can see their shoulders relax, they start to breathe a little bit easier when the person sitting across from them has some sort of understanding of what they’re going through,” he said.
Mr Maude shared his story at Primary Care Connect’s first public event for International Overdose Awareness Day at the South Shepparton Community Centre on Thursday, August 27.
The event brought together community members and local support services to encourage conversations about overdose, substance use and stigma.
Primary Care Connect harm reduction manager Freddy Thuruthikattu said the fact International Overdose Awareness Day was still needed 25 years after it began was a reminder of the work still to be done.
“Today is about remembering the people we have lost, supporting the people and families impacted by overdose, and having conversations that can help save lives,” Mr Thuruthikattu said.
“And it’s also about challenging the stigma around this topic.”
Primary Care Connect harm reduction manager Freddy Thuruthikattu speaking at the End Overdose event held at the South Shepparton Community Centre.
Photo by
Hailey Wight
Preliminary findings from Penington Institute’s 2026 Annual Overdose Report Snapshot show 2596 Australians died from drug-induced causes in 2024, which is the highest number on record.
The figure equates to about seven Australians losing their lives to overdose every day.
“These are not just statistics … behind every number is a person, a son or a daughter, a parent, a partner, a friend, a colleague, someone who was part of a community,” Mr Thuruthikattu said.
He said stigma could stop people from talking about substance use and seeking help.
“Our message is that the best way to help yourself is to let others help you,” he said.
Mr Maude said the event was an important way to connect the Shepparton community to the services around them.
“I’m really passionate about working as a community to help in our community,” he said.
“We’ve lost too many.
“Twenty-five years on, and it’s still not enough.”
Mr Thuruthikattu added that people seeking information or support could access Primary Care Connect without judgment or cost.
Primary Care Connect is located on 399 Wyndham St, Shepparton while the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is at 116 Corio St, Shepparton.
Family drug support worker Cindy Curtis manning a Primary Care Connect stall at the End Overdose event.
Photo by
Hailey Wight
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