Ka mua, ka muri: A conversation with Suzy Morrison

Suzy Morrison is a dapaanz registered practitioner, accredited clinical and accredited peer supervisor. A member since 2014 and Board member 2017-2022, Suzy was made a dapaanz lifetime member in November 2025 in recognition of her service to the sector.

Earlier this year, we asked Suzy to reflect on changes and learning across the course of her career.

We share her thoughts below. Scroll to the bottom to find out more about Suzy’s career.

What does being an addiction practitioner mean to you?

“Coming in the door of an addiction service is a courageous choice, whether the motivation is external or not. Being alongside as people reflect and make decisions about change is transformative. And the transformation doesn’t just sit with the individual. The change impacts on the lives of their whānau and friends just by being who they are. Being an addiction practitioner is a privilege. It is a creative process. One with meaning and purpose and is of service to the community.”

What changes have you noticed over the course of your career?

“The introduction of harm reduction and the wheel of change into addiction services in the 1990’s was massive. Prior to that, the only choice was abstinence. One size doesn’t fit all though and harm reduction gave options. The wheel of change meant we could meet people where they were at, when they came in the door. Phew.

The establishment of dapaanz in 2002 as a registering body for addiction workers was a positive change. It professionalised the workforce and created a platform for connection and support for professional development. I like belonging to an organisation that has my back.

One of the changes I’ve noticed and appreciate is the inclusion of whānau and family in many services. Especially whānau and family being able to seek support in their own right, whether the person they are concerned about is in active addiction or not. “

What do you know now that you wish you’d known earlier in your career?

“That I don’t need to have all the answers. When I first began working, I thought I had to have solutions for people. That was stressful, especially when they weren’t doing what I thought what was best for them lol.

People are often more resourced than they realise. It’s my job to remind them. To keep an addiction going, people need to be creative, resourceful and determined. These are all transferrable skills which serve people well as they navigate change.“

Is there anyone you would like to recognise or acknowledge who may have had a big impact on your career?

“I am grateful to have worked with some visionary leaders and awesome colleagues and still do to this day. I’m grateful to Robert Steenhuisen for encouraging me to work in the addiction sector. I didn’t think it was for me. He did. He persevered. And he was right. Also, Vanessa Caldwell, my manager at Matua Raki. Her belief in me and ongoing support was a gift.

There is one particular person though who was there when it all began. Maree Moody. I spent a large chunk of the 1980’s on methadone maintenance at the Drug Dependency Clinic in Auckland. Maree was my case worker. Her consistent warmth, understanding, and humour paved the way for me to get support and learn how to live well without using alcohol or other drugs. I felt seen and heard by Maree. She was interested in and supportive of my family. Her influence has been far reaching in my career.“

Suzy’s introduction to the addiction sector began in the mid-70s as a client of the Auckland Drug Dependency Clinic’s methadone program. Five years into her recovery, she returned to school in the early 90s, training as a Social Worker. Her first role was with the Auckland District Health Board Community AIDS Resource Team, supporting people impacted by HIV. Suzy trained as a counsellor during this time.The shift to addiction-specific services came seven years later at the Higher Ground Drug Rehabilitation Centre as the Continuing Care counsellor. It was here that Suzy found her true calling, experiencing the joy of “being alongside people making changes and transforming their lives.”

Suzy’s career then spanned key roles across the sector, including positions with CADS (Community Alcohol and Drug Services) at the Manaaki Centre in Thames and in Auckland, where she specialised in working with older people as part of the 65 plus team. A pivotal seven years followed as the Family Services Coordinator, where she championed the inclusion of family and whānau, supporting staff with offering groups and counselling to affected family members seeking support in their own right.

In 2012, Suzy joined Matua Raki Addiction Workforce Development Centre as the Lived Experience Project Lead. The focus of this role was the development and growth of our essential addiction peer support workforce. Her commitment to leadership and advocacy was also demonstrated through her membership in the National Consumer Leadership Group and her service on the dapaanz Board from 2017 to 2022.

A highlight of this period was being part of the team that delivered Hikoi Matutu—the dapaanz recovery walk in Tamaki Makaurau in December 2019—an inspiring moment when 1,000 people from all walks of life walked up Queen Street and into Myers Park to celebrate recovery from addiction. This event truly encapsulated the spirit of “I can’t / We can,” a principle that guides her work.

Since 2019, Suzy has been in private practice, providing clinical supervision. She also co-facilitates Addiction 101 workshops for Blueprint for Learning and co-facilitates Therapeutic Communities training for Te Pou, sharing the learning gathered along the way with the next generation of practitioners.

Suzy is grateful to have a career that is enjoyable, has meaning, purpose, and is service to the community.