News
SMART Recovery Launches National GP Campaign Beyond AA
Friday July 11, 2025
In partnership with the Federal Government, SMART Recovery Australia has launched a national campaign targeting GPs, aimed at ensuring patients are informed about all evidence-based recovery options and not just Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
A key feature of the campaign is a bespoke GP Toolkit, designed to make referrals to SMART Recovery simple, effective, and stigma-free.
In 2024, SMART Recovery CEO April Long attended the General Practice Conference & Exhibition (GPCE) in Sydney and discovered that out of more than 500 GPs, only 19 had heard of SMART Recovery. Despite its national footprint and strong evidence base, the program remained invisible in many clinical settings.
Fast forward to 2025, and the tide is turning. SMART returned to GPCE and experienced a wave of interest, with over 500 GPs requesting more than 1,000 SMART GP Toolkits to be sent out around the country. The response was clear: GPs are looking for recovery pathways that are accessible, flexible, and non-judgmental.
SMART Recovery offers just that. With no waitlists, online and in-person meetings, and a science-backed, peer-supported model, SMART Recovery is meeting people where they are at without stigma, shame, or the requirement to identify as powerless.
By equipping GPs with the tools and confidence to refer patients to SMART, the recovery landscape is expanding, ensuring Australians get the right help, at the right time, in the way that works for them.
The Digital Toolkit is available at https://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au/for-healthcare-professionals.
