Media release: $168k to say hello Daybreak & goodbye hangovers

04 July, 2017

In a first for Victorian Primary Health Networks (PHN), Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN) has partnered with Hello Sunday Morning and its new program, Daybreak, to support the community to change their relationship with alcohol.

Hello Sunday Morning has grown to be the largest online movement for alcohol behaviour change in the world.

EMPHN CEO Robin Whyte said data modelling in Victoria indicated 37% of the population drinks weekly, and 8.9% of these require treatment to address harmful drinking levels.

"In the Eastern Melbourne region this equates to approximately 50,062 residents with potentially problematic alcohol use. To meet this demand, an easily accessible way to connect different residents with providers across the 12 local government areas in Eastern Melbourne was needed," Ms Whyte said.

"In our part of Melbourne, EMPHN is funding 2000 places for free access to those who want assistance with harmful drinking habits," she said.

This online program, which delivers psychosocial counselling and peer support to individuals in order to reduce problematic alcohol use and address mild to moderate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Ms Whyte said that Daybreak provides structured and tailored support that can be immediately offered to people thereby capturing their motivation in the very moment they are ready to change – a strong predictor of treatment success.

"Working with General Practitioners patients can be referred to Daybreak and can then immediately begin receiving care, health services," she said.

Daybreak is a 12 month program with maintenance support.

Daybreak is delivered by Hello Sunday Morning, a not-for profit organisation with seven years’ experience in supporting people to reduce their harmful alcohol consumption and has worked with over 130,000 people. Hello Sunday Morning also recently won the Google Impact Challenge for its innovative use of technology to address problematic alcohol use.

*** case study available for interview***


For media inquiries:



Sofia Dedes- Marketing and Communications Consultant, Eastern Melbourne PHN

Ph: 0400 512 618 or sofia.dedes@emphn.org.au