If you want help with problems related to drinking , this meeting is specifically designed to help people who are new to AA. You’d also be welcome at any one of the many other AA meetings around Melbourne.

When you come to to the meeting, you can simply sit in and listen in to what other people are saying about their problems with alcohol and how they have overcome them. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.

It doesn’t cost anything and you don’t have to sign up or even tell us your full name.

The meeting is in the format of a ‘discussion’ with topics suggested by members. If you like, you can ask a question by suggesting a topic to be discussed.

This is the list of suggested topics often discussed in the Beginners Meeting:

1. How do I know I am an alcoholic?
2. When did we find hope?
3. How can we help others?
4. What do we need to do to stay sober?
5. What have we learnt from older members?
6. How do we choose an AA Home Group?
7. Why is one drink “too many”?
8. How did we choose our own conception of God?
9. What do we pray for?
10. How is AA a ‘Program of Action’?
11. What do we do at times and places where there is alcohol around?
12. What do we gain from recovery?
13. What brought us out of denial?
14. How do we become willing?
15. What is the importance of humility?
16. How do we put ‘first things first’?
17. What do we tell other people about why we have stopped drinking?
18. What is the importance of anonymity?
19. Why did we decide to stop drinking?
20. Why do we need a Higher Power?
21. When were we ready to take the steps?
22. Why do we go to meetings?
23. What did we find helpful in early days of sobriety?
24. What AA sayings have been helpful?
25. Why do we need abstinence?
26. Where do we find courage?
27. What creates our change in attitude in sobriety?
28. How do we live one day at a time?
29. What have we learnt from newcomers?
30. What does a sponsor do?
31. When did we first notice that we were different from ‘normal drinkers’?
32. Where do we find inspiration to stay sober?
33. Why is inventory necessary?
34. What meditation routines do we use?
35. How do we handle parties and other events in early sobriety?
36. What strength do we find in the Serenity Prayer?
37. How did we take Step One?
38. How does the program work?
39. How do we overcome selfishness?
40. How do we keep the program simple?
41. How do we deal with people who don’t understand and want us to drink?
42. How does phoning other AA members help?
43. What do we identify with when listening to other members?
44. What are the joys of sobriety?
45. How do we take the steps?
46. How did we initially stop drinking?
47. How do we find a sponsor?
48. How can we help out in a home group?
49. How do we react to thoughts about drinking?
50. How do we keep an open mind?
51. How did we take Step Two?
52. How do we avoid the first drink?
53. How do we stay sober while on holiday or travelling?
54. What have we learnt from the Big Book?
55. Why is honesty important to our sobriety?
56. How did we overcome prejudice against spiritual ideas?
57. How have we overcome resentments?
58. How have we changed since we started to work the program?
59. What do we tell others about AA?
60. What AA Literature have we found useful?
61. What made us admit defeat?
62. What hope have we found from listening to other members?
63. How have we overcome fear?
64. What amends can we make?
65. How have we managed big changes in early sobriety?
66. How has AA service helped our sobriety?
67. What is the greatest danger to our sobriety?
68. How did we take Step Three?
69. How many meetings do we need?
70. How do we ‘work the program’?
71. How is isolation dangerous?
72. When did we start Step Four?
73. How do we get involved in service?
74. How are we obsessed with alcohol?
75. What does AA promise?
76. How do we ‘clean house’?
77. What is our experience with aches and pains, sleeplessness, or other physical symptoms in early sobriety?
78. What’s the best thing about being sober today?