About the program

This program provides a balance between work, structured group sessions and recreation. Participants are encouraged to deal with self-defeating patterns of thoughts and behaviours. This occurs in a safe and supportive environment where Odyssey Victoria’s values of trust, concern, respect, honesty and love are promoted.

Residents have access to a range of professional staff including counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses and social workers. A number of staff members add value through both their professional qualifications as well as their personal experiences with addiction.

All residents participate in community decision-making. They also contribute to the functioning of the community through cooking, cleaning, and working on property development and maintenance. Over time, residents take leadership roles in various departments such as the office, children’s centre, property management and the kitchen.

As part of the program we provide access to a Financial Counsellor who will provide information, advice and advocacy if you’re in financial difficulty. We also support residents who have debts, fines and infringements. In most cases, all costs are covered through government funding and a resident’s Centrelink contributions.

Residential Rehabilitation services at Melbourne are now smoke-free. All residents are provided with the option of Nicotine Replacement Therapies as alternatives to tobacco or smoking, and to help support their withdrawal.

One of the unique features of the Odyssey Victoria Therapeutic Community is that 32 beds are allocated to families. Residents who come to Odyssey Victoria as a family unit are fully integrated into the program and also participate in specific parenting and family strengthening activities. Children attend either an on-site child development centre and/or local kindergartens and primary schools. Odyssey Victoria is committed to child safety and is a child safe organisation.

In general, families are able to have regular contact and visits with residents. The Odyssey Victoria Therapeutic Community is located at 28 Bonds Road, Lower Plenty.

Exterior aerial photo of the Therapeutic Community

Interior photo of our Therapeutic Community dining hall

photo of our Therapeutic Community horticulture shed

Interior photo of our Therapeutic Community meeting room

Therapeutic Community children's playground

Therapeutic Community gym

Chicken coop

Interior photo of our Therapeutic Community kitchen

Interior photo of our Therapeutic Community therapy room

Photo of some artwork from the residents at our Therapeutic Community

Therapeutic Community fire pit

Therapeutic Community from the courtyard

“Coming here has changed my life around. This time last year I was doing nothing. I was staying home in Gippsland using alcohol and my life was going nowhere. When I came in I was really quiet. I wouldn’t talk. About three months into the program I started finding my voice. It’s just fantastic. It’s changed my kids’ lives too. Instead of seeing me home doing nothing they now see me not drinking. …Once there were promises that were never held up to because of the drinking. Now the kids are seeing a mum who has stopped drinking, has her learner’s permit to drive and know that if she makes a promise she’ll stick to it…They’ve settled down a lot and are into a routine.” -Leanne

Welcome to

Odyssey Victoria

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Family Services

Residential Family Complex

Odyssey Victoria offers the only residential treatment program in Victoria (and one of only a handful in Australia) that allows parents to have their children stay with them while they undergo treatment. This means, at any given time, up to 32 family beds are available to support children (aged 0-12). While living at Odyssey Victoria Residential Rehabilitation these children participate in an on-site developmental care program run through our Children’s Centre from Monday to Friday. Our family services staff are qualified in early learning and childhood development and are also highly experienced in alcohol and other drug treatment services.

Structured and unstructured play and recreational activities allow children to develop linguistically, cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically. Children are encouraged to explore, discuss and share their life events with peers through trained facilitators who create a safe ‘emotionally contained’ environment. Activities are child focused and identified needs are addressed where possible.

Provision is made for residents to have access with their children if they are not the primary carer. Odyssey Victoria also supports women through pregnancy and childbirth.

The aims of Odyssey Victoria’s family services are many, but the underlying purpose is to provide support, care and healing for children and their parents to help keep the family unit drug-free and for family members to live safe, meaningful lives.

To date, over 1000 children have lived at Odyssey Victoria while their parents participated in the drug treatment program.

Buladu Ngarrgu program

(Grow Knowledge program)

Culturally safe spaces are provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents to recognise, identify and connect with culture through education and activities centred on arts, language and dance. The Buladu Ngarrgu program supports this work by providing opportunities for residents to build cultural knowledge, connection and identity.

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Our Mob

“Recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” Cultural respect is achieved when the health system is accessible, responsive and safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and cultural values, strengths and differences are respected.

-Cultural Respect Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Admission

To access this program, participants need to complete a comprehensive drug and alcohol assessment in their local area. An assessment can be arranged through a local service provider in your area. Contact details can be found here.

Alternatively, you can contact DirectLine on 1800 888 236. DirectLine provides a 24-hour telephone counselling, information and referral service for anyone in Victoria wishing to discuss an alcohol or drug-related issue.

Once you have been referred to Odyssey Victoria, a member of our admissions team will contact you to obtain further information, discuss your suitability to the program and answer any questions.

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Admission Process for Clients

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LGBTIQA+ Community

Cost

Odyssey Victoria receives funding from the State Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice. Participants are expected to contribute their CentreLink payments towards the cost of the treatment program. There are different arrangements in place for privately paying clients. All expenses associated with participation in the program are covered by Odyssey Victoria including, but not limited, to food, accommodation, medical costs, therapeutic services and childcare.

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ATCA Certified

This certifies that Odyssey Victoria has met requirements for certification of the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association Standard. We are proud to be a Certified Group Therapeutic Community Member.