Families Residential Program

The Families Therapeutic Community provides a safe and supportive environment for single and dual parents and their children (up to 12 years old), to focus on recovery from alcohol and other drug use, strengthening family relationships and improving parenting skills.

The Family Program offers treatment for the whole family, providing the opportunity for young children to reside with their parents while they are participating in program. During the day, parent/s will participate in all facets of the Karralika Therapeutic Community while the children participate in an early childhood development programs either through full-time day care and/or school and after-school care and holiday programs. During evenings and weekends families spend time together to develop and strengthen positive parent/child/family relationships.

What program offers:

Our multidimensional approach to treatment involves therapy, education, values, and skills development. The structured environment has a set of rules and guidelines establishing the basis for residents to achieve the desired goals of personal growth/development and behavior change. Karralika TC offers a unique combination of therapeutic involvements between residents and staff and among residents (especially among senior and junior residents) through their various daily interactions whilst living in a caring and challenging community.

Unlike the Adult Program, each family unit in the Family Program plan and prepare their own meals and spend time together on daily activities such as homework, bathing, and bedtime routines.
Targeted interventions including play therapies, play group and parenting skills development are core components of the program.

We work with or are partners with a range of specialist community agencies including: Hep C Council, CARE Financial, Legal Aid, Care and Protection agencies, Gugan Gulwan, Outward Bound, Winnunga Nimityjah, Communities@work, Isabella Medical Centre and ACT Dental and Health services.

Program Staff available to residents:

We have a multidisciplinary staff team including:

• Alcohol and Drug Workers
• Primary Health Nurses
• Chef
• Case Managers
• Children’s Case Manager
• Family Support Worker
• Counsellors
• Social Workers
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Support and Liaison Officer

External Services residents can be linked with:

Residents can access a range of external services which include:

• Childcare and school
• Dental and Medical services
• Counselling
• Financial/Budgeting support and assistance
• Hepatitis education
• Parenting programs
• Community based self-help groups
• Recreational activities

Activities residents participate in:

Residents can participate in a range of activities which include:

• Attendance at art exhibitions and workshops with Tuggeranong Community Arts Centre
• Drumbeat – The purpose of the program is to allow our clients to connect and work together as a team through music and expressing themselves in ways that harmonise with others. The alternative therapy is facilitated through weekly groups and offers a range of learning opportunities for participants to develop their skills and knowledge in a range of areas.
• Women: Choice and Change – is a six-week program for women who are in or have been in an abusive relationship. It provides women an opportunity to meet with others who have similar experiences, talk through issues, and look at positive choices and strategies for the future.

Different types on interventions used in program:

Clinical practice within the therapeutic community is underpinned by evidence informed methods including Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) which are utilized to effectively support and facilitate a residents’ recovery journey.

Typical Daily routine (weekday)

*Weekends have a semi-structured program

*AA/NA meetings attendance after the first 2 weeks in program.