The basic approach of Therapeutic Community (TC) is treatment of the whole person utilizing the community itself, identified as “community as method” as the principal means for promoting personal change. TC’s provide multidimensional alcohol and drug treatment involving therapy, education, values, and skills development with a common theme of all TC’s of self-help and the notion that the resident plays an integral, active role in their own therapy and in the therapy of other residents.
In practice community as a method will look like

• Daily life in the therapeutic community provides learning opportunities through various social roles individual residents assume as positive participants in the community.
• The experiences essential to recovery and personal growth unfold through social interactions.
• Residents provide feedback, and receive feedback from others, as part of a shared commitment and responsibility within the community.
• Members of the community strive to be positive role models of the change process, living and contributing to daily life in the therapeutic community.
• Job functions and procedures maintain the daily operations of the facility, off er learning opportunities for new skill development.
• Community meetings and decision-making involving residents and the staff team are a core tool in the running of the therapeutic community.

Residential Programs

No, the residential programs do not provide detox at any of the Karralika Program facilities. Individuals, couples, and families that come to our residential programs must be alcohol and drug free (other than approved prescribed medications).

Many clients will have had to take part in a detox program provided by another service or if assessed as suitable participate in Karralika’s home withdrawal program before they are admitted into one of our residential programs

Home withdrawal program

Yes, the Karralika home withdrawal program provides withdrawal support by a registered nurse in a client’s home to help prepare them to go into a rehabilitation service.

NSW Child and Youth

No, the NSW Child and Youth AOD program provides community withdrawal support when appropriate by a Registered Nurse.

Residential Programs

Yes, you need to be alcohol and illicit drug free to participate in our residential programs. A period of detoxification is required prior to entry. Residents are supported with their medical issues and prescribed medications by our Primary Health Nurse.

Reversed Driver Education Program

Participants of our drink driver education program (REVERSED) must not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when attending the session. Participants will be breathalysed before the course and will be excluded if they have a positive reading.

Yes, all of our Programs and sites (including offices) are smoke and vape-free. Clients of the Karralika Therapeutic Community and Family Program will have access to Nicotine Replacement Therapy and a range of supports to help. Those participating in our Day Programs can also access support to assist with smoking cessation.

Karralika has well established support and management of residents taking part in Opioid Maintenance Treatment. You can apply for admission to any of our programs if you are established on your maintenance program, live in the ACT, and need residential treatment for your alcohol or other drug dependence.

Yes, you can take part in one of our residential programs even if you normally live outside of the ACT.
A comprehensive assessment can be scheduled by calling our Assessment/Intake Officer who will also provide additional information regarding requirements for admission into our programs.

The Karralika Family Program allows parent/s taking part in the residential rehabilitation program to have their children (up to the age of 12 years) living with them. The Program offers individual support for parents to address their alcohol or other drug dependency whilst also focussing on treatment for the whole family to strengthen family relationships and positive family functioning

Absolutely. All Karralika Programs Inc. programs are voluntary, and individuals can self-refer for assessment. However, some adults will have to take part under court order.

REVersed is an alcohol and drug awareness course for adults who have been charged with a drink or drug driving offence in the ACT (even if you live interstate) and have been;

1. Charged with the same offence before, or
2. Had a mid to high range blood alcohol content level.

REVersed is a 6-hour course approved by Road Transport Authority in the ACT and you will need to complete this course to keep or regain your license.

REVersed is delivered face-to-face, but we can facilitate online attendance if requested.

Applications for REVersed are available online , contacting the Coordinator on 02 6185 1300 or emailing info@karralika.org.au.

Therapeutic Community

The Karuna Program is of 8 weeks duration and provides adults with the opportunity to experience the benefits of residential rehabilitation before deciding to continue for the remainder of the Adult or Family Therapeutic Community program. We will work with you on your goals and program and developing a treatment plan and safe exit plan. The program is generally 3 to 6 months but sometimes people stay longer to reach their recovery goals.

Community Rehabilitation and Recovery Support Program (Transition)

Transition Program offers a three-to-six-month accommodation and support for those leaving the Therapeutic Community and require support whilst waiting for more secure housing.

Aftercare

The Aftercare support provides clients exiting our services with short term support whilst they settle into the community after their residential treatment program has closed.

First you need to contact Karralika Programs Inc. Assessment and Intake Case Manager on 02 6185 1300 who will complete a Client Enquiry quick assessment to determine suitability for a comprehensive assessment to access one of our programs and assess risk.

The Assessment and Intake Case Manager can provide information about our programs and if assessed as suitable will schedule a time for the comprehensive assessment. Our Intake Officer will ask a series of questions to understand more about you, your dependence history and which program would best suit you and your circumstances.

They will assess your eligibility for one of our programs and discuss the next steps. If assessed as not suitable for our programs you will be supported to and provided information about more appropriate services or programs that you can contact.

Why not take the first step and call us now on 02 6185 1300

Yes. Our programs and staff can support people with complex needs to address their alcohol and drug dependence. Residents with low literacy, Acquired Brain Injury and Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder for example are supported with additional resources and tools to help them take part effectively in the program and achieve their treatment goals.

Supports might include being able to spend some time in a quiet place, using tailored print resources including group handouts and worksheets, having additional time to complete homework or individual tasks, accessing additional support from staff and senior peers, additional one to one staff time and instruction, and using voice recorders or voice recognition software for example.

Adults with low to moderate mental health conditions who are, or can be, stable on medication are able to take part in our programs. Karralika Programs Inc. works closely with Mental Health ACT and health professionals to ensure the continued health and safety of our clients while they are taking part in our programs.

Although our programs are supported by funding from Governments, all clients are expected to pay affordable fees for board and lodging within the residential rehabilitation programs (Karralika Therapeutic Community Adult Program, Karuna Short-stay Program and the Karralika Family Program

Board and lodging at the TC means that all accommodation, meals, electricity, phone costs are covered by the program fees paid by residents. Additional costs for personal or other special needs shopping needs to be covered by the residents themselves.

When staying in our Community Rehabilitation and Recovery Support program, you will contribute to rent and utilities. All food / meals and other personal expenses will be covered by you directly.

You can find out more about our fees when you contact the Assessment and Intake Officer on 02 6185 1300.

Yes absolutely. Information collected by the organisation is confidential and used for the purpose of supplying the services you need, Karralika Programs Inc. follows the Privacy Act in relation to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.

We do provide de-identified data on program occupancy to our funders and to the National Minimum Data Set for broader service planning across the country, but client names are not included.

Our Confidentiality and Privacy Statement* provides further information.

Yes absolutely. Our clinical staff team are qualified Alcohol and Other Drug Workers, some have added qualifications and experience including psychology, social work, and allied health.

Karralika Programs employees a Registered Nurse and provides clients with access to other clinical and medical support whilst taking part in our programs.

Karralika Programs has a comprehensive education and training program ensuring that staff have appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver high quality services for each client.

Karralika Programs welcomes and values feedback. We are committed to supporting people to provide feedback, including complaints, in a way that is comfortable to them. Proper handling of complaints is important to our performance and the continuous improvement of our services.

Our Complaints and Feedback Statement * provides further information.

Residential Programs (Adult and Family Programs) in the ACT

• Priority given to ACT residents however referrals from NSW are accepted
• 18 years +
• Singles
• Families (with children up to the age of 12 years)
• People identifying as LGBTQIA+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• People from Culturally and Linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with lived experience of mental health or other co-occurring conditions

Non-residential withdrawal service (ACT and local region)

• People aged 12 years and over
• People seeking withdrawal or reduction as a standalone support or as pre-entry to other services
• Those with safe housing or accommodation and supportive people
• Secondary consultation and liaison with health professionals

NSW Child and Youth Services (Eurobodalla and Wagga)

• 10 year – 19 Years + Family
• People identifying as LGBTQIA+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• People from Culturally and Linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with lived experience of mental health or other co-occurring conditions.

Day Programs (Wagga and Griffith) – RISE Program

• Young people aged 12 to 24 years
• People identifying as LGBTQIA+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• People from Culturally and Linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with lived experience of mental health or other co-occurring conditions

Day Program for people with dependents (Queanbeyan, Cooma and Palerang) – FORTIS Program

• 18 years+ with dependents
• People identifying as LGBTQIA+
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• People from Culturally and Linguistically diverse backgrounds
• People with lived experience of mental health or other co-occurring conditions

Karralika recognises the importance of supporting our residents in the process of rebuilding and strengthening relationships with friends and family. It is acknowledged that the involvement of a supportive family network is an integral part of successful long-term recovery.

Therapeutic Community

Regular visitation can be facilitated by request from residents or on scheduled community visitor’s day.

Mail can be sent to PO Box 2230 Tuggeranong ACT 2901

Transition Program (Community Rehabilitation and Recovery Support Program)

Residents in our Transition program will be able to visit with their family and friends. However as it is a shared accommodation, your family and friends may not be able to visit at the program houses unless it is in discussion with your support staff and has been approved.

If you have been approved for admission into one of our residential services and are waiting for beds to become available. One of our team will have weekly contact with you and provide support to help you prepare for admission. We can support you with information to help make arrangements, offer referral or connection to our home withdrawal service, offer connection to one of our counsellors and also link you with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural worker.

There are certain criminal offences that may make you ineligible to enter our residential treatment programs. During the assessment process you will be asked if you have a criminal history and if so, you will be required to provide this documentation as part of the assessment process. Decisions of suitability for program will be based on the nature and time of offence by the clinical intake assessment team.