Hunter Valley – Cessnock

 

Funded by Commonwealth Department of Health, supported by NSW Ministry of Health (HNELHD).

 

WHOS Hunter Valley® TC is a 4 – 6 months residential drug free treatment program based on the Therapeutic Community (TC) model for men and women situated in the regional area of the Hunter Valley NSW.

 

Our programs aim is to provide a safe and secure environment where men and women who suffer from alcohol and other drug dependence and its related problems can concentrate on their recovery.

 

The therapeutic community (TC)  model means that the community itself, through self-help and mutual support, is the principal means for promoting personal change. The client community, in concert with staff, work together to overcome the problem of substance dependence  and promote personal change.

 

At WHOS, clients (referred to as residents)  and staff participate in the management and day to day operation of the TC community, providing a safe environment. Residents are encouraged to take responsibility for themselves and build their awareness of the effect their behaviour has on themselves and the community around them.

 

Residents  have their own room in a large two storey building with men and women’s accommodation and bathroom facilities on separate floors.  All residents participate in the running of the TC Community.

 

Day to day

 

Residents attend in-house groups covering topics such as:

• Drug dependence education including drug overdose and relapse prevention
• Social and communication skills, assertiveness skills and self esteem building
• Community ‘unity’ & peer feedback sessions
• Harm reduction including education on HIV/Hep C as well as CPR information
• Skills based education (e.g. communications skills, conflict resolution)
• TAFE run computer skills course

 

Each day, residents are also given free time to relax in TV /lounge areas or socialise with each other over the pool table, table tennis or outdoor games like totem tennis and Botchy.

 

There is onsite access to exercise equipment (bike, rowing machine, elliptical ) and go for community walks three times a week.

 

Other organised activities include:

• physical exercise such as bushwalks, volleyball & external local gym once a week
• wellness sessions e.g. meditation,  yoga, exercise
• activity nights once a week such as karaoke, trivia etc.
• Sunday special activities such as  Ocean Baths – BBQ & ten pin bowling