Drug & Alcohol
Missiondale is a residential recovery program offering an alternative for those wanting to make positive changes in their lives. It’s all about change.The program looks at all areas of a person’s life: - Physical, Emotional, Social, Intellectual, Financial and Spiritual.
As a resident you are provided with a safe environment to explore the possibilities for your future. You will be given all the support to do this, but you have to be willing to embrace the change, to take off the old thinking, attitudes and behavior patterns.
Missiondale is a place where you will be helped to change your life! It is about change, if you’re not ready to change, this is the wrong place for you. We want you to embrace a process of personal exploration and lasting recovery.
During the Foundation program the emphasis is on digging down deep and breaking up the hard ground. You will need to address the “unseen” issues in your life - wrong choices, behaviours and attitudes which influence how you see yourself today. This stage forms the foundation you will need to establish a solid base for you to begin rebuilding your life.
Who Can Apply?
People over the age of 18 years of age who want to overcome any life controlling addiction. We also offer a Family Program (see separate brochure).
How Do I Apply?
You need to telephone and fill out an Application Form to go onto our waiting list. We ask that you stay in weekly contact with us. As you move up the waiting list, you will be assessed at Missiondale, if accepted, you will be given an entry date.
What Does It Cost?
There is an entry fee of $100. Board and lodging is $370 per fortnight, payable in advance. Medications, phone calls, and personal items are additional expenses, payable by you.
How Long is the Program?
We ask that you commit to stay and complete the Foundation program which takes between 7-9 weeks. This will give you time to think about your options and goals. It will give us time to present you with some realistic choices. Try to remember that turning around years of self-abuse won’t happen overnight.
Can I have Contact with Family & Friends?
There is no contact for a period of 2 weeks, then only limited phone contact with immediate family. Limited phone contact with friends is after 4 weeks. Visits from family can be arranged after 3 weeks. Visits from friends after 6 weeks. Weekend leave is not available during the Foundation stage, it can be applied for during the Framework stage of the program.
Do I Need to be Detoxed?
We ask that you not use drugs or alcohol for a period of 48 hours before your admission date. To assist with this we can offer you a bed at our time out facility prior to coming to Missiondale.
Am I Able to Smoke at Missiondale?
A designated smoking area is provided for both men and women. All other areas are non smoking.
What Happens During the Day?
The daily schedule is relatively structured. It incorporates daily housekeeping and work therapy, daily support group, 2 hours per week of group therapy, at least one case management meeting and individual counselling session per week. A Community sporting activity happens on a designated day and there is some free time between 4:30pm and 5:30pm, then again from 7:30pm until lights out in the evening. The daily routine is designed to reflect a model of a routine that you might follow on leaving Missiondale. It is not all work and no play, nor is it a “bludge”. There are both work and fun times.
The Missiondale program consists of five aspects – Community Living, Group Therapy, Individual Counselling, Case Management and Work Therapy.
Community Living:
One of the strengths of the Missiondale program is that it is carried out in the context of a Therapeutic Community (living with people). The community is the therapy. This gives people opportunity to combine the program with the challenges of normal relationships. Living within a community means moving beyond the selfish self-centred lifestyle that is normally associated with addictive behavioural patterns. There is an expectation that you become a contributing member of the community, helping yourself and others in the process. At different intervals you will be required to take on more responsibility in the form of being a Team Leader and a Mentor.
Group Therapy:
There are 3 stages to the program
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Foundation (7-9 weeks)
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Framework (in 3 parts – Team Leader, Senior Resident & Mentor - 7-9 months)
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Future (12 months)
Individual Counselling:
You will have the opportunity to receive individual counselling. These sessions will be held weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on your individual needs.
Case Management:
You will see a Case Manager who will assist you as you progress through the program. Together with your Case Manager you will develop a care plan and be provided with support with legal issues, housing concerns, employment options. They will also assist you to develop a successful exit plan at the end of your program. These sessions will be held weekly, fortnightly or monthly, depending on your individual needs.
Work Therapy:
You will be assigned daily cleaning duties, for both the daily running of the community and the men’s or women’s quarters. Further when you’re not in Group, Counselling or Case Management sessions you will be required to participate in Work Therapy at Missiondale. Work Therapy is about developing a healthy work ethic and contributing to the community. You might be thinking “why do I have to do Work Therapy when I pay rent”, the answer is simple. Firstly, no one pays enough rent to cover the total cost of living at Missiondale. Secondly, those who are serious about recovery will not want to be idle, they will want to move beyond that lifestyle and be active contributors to the community.
A Final Word …
Missiondale is a safe environment to explore the possibilities for your future. We are here to support you, encourage you, teach you, counsel you and to help in any way we can, but you have to do the work. You will be given all the support but you have to be willing to embrace the change. You need to take off the old thinking, attitudes and behaviour patterns, which will hurt, but not as much as staying the same.
Contact Details:
Centre Managers: Rob & Anne Koops
Phone: 6391 8013
Fax: 6391 8255
Mobile: 0448 316 998
Email: missiondale@citymission.org.au
Address: 75 Leighlands Road, Evandale 7212
More information available on our brochure. Download it here.
Serenity House
Serenity House, located at Sulphur Creek on the North West Coast of Tasmania is a Sobering up and Place of Safety Facility to care for persons found intoxicated by alcohol, an illicit drug or a combination of drugs until they are sober. The service is non-medical in nature. It does not provide detoxification. If physical complications
occur while a client is sobering up, immediate referral is made to the hospital.
For sobering up, referral may be by the effected person, a family member, medical practitioner, regional alcohol & drug sector or through other community networks. Persons wishing to use the facility as a place of safety need to be directly referred by Police. Clients will only be accepted on a consensual basis.
Place of Safety clients must be over the age of eighteen (18) years and considered to be vulnerable or at risk.
Potential users of the facility need to meet the following criteria:
- are voluntary participants
- do not require close clinical observation or medical intervention;
- are residents of or are visiting the North West Region of Tasmania;
- are in need of a safe, supported and supervised environment;
- do not have suitable alternative personal support available;
- are not wanted by the Police.
The facility also provides ‘time-out’ for clients, providing them with communal living under the support and supervision of trained staff. Counseling is available, along with referral to other agencies and follow-up where requested by the client.
Contact Serenity House 24 / 7 on 6435 4654 or download the brochure here.