SERVICES - The Cottage

What we offer

A Transformational Model

Residential Life Skills & Recovery Program

The recovery program enables participants to develop the skills, strategies and abilities to transform lives.

We currently have 3 houses with 23 beds total at present, and 4 properties.

This is a life skills residential program for males and females. We link with existing services and provide support for 12 weeks. We are a self empowerment model and welcome those with a strong motivation to change negative life patterns and experience freedom from addiction.
There is a lead tenant in each of the houses and staff are on site 24 hours. One is free to leave at any time, subject to bail conditions for some residents.

Whilst our treatment is not totally based on a 12 step program, we insist engagement with Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous during a stay. We strongly encourage maintaining contact with such programs after leaving The Cottage program as the fellowship and friendship gained helps to develop and strengthen long term recovery.

Staff with lived experience in addiction

Experience and research show that people with lived experience with addictions are uniquely qualified to assist others with some of the same issues.

Our professional staff not only have formal qualifications in the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Sector, all have lived experience with recovery making them exceptionally empathetic to the real challenges of recovery. All staff have AOD sector professional experience. If a person does not have the right levels of empathy as well as professional and personal development they are not suitable to work with our clients.

Leadership Opportunities For Lead Tenants

We know that giving back is an essential and intregal part in the process of growing in a program of recovery, therefore we aim to instil this in our clients while demonstrating such qualities ourselves. Our program offers the opportunity to become a leader with opportunities for volunteer or paid work.

We know the value and results of making restitution and becoming a useful and helpful member of society making a connection to something truly great. A NEW experience is what can be expected if one is willing. This will be beyond what is currently thought possible.

Check out the Testimonials from our previous lead tenants who have since moved on in their lives. They remain connected to The Cottage Program.

Re-engagement, mentoring and sponsoring others is what makes a life free from addiction possible and sustainable.

The Cottage program outline

We provide security and structure by having staff present and camera surveillance 24 hours per day. Clients are also transported to and from Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings after hours by staff providing extra supervision and support.

A curfew is in place from 6pm to 6am monday to friday, 9pm to 6am saturday, sunday and public holidays.

We are a transformational self leadership model and wherever possible have clients take responsibility for their own lives. The cottage program runs 12 weeks slowly allowing residents to transition back into society.

During this time the client has time to reflect on their drug and or alcohol use and its correlation with their life situation. The client must enter into a period of abstinence from all alcohol and other drugs. If a client fails a routine or random drug screen while in the program they will be discharged to their own care in consultation with their next of kin and if under legal conditions the appropriate authorities will be provided with a detailed report of the related events.

Upon Intake/Assessment clients agree to participate in

• Daily tasks as per the running of The Cottage houses which enhance daily living skills.

• Attend the The Cottage Conversation training at 11AM Mon – Fri

• Attend 2 Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings and 2 Narcotics Anonymous Meetings per week.

• Internal Breakthrough (transformational) Training.

• Other timetabled Leisure activities as agreed upon.

• Abide by other rules as outlined in our Client agreement upon application.

What Investment is involved to come into the Cottage?

Investment for The Cottage Program:

Intake/assessment fee -‐-‐-‐ $1,100 ($1100 of this Non-refundable)
The Cottage program fee -‐-‐-‐ $5,000 To be paid before an acceptance letter will be sent out or an entry date given. If the potential resident does not enter the cottage, this $1100 is refundable via direct bank transfer. Once a client has entered, this is Non-refundable.
An ongoing fortnightly board and lodging fee of $650 or 75% of their Centerlink income.
Residents are required to pay for all of their own medication.
Once a resident enters The Cottage, there will be no refund of any amount as the resident has embarked upon their stay at the facility.

Investment for Clients being bailed to The Cottage:

Intake/assessment fee: $2,200 ($1,100 of this Non-refundable)
The Cottage program fee is $5,000.
Court appearance/report: $2,200 (this is non-refundable and this fee cover’s 1 secondary assessment with report, 1 evidence at bail application, and 1 progress report). Additional fee’s are required for any extra court matter/reports
An ongoing fortnightly board and lodging fee of $650 or 75% of their Centerlink income.
Residents are required to pay for all of their own medication.
Once a resident enters The Cottage there will be no refund of any amount as the resident has embarked upon their stay at the facility.

Travel fee

If a potential resident needs transport to the facility, the fee is $550 If they are coming from anywhere outside of the Shepparton area. This is non-refundable

Hours of operation

10am – 4pm Weekdays (Staffed 24hrs)