Maryknoll Therapeutic Community

Hello from Windana’s Maryknoll Therapeutic Community. On this page we’ll tell you about our community, and how you can get referred to us..

• Welcome
• What is a Therapeutic Community?
• Maryknoll's program
• Phases
• Work groups
• Eligibility
• Referral
• More about Maryknoll

Fast facts.

• Type of program: Residential rehabilitation for alcohol and other drugs
• Program length: Nine months
• Maximum number of residents: 77
• Location: Maryknoll, Bunurong Country (15 minutes’ drive from Pakenham)
• Cost: $115 Admission Fee, then $719 per fortnight ($517 if you are on youth allowance)

Welcome to the Maryknoll Therapeutic Community.

Located south-east of Melbourne, Maryknoll Therapeutic Community is the largest of Windana’s three Therapeutic Communities.

Each of our Therapeutic Communities helps people recover from substance use and move forward in their lives.

Our Maryknoll Therapeutic Community is set on a beautiful 40-acre property home to farm and native animals, planted crops, natural bushland and shared spaces to live and work.

What is a Therapeutic Community?.

The Therapeutic Community is a supportive environment for rehabilitation, where residents drive the recovery of themselves and each other.

A Therapeutic Community gives its residents the space and structure to heal emotionally and learn healthier ways to live. The environment is designed to intensify the life experiences that help you learn about yourself, build self-esteem, self-respect, and develop a sense of other. It uses a model of rehabilitation called ‘community as method’.

At Maryknoll residents work together to run the community, as it’s their home. This peer-driven, holistic approach to recovery focuses on how alcohol and other drug use influences, and is influenced by your relationships, thoughts, feelings and lifestyle. Residents also attend education, therapy and behavioural change groups.

Staff are there to help keep members of the Therapeutic Community psychologically and physically safe. As residents move through the program’s phases, they become leaders and role models too.

Maryknoll's program.

Each day at Maryknoll follows a structured routine, starting at 7:00am on weekdays and finishing at 10:00pm.

Activities and support

• Case management and support services
• Educational and therapeutic group sessions to support mental and physical health and recovery (including relapse prevention, stress management, non-violent communication)
• Art Therapy and writing groups
• Naturopathy (a complementary therapy involving herbal and nutritional supplements)
• Osteopathy (therapy for your muscle and bone health)
• Nutrition program (Food as Medicine)
• Community programs such as Landcare and optional team sport
• Exercise and recreation
• US Mob group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents
• Medical and nursing management
• Slow-stream pharmacotherapy reduction from Suboxone and Methadone is available.

Phases.

The program is delivered through separate phases. Each phase builds on the phase before, with more responsibility as you progress.

• Orientation: Watch, listen, learn and engage in the Welcome House (a special place to settle in and have a ‘soft landing’ into the community – pictured here)
• Phase 1: Participate in all aspects of the group
• Phase 2: Step up as a role model to peers
• Phase 3: Be a leader and prepare for the future
• Phase 4: Integration towards life after Maryknoll (you’ll live in Integration Housing during this phase and visit the Therapeutic Community regularly)
• Aftercare: Move forward with new skills and ongoing supports.

Works groups.

A key part of Maryknoll’s program is working together. As a resident, you’ll rotate through the main groups: Cleaning, Grounds and Maintenance, Animals, Kitchen and Administration. Over time you can become a leader within your team.

“It’s a short time spent for a longer life to live.”

– A Maryknoll resident

Eligibility: Is this for me?.

Maryknoll Therapeutic Community may be suitable if you:

• Are aged 18 years or over
• Complete a withdrawal program before admission (this can be through Windana or another service)
• Are willing to participate in the Maryknoll program, including its Work groups.

Referral.

All admissions to Maryknoll Therapeutic Community require a referral.

The main way to get referred is by contacting the Intake and Assessment service that looks after your area.

To find your local Intake and Assessment service, you can call DirectLine on 1800 888 236 (available 24/7) or visit their website at www.directline.org.au. You can also look for your area on this list. 

When you get in touch with your local Intake and Assessment service, you can expect to speak with a clinician about your relationship with alcohol and other drugs. Together you will decide whether you need further assessment or treatment.

The person you speak to will help you find the most suitable services for you. You’re welcome to say you are interested in Windana’s Maryknoll Therapeutic Community.

For advice on the process, can also reach out to Windana directly by calling 03 9529 7955 Monday to Friday, between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

More about Maryknoll.

• If you’re referred to Maryknoll, we’ll contact you before your Admission Date with important information, including what to pack.
• You can bring two bags to Maryknoll. There are opportunities for personal shopping (e.g. for toiletries) when you’re here.
• It is likely you will be sharing your room with another resident for some, if not all of your stay. You’ll move beds/rooms during your stay to ensure a diverse mix of connections.
• At Maryknoll, residents eat nourishing, seasonal food with many ingredients grown by residents in the garden. Residents prepare most meals for the community.
• After you’ve settled into Maryknoll, you can apply for leave (called “off property”). The amount of leave allowed depends on what program phase you are in.
• At the end of the program, residents celebrate their achievements of themselves and their peers with a graduation ceremony.

More information.

Click below to download a detailed booklet about our residential rehabilitation programs.

This booklet includes the information on this page with some more details on Maryknoll’s program, site, staff, frequently asked questions and other details..

Download PDF.