Hope, Odyssey Victoria’s residential rehabilitation facility in Bairnsdale, provides intensive interventions for people with severe alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependencies. Clients typically live-in for a period of three to four months whilst they undergo treatment. Hope supports approximately 250 Victorians each year. On the weekends over 25% of residents are visited by families, including ...
Odyssey Victoria
Strengthening Family Connections
GOAL
$4,500
Australia > VIC > Regional
01/07/2025 > 31/08/2025
Field of Interest
- Health/wellbeing and medical research
- Individual/family services and support
Target Population
- People with a disability, illness or disease
- General population
Odyssey Victoria
Odyssey Victoria (OV) is one of Australia’s most experienced and respected specialist alcohol and other drug (AOD) service providers and is widely recognised as an innovator and leader in AOD treatment.
Our purpose is to provide specialist AOD services to Victorians with need, including the families and carers of those facing addiction. We aim to deliver holistic and innovative services that give clients hope for change, reduce alcohol and drug use, improve mental health, and rebuild connection to family and the community.
OV provides a wide range of treatment, training, and support options for people, where AOD problems and disorders are a central feature. We provide residential treatment programs, counselling, case management and outreach services from multiple sites. Some of these are consistent over time, while others are temporary responses to changing needs. Our programs cater for individuals facing legal problems, including those referred to us through the legal system or specialist courts. We have services in metropolitan Melbourne and regional and rural Victoria.
We specialise in supporting marginalised communities which include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse, people with co-occurring mental health disorders and people who have experienced family violence and trauma.
OV works at the intersection of complex need where multiple issues intersect, including mental ill-health and family violence, largely driven by chronic disadvantage, family dysfunction and trauma.
Project Summary
Hope, Odyssey Victoria’s residential rehabilitation facility in Bairnsdale, provides intensive interventions for people with severe alcohol and other drug (AOD) dependencies. Clients typically live-in for a period of three to four months whilst they undergo treatment. Hope supports approximately 250 Victorians each year.
On the weekends over 25% of residents are visited by families, including children. Some families visit both on Saturdays and Sundays. This increases during school holidays where up to 50% of residents are visited by their children. The frequency of visits is often dictated by the travel distance.
Whilst Hope has indoor communal spaces and large outdoor spaces with well-maintained gardens it doesn’t really meet the needs and interests of children who can spend up to four hours there during any one visit.
Our project involves creating a setting where children will want to be and that fosters interaction and engagement with their parent(s). The purchase of giant outdoor games such as Connect 4, Chinese Checkers, Chess and Jenga will invite children of all ages to play with their parents. The installation of new umbrellas and outdoor beanbags will add to the outdoor amenity by providing comfortable and casual informal spaces to hang out together.
Project Outcomes
The aim of the project is to provide a relaxing and supportive setting where residents and their families enjoy spending time and connecting with each other. A setting where residents are excited by and take pride in providing enjoyable experiences for their children.
We expect that this project will contribute to:
- The provision of positive family experiences to both parents and children
- Enhanced relationships between parents and children
- Deeper engagement and interaction between parents and children
- Meeting the needs and interests of children
- A positive impact on resident’s treatment goals
- Providing additional motivation for residents to stay in treatment
- Parents and children looking forward to the visits
- The promotion of outdoor play
We’ve deliberately selected items of high quality and durability that will withstand the wear and tear of constant use. Investing in this project will provide an enduring impact for current and future clients and their children.
Budget Breakdown
TOTAL BUDGET: $4,500
FUNDING
| Funding source | Amount |
|---|---|
| Funding Gap | $4,500 |
EXPENSES
| Expense item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Giant lawn games | $1,120 |
| Outdoor umbrellas and stands | $1,040 |
| Outdoor beanbags | $1,950 |
| Delivery and procurement costs | $390 |
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