The Program

Residents in the Buttery are guided through 2 programs.

Program One.

Acceptance of the need to enter treatment and pursue an abstinence based lifestyle. A twelve week basic program, introducing the individual to the issues and providing a short term basic skills “survival” course.

Program Two.

Focus on the core issues of recovery. A five month program where the issues identified by the resident and their caseworker are explored in greater depth. Entry to Program Two is dependant on community assessment of the individual’s need and motivation, and capacity to complete the program. As well there needs to be a determination by the individual that they not only need a long term residential treatment program but they can commit seeing it through.

Program Goals

The Buttery’s program is based on the notion that chemically dependant people need treatment to recover from the physical, social, psychological and spiritual effects of their addiction.

We emphasise total abstinence from the addictive behaviour as a condition that fosters recovery and allows the development of a new way of life.

Program Goals:

  Develop an individual long term treatment/recovery plan designed to break the pattern of dependency and denial.
  Begin and continue total abstinence.
  Examine and resolve physical, emotional and social problems resulting from, and contributing to chemical dependency.

MERIT PROGRAM – Magistrates’ Early Referral Into Treatment

The Merit program is an innovative scheme to refer eligible people facing Court with drug-related offences to treatment and rehabilitation services. It aims to help break the drugs-crime cycle.

The Buttery has beds allocated to this program and to date has been highly successful including commendations from the Courts and Police and positive publicity in the media.

Participation in the Merit Scheme is voluntary.