Our Services Gulgihwen Program for Men Gulgihwen Program for Men Gulgihwen means "change" in the traditional local language. Our Program is designed for Aboriginal men aged 18 years + and is intended to provide education and support towards addressing the issues of substance misuse and related harms such as criminality, and to improve health and well-being. With the support of experienced Staff we offer a compassionate and culturally focused professional program of change, centred on self responsibility to achieve your goals in healing. How long is the Program? There is no set program length - it is up to you to decide how much time you think you need to work on the things you identify as being important to your healing. We recommend a minimum stay of 8 weeks to really make any progress. The average stay is around 3 months and there are options for up to 9 months for men addressing complex substance misuse and related issues. Download the program brochure. How much does it cost? Residents pay the equivalent of 65% of whichever Centrelink payment they receive. This goes towards to costs of board and lodgings and program resources. Residents who do not receive Centrelink (self funded or Private Health Fund) costs will be negotiated but will not exceed 65% of the DSP. How long does it take to get in? There is always a waiting list due to demand. How long you wait until a place is available depends on how many others are on the list and on your individual circumstances. Men from our local area who have poor health will get priority. We can tell you more what the wait time is likely to be when you apply and begin the assessment process. What does the program look like? Here is an example of the program structure. Current as at July 2021. Note this will change from time to time. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Before 8.30am Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower Breakfast & Shower 8.30am Chores Chores Chores Chores Chores 9.00am House Meeting House Meeting House meeting House Meeting House Meeting Chores Chores 9.30am Shop run House clean Counselling till 2pm TAFE Shop run Put on cook out Counselling till 2pm Self directed art and fitness Self directed art and fitness Counselling till 2pm House meeting Wash vehicles 11am Group TAFE Group Group Group 9.45am 2nd Sat Outing/Shop Run Wash vehicles 12.15pm Lunch Lunch 12.45 Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Visitors 12.30 1.30pm QML Pathology Case management tasks Art based yarn Men’s Leadership Music & doctor 1 pm Case management tasks 2nd Sat Outing 2nd Sat visitors Visitors 2.30pm Gardening Art based yarn Men’s Leadership Music & doctor 2pm Grounds & equipment maintenance 2nd Sat Outing 2nd Sat visitors Visitors Gardening Art based yarn Men’s Leadership Music Grounds & equipment maintenance 2nd Sat Outing 2nd Sat visitors Visitors 4pm Pack up gardening Pack up art Pack up activities Own activities Residents Own activities Residents 4pm Returned from outing Visitors leave by 4.30pm 5.30pm Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner Dinner 6.30pm Relaxation NA Lismore optional Fire Circle Relaxation Relaxation Relaxation Relaxation 11.00pm Lights off Lights off Lights off Lights off Lights off Lights off Lights off Residents are to attend all activities unless specifically excused for a valid reason. Men attending optional group must attend the group. All residents must attend weekly Fire Circle. Residents MUST hand their phones in at 10.45am (back at 4.30pm) and 9.30pm (back at 7am) and before all Meetings or activities if occur before 11am. Smoking is not allowed on site or in vehicles and must occur in designated area only. How do I apply? There are 2 types of applications we accept - a Self Referral (where you apply yourself) and a Referral from someone else who is supporting you in a professional capacity. This could be a Doctor, a Solicitor, a Corrections Officer, or a Case Worker for example. If you are ready to apply, and have looked at the Eligibility Criteria, here are links to the application process: Self Referral Application Form Professionals Referral Information