We are a mental health, addictions and wellbeing recovery provider. We help people to get back on their feet and live their best lives by thriving, not just surviving.
The mission
The Break’s mission is to build and support a prosocial and proactive fully-inclusive community, focused on developing resilience and connection, to ensure no one falls through the gaps.
The vision
At any one time in Australia 5% of people experience addiction, 45% will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime and 20% will live with a disability. By growing our reach nationally and internationally, we will change the way people think about addictions, mental health and disabilities. The Break will create innovative programs which build on current best practice via combining the latest findings in treatment approaches and cultural sensitivity. Therefore, we are ideally positioned to drive change locally and internationally, through both our example and training.
To achieve our goal of being at the forefront of ground-breaking modes of support, we will grow a community that constantly incorporates the most effective treatments available. Through empowering individuals to face and overcome their adversity, we believe we all will go beyond just surviving to thriving.
The Break leaves no one behind so that everyone thrives.
Who we are
The Break is a non discriminatory not-for-profit run by volunteers. We evolved out of a multi-modality clinic established in 2002 in St Kilda East. We gained charity status and accreditation in 2018. All donations are tax deductible.
We believe no one should be left to fall through the cracks. That everyone deserves the opportunity to create and live a well connected, rich and meaningful life. Achieved through access to safe and secure housing, nutritious food, meaningful employment and or a living wage are bare minimums and should alway be considered a universal human right.
The Break supports people working through a broad range of issues including homelessness, unemployment, addiction, trauma, psycho-somatic disorders, psychological problems, disability and physical ailments, isolation and loneliness.
What we do
Programs
Teaching people to thrive, not just survive!
The Break runs a broad range of flexible, multi-approach day programs that allow people to access treatment and rehabilitation within the context of their day to day lives and without having to lose contact with loved ones. Because our day programs are fully integrated into their lives, participants are able to immediately practice what they are learning and apply this into real world situations. Our programs aim to equip those in need with new proactive/pro-social skills allowing them to regain their status as valued, contributing members to their communities.
We run an accredited government program (WDP) that allows people to exchange unpaid labour to pay off the debts created by infringements and fines.
All of our programs are designed to help each participant reach their full potential. It’s not enough to help individuals overcome a significant issue. We continue to support and nurture them as they forge a new identity in order to help them discover their full potential. We want them to find an enjoyable place in the world again where they can thrive. Participants learn how to operate in the world and how to make their dreams a reality.
We do not see those who choose to participate in our programs as clients or patients, instead we employ a collaborative approach and specifically pick non-judgmental and empathetic staff who support each participant’s evolution to a better self, rather than practitioners who just run processes.
All programs are limited to 16 participants or less. As funding allows, we aim to maintain a ratio of 1 qualified and expereinced staff member per 4 participants or less (when we have placement students); so that people get the most out of our programs and never feel like a number.
Testimonials
Contact us
The Break currently has 2 branches, with our head office based in Elsternwick.
Our current locations are below:
Elsternwick
Head Office 1/355 Glen Huntly Road
Bendigo East
Regional Branch 15 Purtell Lane
Send us a message
Acknowledgement of country
The Break acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community.
Our people live and work on the traditional country of the Yaluk-ut Weelam Clan of the Boon Wurrung, Bunurong, Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nation.
We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Yaluk-ut Weelam, Bunurong, Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungurung people living today.
We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
