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.
Mission
Build and support a prosocial and proactive fully-inclusive community, focused on developing resilience and connection, to ensure no one falls through the gaps.
Vision
Change the way people think about addiction, mental health, and disability by offering innovative programs that combine the latest findings in treatment approaches with cultural sensitivity. We aim to empower individuals to overcome adversity and thrive, leaving no one behind.
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
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 that allows people to gain credit in exchange for work as a way to pay off the debt created by infringements and fines (i.e., Work & Development Permit scheme).
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 the 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 staff member per 4 participants or less so that people get the most out of our programs and never feel like a number.
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Visit Us At Our Elsternwick Branch
Elsternwick
Head Office - Level 1, 355 Glen Huntly Road
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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, Boonwurrung, 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.
