Odyssey House Circuit BreakerProgram – North East Victoria

•• Original owners of the land wereOriginal owners of the land werethe Pangerang peoplethe Pangerang people

•• Benalla Rural City scores 957.2 onBenalla Rural City scores 957.2 onthe SEIFA index of disadvantagethe SEIFA index of disadvantage

•• Low income, high unemployment,Low income, high unemployment,low educational attainment, highlow educational attainment, highlevels of unskilled labourlevels of unskilled labour

•• Region struggling with droughtRegion struggling with droughtflood and fireflood and fire

•• Circuit Breaker is located 18 kmCircuit Breaker is located 18 kmfrom Benalla, North East Victoria.from Benalla, North East Victoria.200km north of Melbourne200km north of Melbourne

•• Original owners of the land wereOriginal owners of the land werethe Pangerang peoplethe Pangerang people

•• Benalla Rural City scores 957.2 onBenalla Rural City scores 957.2 onthe SEIFA index of disadvantagethe SEIFA index of disadvantage

•• Low income, high unemployment,Low income, high unemployment,low educational attainment, highlow educational attainment, highlevels of unskilled labourlevels of unskilled labour

•• Region struggling with droughtRegion struggling with droughtflood and fireflood and fire

•• Circuit Breaker is located 18 kmCircuit Breaker is located 18 kmfrom Benalla, North East Victoria.from Benalla, North East Victoria.200km north of Melbourne200km north of Melbourne

Odyssey House Circuit BreakerOdyssey House Circuit BreakerProgramProgram

Circuit BreakerCircuit Breaker –– Main HouseMain House

Circuit Breaker Office andCircuit Breaker Office andCottageCottage

Circuit BreakerCircuit Breaker

Circuit Breaker Pool and OliveCircuit Breaker Pool and OliveGroveGrove

DemographicsDemographics

• Average age of residents is 35 years, average age of Indigenous residentsis 28 years

• Residents characterised by clinical levels of dysfunction and distress, socialmaladjustment and depression

• Less than 1% of residents were employed

• 65% + of residents present with mental health disorders

• 5% of clients have severe mental health problems

• 41% of women in the program have children in the care of another personor organisation

• 60% of the resident population graduate from the program

• Average age of residents is 35 years, average age of Indigenous residentsis 28 years

• Residents characterised by clinical levels of dysfunction and distress, socialmaladjustment and depression

• Less than 1% of residents were employed

• 65% + of residents present with mental health disorders

• 5% of clients have severe mental health problems

• 41% of women in the program have children in the care of another personor organisation

• 60% of the resident population graduate from the program

Drug UseDrug Use –– Circuit Breaker ResidentsCircuit Breaker Residents20092009--20132013

40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

OtherICEHeroin

0%10%20%30%40%

2009 2011 2013

HeroinCannabisAlcohol

ReferralsReferrals

Metro22%

Interstate3%

Referring Organisations

Hume Region58%

CountryVictoria

17%

Metro22%

Indigenous ResidentsIndigenous Residents

• Aboriginal Australians make up 1.3% of the ruralVictorian population

• 16% of our residents identify as Aboriginal or TorresStrait Islander

• 62% of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander residentscomplete the program, a higher rate than non-Aboriginal

• 71% of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander mencomplete the program

• Aboriginal Australians make up 1.3% of the ruralVictorian population

• 16% of our residents identify as Aboriginal or TorresStrait Islander

• 62% of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander residentscomplete the program, a higher rate than non-Aboriginal

• 71% of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander mencomplete the program

Circuit Breaker Meeting PlaceCircuit Breaker Meeting Place

Circuit Breaker IndigenousCircuit Breaker IndigenousConversationsConversations

• Humility – Not embarrassed to admit knowledge waslimited

• Authenticity – Genuinely interested

• Pride –If you are not proud of your own country, peopleand land. Then how can you know what it is for anotherto feel the same?

• Development – Not just a flag and a plaque

• Humility – Not embarrassed to admit knowledge waslimited

• Authenticity – Genuinely interested

• Pride –If you are not proud of your own country, peopleand land. Then how can you know what it is for anotherto feel the same?

• Development – Not just a flag and a plaque

StaffStaff

10087.5

9683.67

100 95.75 93.75100

84.34

62.25 65.554.67

74.3 79.2570.25

84

Staff Engagement Survey May 2013

Circuit Breaker Industry Benchmark

Does it Work?Does it Work?

Psychological measures of distress for graduates of CircuitBreaker fall within the expected normal range,

suggesting that ex-residents could not be distinguishedfrom the general population in terms of somatic

distress, immediate social functioning, anxiety anddepression.

Psychological measures of distress for graduates of CircuitBreaker fall within the expected normal range,

suggesting that ex-residents could not be distinguishedfrom the general population in terms of somatic

distress, immediate social functioning, anxiety anddepression.

ResidentsResidents

• 83% were satisfied or better with group therapy helping change theirattitude and behaviour towards drugs and alcohol

• 80% were satisfied or better with group therapy in helping them copewith stressful situations

• 47% reduced concerns relating to their offending while 31percent ceasedentirely

• 22% reduced concerns about committing property crime while 69percentceased entirely

• 34% reported reducing their drug consumption since leaving the program,while 44percent ceased entirely

• 34% reported reducing their alcohol consumption since leaving theprogram, while 49percent abstained entirely

• 83% were satisfied or better with group therapy helping change theirattitude and behaviour towards drugs and alcohol

• 80% were satisfied or better with group therapy in helping them copewith stressful situations

• 47% reduced concerns relating to their offending while 31percent ceasedentirely

• 22% reduced concerns about committing property crime while 69percentceased entirely

• 34% reported reducing their drug consumption since leaving the program,while 44percent ceased entirely

• 34% reported reducing their alcohol consumption since leaving theprogram, while 49percent abstained entirely

Friends and Family...Friends and Family...

• 61% observed good or better improvement in their loved one’scommunication skills

• 65% observed good or better improvements in the quality of therelationship with their loved one

• 63% observed good or better improvements in their loved one’s attitudeand behaviour towards drugs and alcohol use

• 65% observed good or better reductions in the likelihood of their lovedone committing a crime

• 23% observed good or better reductions in their loved one’s drugconsumption; 49% reported their loved one’s had abstained from drugsentirely

• 61% observed good or better improvement in their loved one’scommunication skills

• 65% observed good or better improvements in the quality of therelationship with their loved one

• 63% observed good or better improvements in their loved one’s attitudeand behaviour towards drugs and alcohol use

• 65% observed good or better reductions in the likelihood of their lovedone committing a crime

• 23% observed good or better reductions in their loved one’s drugconsumption; 49% reported their loved one’s had abstained from drugsentirely

Odyssey House Circuit Breaker Program,

P. O Box 671,

Benalla

VIC 3671

(03) 5766 6399

www.odyssey.org.au

Odyssey House Circuit Breaker Program,

P. O Box 671,

Benalla

VIC 3671

(03) 5766 6399

www.odyssey.org.au