The Gully: supporting people to reach their recovery goals
05 April 2024
“Some of the reasons people come to The Gully are that they want a job and don’t know where to start, or they just want to meet people, have some social interaction, and find ways to reconnect in the community,” says occupational therapist and team leader at The Gully, Jane Dewing.
The Gully is a psychosocial rehabilitation program for people aged 18–65 who are engaged as clients with NALHN’s North Eastern Community Mental Health Team.
The team provides a range of supports including vocational groups such as The Gully Volunteer Crew which offers participants a real-life experience of volunteering including making items for rescued native animals.
Pictured (L-R): Occupational therapists at The Gully – Anne,
Emily, Jane and Stephanie.
“As part of the program we occasionally get furry visitors such as baby wombats and kangaroos that bring the work to life and delight the group members. We also have our Job Club where we link in with employment providers and offer a place to talk about work and where to start,” says Jane.
Other groups and activities include communication and social interaction groups, physical health groups that focus on positive eating habits and exercise, and mental health and sensory workshops which are skill building groups.
“We also offer an Occupational Therapy clinic working alongside the North Eastern Community Mental Health Team occupational therapists to provide assessment and intervention.”
The groups provide opportunities to work towards things that are important to participants, to find out what they want to do as part of their recovery, and to make real changes.
It’s a partnership with consumers, occupational therapists and our peer worker – it’s a wonderful way to work with someone in a group program. It provides an opportunity to support people to make the changes they want towards their recovery goals.