Community Programs

The Community Programs team works in partnership with individuals, groups and organisations to build on and enhance  community life through services and activities that promote financial and social inclusion.

Our work is currently focussed on the following services and activities: 

• Community Finance Initiative
• Intentional Recovery Options
• Kyabra Homework Club & Playgroup in the park

Intentional Recovery Options

We aim to offer opportunities for people to 

• explore their experiences of mental distress
• connect with people who share similar experiences 
• think about how to reclaim a life that is not centered around mental distress/illness

The services we provide

• ‘Sharing Recovery, Reclaiming Life’ Workshops
• Recovery Discovery discussion groups
• Individual ‘Discovering Meaning and Sharing Wisdom’ Spaces
• Recovery Adventures Educational Retreats
• Exploring Possibilities Workbook

Who can access these spaces?

• Family members or friends who are supporting a loved one who is experiencing mental distress
• Individuals who are being supported by a family member or friend due to an experience of mental distress

How to contact us?

• Phone 3373 9499 and ask to speak to Tanea or Courtney
• Send an e-mail  to    taneas@kyabra.org   or   courtneyo@kyabra.org

‘Sharing Recovery and Reclaiming Life’ Workshops

Monthly workshops about concepts of ‘recovery and resilience’ facilitated by a person who has experienced mental distress and has accessed formal mental health services and/or a person who has supported someone through this process.  The workshops will be interactive, provide a safe space for you to reflect on your experiences and be inspired to shift obstacles getting in the way of your picture of the future.  See the calendar to check out upcoming workshop topics.    

Recovery Discovery

A monthly discussion group where you can share wisdom and develop thinking around wellness and staying connected to life rather than being disconnected from it by illness.  Discussion topics are chosen by group participants and have been focused around recovery/resilience, self management, self-righting and reclaiming and reshaping life in the face of the unexpected. 

Discovering Meaning and Sharing Wisdom

An opportunity to spend time

• exploring times that you have been overwhelmed by mental distress
• reflecting on how you can take any key messages from this time of distress and use them to enrich your everyday life
• thinking about how you might share your wisdom with your support network and/or the wider community
• brainstorming who are the people you would like to include in your support network
• reflecting on the ways you contribute to your support network and the ways you would like your network to support you

Recovery Adventures Educational Retreats

Retreats include a combination of workshops and adventure-based learning, providing opportunities to deeply explore and strengthen your understanding of concepts of recovery and resilience.  The retreats will involve reflective and creative activities and will encourage participants to ‘step outside their comfort zone’ and to ‘have a go’.  Similar to workshops, the retreats will involve facilitators who have experienced mental distress or supported a person through this experience, and they will promote a joining of knowledge and wisdoms, with everyone learning from each other – not just from the facilitators.    

Exploring Possibilities Workbook

Each person who engages with Intentional Recovery Options will receive a ‘Exploring Possibilities’ workbook.  This workbook will include ‘recovery stories’, articles and information about recovery, links to websites, activities exploring recovery concepts and self-assessments you can use to reflect on your journey with Intentional Recovery Options. 

What’s On

Thursday 12^th August, 10-12.30pm

Recovery Discovery - Conversations around staying connected to life.

Thursday 26^th August , 10am-4pm

‘Sharing Recovery and Reclaiming Life’ Workshop

Personal Efforts of Recovery

Thursday 9^th September, 10-12.30pm

Recovery Discovery - Conversations around staying connected to life.

Friday 17^th September  – 19^th Sunday  2010

Recovery Adventures

Three days of workshops and experiential learning

Thursday 30^th September , 10am-4pm

‘Sharing Recovery and Reclaiming Life’ Workshop

Exploring Hope, Discovery and Connection in your Life

Thursday 14^th October

Recovery Discovery - Conversations around staying connected to life.

Thursday 28^th October

‘Sharing Recovery and Reclaiming Life’ Workshop

Who’s at the helm? Steering your own recovery ship

Thursday 11^th November

Recovery Discovery - Conversations around staying connected to life.

Friday 19^th November  – Sunday 21^st  November

Recovery Adventures

Three days of workshops and experiential learning.

Thursday 9^th December

‘Sharing Recovery and Reclaiming Life’ Workshop

What’s behind the label? Unravelling illness identity

For further information please contact

Tanea (Mon-Fri) or Courtney (Tues-Thurs) on (07)3373 9499

 Kyabra's No Interest Loans Scheme

Your general questions about Kyabra's No Interest Loans are answered here.

AddsUP Matched Savings Plan

No matter how small you start, it all adds up.  If you have successfully completed at least one NILS loan, you may be interested in finding out more about our AddsUP Matched Savings Plan.