Rehab – What are my options?
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Navigating the world of trauma, addiction and mental health treatment can be both daunting and overwhelming, especially at the most vulnerable time in one’s life. The aim of this piece is to break down in as simple form as possible the options for those seeking inpatient treatment for themselves or loved ones.
As the Director of Byron Private, I am passionate about what we do and the programs we offer but we are not going to be the best fit for everyone and referring to alternative programs is a big part of what we do.
When looking for residential treatment there are a few pathways that I recommend people consider: private treatment (like Byron Private), private hospitals or public funded services.
Private treatment centres, like Byron Private Treatment Centre are private pay programs, meaning that the costs are payable by the person seeking treatment and will not be covered by your health insurance fund.
Private facilities, unlike hospitals, are not required to be licensed. This exposes the user to a broader range of issues that relate to clinical governance, quality of care and safe practice methods. When looking for a private facility there are important questions to ask.
- Are your clinician’s degree-qualified and experienced?
- What is the psychiatric care?
- Is there a GP and nursing staff?
- What framework for auditing and compliance do you have in place?
- Will family be invited to participate?
- What are your cancellation charges or upfront fees?
Private programs generally offer a more holistic approach to treatment, combining medical and allied health services, with a focus on health and wellbeing as part of the treatment program. There are usually limited wait times for admission, with stays ranging from 2 weeks to 3 months. A good private program incorporates high quality medical and psychiatric care into a well rounded, holistic model of treatment.
Public programs: Public service programs are funded by federal and state governments and can be partially subsidized with your Centrelink payments. Public programs are often not for profit, charities, or religious organisations that can offer long term treatment within a therapeutic community (TC) model. It is usually defined by group process, 12 Step and Peer Support attendance and is recovery focused.
Public Programs vary in approach and treatment can be anywhere from a month to over a year. They generally have more extended wait times and. Click here to see the list of NSW Health publicly funded programs.
Private Hospitals: Hospital programs are licensed health facilities that can support acute, complex needs. They are generally three weeks in length with medically supervised detox provided as part of the treatment program. They are managed and run by health professionals and are varied in treatment approach. They usually offer group based therapy programs, and range in numbers from 50 to 100 people.
Medicare does not cover all of a private hospital stay, and private health insurance is often needed to supplement treatment.
Costs of Treatment
Private Program
- Cost $12,000 to $200,000.00 per month.
- Wait times Immediate to short term wait periods
- Treatment Length 3 weeks to 3 months
Private Hospital
- Cost Health fund covered for those with psychiatric cover. Nominal out of pocket expense
- Wait times Dependant of beds, can be up to a month.
- Treatment Length 1 to 3 weeks
Public Funded
- Cost Subsidised, usually through Centrelink
- Wait times Often 2 months plus
- Treatment Length Ranges from 4 weeks to over a year
Helpful Online and Phone Resources
National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline: 1800 250 015
Turning Point – 1800 888 236
Family Drug Support (FDS): 1300 368 186 (available 24/7)
Counselling Online (24/7) counsellingonline.org.au
Alcoholics Anonymous Australia 1300 222 222
Mensline Australia: 1300 78 99 78 (24hrs)
Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
Byron Private offers an effective pathway to recovery for those living with drug and alcohol addictions, PTSD, eating disorders and mental health. If you or someone you love is needing help and you are unsure what option is best, please reach out to our clinical team for a confidential discussion on 02 6684 4145.
