About Us

Understanding the complexities of alcohol and drug use in our community, Watershed is a leading treatment and education centre offering individuals and their loved ones a holistic and effective approach to actively motivate and foster the required mental, emotional and physical strength to overcome the effects of a dependency and bring about both a positive and permanent behavioural change.

For many individuals and their families, the process of recovery is a long, personal, and often painful journey.

Watershed provides our clients with a comfortable and safe treatment experience. Our approach and the effectiveness of our treatment programs are widely recognised as one of the best in the country.

We believe that educating our clients is essential. Addiction is a disease and this concept is the foundation upon which each client’s recovery is built.

We believe in our programs, and more importantly, we believe in our clients. Deciding to start treatment takes an admirable amount of strength, courage, and determination that people without addictions might not fully understand. Here, we do understand. That is just one reason our clients trust our experienced and knowledgeable staff to help them sustain that effort and guide them through their alcohol and drug treatment successfully.

Over 4000 people, from all walks of life have successfully completed our residential rehabilitation and aftercare programs.

Our Mission (why we exist)
Our goal is to empower our clients with the tools and knowledge necessary to bring about a positive change so that they that they can overcome their substance dependency and fully engage in healthy, productive lives.

We are committed to assisting those with drug and alcohol issues to:
. realise a sense of self worth
. nurture positive living skills
. make permanent behavioural change
. find a more productive way of living and help them take their place as valuable member of society

This is achieved by addressing the addictive behavior, as well as the underlying, core issues. By promoting activities that encourage accountability, honesty and integrity, healthy new habits are created.

Our Philosophy (what we believe)
Watershed’s treatment philosophy is based on the belief that substance dependency and related disorders are chronic and progressive illnesses. Those who suffer from such diseases cannot be cured but can recover through education, abstinence and by making emotional, behavioral, and environmental changes.

We believe in our clients’ inner strength and ability to change.

Our Values
Respect - Valuing diversity and showing respect for individuals in all interactions without judgment
Excellence - Demonstrating excellence in the provision of client care and support and delivering evidence based treatment and education services
Integrity - Maintaining and promoting social, ethical and organisational standards in all actions and decisions for the protection of clients and the community as a whole
Collaboration - Working in partnership with others to provide quality treatment and education to the community
Honesty - Demonstrating courage and being forthright in both challenging and addressing counter productive behaviours and decisions

Our Approach to Treatment
Residential treatment is a safe environment in which clients can identify issues that lead them back to self-destructive behaviors and learn how to define and deal with these issues.

Addiction is a disease, and must be treated just like any other disease by seeking the right kind of professional help. As those with a substance dependency use many different drugs to satisfy the phenomena of craving, Watershed uses a multifaceted approach to combat the disease of addiction.

Our holistic treatment philosophy emphasizes three stages of permanent recovery
. Withdrawal Management (Detox)
. Rehabilitation
. Aftercare

Once the initial consultation takes place, the client either goes on to a detoxification process, if necessary, or into our customized residential rehabilitation program. A primary caseworker is assigned who manages the client’s care during the entire course of their treatment, ensuring that the client’s needs are being met and tailoring treatment to their circumstances.

Watershed's Quality Accredited and structured program is focused on evidence based practice and primarily focuses on healing through the provision of recovery education, group and individual therapies, and supportive peer group interactions.

This model emphasizes the need for a therapeutic atmosphere conducive to change and professional guidance to achieve recovery goals. Recovery would be regarded as the logical conclusion of treatment. Recovery, however, is a process that involves a number of years and experience on the part of the recovering person.

Treatment is the beginning of what must be viewed as a lifelong effort to maintain abstinence and continue personal growth. To this end, Watershed provides an ongoing set of continuing care services as additional tools and support throughout a client's early recovery process.

Meeting Unique Needs
Sometimes individuals who suffer from mental illness develop dependence on chemical substances as well—in these cases, treatment must address the underlying medical issue as well as the addiction.

Mental illnesses can cause mood swings, hormonal imbalances, and other issues from which a person seeks relief. When people find temporary emotional relief through narcotics or alcohol, addiction can set in. In our program, clients requiring medical and/or psychiatric attention can also find what they need with Cognitive Behavior and other therapeutic treatment programs.

We have a serious commitment to helping find the root causes behind drug addiction and alcoholism.

Staff
At Watershed we use a team approach to ensure that all clients receive a comprehensive, in-depth treatment experience. Each client works with a select group of caring and highly trained professionals over the course of his or her treatment to achieve the maximum results.

Years of experience and a commitment to ongoing training have shaped our team’s thorough understanding of the challenges, accomplishments and needs of clients undergoing drug and alcohol recovery.

Clients instantly sense our staff’s genuine concern and dedication to their recovery. Our belief in every client’s ability to succeed means a lot to our clients and their loved ones.

We will never be too busy to explain our role and our philosophy. We will always be available to listen to our clients and their families. In this way, we help clients to stop drug and alcohol abuse and form new and healthy ways to handle life’s ups and downs.

Everyone on the team takes pride in the success of our clients and the many ways Watershed benefits their lives.

Our History
Watershed (formerly the Wollongong Crisis Centre) was established in 1978 by a group of concerned community members and Alcohol and other Drugs (A&OD) workers, who had identified an innovative way to help dependant members of the community, find a more productive way of living. From the humble beginning of the first drug detoxification and rehabilitation service in the Illawarra, Watershed has evolved into a widely recognised, respected and professional organisation.

In 1996 Watershed became the first residential detoxification and rehabilitation service to achieve National Accreditation, measured against CHASP standards, for the provision of a quality service. Through the years the organisation has proven a demonstrated ability to survive the early days of its evolution, the ever-changing trends in the alcohol and drug field and to stay abreast of current cutting edge initiatives.

Watershed remains a non-profit organisation governed by a volunteer Community Board of Management and is primarily funded by NSW Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.