ARGOS (Amalgamated Rosa Gilbert & Outreach Services)

A Residential and Outreach Recovery Service for people with mental health issues

What ARGOS does

ARGOS provides long term transitional support for people who have experienced prolonged psychiatric problems. The service supports clients to develop skills to live more independently and to engage with other community resources.

ARGOS consists of a 24 hour Residential Recovery Service located at the Rosa Gilbert Flats, and an intensive Outreach Service working with people in the Northern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne.

Residents may stay up to two years in the residential program. (Rosa Gilbert Flats). ARGOS aims to facilitate growth, enhance relationships and improve the quality of life of its residents. The program is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

The Outreach program offers on-going support and home based outreach to people, who have the skills to live in the community with outreach support.

Who can live at ARGOS?

ARGOS provides a recovery service to people aged 25-65 with long term mental health needs in the Northern Region of Melbourne

Where

ARGOS is situated in Preston. The residential program (Rosa Gilbert Flats) consists of six two-bedroom flats. The Outreach program consists of a number of two-bedroom units in surrounding.

What the program aims to do

ARGOS supports clients to:
·   develop skills to live as independently as possible and engage with other community resources
·   identify recovery needs and goals, and to plan and work on achieving these goals.
·   engage other program participants, and to develop a social network in the community

The staff works within a holistic framework towards positive personal outcomes for clients, including linking them into the community through education, employment, social/recreational interests, counselling and adequate housing.

How to access the program

Referrals can be made to the program by self referral, family/friend, or via a health professional. Selection criteria for program applicants are:

Psychiatric diagnosis, with significant associated psychosocial disability, is the primary issue
Persistent symptoms that impair ability to function/cope day to day
Requires support with psychiatric treatment
Ability to learn and a willingness to participate
Can understand the purpose of ARGOS
skill development
transition
psychosocial rehabilitation
Motivation – ability to engage/participate
Ability to accept that they have a need for the service or are deemed to have the potential to benefit from taking part in the residential-rehabilitation program.
Geographical area covers the cities of Darebin, Whittle sea, Banjul and Nillumbik.
Age 25 – 65 years
Excessive current dependence on illegal substance excludes person from program eligibility.
Able to function in the physical environment and social structure of the program.
Requirement to share a small flat.
Able to accept restricted privacy.

Further information

Please contact ARGOS at any time: Phone: (03) 94800260 Email: info@mindaustralia.org.au