Hurstbridge Therapeutic Farm
The Hurstbridge Farm is a therapeutic residential care facility run by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing for young people aged 10 – 18 in Out-Of-Home-Care (OOHC). These young people have suffered complex developmental trauma, significant child abuse, neglect and / or disrupted attachment. They are under the care of Child Protection under Child Protection Orders depending on their circumstances.
The young people live at the residential facility in Hurstbridge for approximately two years in a therapeutic milieu, informed chiefly by attachment and trauma theory. The program has the capacity to house eight young people and aims to assist them through a safe and consistent care environment and wide-ranging therapeutic interventions to overcome the impact of their traumatic experiences.
Yarra Me School
The program was established in 2008 and operates as an on-site education program for the young people who reside at the Farm. Informed by the therapeutic approach and trauma and attachment theory; the program re-engages students with education, providing a scaffolded, personalised learning in accordance with the Victorian Curriculum. The program provides dynamic, experiential learning opportunities with a strong emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning. Students are provided positive supports to assist with developing their social and emotional needs, in order to facilitate re-engagement and transition to education or workplace pathways subsequent to their residential placement at the Farm.
Please note - Referrals to this program are only made by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, Child Protection Division.