Teen challenge is a faith-based solution for drug and alcohol
dependency and other life controlling problems

Teen Challenge offers a faith-based alternative for rehabilitation.  The residential program is based upon Christian principles for living.  Our aim is to provide youth, adults and families with an effective and comprehensive faith-based solution to life-controlling drug and alcohol problems in order to become productive members of society. By applying biblical principles, Teen Challenge endeavours to help people become mentally sound, emotionally balanced, socially adjusted, physically well, and spiritually alive.  This is applied through mentoring, class work, and completing personal studies.  It also includes work detail, learning new skills and good work ethics. The program is fully structured and supervised.

Our target age group is 18 years onwards.  Entry into the program is solely on a voluntary basis and can be applied for through our Gatehouse Churches. The program is open to any one who is struggling with a life-controlling problem i.e. - a problem that appears to control their life (drug dependency, alcoholism, emotional problems, gambling, etc). We primarily service Victoria although we can take referrals from other Teen Challenge centres.

The program can take between 12-18 months to complete with the aim to graduate in around 12 months. This is because the focus is not the amount of time a person spends in the program but on the progress and maturity that takes place within their life.

The rehabilitation program involves the individual breaking with their life-controlling problem, reactivating the maturing process and developing a new lifestyle.  This enables the person to become an acceptable and functional member of society, fortifying them to live free from old habits. This is achieved through Personal Studies, Group Studies, Work Duties, Recreation and Physical Exercise and a Personal Mentor with whom they meet with on a regular basis.

Teen Challenge

Teen Challenge began in 1958 when a young preacher was moved with compassion to reach out to young people on the streets of New York.  Since then Teen Challenge has spread to approx 420 centres in over seventy countries around the world.

Teen Challenge Victoria has been providing help for people caught up in drug & alcohol abuse, and other life controlling problems for over thirty years. We are an inter-denominational ministry and registered charity that is governed by a Board of Directors including the Executive Director. As an established Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation service, Teen Challenge Victoria, is registered with the Hospitals and Charities Board and the Health Commission of Victoria.

There are four phases in the rehabilitation program:

1)  Intake Phase
This is prior to entering the program. This phase includes being assessed through a   Gatehouse Church for the desire and commitment to change, having the program explained in detail so they can make an informed decision, and completing the necessary paperwork for admission. If needed, detoxification is also a part of this phase.

2)  Induction Phase
This begins when a person enters into the program and induction lasts for 4-6 weeks.  The aim of this phase is to help the person settle into the program by becoming familiar with the facilities and daily routine.

3)  Formation Phase
This is a major part of the program and it focuses on developing character and learning new life principles that are practically applied in daily living. This includes directly learning through personal studies, group studies and indirectly learning from group co-operation and teamwork.  In this phase we deal with the Emotional, Spiritual, Cognitive and Behavioural aspects of the human heart.

Would you like to see the daily shedule?

Graduation and Re-Entry
Once the person has successfully completed Phases 1 to 3, they graduate from the Teen Challenge program.  All graduating students are given assistance in their re-entry back into society.

4)  Servant Leadership Training
This is an addition to the program for those wanting to further develop leadership skills for the purpose of joining the Teen Challenge staff.  It is a further 12 month commitment of training and assessment.  Suitable graduates would be given an opportunity to become a staff member at Teen Challenge Training Centre.

How to apply for the Rehabilitation Program

The rehabilitation program is open to anyone who desires to deal with their life-controlling problem and is willing to commit themselves to a residential program.  Each prospective student goes through an assessment procedure to ascertain their commitment to changing and their suitability for the program.  These assessments are carried out by local Gatehouse Churches throughout Victoria.

A $300 Processing Fee is payable before entering the program and a person would need to be receiving a Pension, New Start or Youth Allowance Centrelink Payments.   

For your nearest Gatehouse please contact us

For further information on family rehabilitation click here