Your stay
Our goal is to create a comfortable, inclusive environment that promotes healing, trust, kindness and respect.
Your room
Each person has their own private room and ensuite bathroom. You are welcome to bring some personal items to make you feel at home during your stay.
Preparing for your stay
You can read more about your stay in our Ngamai Wilam Participant Guide.
What to expect when you arrive
Starting your stay at Ngamai Wilam is a big step and we are here to support you.
When you arrive, your Peer Support Worker will be there to welcome you. We encourage you to bring family or other chosen support people with you on admission day.
During your first day, you will:
- Settle in and get oriented to the house
- Meet the Ngamai Wilam team and other participants
- Begin your introduction to the program
Find out more about our care and support
Please note there is no smoking or vaping permitted on the premises.
What is a regular day like at Ngamai Wilam?
There is a structured daily routine that involves group and individual therapy, and meal therapy.
Meal therapy consists of three meals and three snacks per day.
In addition to therapy, there are other supportive activities such as music therapy, art therapy and gardening.
What to expect during mealtimes
We understand that mealtimes can be distressing, but there is support during this period.
During meal support, we aim to foster social connections and embrace the social aspect of the meal by engaging in conversations that highlight identities beyond the eating disorders and discourage topics around weight, calories, and movement.
During this time there will be various group activities in the communal area. Music and conversation cards are often used to help.
Participants are not able to spend time in their rooms alone during this period.
Our team is dedicated to supporting you, and this will be their focus during meals, setting aside other tasks. The meal support time will be respected, and other staff will be aware not to interrupt. Staff may choose to dine with you, fostering a sense of community and providing companionship.
Dietary Options at Ngamai Wilam
At Ngamai Wilam, we recognise the importance of providing meals that are safe, nourishing, and culturally and personally respectful. At this time, we are not yet able to cater for individuals who follow a vegan diet.
We are currently working with our clinical and dietetics teams to develop a comprehensive vegan menu that meets the nutritional needs of people in eating disorder recovery. This will be an important addition to our service and we hope to offer this option in the near future.
We appreciate your understanding and are happy to discuss individual dietary needs as part of our intake process.
While admissions to Ngamai Wilam are voluntary, a minimum four-week commitment is expected so that participants can get the full benefit of our program. The general length of our residential treatment program is 12 weeks.
Your time at Ngamai Wilam is designed to support your individual recovery journey. In some cases, leave may be beneficial, depending on where you are in your treatment. For example, overnight leave might be considered as you prepare for discharge.
All leave needs to be discussed with your care team. Together, we will explore the benefits and challenges to ensure it aligns with your recovery goals. Unplanned leave can sometimes disrupt your treatment and impact your progress, so we encourage open communication to find the best approach for you.
Our priority is to support your well-being while helping you build confidence in your recovery journey.
We offer an inclusive environment. Your care team is here to help and you can discuss your individual needs with the Access Team at the time of your referral.
At Ngamai Wilam, we believe in empowering you to be actively involved in your treatment and care. Your input and decisions are important and can inspire your progress towards recovery.
You may be encouraged to engage in the following ways:
- Set goals together with our team
- Plan what recovery looks like for you
- Document your journey with your team
We believe that no decisions about your treatment and care should be made without you. You are the expert on you.
There is no smoking or vaping permitted on the premises.
Your accommodation is covered by Medicare but you will be expected to pay for any prescribed medications.
We work closely with a local community pharmacy to provide and deliver the necessary medications.
Medications may need to be packed in a Webster pack by the pharmacy at a cost of $10 per week.
A pharmacist will be in contact with you prior to and early in your stay to discuss medications and what you should bring.
A pharmacist will also review your medications in collaboration with you and your care team, offering support to help manage your medications throughout your stay and on discharge.
Visiting Hours
We welcome and encourage visits from family and supporters, as these connections are important to recovery. Visiting the unit can be a valuable part of your loved one’s experience.
However, to support a safe and therapeutic environment for all, we ask that visits take place before 8:00pm, as no visitors are permitted after this time.
Please keep in mind:
- Participants are engaged in a structured therapeutic program, and it's important that visits do not interrupt scheduled activities.
- Respecting each individual’s need for space and privacy is essential.
- We encourage open communication with staff to help plan visits that are supportive and aligned with the participant’s goals.
Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and recovery-focused environment.