Foundation House provides residential treatment for alcohol, drug and gambling addiction at Building 502, Wharf Road, Rozelle, New South Wales. Its flagship program is a 28-day, abstinence-based residential service for men and women, followed by aftercare and relapse-prevention support.
The current official program page describes a 12-step approach with individual counseling, case management, group therapy, peer support, life-skills work, mental-health support, family services and health or medical referrals. Admission criteria include at least five days free from most substances and 14 days for methamphetamine, amphetamine, buprenorphine or methadone. Applicants must have no pending court case during the 28-day stay and must receive Centrelink benefits or be able to meet weekly payments. These criteria do not establish on-site medical detox.
The current official program page requires the ability to meet weekly payments but does not publish the weekly amount. The admission page currently reports a waiting list. Contact admissions on 02 9555 4034 to confirm current charges, eligibility, availability and medically appropriate preparation.
A Sydney service with roots in the construction industry
Foundation House is part of the Construction Industry Drug & Alcohol Foundation, known as CIDAF. The organization’s history describes a service that grew from workplace drug and alcohol support into residential rehabilitation in Callan Park. It records an initial opening in 2000 and a move to Building 502 in 2010, when the program began welcoming women as well as men. Those historical bed numbers should not be treated as a current availability statement.
The present program combines counseling, group work, peer support, and preparation for life after treatment. Its background in construction and other demanding industries can be relevant when work pressures, workplace relationships, and returning to employment are part of the recovery discussion. This history does not establish that an applicant must work in construction. Ask admissions how current eligibility applies to your circumstances and whether any employer or industry support can assist with the proposed placement.
Source: CIDAF and Foundation House history.
Understand the residential approach before committing
The residential-program page describes a 28-day, abstinence-based approach using 12-step work, individual counseling, case management, groups, and peer support. Health referrals, mental health support, life skills, and family services are listed alongside these elements. People considering the program should discuss how that model fits their goals, prior treatment, and practical needs.
The published rules require participation in group activities and shared household duties. Outside appointments are restricted during the program, and personal calls and mobile phones are prohibited during the first seven days. Dietary and medical requirements need to be disclosed before admission. These arrangements make advance preparation important: resolve essential appointments, care responsibilities, and work commitments with the team before accepting a date. The stated substance-free periods are admission requirements, not instructions for changing prescribed medication or attempting withdrawal alone. Discuss safe preparation with the prescribing clinician and admissions staff, including any need for medically supervised detox elsewhere.
Source: Residential model and house requirements.
Assessment and the waiting-list process
Foundation House’s admission page describes a sequence of telephone contact, supporting documents, an in-person assessment, any necessary detox arrangements, and a confirmed admission date. It currently reports a waiting list and asks applicants to telephone on Monday and Friday mornings to retain their place. Confirm these requirements directly rather than assume that submitting an inquiry secures a bed.
The page also lists criteria involving recent incarceration, court appearances during treatment, English literacy, payment arrangements, and the ability to participate. Applications are assessed individually, so disclose relevant legal, medical, and mental health circumstances early. Required records can include medication information, mental health history, Centrelink documentation, and criminal-history information where requested. If the published conditions do not fit your situation, ask which alternative service or preparation step would be appropriate. The assessment is a chance to establish a workable plan; it should not become a reason to withhold information that could affect safety or the suitability of the stay.
Source: Admission criteria and assessment steps.
How the four-week program develops
The program-schedule page places treatment planning, an initial counseling session, and a psychosocial assessment in the first week. It describes continuing individual and group work, case management, practical workshops, and peer support during the following weeks. Each client is assigned a case manager, giving the person a contact for coordinating treatment and wider needs.
Life-skills work can include communication and financial literacy, while social workers help arrange healthcare referrals and other support. The provider describes a graduation ceremony after 28 days, but also says treatment can be extended or a person referred to a longer-term service when needed. That distinction allows discharge planning to follow the person’s circumstances rather than the ceremony alone. Discuss work, health, relationships, and living arrangements before leaving. The published aftercare plan covers those areas, and regular peer gatherings give former clients an opportunity to stay connected. Confirm which follow-up arrangements have actually been booked for you.
Source: Four-week treatment and aftercare plan.
The timetable includes shared responsibilities and practice
The linked residential timetable shows a structured week combining education, counseling or assignments, communication groups, 12-step meetings, recreation, and household tasks. It includes cooking, yoga, walks, outings, and time for visits by video. These examples give a more concrete picture of communal living than a general description of accommodation.
The document explicitly says the timetable can change and that public holidays follow a separate schedule. Treat it as an illustration rather than a guaranteed appointment calendar. Ask for the version that applies to the proposed admission, particularly if mobility, fatigue, disability, religious practice, or other needs affect participation. A slot labeled counseling or assignments does not mean an individual therapy appointment occurs in every such slot. Discuss the intended balance of one-to-one work, groups, independent tasks, and rest with the team. The amount of household participation also matters when deciding whether the setting is practical for your health and daily functioning.
Source: Provider’s illustrative residential timetable.
Family members can receive support in their own right
Foundation House describes a family-inclusive service in which relatives and partners can receive help alongside the person in treatment, if they choose. Its family page focuses on communication, coping skills, counseling, and managing stress. This gives loved ones space to consider their own needs rather than making their role solely about supervising someone else’s recovery.
The page publishes a Monday evening family group from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., facilitated by an external counselor consultant. Confirm the current arrangements, how to join, and whether the group is suitable for the family member’s circumstances. Participation should support constructive communication and appropriate boundaries; it is not a promise of reconciliation or a requirement to disclose private details to relatives. Ask how family support is coordinated with the resident’s treatment and consent preferences. Where relationships are strained or unsafe, tell the clinical team so that involvement can be considered thoughtfully rather than assumed to be beneficial in every situation.
Source: Family support and group arrangements.
Clarify the clinical roles in your care
The provider’s team page lists residential counseling, psychotherapy, social work, family support, and program leadership roles. It identifies Alex Kalliris as Programs and Clinical Manager, Tom Stewart as Senior Residential Counselor, and Maria Simonetta in family-support psychotherapy. These are the roles published by Foundation House, not independent confirmation of current registration or availability for a particular admission.
Use the staff information to ask practical questions about continuity: who will be your main counselor, who coordinates external healthcare, and who should a family member contact with an agreed concern? A multidisciplinary team description does not establish on-site medical detox or an inpatient psychiatric ward. If you need medication review, management of a significant physical illness, or specialist mental health care, clarify the actual arrangements before arrival. The important information is which professional will deliver the required service, where it will occur, and how it will connect with the residential program and your existing clinicians.
Source: Foundation House’s published team.
Confirm rent, deposits, and any refund conditions
The contact page publishes a client-rent refund policy that refers to a $100 nonrefundable administrative fee. It says refund requests may be considered for overpayment, duplicate payment, or an early exit, with a written request required within seven days. Approval and processing are separate steps. Obtain the current written terms and clarify how the charge applies to your payment before committing funds.
That policy is not a complete quotation for the residential program. Request the weekly rent, any deposit, payment schedule, and treatment of additional expenses. The same page also describes donation refunds and FoundoBlue training cancellations; those are different transactions and should not be used to calculate residential fees. Admissions and general inquiries have separate published phone numbers. Use the admissions team to confirm the cost and availability of the actual stay, especially where Centrelink or another source of support is involved.
Source: Contact details and payment policies.
FoundoBlue provides a separate route to individual support
Someone who needs help may not yet know whether residential treatment is appropriate. CIDAF’s FoundoBlue service describes confidential outreach counseling for workers in construction and related industries, available at the workplace or remotely. Its individual-support page covers concerns involving stress, mental health, substance use, gambling, relationships, and coping after trauma.
FoundoBlue can discuss options and help people access Foundation House when more intensive support is suitable. It also describes peer support and assistance for families. This is a pathway to assessment and care, not a guarantee that a residential admission is necessary or immediately available. Ask which practitioner will provide the support, how appointments are arranged, and how information may be shared with an employer or another clinician. The service says it will not share information with an employer without explicit consent. Clarify the practical confidentiality arrangements and any clinical safety limits directly before discussing sensitive workplace circumstances.
Source: FoundoBlue support for individuals.
Workplace education is different from residential treatment
FoundoBlue also offers organizational services, including toolbox talks, tailored workshops, peer-support development, supervisor training, and return-to-work support. The program is designed around the pressures of construction and related industries. These activities may help a workplace respond more thoughtfully when someone is struggling, but they are separate from the individual’s residential treatment plan.
An employer considering training should establish the intended audience, facilitator qualifications, scope of support, and referral arrangements. A worker considering Foundation House should separately agree what involvement, if any, they want from their workplace during recovery. Training a colleague to recognize distress does not turn that colleague into a treating clinician. Likewise, a workplace education contract should not be assumed to pay for an employee’s residential stay. Discuss those arrangements explicitly, with the individual’s privacy and preferences central to the conversation. In an immediate crisis, seek emergency help rather than wait for a training session or routine intake appointment.
Source: FoundoBlue workplace services.
Official provider information reviewed October 19, 2026, using substantive indexed program records and the linked timetable. Confirm current eligibility, payment terms, availability, and clinical arrangements before admission.
Related guides: treatment in Sydney, New South Wales options, and gambling treatment.
