It all started with goats…

Yitjawudik Men’s Recovery Centre is a culturally safe, 24-hour residential rehabilitation centre for Aboriginal men living with alcohol and/or drug dependency.

The site is home to several cheeky goats that have been escaping from their paddock, but this unlucky situation has sparked something unexpectedly powerful!

After discussions with the on-site community members – who recognised the goats escapism was a result of their boredom – they could relate this situation to their own lives and experiences. And thus, the Goat Activation Project (GAP) was born.

The GAP connects trauma-informed care with community healing. By encouraging the men to build goat enrichment activities, they explored their own journeys of recovery, resilience, and self-worth.

Since the GAP began, we’ve seen laughter, learning and art, as well as driving lessons, TAFE enrolments, and real emotional growth. Healing can happen in many different ways, and sometimes, it starts with a goat.