A proven alcohol and drug rehabilitation service on the Gold Coast that delivers personal growth through a Therapeutic Community (TC) program.

Established in 1987, Goldbridge’s mission is to transform lives through a sense of belonging and acceptance of self and others, to provide freedom from the effects of addiction and mental health issues with the aim of achieving sustainable recovery.

Goldbridge Rehabilitation Services (Goldbridge) is a Key provider of drug and alcohol rehabilitation services situated on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

The facility offers a results-driven program focused on l personal change, enhanced psychological well-being and social functioning. The Therapeutic Community (TC) program successfully reduces the risk of relapse and assists to overcome the challenges of settling back into mainstream society. Residents attend group counselling and therapy sessions for the duration of the residential program to address the underlying issues that have resulted in their addictions.

Goldbridge employs a multi-disciplinary team of experienced professionals, including people in the fields of psychology, social work, medicine and education, as well as Goldbridge graduates who have gone through certification in Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) and Mental Health (MH) work.

The organisation has built a reputation amongst past and current residents as the key program on the Gold Coast that achieves real and sustainable recovery outcomes.

Below is a short timeline showing the developments in Goldbridge’s history.

Pre-1987

Goldbridge Rehabilitation Services was originally established as a fairly unstructured suburban Halfway House for men with chronic alcohol issues.

1987

A large two-story building in the CBD area of Southport was leased through the Gold Coast City Council with accommodation for 15 people. The first professional clinician was employed.

1988

The constitution was registered. Volunteers were trained to support people attending the residential service, women were included as clients for the first time. Specific management roles, policies and program structures were introduced.

1994

Around this time the first grant through Queensland Health was received, which allowed for a little greater fiscal security and program development. .

1998

Received Commonwealth Health funding which allowed of employment of sufficient workers at award rates, and moved towards a bio-psychosocial model of treatment within the setting of a drug-free Therapeutic Community (TC).

2002

The residential facility in Southport, Queensland was purchased, and concept plans developed for its extension and total refurbishment.

2004

A new modified Therapeutic Community (TC) model was introduced.

2008

Goldbridge was re-funded to provide Improved Services for clients with Comorbid (Dual Diagnosis AOD and MH) Disorders under special funding provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

2009

Goldbridge was re-funded by the Queensland Department of Health.

2010

Goldbridge Outreach Services moved from 9 Scarborough Street to 50a Nerang Street, Southport due to the Dept. of Main Roads commandeering the property for the Light Rail project office.

2012

The Goldbridge Outreach Office was closed by Goldbridge and the services moved to the TC. Therefore, management moved from the TC to a new Corporate Office in 10 Garden Street. As a result of feedback, planning and review the Transition Program was reintegrated into the TC model. The GOS office at Nerang Street had become very difficult to access due to the construction of the Gold Coast Light Rail Project. Notice of funding cuts meant that the Family Program needed to focus back on TC clients.

2013

Celebration – 25 years for Goldbridge.

2014

On the 26th February 2014, Goldbridge Rehabilitation Services gained a Certificate of Registration to confirm that Goldbridge operates a Quality Management System which complies with the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. The certification covers the scope of Goldbridge services: ‘Our core business is the provision of residential, transitional and continuing care including, rehabilitation and support services in relation to drug dependency (alcohol and other drugs), mental health conditions as well as Community Health Promotion services’.

2015

Goldbridge became the very first agency in Australasia to be certified as a Quality Therapeutic community as independently assessed by ATCA, JAS-ANZ and IHCA.

2016

Goldbridge partnered with Treelight Development to design a purpose-built facility for Goldbridge.

2017

Newspaper article in the Gold Coast Bulletin outlining the proposed new facility and partnership between Treelight development and Goldbridge. In addition, the ATCA presented Goldbridge, at their annual conference, 8 awards for Recognition of Service for ‘Dedicated Contribution by individuals to Goldbridge and the TC movement for a period of 10 or more years’. These were received by 4 board members, 2 staff and 2 volunteers.

2018

Development approval was granted by the Gold Coast City Council in February 2018 for the new purpose-built facility.

2019

The Building company went into receivership and the project did not start. A risk management analysis was undertaken which highlighted that it was too much of a risk to be involved with new owners and builders. Therefore, Goldbridge ceased all connection with the project.

2019

On the 14th February Charlie Blatch passed away. Charlie started with Goldbridge in 1998 and later became CEO when Mags O’Brien retried.

2020

All services that were operating out of the site above moved to new offices. Intake and Assessment, Transition, Continuing Care and Reception moved to 6a/9 Frinton Street, Southport. Management moved to the Runaway Bay Community Centre (no room available at the Southport Community Centre).

2020

The COVID-19 Pandemic began in March 2020 which saw service adaption in all areas of Goldbridge. A full remote lockdown of the TC program occurred for 3 months which was made possible by having telehealth procedures in place with 3 live-in Supervisors as a communication conduit for remote staff. In June 2020 a Welcome House program was implemented to support people to isolate for a period of time before entering the TC program.

2021

The Welcome House Program finished as of June 2021. The outcome of this successful program was presented at the ANZ Addictions Conference.

2021

A Day Program was established to support people where access to treatment was difficult due to COVID-19.

2022

The Day program ceased in September 2022 then was re-started in December 2022 as a Day Program Support Service.

2022

We closed both Frinton Street and Runaway Bay Offices to move into a combined office at 9 Bay Street, Southport.


We acknowledge and pay respects to the traditional Aboriginal people of the Gold Coast and their descendants. We also acknowledge the many Aboriginal people from other regions as well as Torres Strait and South Sea Islander people who now live in the local area and have made an important contribution to the community.