For many veterans, what follows service doesn’t always look like the conditions on the page. It looks like sleep that won’t settle. A drink that became two, then more. Anger that arrives faster than it used to. A flatness that doesn’t lift, no matter what you do.
You may already have a referral letter from your GP. You may be reading this for yourself, or for someone you love who hasn’t yet said the words out loud. Either way, the next step is a conversation, not a commitment.
The Banyans offers private, one-on-one rehabilitation treatment for DVA Gold Card holders living with mental health conditions or addiction. The program is built around you. Treatment is one-on-one. There are no group therapies, no shared timetables, and no audience to your recovery. As we are not a contracted provider, our team will assist guests in the application process to the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).
Please note: All DVA Essentials Treatment Program submissions are subject to the approval of the Department of Veteran Affairs Health Approvals Board.
The Banyans is a residential rehab treatment program in the Brisbane hinterland. You have your own private suite and ensuite. Treatment is delivered through four to six one-on-one sessions a day, Monday to Friday, with the household and grounds available to you in between.
This structure matters for veterans for a particular reason. Group treatment can ask people to disclose service-related material in front of strangers, which is sometimes helpfully, often not. At The Banyans, that question doesn’t arise. The clinical work happens between you and your treating team, at a pace shaped by your needs, not by a fixed curriculum.
Program length is determined during your intake assessment, with most veterans engaging in residential treatment for between one and four weeks depending on the presentation and clinical plan.
For veterans whose presentation includes alcohol or substance use, the residential program incorporates medically supervised withdrawal where clinically indicated. This is delivered onsite for mild-to-moderate presentations, with 24/7 nursing care and medical oversight. Where withdrawal is anticipated to be complex, for example, with high-dose benzodiazepine dependence or severe alcohol use, our team supports access to an appropriate partner facility for stabilisation prior to admission. The intake assessment determines the right pathway.
Following withdrawal, addiction treatment continues through SMART Recovery delivered as a one-on-one curriculum rather than a group program, alongside the wider clinical work on the underlying drivers of substance use.
Veterans don’t arrive at residential treatment with a single diagnosis. Service-related trauma sits alongside sleep disturbance, alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and relationship strain. The treatment program is built to address these health conditions together rather than in sequence.
The therapeutic approaches available within your program may include EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) and brainspotting, both used as part of trauma-focused psychological care. Alongside these, your program may draw on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) for managing thoughts, emotions, and behavioural patterns, as well as schema therapy and mindfulness-based approaches where clinically indicated. Equine-assisted therapy is also available, delivered through an EAGALA-certified facilitator with clinical psychologist involvement.
Your treating team includes clinicians with substantial experience in working with veterans and service-related presentations. The program draws on psychosocial rehabilitation principles, addressing the psychological, social, and occupational impacts of service so that returning to civilian life feels workable rather than overwhelming.
Mental health and addiction don’t exist in isolation from the rest of your health. The Banyans’ wrap-around care model brings the full clinical team into one program, working together rather than in parallel.
Psychiatric review provides a full clinical assessment with an onsite psychiatrist, with medication management where indicated. Medical and nursing care includes GP-level medical review, with registered nurses available 24/7. Psychology and psychotherapy is delivered through one-on-one sessions with experienced clinicians.
Alongside the core clinical work, dietetics provides clinical nutrition support, including for veterans whose eating patterns have shifted alongside their mental health, and exercise physiology offers structured movement designed to support sleep, stress regulation, and physical recovery. Complementary therapies including equine-assisted therapy, massage, yoga, music therapy, and art therapy are integrated where clinically useful.
Each element is one-on-one. Each is shaped by what your clinical team identifies as most useful for you.
The Banyans accepts submissions from DVA Gold Card holders. We are not a contracted DVA provider, which means treatment is accessed through the DVA Essentials Treatment Program rather than a standing arrangement with the Department of Veteran Affairs.
In practical terms, this is what to expect:
If you are unsure about your eligibility or whether DVA funding will cover the program length your clinician has recommended, the intake team can talk you through it before any paperwork begins.
There is no fixed timetable, because no two veterans arrive with the same clinical needs. A typical day includes four to six one-on-one sessions across psychology, psychiatry, medical, dietetics, exercise physiology, and complementary therapies. Sessions run Monday to Friday.
Between sessions, the grounds are available to you. The residence sits on private hinterland land, and the spaces are designed to feel restorative rather than institutional. Meals are chef-prepared, with dietary needs accommodated as a matter of course.
Weekends are quieter, as they are a chance to consolidate the week’s work, rest, and use the property at your own pace.
A residential rehab program for veterans at The Banyans combines medical, psychological, and physical care in a fully private setting. Each day includes multiple individual sessions across the clinical team, with your program assessed and refined as you progress. Program length and inclusions are shaped around your clinical needs and goals, with options ranging from a focused one-week stay to a longer engagement incorporating deeper diagnostic work and additional therapies. Explore the inclusions in our Foundations program below.
The Banyans offers two distinct residential locations, each set amongst the natural beauty of the Brisbane Hinterland. Designed for privacy, comfort and focused care, both provide a tranquil environment where expert clinical treatment meets the ease of home.
Private accommodation
Dedicated therapy rooms
Infinity magnesium pool
Industry-equipped gym
Yoga studio
Private cinema
Indoor and Outdoor relaxation areas
Private accommodation
Dedicated therapy rooms
Magnesium pool
Industry-equipped gym
Yoga studio
Private cinema
Indoor and outdoor relaxation areas
Accessible exclusively to guests who reserve the entire Estate for a fully private experience.
The work of recovery doesn’t end at discharge. The Banyans’ aftercare program provides structured support for up to two years following your residential stay, with regular telehealth check-ins from members of your clinical team.
For some veterans, the The Banyans Health Plus day rehab program in Brisbane acts as a structured step-down from residential, with eight 1-1 days delivered weekly, designed to reinforce what you’ve built during your stay as you return to work, family, and the rhythm of daily life. For those who can’t attend in-person, telehealth option is available.
Your rehabilitation goals, including what a workable, sustainable life looks like for you, are revisited and adjusted as you go. Long-term recovery isn’t a single event. It’s a series of decisions, made easier when you have continued access to clinicians who already know your history.
Our Day Programs offer focused, weekly care within our purpose-built recovery facility in Brisbane’s inner city. Benefit from private, tailored one-on-one sessions in a tranquil environment, where practical tools and expert guidance are provided to help you navigate the transition back to daily life.
Building upon your program progress, our aftercare service provides personalised, ongoing support and maintained connection. Through regular Telehealth sessions, we gain a deeper understanding of your evolving needs and tailor guidance accordingly. This collaborative approach to reintegration, ensures you receive the right support for each stage of your journey.
Contact our friendly Intake Team for a caring, confidential discussion about how The Banyans can help you to regain control and reclaim your life.
Our residential treatment program is meticulously designed by a team of world-class professionals, drawing upon the latest research and developments in mental health and addiction recovery to ensure consistent clinical excellence.
Clinical Director/ Clinical Psychologist
Medical Director
Clinical Nutritionist
Founder and Managing Director
The Banyans, along with other Sana Health Group mental health and addiction treatment facilities, adheres to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards – the benchmark for all Australian hospitals
Our initiative to attain this accreditation demonstrates our dedication to an evidence-based approach grounded in best practice clinical governance, ensuring continuous improvement and exceptional client outcomes.
These testimonials, shared with utmost confidentiality, reflect the very real journeys of individuals navigating recovery. Whilst each guest’s journey is unique, these stories offer insights into the transformative potential of The Banyans’ leading mental health and addiction treatment programs.
Who is eligible for DVA-funded treatment at The Banyans?
The Banyans accepts DVA Gold Card holders who require residential treatment for a mental health condition or addiction. Eligibility for DVA funding is determined by the Department of Veteran Affairs Health Approvals Board, not by The Banyans. Our intake team can talk through your situation before you begin a formal application.
A referral letter from your GP or treating practitioner is required as part of the application process.
Does The Banyans accept DVA White Card holders?
The residential program currently accepts submissions from DVA Gold Card holders only. If you hold a DVA White Card, please contact the intake team to discuss your situation. There may be alternative pathways depending on your circumstances.
Do I need a referral letter to apply?
Yes. A referral letter from your GP or treating practitioner is required as part of the DVA application. The letter sets out the clinical reasoning for residential treatment and supports the submission to the DVA Health Approvals Board.
If you do not yet have a referral letter, the intake team can talk you through what your GP needs to include.
How long does the DVA application process take?
All DVA Essentials Treatment Program submissions are subject to approval by the Department of Veteran Affairs Health Approvals Board. Application timelines depend on DVA processes and the completeness of supporting documentation.
Our intake team can give you an indicative timeframe during your enquiry, and we work to provide all required documentation as efficiently as possible.
What happens if my DVA application is not approved?
If DVA funding is not approved for the program length recommended by your clinician, the intake team will discuss the options with you. These may include a shorter program, alternative funding pathways including self-funding or superannuation release, or a step-down to the day program.
We aim to be transparent about what is and isn’t possible so that the conversation is grounded in your actual options.
What mental health conditions does the program treat?
The residential program supports veterans living with a range of mental health conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), complex trauma, depression, anxiety, and adjustment difficulties. Many veterans present with more than one condition, alongside alcohol or substance use.
The program is shaped to your specific presentation rather than to a single diagnostic category. The intake assessment establishes which therapeutic approaches will form the core of your program.
Can The Banyans manage detox?
The Banyans provides medically supervised withdrawal onsite for mild-to-moderate presentations, with 24/7 registered nursing care, GP-level medical review, and access to an onsite consultant psychiatrist for medication review where indicated.
For more complex withdrawal, for example, high-dose benzodiazepine dependence or severe alcohol use, we work with a partner facility to support stabilisation prior to admission. The intake assessment determines the right pathway.
Can my family or partner be involved in my treatment?
Family involvement can be incorporated into your program where clinically appropriate. This may include family therapy sessions, partner therapy, or psychoeducation sessions for those closest to you.
Family involvement is discussed during your intake assessment and shaped by what will best support your recovery.
