25/11/2025
TRUTH & CORRECTION SERIES – PART 35
Myth: “Residents at Shalom House are unfairly cut off from technology, phones, and communication.”
Fact: Technology and phone use are carefully managed in the early stages of the program to protect recovery, not control people. As residents progress, full access to communication and technology is restored.
Some people, including a few former residents and media commentators, have claimed that Shalom House “bans phones,” “isolates residents,” or “cuts them off from communication.” That claim is false and ignores the reasons behind how our structured model works.
1. The early stages of recovery require focus, not distraction.
When a resident first arrives at Shalom House, their mind is often clouded by addiction, anxiety, and stress. The first few weeks are about stabilisation, learning to think clearly again, building discipline, and developing focus.
Temporary restrictions on mobile phones and technology help remove distractions and external pressures so residents can focus fully on their recovery.
2. It’s not about control, it’s about protection.
Phones and social media are often direct gateways back to old contacts, dealers, and toxic relationships.
We limit that access in the early stages to prevent relapse, manipulation, and emotional overload. These boundaries are temporary and clearly explained to residents and their families from the start.
3. Communication with family is never cut off.
Residents maintain regular contact with their loved ones through supervised calls, letters, and scheduled visits. As they progress through the stages, contact becomes more frequent and unrestricted.
By the later stages, residents have full access to personal phones, social media, and independent communication.
4. Gradual reintroduction builds responsibility.
Technology access increases as residents demonstrate maturity, accountability, and stability. This approach mirrors real life, people must show they can manage responsibility before being given full freedom again.
It’s part of teaching self control and preparing for reintegration into society.
5. Residents use technology for training and work.
As residents move into the reintegration and re-socialisation stages, phones, computers, and online tools become part of their daily life. They use them for study, employment, budgeting, and communication with employers, families, and community networks.
6. Transparency and fairness guide every policy.
All technology and communication rules are clearly outlined and explained before a resident enters the program. They’re not secretive or arbitrary, they’re part of a well documented system designed for safety and success.
7. Why this myth exists.
Outsiders often see early restrictions and assume control or isolation. In reality, those few weeks of separation from phones and social media are often the first peaceful, focused period residents have experienced in years, and it’s what helps them reset and rebuild.
So, to be clear:
• Shalom House does not isolate residents from communication.
• Phone and technology limits are temporary and purposeful.
• Family contact is encouraged and structured.
• And full access to communication is restored as residents progress.
Disconnection from chaos is not isolation, it’s the first step toward reconnection with life, family, and society.
Shalom House, Leading the way in Australia in Holistic Rehabilitation, Reintegration & Re-Socialisation.
Your Thoughts…?
Peter Lyndon-James 🇦🇺
