There are several ways to begin the process of rehabilitation for hoarding behaviours. Many of them can be done independently.
Support Groups or Programs
Support groups and programs can assist with the management of excessive collecting and difficult living conditions by providing tips and practical strategies to help people manage clutter.
See below for further information, or visit our Events page.
Buried in Treasures Program
The Buried In Treasures Program is a 16-week, 2-hour self-help action group for people living with hoarding behaviour. Offering a judgment-free environment, the program encourages individuals to make positive changes to their home environment.
The cost of the program is $20 and includes the book: Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding (Oxford University Press, 2013).
To register for the Buried In Treasures program, or for more information, please see below for relevant contacts.
For residents of Inner East municipalities (Boroondara, Monash, Whitehorse, Manningham):
Phone: 13 SALVOS (13 72 58)
For residents of Outer East municipalities (Knox, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges):
Maroondah Council Aged and Disability Services
Phone: (03) 9294 5729
Phone: (03) 8870 4030
Peer Support Groups
Peer Support Groups are run by people with lived experience in hoarding and offer participants ongoing support and information in an informal setting.
Two support groups are currently running:
B.I.T.S (Buried in Treasures Support) Group
Meets on the first Tuesday of every month from 1pm-3pm (apart from January and Public Holidays).
Meetings are held at Federation Estate in the Federation Room, 32 Greenwood Avenue, Ringwood (walking distance from Ringwood Station).
No bookings are necessary, and at every meeting a different topic of interest is discussed.
Free parking on site. For further information, contact Paula (Occupational Therapist) at Maroondah City Council on (03) 9294 5729.
Buried Treasures
Meets every second Wednesday at Glen Park Community Centre, 30 Glen Park Road, Bayswater North from 12noon-2:00pm.
Free parking on site. For more information, contact Andrea Denholm on 0478 049 053.
Further support
Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria (ARCVic)
Australian Psychological Society
Search by issue > Mental Health > Hoarding disorder
Swinburne University: Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring Support
Useful links
Department of Health and Human Services: Hoarding and Squalor
Reading Resources
The resources below give further insight into collecting tendencies and may help inspire change:
- Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding (Tolin, Frost and Steketee, 2007)
- Hoarding and Squalor – A practical Resource for Service Providers (Department of Health and Human Services, 2013)
- Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding and Compulsive Acquiring (Tompkins and Hartl, 2009)Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding
(Neziroglu, Bubrick and Yaryura-Tobias, 2004) - Compulsive Hoarding and Acquiring: Therapist Guide (Steketee, 2006)
- Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board: Hoarding and Lethal Fire Risk/Risk Reduction Advice
