Stroud [Green Acres farm] & Dungog [Curlew Cottage]

Family Style Rural Short Term Accommodation and Care

Our connection to the land provides a place for growth and wellness. Caring for self and others further promotes good health and happiness. Through sharing we can find fulfilment and purpose. When any one of these ingredients is missing our wellbeing becomes threatened.

Short term supported accommodation is provided for adult people with disabilities in the Green Acres Farm - Cabin Retreat in Stroud and at Curlew Cottage in Dungog, both with rural outlooks.

YBW Support Packages

STROUD [Green Acres Cabin Retreat Farm Stay] or DUNGOG [Curlew Cottage]
Living or taking a break in a lovely location is important for all of us! Learning about new things, developing new skills, exploring a beautiful environment, making new friends and broadening our horizons makes life exciting and full of promise​.
  • All supports and wellness plans created and overseen by our registered AHPRA Clinicians
  • Accommodation focused on Wellness
  • Non active overnight support [separate from cabin retreat , owners live onsite]
  • All home cooked meals [breakfast/morning tea/lunch/afternoon tea/dinner/dessert]
  • Any events/markets/activity costs/transport during stay included
  • When staying at Curlew Cottage, your YBW support worker can bring you over to the farm for a day visit and exploration.
Pickup and drop off transport is inclusive of rate [times are negotiated to reflect this]. We have a wheelchair accessible bus.

YBW Bring your Own Support

STROUD [Green Acres Cabin Retreat Farm Stay] or DUNGOG [Curlew Cottage]
*your own carer provides your 24hr support
*The purpose is to assist the person with disability to branch out – and feel safe and confident coming to Yellowbird on their own
*when BYO carer at either location you can visit Green Acres Farm by appointment
  • Farmstay Stroud - Accommodation for two [1 participant & 1 carer]; participant in the Cabin, carer in the vintage van [Yellowbird or bluebird] [self-catering facilities for breakfast/lunch/dinner or can dine out - cooking facilities are limited at the cabin, to bbq, microware. please enquire for list of available options for self catering]. 
  • Curlew Cottage Dungog - Accommodation for up to four people [up to 2 participants & 2 carers] all in individual rooms and breakfast served for up to four [Self-catering facilities or can dine out].

About Green Acres Farm, Stroud

Green Acres Farm is located on an idyllic and peaceful 40 acres in beautiful Stroud, in the Stroud Valley on the Mid Coast, NSW.  Our independent accommodation retreats are located within a short distance from the main private farm house. There is always something new and different to see and do for each visit at Green Acres. You can also visit Green Acres if we are supporting you over in Curlew Cottage.

Set among towering shade trees, over looking the Karuah river. We have existing gardens and we are creating extensive gardens, edible gardens, a bush tucker garden, food forest and sensory garden, whilst expanding the existing orchard.

Our private location boasts a private rainforest with winding fresh water creek and weeping willows on their banks and many lovely sitting and resting spots along the way. Green Acres Farm is set in pristine privacy and by the banks of the Karuah River where we experience approximately 1.5km of wide fresh water river frontage. The resident platypus comes out to play for those lucky enough to spot him as does the resident echidna. The black cockatoos actually nest above the banks of the river, there are lots of native birds to spot, wallabies visit regularly and other visiting wildlife. Also if your lucky enough to be here at the time of year the fire flies [which are actually beetles] glow and flicker in the early evening on the farm. It is a magical sight as they sweep around the edge of the rainforest. We have created a lovely nook where you can sit and relax next to the rainforest and watch this magical wonder.

There is plenty to do - spend those long hot summer days down by the river in the swimming holes or jump in the kayak and go for a leisurely paddle. Or perhaps you would rather go on a rainforest walk in our private rainforest or bush walk along the river or nearby forests or dip your feet in the fresh water creek on the property, while exploring the native flora and fauna. You could also get your hands dirty and muck in with the endless farm tasks to do [we are a working farm afterall] or  just do nothing at all and relax on your private deck and soak in the country air, sights and sounds.

Our capacity building therapeutic program that is experienced and delivered in a person centred way is focused on building capacity & independent living skills for all our NDIS guests, therefore guests are encouraged to participate in the working farm. The planting & harvesting of seasonal foods on the property for the preparation and cooking of all meals and snacks, collect eggs from the chickens, tend and interact with the farm animals and participate in other farm activities, including relaxing on the deck, chilling out in the rainforest next to fresh water creek just to name a few ideas.

Some activities can include: [depending on time of year & participant choices] for increased independent living skills and capacity building towards agreed outcomes.
  • Variety bush & rainforest walks [varying difficulties with enough challenge for participants]
  • wild flora and fauna [immersion, observation and photography]
  • Mountain bike rides
  • activities down by the fresh water creek and/or river
  • fishing by the river
  • water activities in the river and/or creek including swimming, paddling etc in summer warmer weather
  • attending local events that are on i.e brick & rolling pin throwing, rodeo, markets & festivals [event entry costs if any are included but participants must bring own spending money]
  • horticultural activities including planting, harvesting, bush tucker, sensory garden experiences
  • cooking class; preparation and cooking of meals from farm produce [homemade pizzas, scones, jams, damper, soups etc] BBQs
  • fishing for yabbies or fish in the dam or river
  • Outdoor wood fire pit [marshmallows, damper, whole coal cooked potatoes etc] during winter and cooler months, relaxation & enjoyment
  • tending the chooks, lambs, cattle and ducks, collecting eggs
  • tending/feeding farm animals [cattle, ducks, lambs, chickens, goats, guinea fowl, peacock/peahens]

Green Acres is located on the fringes of the Stroud Village, only 1.7km from the centre of town, its within 1 hour drive to the vineyards, to the beach, to the Barringtons and to Newcastle...and many state forests to explore close by. There is no more central place to holiday for a short stay, respite time, rejuvenation and exploration. We have got the whole package !!

About Curlew Cottage, Dungog

Situated in the beautiful town of Dungog, southern gateway to the Barrington Tops. The best of rural life is here! In all seasons, the views of rolling hills surrounding the town and the mountains and forests in the distance are breathtaking.
As our guests you have access to all of Curlew as we have living space behind the cottage. Leave your car keys in the room as you can walk to pubs, clubs, cafes and shops.
We suggest at the time of booking you also book Therapeutic Support sessions (equine assisted or animal assisted therapy / bush therapy with our OT or Psychologist) to make the very most of your stay.

​Our accommodation is most suited to 1:1 or 1:2 support ratio
How does it work?
• Families/carers can make an initial visit to Yellowbird Wellbeing HQ in Stroud to discuss their person’s particular needs and share their care plan. The person can meet us and have a look around the property and see what we offer.
• We set up a detailed support strategy finding out interests, needs and communication requirements for the person while on retreat. We provide a range of information, answer any questions and supply a NDIS Service Agreement for the family to review. This can also be done over email, and/or phone calls & email.
Short term Accommodation and Assistance (e.g. Respite care) is described as:
Participants are likely to have a number of days where their support arrangements will be different. These are non-typical days and may include funding to provide replacement support, or respite, in group based facility or in home support.
Evidence from consultations to date indicates that support can generally fall into one of three levels:
  • Between the equivalent of 7 and 14 days per year: where the family provides support most days.  This support is provided to the participant so that the informal carers can attend key activities relevant to other members of the family.
  • Between the equivalent of 14 and 28 days per year: where respite is a strategy to build capabilities for independence.
  • No more than the equivalent of 28 days per year: where the family provides support most days and informal care is at risk of not being able to be sustained due to severe behavioural issues or where the person requires intensive informal support.
These supports will be funded over a standard 24 hour period and participants or nominees will be able to choose how and when they use this funding in relation to weekdays, weekends or public holidays.
A higher level of support may also be appropriate for a defined period of time to ensure that a family or carer is able to sustain employment, complete their education or put more sustainable support arrangements in place.
There are many participants as the scheme matures that are receiving higher levels of overnight support than outlined above. Ensure you are requesting the appropriate level of overnight support that meets your or your family members disability support needs, goals and facilitates sustainable placements.
* we will assist you in determining if the farm stay or cottage accommodation is a good fit for your person with a disability. Please consider the following; that our support has non active overnight period [overnight support if needed can be accessed via intercom) clients/guests sleep independently in either cabin retreat or vintage van retreat on the property, they are separate to the main farm house [our family property] so therefore guests cannot exhibit or have history of behaviours of concern including any history (not limited to) sexualized behaviours or sexual offenses and/or where they wander/run away etc.
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