Last month to celebrate Youth Week on the Tweed, The Family Centre with the support of Surf Dive n Ski, Surfing Australia and Tweed Coast Surf School held a morning surf lesson for 10 young people at Hastings Point.
 
It was a great day for all learning new skills, with Junior World Champion Surfer Isabella Nichols coming along to share some surfing tips. Thanks to the crew at Surf Dive n Ski for decking out the participants with new rashies and a gift bag full of great stuff.
 
There was also a special appearance from our favourite guest surf coach Louie the dog.

A new strategy to help prevent suicide across the Tweed-Byron region was launched last week.

The suicide prevention action plan involves introducing a range of educational programs and other activities aimed at helping people to recognise that someone might be in severe mental distress.

The action plan is collaborative approach with PHN North Coast and The Family Centre.

The action plan has five key priorities:
•. strengthening early intervention through schools and community
•. improving crisis and aftercare support
•. strengthening the capacity of GPs, frontline workers and professionals
•. developing local strategies to identify and help those most at risk in the Tweed Aboriginal communities
•. training the community to recognise and respond to those at risk of suicide
 
The five priority areas in the Action Plan collectively provide a wide focus from early intervention in schools through to strengthening support for individuals after a suicide attempt.

The project team invite any residents, clubs or organisations wishing to contribute to suicide prevention to get in touch with Carmen Stewart, Suicide Prevention Project Worker from The Family Centre (07) 5524 8711.

Pictured from left: David Boutkan, Executive Director, The Family Centre; Carmen Stewart, Suicide Action Plan Project Worker; Julie Sturgess, CEO, North Coast Primary
Health Network and Glen James, Executive Director, Mental Health & Alcohol and Other Drugs, North Coast Primary Health Network.

Mount Burrell is a small mountain town nestled in the nightcap ranges of the Tweed Shire, and here, in the middle of the peaceful countryside, a community playgroup meets weekly on Tuesday mornings at The Sphinx Rock Café supported by The Family Centres Early Years Network.
 
The Café’s owners Sharon & Jon have long welcomed and nurtured the children and families by providing a venue for the playgroup and a free morning tea for all the children who attend.
 
The playgroup provides open and inclusive activities for all families and children – it is a link for sharing information and resources for early years development and fun play-based learning activities for the children.
 
Everyone gets in and lends a hand from Dan the Dad who built the playgroup shed that was kindly donated by the Communities for Children project, to Cynthia and Lenka, two of many extraordinary parent champions who organise the space every Tuesday and simultaneously keep an eye on their children whilst welcoming new parents to the area.
 
The Sphinx Rock Café feels like a big welcome table to any and all families seeking to connect and support one another and learn new things about their child’s development. It is an informal way to check in on each other and has been a great platform for extra activities, like the annual playgroup Christmas party, Sing and Grow parenting course and even first aid courses to build capacity in this wonderful community.
 
This week the children made Snowy Owls and experienced sharp and soft sensory touch with pine cones and cotton wool balls. Stories of owls in the local area were shared and the creative time enjoyed between parent and child.

This year marks 30 years of National Volunteer Week – 20-26 May. Established in 1989 Volunteer Week is the largest celebration of volunteers in Australia and it provides The Family Centre the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the role of volunteers in our community and to say thank you.

The Family Centre has over 100 active volunteers participating in many roles across our organisation these include administrative work, fundraising, facilitation, program support and special project work.

Leading up to the Volunteer Week we would like to highlight some of the work our volunteers do in our community.

Join us at our next Information Session

Get to know The Family Centre and find out about what we can do together to make change achievable

Friday May 10, 10pm-12pm, 2019
10am–12pm 
The Family Centre, Unit 1/14 Amber Road, South Tweed Heads

We’ll talk about:
what we want for our community, our values, role, strategic directions and practice principles
the ways we work together with children, young people, families, schools and communities
EVERYONE IS WELCOME
parents or carers 
young people
community members 
service partners
students
volunteers, or you might be thinking of volunteering with us

The Family Centre’s Term 2 Course programs for Ballina, Byron and Tweed are now available. We run parenting and relationship courses.

123 Magic 

Sick of the kids arguing and fighting?
Are you yelling more than you want to?
Need strategies to manage misbehaviour when out in public?

123 Magic & Emotion Coachingfocuses on helping children 2-12 years to self-manage their behaviour using simple methods. This term 123 Magic and Emotion Coaching is be run in both Ballina and Murwillumbah

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?
Through information sessions, practical exercises, group discussions and brainstorming we will explore:
•. Ideas and principles about parenting
•. Patterns that develop in families and how to change unhelpful patterns
•. A variety of tools for changing behaviour

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
•  Three strategies to choose from when your child misbehaves
•. Three straightforward steps to: control di cult behaviour, encourage good behaviour, strengthen your relationship
•. How your own behaviour can influence your child and how to encourage cooperation around the home
•. Simple strategies to practise being a calm parent. Discover how your silence can speak louder than words

WHO IS IT FOR?
•.  Parents/carers of children 2–12 years