The Family Centre have successfully won the tender to deliver Mental Health Services for Young People in Ballina and Byron Bay.
 
The program which is commissioned by North Coast Primary Health Network aims to ensure that young people (10–21 years) in the Ballina and Byron Shires have improved access to psychological, social and emotional wellbeing support services, improved mental health outcomes and an improvement in accessing mental health services.
 
The Family Centre have been working in the Ballina and Byron Shires for 29 years (Ballina Byron Family Support Service merged with TFC in 2014), delivering innovative services to children, young people and families, and we are looking forward to delivering this new project for young people.

If you would like to find out more about our Youth and Family Services call (02) 6686 4109 or email [email protected]

NAIDOC Week celebrations are held week is held in July each year to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC is celebrated not only in Indigenous communities, but by Australians from all walks of life. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
 

This year’s NAIDOC theme is Voice. Treaty. Truth.

Voice. Treaty. Truth. were three key elements to the reforms set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. These reforms represent the unified position of First Nations Australians. 

There are many local NAIDOC events and celebrations in the Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shires. 

The Family Centre’s Term 3 course program is now available. We run courses in Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shires on parenting, relationships/communication and specific courses for men and women.

CIRCLE OF SECURITY PARENTING

The Circle of Security Parenting program is based on decades of research on children 0-5yrs showing how to create, support and strengthen secure parent-child relationship. Parents will learn how to understand their child’s emotional world by learning to read emotional needs, support their child’s ability to manage emotions and enhance the development of their child’s self-esteem. Parents will also learn to honour their own innate wisdom and fulfil their desire for their child to be secure.

Circle of Security is run each school term in the either the Tweed, Byron or Ballina Shires.

Every Wednesday our Tweed Heads South Playgroup participates in the Sing and Grow program. Sing and Grow is a community driven music therapy project that provides services for young children and their families.

The program focuses on strengthening family relationships, building capacity in parents to support their children's development in the early years of life, and encouraging the use of music within communities.

Music can help:
·      thinking skills
·      language
·      literacy and numeracy
·      physical skills
·      communication skills
·      social skills

To find out more about The Family Centre Playgroups call (07) 5524 8711

The 2019 Mission Australia Youth Survey is now open.

The Mission Australia Youth Survey is Australia’s largest online youth survey, providing a platform for young people aged 15 to 19 to ‘speak up’ about the issues that really concern them.

Each year, the Youth Survey gives valuable insights into the lives of young Australians and an understanding of their aspirations, values, concerns and ambitions. The survey provides a snapshot of how young people feel about their own lives and broader national issues.
It is important that young people in our community participate in the survey. The survey is open until 31 July.

Go to MISSION AUSTRALIA YOUTH SURVEY and enter the code 25520.

Late last year founder and owner of Recycled Mats, JJ Stranan approached The Family Centre wanting to give back to her community. Collaborating with Christine Slabb local Aboriginal artist a mat was designed for The Family Centre. The message and story of the mat is that family relationships and connections provide and uphold strength, honour and respect. These strains of family connection flow deep within our soul, captivated by love.

100% of the net profits of the mat are donated to The Family Centre’s Creating Opportunities Fund. Since October 2018 the sale of mats has raised over $3600. Thank you to JJ and her team for making a difference in our community. If you would like to buy “The Family is Centre” mat this NAIDOC week (or any time) visit Recycled Mats

Recently the Seaton Foundation donated $6900 to the Ballina Domestic Violence Recovery Fund. The fund is used to help women and children escaping domestic violence to assist them with such things as purchasing items to set up a home, maintaining a car, purchasing items for school. Thank you to the Seaton Foundation who have been great supporters of The Family Centre, generously donating to programs across our organisation.

Last month local community member Melissa Redman organised a movie fundraiser for the Family Centre's Creating Opportunities Fund. The movie Mantra: Sounds into the Silence is a documentary, exploring the new music and social phenomenon of chanting. Approximately 80 people attended the screening raising a total of $250. Thank you Melissa for supporting The Family Centre.

If you have fundraising ideas or would like to hold a fundraiser for The Family Centre contact Jo on (07) 5524 8711 or email [email protected].

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

Thursday August 8, 10am–12pm, 2019
Kentwell Community Centre, 20 Bangalow Road Ballina

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