Our Executive Director, David Boutkan and a number of our staff team met with the Hon. Gareth Ward, New South Wales Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Servicesat our new Ballina Office on 12thJuly 2019. We provided the Minister with an overview of our child, youth and family services we offer across the Tweed, Byron and Ballina regions.
 
“It was fantastic to talk with the Minister about the ‘Targeted Early Intervention’ and ‘Their Futures Matter’ reforms which aim to focus all government agencies and funded community organisations to reinvest in innovative early intervention approaches.”
 
“Mr Ward talked about how excited he was about implementing the reform agenda that would make a real difference to the lives of children, young people, families and north coast communities.”  said David Boutkan
 
“From what I’ve seen today, The Family Centre are well placed to develop and deliver the programs required to achieve the reform outcomes.” said Mr Ward
 
The Minister has a special interest in volunteering and was very surprised by the size and scope of our volunteer program. He was particularly impressed with the number of jobs taken on by volunteers in our organisation and the value they added to our community.
 
Mr Ward insisted on returning to The Family Centre to meet our Volunteers later in the year. We look forward to the visit.

 Everyday 8 Australians die by suicide. If you are interested in learning more about suicide and how to help someone who is in emotional or social distress, we encourage you to participate in a freetrainingopportunity.
 
The Question Persuade Refer (QPR) online training will be available to people living in the 2484 region commencing Monday July 29. Interested participants can also attend a follow-up Village Hall meeting where they can ask questions and get further information about support for themselves and for others who are in distress.
 
The training will give you information about how to recognise the warning signs of suicide; how to ask about suicide with someone you are concerned about; how to persuade them to get support; and how to bring in help when they are in a crisis.
 
This training opportunity has been made possible by the North Coast Primary Health Network (NCPHN) and is one of many activities The Family Centre is coordinating as part of The Tweed Byron Suicide Prevention Strategy.
 
QPR Training will also be made available to other interested community members across the Tweed and Byron Shires in the coming months.
 
 
Please note this training opportunity is for people aged 18 years and older and it is generally not recommended for people to take this training if they or someone they are close to (e.g. friend, family or community member) has recently been exposed to suicide.

Asking for help was a big step for Lucy, after 20 years of marriage her husband had become abusive to her 14 year-old son and herself. After numerous police and child protection interventions Lucy was at the point where she knew she would have to leave the family home to keep her son and other 3 children safe and away from the family violence.
 
Lucy came to The Family Centre for support to leave the family home and keep her children with her.  Lucy was supported to access resources and housing to complete a task that was personally one of the toughest she had ever faced. Lucy was determined and willing to change her whole world so that she could be the best mother she could be. She secured a long-term rental property and was assisted with moving costs, storage shed rental plus she was received $5000 from the Victim Services Immediate needs funding to furnish her new house.
 
Two months after moving into her new house Lucy is smiling surrounded by her children and community. The road ahead will present many challenges but Lucy feels strong and that she can come to The Family Centre for support for her and her family if and when she needs it future.
 
Lucy was proud of her family and never thought her relationship with her husband would get to the point where she had to leave the family home to protect her children.

SPORTS DAY

Tuesday the sun was shining in Ballina for NAIDOC Week Sports Day. More than 250 families participated in the day which included sporting activities, traditional indigenous games, an NRL clinic plus a jumping castle and face painting.
 
Woolworths River Street and Ballina Fair kindly donated $400 worth of healthy food for lunch and the dietician from Bullinah Medical Clinic worked with participating families preparing lean rissoles, vegie patties and salad sandwiches. There was also a delicious assortment of fresh fruits available for the families. Surf Dive n Ski also donated 50 school backpacks to jarjums on the day.

CABBAGE TREE ISLAND COMMUNITY CELEBRATION

On Wednesday the Cabbage Tree Island community celebration saw over 300 people attend to watch traditional Aboriginal dancing and enjoy a delicious lunch. The Family Centre held a macrame feather making workshop. The workshop was enjoyed by people of all ages allowing them the opportunity to learn a new skill whilst relaxing and connecting with community.

NAIDOC SPORTS DAY & HEALTH EXPO

The Family Centre attended the Arkinstall Park, Sports Day & Health Expo organised by Bugalwena and the NAIDOC Committee. Over 300 people attended the event from Tweed and surrounding communities.
 
The Family Centre stall had more than 80 children and young people participating in the art activities, which included designing and drawing or painting their very own calico bags, hand painting a giant blackboard art installation and jumping in the interactive photo booth. Information about our services and courses was well received by families.
 
Uncle Jim McDermott ensured The Family Centre was well represented in the sports activities as the Red House Leader! Whether it was sprints, three legged races, the Elder’s obstacle course or the crowd favourite piggy back races – everyone had fun in the beautiful sunshine before cooling off with a refreshing spray from the local fire truck.
 
It was a hugely successful and fun day, in which the community came together, along with service providers from across the Northern Rivers, to celebrate community belonging and connection to country and culture.

SALTWATER DAY

It was a great day at Fingal Head for Saltwater Day. Over 100 people participated in the day with lots of arts and crafts, BBQ lunch and surfing. A special part of the day was the elders sharing their stories and lots of laughs about growing up in Fingal with the young people.  Aunty Mary Browning, who reached 100 years last year, had her young audience in awe.
 
Thank you to our supporters - Surf Dive n Ski, In2surf, Billabong and the volunteers and community who attended this NAIDOC Week event.

Photo Bottom left: Elders telling stories at Fingal Head Aunty Dale Williams, Aunty Coral Lena, Aunty Mary Browning, Aunty Marcia Browning and Aunty Chris Morgan
 

Youth and Family Worker – Youth Mental Health

SCHCaDS Award Level 4
2 Positions vacant
35 hours per week
Based in Ballina and Byron Shires

The Family Centre is a progressive, community-owned, for purpose organisation, driven by our values and focused on outcomes. Together, we create opportunities for children, young people and families and increase social value in our community.

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 suitably qualified and experienced people to join our Youth team. The team provides innovative and effective services to children, young people and their families in the Byron and Ballina Shires. This new program focuses on improving access to psychological and social and emotional support services.

The position offers generous above award conditions, salary packaging arrangements and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Do you have high expectations for the future of our community?

Looking for a meaningful and rewarding career?

We want to hear from you.

Applications close 4.30pm Monday August 5 2019.

Applicants will be required to undertake a criminal record check and a working with children check. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this position.

For more information contact:
David Boutkan (07) 5524 8711 or [email protected]

This new program will be previewed at The Family Centre Information Session. The new program aims to ensure that young people (aged 10-21) in the Ballina and Byron Bay LGA’s have improved access to psychological and social emotional wellbeing support services, improved mental health outcomes, and an improved experience of accessing mental health services. The program will incorporate strengths based, socially inclusive, responsive and integrated approaches to recovery that put young people and their families at the centre of the care continuum.

This is an exciting new project for the region and The Family Centre is looking forward to providing a high quality, innovative and effective program to young people and their families in Byron and Ballina.

Join us to know more about this new program.

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

INFORMATION SESSION

Thursday August 8,10pm-12pm
Kentwell Community Centre, 
20 Bangalow Road Ballina