Youth Homelessness Matters and our Community Takes Action

In June last year The Family Centre held a community meeting to highlight the unacceptably high rates of youth homelessness in our community (see figures here) and kick started a community campaign.

Ten months later, on National Youth Homelessness Matters Day, we celebrated some of the successful outcomes of the campaign to reduce youth homelessness in our community.

NSW member for Tweed, Geoff Provest backed our campaign. He supported our call to the NSW government to deliver a fairer allocation of resources to our area. We now have an additional 10 beds and 2 new housing support workers.

The community campaign was also successful in bringing the NSW governments Rent Choice pilot program to our area. This allows up to 15 young people moving out of our crisis housing into their own properties to get subsidies rent for up to three years - an invaluable kick-start to a successful future.

Surf Dive n Ski joined the campaign last year and are now providing a work experience and mentoring program to young people participating in our Connecting Home program. It involves an accredited course that focuses on workplace skills across all facets of their business plus they will be mentored by a Surf Dive n Ski team member to help them achieve their goals throughout the following year.

The community campaign has sparked many other initiatives and individual acts of kindness. It highlights the effectiveness of our community when we unite to achieve a common goal.

Pictured: Geoff Provest - Member for Tweed, David Boutkan - Executive Director The Family Centre, Carol Shanley - Volunteer, Gerina Appo - Senior Coordinator The Family Centre, David Keays - CEO Surf Dive and Ski, Shakia Tauwhare - Youth Ambassador

Come fly with me…

Simple everyday tasks can be overwhelming for a child on the Autism Spectrum…

Recently a family being supported by a Child and Family Worker at The Family Centre had some exciting news, their daughter had been selected to attend a school excursion to Sydney. With the excitement came anxiety as Molly* is on the Autism spectrum and has sensory issues that are heightened when in new situations.

With the help of mum, the worker planned an excursion to the Gold Coast Airport to familiarise Molly with the airport environment and procedures before the trip to Sydney.

Gold Coast Airport staff were very kind and understanding of the situation and walked Molly through the scanning area, explaining what happens, what all the noises mean and how the explosive test works.

The trip to the airport was a fun and exciting experience – Molly was a little stressed at times but it was made so much easier because the airport staff recognised the family needed some extra support and kindness.

Thank you to the staff at Gold Coast City Airport for making this a positive experience for the family.

*Name changed.

Fun at the Murwillumbah Farmers Markets

The Family Centre and Murwillumbah Farmers Markets collaborate to create a weekly family and children craft space where families can come with their children, enjoy activities and connect with the wider community.

During the recent school holidays the children had fun making birds nests and gigantic bubbles from homemade bubble wands. Volunteers Amanda and Ellise, as well as volunteers from Earth Learning and Murwillumbah Art Trail, provided support for the activity from The Family Centre

The Murwillumbah Farmers Market is a fabulous community space as well as being a place to shop for nutritious and delicious food.

Celebrating Youth Week

The Momentum Festival, hosted by Cabarita Youth Service, has become an annual event and the biggest celebration of youth in the Tweed Shire. The festival is supported by many community organisations and services for Youth Week each year.

Over 800 young people and their families attended the 2018 event, enjoying beautiful weather, lots of fun activities and live music.

The Family Centre’s Youth & Family Services team supported the day with a stall offering fun activities and prizes, as well as information on services we offer.

A free raffle was the hit of the day with a skateboard pack donated by Surf Dive n Ski. The raffle was won by 8 year old Elliot.

Winter Wonderland at Cherry St Bowls

Winter came early at Cherry St Bowls with an indoor ice-skating rink set up for the school holidays. The Family Centre joined in with all the fun with our pop up craft stall. Craft included popsicle puppets and badge making. The pop up stall was very busy and was kept running smoothly our volunteers Nina and Jessie.

The Family Centre have had a long partnership with Cherry Street Bowls in Ballina and we are pleased to have had the opportunity to connect with local families at such a fantastic community event.

Volunteer Profile – Kathleen Baldwin

Kathleen emigrated from the USA in 1979 and landed in Byron Bay. A mum of 7 and grandmother of 6 Kathleen is long-term resident of both the Byron and Tweed Shires. Kathleen has an impressive resume of experience in volunteering.

In 1984 Kathleen started the Home Birth Support Group where she partnered with midwives providing education and support to pregnant and post natal mums.

In the 90’s Kathleen joined the board of the Byron Bay Youth House where she held positions and was the first women appointed as president to the board. During this time Kathleen also worked closely with Sydney City Mission setting up a Victims of Crime Support Group in Lismore. The group supported families who victims of crime mainly homicide.

Kathleen completed a Bachelor of Social Science in Counseling and Welfare and a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drug Work. While completing this certificate Kathleen volunteered with a group of acupuncturists working with drug and alcohol clients. Kathleen obtained a certificate in ear acupuncture and worked with clients in Nimbin, Lismore and Ballina.

As a change of pace Kathleen volunteered as a Palliative Support Carer and was on the board at Wedgetail Hospice in Murwillumbah. This role was at times very sad but being able to be with someone when others couldn’t and just sit and hold their hand was very special.

In 2013 Kathleen joined The Family Centre as a casual child minder. She became interested in the work The Family Centre were doing in the community and joined the newly formed Volunteer Leadership Group (VLG) and she hasn’t looked back…

Kathleen has driven a number of community projects through the VLG these have included:

· Donation boxes at local shops and businesses

· Buddy Benches in local schools in collaboration with
the Tweed Heads Men’s Shed

· Books for Early Literacy with over 600 books given to
children and families in our
programs

She has also been a community advocate for The Family Centre forming relationships whilst going about her daily routine. One of those was while doing her banking at the Kingscliff Commonwealth Bank, her incidental chats with the tellers led to a grant for The Family Centre’s successfully applying for a $10,000 grant for the REALskills programs in local high schools.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering with The Family Centre click here.