January 2025

The Feelz Program

The Feelz Program is a strengths-based program for school-aged young people. Using the group process, they will learn to identify their own strengths, recognise and label their emotions, identify safe adults and learn the skills to create positive peer relationships. 

The program is run by the CONNECT Team from the Interrelate Family Mental Health Support Service and is a free, voluntary program aiming to provide early intervention support to families and their young people. 

You may know families that could benefit from this service, with holiday sessions at Interrelate Coffs Harbour being held throughout January- Click here to see the schedule. 

Join over 1000 fellow creatives of all ages as we come together for a week of immersive workshops in a wide range of genres. Whether you're passionate about dance, woodworking, art, sewing, beekeeping, or photography, we have something for everyone.

At Camp Creative, you'll have the opportunity to make new friends, learn new skills, and participate in exciting evening events throughout the week. Our friendly and supportive atmosphere ensures that everyone feels welcome and encouraged to explore their creativity.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to unleash your imagination and discover new talents. Join us at Camp Creative and embark on a journey of self-discovery and artistic growth. Get ready for a week filled with inspiration, creativity, and endless possibilities!

Camp Creative - Where Creativity Comes to Life!

Please visit the Camp Creative website for course availability and more information.

Mental health support is available over the holiday period: Christmas and holidays can be a time of joy and happiness, but for some it’s the most difficult time of the year. Those experiencing stress or worry can often find this time of year hard to cope with.

If you are considering getting you or a loved one support, there are several different avenues to obtain help. Visit the Healthy North Coast website for links to supports.

Keep an eye out for these colourful inclusion boards in hospitals and community health centres across the Mid North Coast Local Health District! The boards have been developed as part of Blue Sky Community Services' Enhancing Inclusion in the Health System project, with the QR code taking the scanner to important information and resources that support inclusion in the health system for people with disability. You can check out these important resources on the Blue Sky Community Services website.

Mission Australia has announced that the Psychosocial Support Program for Youth is officially open in Port Macquarie, Nambucca Heads, Coffs Harbour and surrounding suburbs.

 The following services are able to refer, so please get in contact if you have a relevant referral.

• Healthy Hub Connect – Each Youth Enhanced Service
• Local Health District
• Medicare Mental Health Centre
• Headspace
• Schools
  
• Referral Process:
• All referrals are sent to our intake and admin assistant who checks eligibility and correct consents have been signed. Please note we need client consent to continue with the referral.
• The referral is then tabled at weekly intake meetings where program suitability is determined. If suitable the young person will be allocated to a Youth Wellbeing Coordinator
• The Youth Wellbeing Coordinator will then make contact with the referrer and young person.

We look forward to working with you all and assisting your young people through their wellbeing journey.

For more information visit the Mission Australia Psychosocial Support Program webpage.

Local housing support workers and the Child and Family Interagency groups across the Mid North Coast, recently formed working groups to create localised resources. These flowcharts help guide community service workers and volunteers through the process required to support families experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of becoming homeless.

The flowcharts break the process into five steps - Safety and Services, Shelter, Situation, Support and Self-Care (5 Ss). Local support services are highlighted throughout.

There is a version available for each of the following regions: Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley, Bellingen, Kempsey, Port Macquarie Hastings and Mid Coast (Taree/Forster/Gloucester).

The resources are beneficial for workers in organisations where housing support is not their core business, however, they support customers who may also be experiencing challenges with securing or maintaining housing. This assists the worker to maintain a holistic and supportive approach to families and foster relationships and trust. 

Head to the Blue Sky Community Services website to learn more about the 5 Ss and to download the latest versions for each region.

Are you someone who lives with a disability or cares for someone who does? Do you want to help improve our communities' level of inclusion? Blue Sky Community Services is working towards developing a new project that focuses on creating more inclusive and accessible events, experiences and communities. We are looking for people to join our new Voice of Inclusion consultation group to share ideas and knowledge - and to shape how the project develops.

Voice of Inclusion Group expressions of interest can be lodged via this short online Voice of Inclusion EOI form

or by contacting Inclusive Communities Coordinator, Lynda Warwick, on 0417 878 391 or by email: lynda.warwick@ndis.gov.au

The Community Connections Guide has been created by Blue Sky Community Services to encourage social inclusion across the Mid North Coast. The guide contains profiles of local groups and includes information on how you can join, what to expect, and a list of accessibility features.

If you are a person looking to make inclusive community connections this guide can help!

If you are a member of a community group on the Mid North Coast, you might like to be featured in the Community Connections Guide. It's totally free to list and is a great way to promote social inclusion in our community. Our Inclusive Communities Coordinators can also assist you with easy practical ways your group can celebrate diversity, promote inclusion and, most importantly, make people feel like they belong.

For more information and to access the guide go to the Community Connections Guide page on the Blue Sky Community Services website.

Inclusive Communities Coordinators from Blue Sky Community Services have created an Inclusive Community Connections Facebook page for community members to like and follow.

The page provides information about inclusive places and events on the Mid North Coast. So why not check out the page and increase your positive community connections!

The new year is the perfect time to be empowered and get organised! The Hospital Care Resources support people with disability or unique needs to share important information about themselves with health staff supporting them in hospital. The resources assist patients and Health staff to collaborate in a more positive way to better meet the needs of the patient. The Hospital Care Resources have been developed as part of the 'Enhancing Inclusion in the Health System' project, delivered by Blue Sky Community Services in partnership with the Mid North Coast Local Health District. The project aims to develop a best practice model for enhancing the inclusion of people with disability in the mainstream health system. For more information about the resources, and to download and complete yours now, go to the click Enhancing Inclusion in the Health System page on the Blue Sky Community Services website.

Blue Sky Community Services offers NDIS Support Coordination, Plan Management and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching in the Manning-Great Lakes and Forster areas. 

As a registered NDIS provider Blue Sky delivers best practice Plan Management, Support Coordination and Psychosocial Recovery Coaching services to NDIS participants in the Manning-Great Lakes, MidCoast, Clarence Valley, Northern Rivers and SE Queensland regions.

The services support NDIS participants through a strengths-based and person-centred approach, ensuring that participants maintain full choice and control over their plans.

For more information visit the Blue Sky NDIS Support Services pages on the Blue Sky Community Services website.