July 2022

Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire Combine Under a New Name

Following the official amalgamation of Bellingen and Urunga Neighbourhood Centres in 2019, the recent addition of Dorrigo Neighbourhood Centre to the group has resulted in a new combined name along with a colourful new logo identity.

Whilst the same official title remains as ‘Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire Inc.’, the new ‘Connecting Neighbourhood Centres’ operating name allows for an opportunity to unite behind the suite of essential services the centres provide, as vital support for the local community.

For more information, click HERE.

Free counselling is available to residents of the Bellingen Shire. The counselling sessions are available by appointment at all three Neighbourhood Centres – Bellingen, Urunga and Dorrigo.

For more information and to book an appointment go to the Bellingen Neighbourhood Centres website.

We are pleased to announce the Nambucca legal outreach is starting on Thursday, 3rd March, for civil law matters for the Nambucca Valley community.

Where:          Nambucca Senior Citizens Club, 11 Kent Street Nambucca (opposite the Anglican Church)
When:           10am to 12 noon
Frequency:  Every fortnight on a Thursday morning, starting Thursday, 3rd March 2022.

Please note:  Appointments are necessary.  To book a time, call our office on (02) 6580 2111

There’s more than you think on offer at your local library!

Check out what’s coming up by clicking HERE.

To celebrate International Day of People with Disability 2022, the Glitz & Glamour Ball is being held at the Slim Dusty Centre Kempsey, on Saturday, 15th October 2022. Don’t miss this amazing event!

Check out the flyer for all the info.

GG-Ball

Women Can and Kids Can are evidence-based group programs designed to safeguard against family and domestic violence. The programs run for two hours, one day a week for 8 weeks.

Women Can is a psycho-educational group program for women who are parents/primary carers of children who have been exposed to family and domestic violence. The purpose of the group is to provide a safe place for women with peers who have a similar experience, to better understand the nature, dynamics and impacts of domestic violence on children and families. It is designed to run parallel with the Kids Can group program for children aged 8–12 years who have been exposed to domestic and family violence. The Women Can program equips mothers with knowledge and skills to support their children in dealing with the impacts of family and domestic violence and respond in ways that support their children’s self-esteem, development and safety and support healthy family functioning.

Kids Can is a therapeutic group program for children who have been exposed to family and domestic violence. The purpose of this program is to provide a safe place for the children with peers who have similar experiences, to clarify and understand the thoughts and feelings which arise from exposure to domestic violence, and to equip them with some age-appropriate strategies to deal with these.

We are also facilitating Parenting After Domestic Violence, a program to support parents and caregivers to establish healing relationships with their children, so that the negative effects of violence can be improved, and children can be provided with a safe, nurturing environment for healing, growth and development.
This program runs for an additional 4 weeks, (2 hours, one day a week) usually after the completion of the Women Can and Kids Can programs.

View the flyer HERE.
View the referral form HERE.

Mentors Required

The Driving Change Program is looking for people interested in assisting learners to accumulate their log book hours in a car provided by us. This is a good opportunity to give back to your community and to assist young people to get safely on the road. If you (or someone you know) are interested or would like more information, please ring the Driving Change project workers:

Krystal Smith: 0427 047 413

Shirley Kent: 0458 695 167

View the flyer HERE.

Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre has a new project – Art from Our Place – for women interested in exploring creative pursuits either for fun and relaxation or with the aim of earning an income.

See the flyer for information about the first workshop HERE.

There’s so much happening at Kempsey Library!

For more information click HERE.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Homelessness Committee have planned a number of roadshow events for homelessness week in the Hastings community. The roadshow will be set up in different locations around Port Macquarie and surrounds each day and people who are homeless or doing it tough can get a free hot meal, donations in the form of clothing, thermals, sleeping bags, tents, dignity packs and gift cards.

For roadshow dates and locations check out the flyer.

For children 8-12 years and young people 13-18 years of age.

Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre
When: Tuesday afternoons during the school term

Kids 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Teens 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Ph: (02) 6583 8044

See the flyer HERE.

Wauchope Cosplay Festival is coming up in August and there’s so much on offer! Cosplay parade, live music, makers market, manga, superhero gadgets, extreme makeup and so much more! This is a free event with lots of prizes on offer.

Where:  Wauchope Library Precinct
When:    Saturday 6th August
Time:      10am – 4pm

For more information on registering for Cosplay, getting a free table at the Makers Market or wanting to exhibit in the Manga Art Exhibition, please email wauchopecopslayfestival@gmail.com for assistance.

For infants 0-6 months and their caregivers.

Please bring a small blanket and toys if desired. Tea, coffee & morning tea are provided.
Please note this is a fully-funded program with no cost to families who attend.

Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre, Cnr Muston & Dodds Street
When:  Mondays 9am-10am

For more information click HERE.

Are you a woman living in the Hastings area looking to invest in your health & wellbeing?
Come along each week as we chat and experience all things:

• Mindfulness
• Meditation
• Movement
• Self Reflection
• Self Care
• Nutrition Tips & Tricks
• Healthy Habit Stacking

When:  Monday’s 11am-12:30pm
Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre
For more information click HERE.

Stay in the know with what’s happening at headspace Port Macquarie!

For more information keep an eye on the headspace Port Macquarie website.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has public libraries in Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Laurieton, Wauchope, South West Rocks and Stuarts Point.

To see what’s on at your local library click HERE.

The FASS is a specialist family violence service that provides legal, emotional and social support to clients affected by family violence in the Family Law courts. The FASS comprises a partnership between Legal Aid NSW duty lawyers and social support workers. For women, The FASS are provided by the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services (WDVCAS). This is a new service for the Coffs Harbour Family Law Court Circuit.

We are seeking to employ a Family Advocacy Support Service (FASS) Worker on a permanent 35-hour per week position. In this role you will provide high quality trauma-informed casework, safety planning and support to our clients. The program is targeted to support women currently engaged with the Family Court System and who are either affected by family violence or who have allegations of family violence against them.

Being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
Further information and a position description is available by request to: coordinator@nccas.org.au

If you are interested in this exciting new position, please submit a cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role and include your resume. Please send your applications to: coordinator@nccas.org.au. Applications must be received by 4pm on Monday, 29^th  August 2022.

This service is funded by the Commonwealth Government.

We are currently recruiting for a People and Culture Manager to join our amazing team.

For more information and to apply click HERE.

Looking for a job? Find an ethical job that contributes for a more equitable, more just or more sustainable world.

For more information click HERE.

Each year, Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision.

The bursaries provide adaptive technology to help students fully participate and succeed in their chosen studies. Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and improve their student life.

For more information and details on how to apply, click HERE.

Applications close strictly on 30 September 2022.

If you have any queries or would like to speak with our Bursary Coordinator, please feel free to make direct contact:

Joy King – Bursary Coordinator
Joy.king@visionaustralia.org
Ph:  (03) 8378 1220

Build your disability awareness with an education session from the Let’s Talk Disability team! This training is delivered by people with lived experience of disability.

Check out their website HERE.

Mission Australia’s Family & Carer Mental Health Program supports families and carers of people with a mental illness through a comprehensive range of supports and services. Education and training sessions to build the skills and resilience of families and carers are held each month across the Mid North Coast, this month’s include Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Urunga,  Macksville and Woolgoolga.

To view the calendar for August, click HERE.

Presenters: Dr Lesley-Anne Ey, Julie Clifton, Vanya. Facilitated by Nicole Rollbusch.
Date & time: 10 August 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Cost: This is a free webinar.

Childhood bullying is a complex social issue and our understanding of bullying dynamics has evolved over time. It is important for practitioners to understand children’s knowledge and perspectives on childhood bullying so that they can better support them.
This webinar is designed to support practitioners to:

• understand how childhood bullying impacts on child mental health
• understand the importance of prevention and early intervention in limiting the effects of childhood bullying in adulthood
• be curious about children’s understanding and perspectives on bullying and why this is important
• explore strategies to work with children experiencing bullying or engaging in bullying behaviour.

This webinar will be of interest to practitioners who work with children and families in a broad range of settings given the wide reach of bullying involvement. It will be of particular interest to those working with children aged 4–12 years.

This webinar is coproduced with Emerging Minds.

There’s a lot being said about vaping at the moment – and much of it is conflicting and confusing. That’s why we’ve developed a suite of new social media resources that you can share to help clear the air on vaping.

The new resources include simple images and videos addressing some of the common questions about vaping by providing the facts. They’re ready for you to copy, paste and post on your social channels to share with your community.

View the resources HERE.

TLC for Kids is an established charity that has been helping sick children and their families since 1998.

We’ve developed a free smart device app featuring fun and colourful distraction games to divert children’s attention during short medical procedures. Distraction helps to reduce fear and anxiety and makes the whole process less stressful for the child, healthcare professional and the parent or carer. The app is completely kid-friendly, with no ads, sign-ups, plug-ins etc. Digital distraction is an anytime, anywhere distraction and can be used as a valuable resource now, and into the future, by your community.

Go to tlcforkids.app if you like and check it out – it’s really great!

Mission Australia’s Family & Carer Mental Health Program supports families and carers of people with a mental illness through a comprehensive range of supports and services. Education and training sessions to build the skills and resilience of families and carers are held each month across the Mid North Coast, including Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Kempsey and Port Macquarie.

To obtain a copy of the education and training calendar for your area please email Libby Crispin at crispinl@missionaustralia.com.au or to read more about the program click HERE.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District is now offering their Covid-19 Vaccination Hub for community events!

If you would like to discuss having the hub available at your upcoming event, please see the flyer and give Clare Casey a call (contact details included in flyer).

MOBILE-CLIINC-PROMO-POSTER

The Mental Health Coordinating Council has many resources and tools available to the community, including a very useful Recovery Oriented Language Guide.

Check out their resources and tools page HERE.

What: Free Online Workshop
When: 16 August 10am-12pm
Where: MS Teams

Northcott is the local early childhood NDIS Partner in the Community across the Mid North Coast region. During this session, topics to be covered include:

• Understanding the human sensory system
• An in-depth look at sensory processing disorders
• Understanding the senses and what “stimming” is
• Recognising child behaviours related to sensory processing
• Practical tips for supporting sensory needs in an education setting
• How to support families to access supports from the NDIS and Northcott for children with sensory differences

This workshop will be held online via MS Teams. The link will be sent out to participants closer to the event date.

To register, click HERE.

This Small Grants program (up to $750) supports projects proposed by individuals and or organisations and or communities who would otherwise be limited by the constraints of other funding programs. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

There are three small grant rounds in 2022, with the following closing dates:

• Round 1 closed on Monday, 7 March 2022
• Round 2 closed on Monday,  11 July 2022
• Round 3 closes on Monday, 14 November 2022

Applications that are particularly creative and innovative are welcomed, as are those put forward by individuals, communities and organisations who have not received small grant funding in the previous 2 years. Projects that work as partnerships between individuals and organisations are also regarded favourably.

For more information, click HERE.

Blue Sky Community Services has received the following short-term funding and we would appreciate it if you could share this information with your networks and with anyone you think may be eligible for this support.

FLOOD AND RECOVERY RELIEF SUPPORT – GRAFTON TO GREAT LAKES
This funding will end on 30/6 and can provide assistance in the form of vouchers, to people who have experienced flood/storm damage (including mould).

Referred by an organisation: with the consent of the person, complete the (very simple) referral form and email it to: contact@bluesky.org.au.  We will then contact the person to make a time (probably on a Thursday) for a 30-minute phone call with our Financial Wellbeing Coordinator. During this phone call, our Coordinator will identify if there are any other supports the person might be eligible for, as well as arrange the issuing of a voucher (generally Woolworths or Bunnings or Good Guys, or combination) to the following value: Single ($600), Couple ($800) and Family ($1000).

Self-referred: Although a referral is the preferred process, as an alternative, if a person is eligible for the flood funding (refer to the fact sheet), they can contact us on: (02) 6651 1788 and say that they wish to make an appointment for the flood funding.

Please refer to the Fact Sheet HERE and Referral form HERE for more information.

COVID-19 REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP GRANT SUPPORT – COFFS TO GREAT LAKES  
This funding will end in September and can provide assistance to people who are experiencing some hardship and vulnerabilities due to either testing COVID-positive or having to isolate. This assistance can be in the form of:

• material aid – such as essential grocery vouchers
• payment of essential items to help support people isolating
• links to well-being supports.

For assistance, please contact us at (02) 5632 4021 or email: CovidRPG@bluesky.org.au

Please refer to the attached flyer HERE for more information.

The Connecting you to My Aged Care services factsheet is now available on the Services Australia website in 21 languages.

This factsheet informs older Australians how agency staff, including Aged Care Specialist Officers, can help with their aged care matters.

Key topics include:

• what we can help with
• where to find more information
• what Aged Care Specialist Officers can help with
• how to find an Aged Care Specialist Officer.

To access the factsheet click HERE.

During National Child Protection Week, 4-10 September, Mid North Coast Local Health District is celebrating outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to promoting better outcomes for children and their families here on the Mid North Coast.

Click here to nominate an individual, service or initiative that deserves to be recognized for the difference they are making in our community.

This year’s award categories are as follows:

1. Children’s Champion.
2. Agent for Equity and Equality.
3. The People’s Champion.
4. Dedication to collaborative work.
5. Leadership in promoting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and Families.
6. Leadership in promoting the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse families.
7. Working with adults to keep children safe.
8. Empowering women in pregnancy.
9. Partnering with Young People

Nominations are now LIVE!

Click here to learn more about this year’s theme.

Visit the MNCLHD Child Protection and Child Wellbeing Intranet pages to learn more about The Child Safe Standards

Contact the child protection and wellbeing co-ordinator Jody Clayton at clayton@health.nsw.gov.au or on (02) 6691 1907

In 2022 Australia is celebrating Child Protection Week with the theme- ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. To treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.’

Anxiety occurs across a long continuum, from occasional ‘butterflies’, to feelings of panic which can be recurring and disabling. Even though most children who experience mild or occasional anxiety will not need to see a mental health professional, there may be circumstances that mean a referral to a specialist service is important. Learning more about the child’s experience of anxiety helps practitioners and parents to decide when support from a mental health professional may be required.

Co-produced with the Parenting Research Centre (PRC), we have developed two practice guides for children aged 4–8 years and 9–12 years who may be experiencing mild to moderate levels of anxiety. By being aware of anxiety and responding early to their experience, practitioners may prevent children from developing severe and/or persisting anxiety or other mental health concerns in the future.

View the practice guides HERE.

If you’re an Aboriginal person and have been thinking about buying a home there are support grants available as well as support on how to purchase a home.

Check out the grants HERE.

And you can also call Debbie Avery | 0491 228 003 | homeownership@aho.nsw.gov.au  | Northern Region

Kempsey Uniting is now offering evidence-based group programs to help safeguard against Family & Domestic Violence.
‘Women Can, Kids Can’ and ‘Parenting after Domestic Violence’ spots are available now.

Contact Louise 0418 246 755 | lwells@uniting.org or Amanda at 0481 396 765 | asteger@uniting.org

Women-can-kids-can-3

Apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram allow young people to connect with peers, be creative and express themselves through images and videos.

Online dares and challenges encourage users to share videos of themselves or others taking part in a challenging activity. Sometimes, these dares can be creative and inspiring and build a sense of belonging. But young people can also feel pressure to participate, even if the challenge might result in harm to themselves or others.

Platforms usually don’t allow activities that might cause harm. For example, TikTok’s Community Guidelines ban dangerous challenges.

TikTok has also just released a package of information and safety features to help users stay safe around online challenges. The package includes a 4-step process that users need to go through before taking part in challenges, and they’ve also made it easier to report dangerous challenges.

Learn more about dangerous online challenges and how you can talk to young people about them and minimise the potential for harm.

‘All One Under the Sun’ is a remedy to racism campaign for the whole community, driven by young people and using the arts to promote inclusion, belonging, connection, education and empowerment.

The project, based in Coffs Harbour, began in April 2021 and has recently launched with an original song written collaboratively by young people and Music Producers ‘Grow the Music’, alongside a film clip and documentary created by ‘Bathtime Productions’.

To find out more and download the song and watch the film clip & documentary go to www.alloneunderthesun.com.au.

For more information contact Project Coordinator Naomi Steinborner on 0427 037 558 or naomisteinborner@bluesky.org.au.

13YARN [Thirteen YARN] is the first national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. We offer a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 13YARN empowers our community with the opportunity to yarn without judgement and provides a culturally safe space to speak about their needs, worries or concerns.

If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
This is your story; your journey and we will take the time to listen. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. We’re here for you.

We have co-designed this line using Lifeline expertise with several Aboriginal mental health professionals including NACCHO, Black Dog Institute Aboriginal Lived Experience team and the Centre for Excellence in Suicide Prevention, along with input from Torres Strait Islander, remote, regional, and urban peoples with lived experience.

We work to explore options for ongoing support, and community members will always be reassured they will be connected to another Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who will understand where they are coming from and value knowing HOW to listen, without judgement or shame.

For more information click HERE.

Hello, all AHPs and AHAs on the NSW Mid North Coast,

We need to find you all! Can you help by supporting the current initiative of the development of an Allied Health Community of Practice for the NSW Mid North Coast? Please see the flyer below for more information:

This Community will be inclusive of ALL disciplines and ALL cohorts – Health, Disability, Aged Care, Early Childhood, Education, Private Practice, Government and Non-Government.
The problem is, we don’t know who you are! Are you an Allied Health Professional or Allied Health Assistant working on the NSW Mid-North Coast? Do you know other AHPs or AHAs working in the region?
We want to ensure that everyone is aware of the Community of Practice and knows that they are welcome to join.

To this end, we are collating a contact list here.

We would be so grateful if you could:

• check to see if we have found you yet – and if we have do we have all of your info?
• add information that you are comfortable sharing
• add yourself if you are not already there
• share this email with anyone who you notice is missing from the list.

For more information, contact Ashlee Law at Ashlee.Law@ndis.gov.au

The Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) gives free legal advice to people with disability who live in New South Wales, including students and families with disability.

We have created the online toolkit “Learning Together – Tools to help you get the support you need at school” so that students with disability and their families can understand their rights in education, and advocate more effectively for the supports they need – HERE.

This website contains the toolkit and its accessible versions, information about upcoming training and other useful resources. The toolkit will be translated into community languages and free translated training will also be offered in those languages from May 2022. The first round of languages is Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese.

We are keen to work with community groups and organisations to plan face-to-face training sessions in these languages, so would love to discuss further.

There are many options for accessing mental health supports online.

Don’t hesitate to reach out, as we all need help from time to time.

Check out the flyer via the link below to explore these options.

Mental-Health-Supports

If you’ve been impacted by the recent floods and storms, we’re here to help, in several ways, including the following:

Rental support
The Rental Support scheme will provide up to 16 weeks of financial rental support to flood victims in temporary accommodation. Total funding available will depend on the number of people per household including children.
To be notified when more information is available, please register your details or call 13 77 88.

Temporary housing support
To be notified when more information is available, please register your details or call 13 77 88.

Financial Support
Immediate financial help and payments are available to people living in disaster declared areas.

Clean-up
Cleaning up after a natural disaster can be dangerous – here’s some advice on how to clean up safely and deal with hazardous waste.

Food & essentials
Essentials and personal care items such as blankets, clothing, and medication are also available.

Recovery Centres
Flood Recovery Centres are a one-stop shop for you to access recovery service.

Landlords and Tenants’ Rights in a Flood
If you live in or lease a rental property that has been affected by a flood or storm, tenants and landlords have certain rights and responsibilities relating to payment of rent, damage to belongings and urgent repairs.
Any tenancy related disputes following a natural disaster can be taken to the Tribunal.

Help with Animals
You can get immediate assistance with animals by contacting WIRES, Wildlife Rescue Australia, RSPCA or NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that refers to the diversity in brain functioning associated with a range of developmental conditions and experiences. Evidence suggests that conventional counselling approaches may not be as effective for neurodiverse children, since these individuals may need additional support to learn. This practice paper provides an overview of principles and strategies that can help practitioners to support children with neurodiversity to engage in counselling and reflective learning.

Key Messages:

• Emerging evidence suggests that a range of developmental conditions and experiences can be associated with neurodiversity.
• A psychological assessment is needed to confirm a child’s neurocognitive status, and it can be helpful to support a family to pursue an assessment if this is deemed appropriate.
• Children with neurodiversity may have more difficulty in reflective learning, and in developing behavioural and emotional control.
• Children who experience neurodiversity may need additional supports to help them engage with and benefit from counselling, develop new skills, participate in learning environments, and develop self-regulation.
• Children with neurodiversity can become more engaged with learning in the context of an environment that is characterised by structure and predictability, and that is scaffolded by visual supports and simplified adult-child interactions.
• Children with neurodiversity cannot control their sensory sensitivities and how they respond to the sensory world. They can be supported to understand how the sensory world affects them and be taught to use behavioural strategies to manage this impact.
• Children’s adaptive functioning can be extended by understanding the barriers that exist for each child as a learner; and using explicit and systematic techniques to gradually improve their independence in manageable increments.

To read the publication, click HERE.

Check out the Blue Sky Community Services Training & Events page to learn more about the various upcoming NDIS information sessions.

For more information and to register click HERE.

Disability Advocacy on the Mid North Coast is taking referrals, however, there is a considerable wait for non-urgent matters.

For more information click HERE.

The ATO have developed new resources to assist people from CALD backgrounds with tax and superannuation. Check out the video stories by people from CALD communities via the following link.

For more information click HERE.

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 and Forster areas.

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 NDIS Support Services pages on the Blue Sky Community Services website.

Who do we help?

We support anyone who has been bereaved or impacted by suicide including:

• individuals, families, friends, witnesses
• schools, workplaces and community groups
• first responders and service providers.

To find your local StandBy site, please visit our website.
For more information click HERE.

Feeling stressed or worried? Not coping so well at the moment?

Call and have a yarn with our Aboriginal Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Staff on 0408 985 916.

For more information click HERE.

• Women’s Legal Advice Line
• Domestic Violence Legal Advice Line
• First Nations Women’s Legal Contact Line
• Working Women’s Legal Service

The Beware of Scams factsheet has been updated and is now available on the Services Australia website in 26 languages.

The factsheet provides tips on how to protect your personal information, how to identify a scam by knowing what Services Australia will and won’t do and what to do if you have been scammed.

The factsheet is also available on the How to know if it’s a scam webpage. This webpage has other useful information, including links to current scam alerts and examples of scams.

Warrina Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services was successful in securing the Men’s Behaviour Change Program (MBCP) Tender for the Coffs Harbour LGA after achieving registration by DCJ to deliver this work two years ago.

It represents an exciting expansion on the work Warrina has been doing in MBCP over the last 8 years with partners, Kempsey Families and Liberty DFVSS through Engage2Change (group) and Fixed Address (individual case management).

From 1 July, Warrina has been delivering the group and individual case management service (Fixed Address) for men who use violence under the broader umbrella of “Safer Futures”.  The group program commenced on the 3rd of August and will run over 20 weeks with a mix of group and individual sessions.

Get in touch to learn more at saferfutures@warrina.org.au

‘SHARING KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE OUR DREAMING’

The 5^th National Aboriginal Wellbeing Conference will explore the opportunities mainstream services have to offer culturally-inclusive practice for Aboriginal People and Families. Our speakers will share their practice, wisdom and knowledge with delegates, and our delegates will have the opportunity to attend a range of workshops exploring how we maintain our Aboriginal identity whilst engaging with mainstream services.

When: 29^th – 30^th August 2022
Where: Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour, NSW [Contact the resort directly for room rates: (02) 6651 0510] Cost: $620

For more information, visit the website HERE.

Are you struggling to manage feelings of low mood, stress or anxiety?

MindStep is a free and confidential mental health coaching program and is available to anyone over the age of 16 living on the North Coast of NSW.

For more information click HERE.

Classes are open to any adults who would like to learn and improve their conversational English. There is no charge to attend the classes, which are run by mentors who attend Harbourside Presbyterian Church and are fully supported and endorsed by the Church.

Where: Classes are held in the foyer of the Harbourside Presbyterian Church
When: Monday mornings at 9:30am and Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to 8:00pm

For more information click HERE.

The Smith Family, in partnership with The Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre, has operated the Bright Sparks Learning Club since 2008.
The Learning Club operates Monday afternoons from approximately 3:15pm to 4:45pm during school Terms 2, 3 & 4.
We are currently recruiting students for this year. Attached is the Bright Sparks Student Application Form for your information.
We are focused on high school students, however, if a CALD family has other students attending Primary School years 3 and above, we are open to considering their attendance.

Please Note:

• Learning Club Tutors are Volunteers with Child Protection Screening clearances
• Learning Club Tutors are Male & Female
• Families/Parents/Carers are responsible for the drop-off and pick-up of their students
• Students attend Learning Club because they want assistance
• Students must bring school work to be worked on at the Learning Club each week
• To ensure the best outcomes, students attend every week.

We encourage Families/Parents/Carers to support the students learning. Please contact Darrin Allen for any further information:
Email: darrin.allen@thesmithfamily.com.au
Mobile: 0428 234 399

Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre is hosting a SMART Recovery Support Group. The group offers free, practical training to help you champion your own behaviour change around alcohol, drug use, gambling or any behaviour of concern. For more information see the flyer below.

SMART-Recovery-Flyer-CHNC

Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire Combine Under a New Name

Following the official amalgamation of Bellingen and Urunga Neighbourhood Centres in 2019, the recent addition of Dorrigo Neighbourhood Centre to the group has resulted in a new combined name along with a colourful new logo identity.

Whilst the same official title remains as ‘Neighbourhood Centres of Bellingen Shire Inc.’, the new ‘Connecting Neighbourhood Centres’ operating name allows for an opportunity to unite behind the suite of essential services the centres provide, as vital support for the local community.

For more information, click HERE.

Free counselling is available to residents of the Bellingen Shire. The counselling sessions are available by appointment at all three Neighbourhood Centres – Bellingen, Urunga and Dorrigo.

For more information and to book an appointment go to the Bellingen Neighbourhood Centres website.

We are pleased to announce the Nambucca legal outreach is starting on Thursday, 3rd March, for civil law matters for the Nambucca Valley community.

Where:          Nambucca Senior Citizens Club, 11 Kent Street Nambucca (opposite the Anglican Church)
When:           10am to 12 noon
Frequency:  Every fortnight on a Thursday morning, starting Thursday, 3rd March 2022.

Please note:  Appointments are necessary.  To book a time, call our office on (02) 6580 2111

There’s more than you think on offer at your local library!

Check out what’s coming up by clicking HERE.

To celebrate International Day of People with Disability 2022, the Glitz & Glamour Ball is being held at the Slim Dusty Centre Kempsey, on Saturday, 15th October 2022. Don’t miss this amazing event!

Check out the flyer for all the info.

GG-Ball

Women Can and Kids Can are evidence-based group programs designed to safeguard against family and domestic violence. The programs run for two hours, one day a week for 8 weeks.

Women Can is a psycho-educational group program for women who are parents/primary carers of children who have been exposed to family and domestic violence. The purpose of the group is to provide a safe place for women with peers who have a similar experience, to better understand the nature, dynamics and impacts of domestic violence on children and families. It is designed to run parallel with the Kids Can group program for children aged 8–12 years who have been exposed to domestic and family violence. The Women Can program equips mothers with knowledge and skills to support their children in dealing with the impacts of family and domestic violence and respond in ways that support their children’s self-esteem, development and safety and support healthy family functioning.

Kids Can is a therapeutic group program for children who have been exposed to family and domestic violence. The purpose of this program is to provide a safe place for the children with peers who have similar experiences, to clarify and understand the thoughts and feelings which arise from exposure to domestic violence, and to equip them with some age-appropriate strategies to deal with these.

We are also facilitating Parenting After Domestic Violence, a program to support parents and caregivers to establish healing relationships with their children, so that the negative effects of violence can be improved, and children can be provided with a safe, nurturing environment for healing, growth and development.
This program runs for an additional 4 weeks, (2 hours, one day a week) usually after the completion of the Women Can and Kids Can programs.

View the flyer HERE.
View the referral form HERE.

Mentors Required

The Driving Change Program is looking for people interested in assisting learners to accumulate their log book hours in a car provided by us. This is a good opportunity to give back to your community and to assist young people to get safely on the road. If you (or someone you know) are interested or would like more information, please ring the Driving Change project workers:

Krystal Smith: 0427 047 413

Shirley Kent: 0458 695 167

View the flyer HERE.

Kempsey Neighbourhood Centre has a new project – Art from Our Place – for women interested in exploring creative pursuits either for fun and relaxation or with the aim of earning an income.

See the flyer for information about the first workshop HERE.

There’s so much happening at Kempsey Library!

For more information click HERE.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Homelessness Committee have planned a number of roadshow events for homelessness week in the Hastings community. The roadshow will be set up in different locations around Port Macquarie and surrounds each day and people who are homeless or doing it tough can get a free hot meal, donations in the form of clothing, thermals, sleeping bags, tents, dignity packs and gift cards.

For roadshow dates and locations check out the flyer.

For children 8-12 years and young people 13-18 years of age.

Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre
When: Tuesday afternoons during the school term

Kids 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Teens 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Ph: (02) 6583 8044

See the flyer HERE.

Wauchope Cosplay Festival is coming up in August and there’s so much on offer! Cosplay parade, live music, makers market, manga, superhero gadgets, extreme makeup and so much more! This is a free event with lots of prizes on offer.

Where:  Wauchope Library Precinct
When:    Saturday 6th August
Time:      10am – 4pm

For more information on registering for Cosplay, getting a free table at the Makers Market or wanting to exhibit in the Manga Art Exhibition, please email wauchopecopslayfestival@gmail.com for assistance.

For infants 0-6 months and their caregivers.

Please bring a small blanket and toys if desired. Tea, coffee & morning tea are provided.
Please note this is a fully-funded program with no cost to families who attend.

Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre, Cnr Muston & Dodds Street
When:  Mondays 9am-10am

For more information click HERE.

Are you a woman living in the Hastings area looking to invest in your health & wellbeing?
Come along each week as we chat and experience all things:

• Mindfulness
• Meditation
• Movement
• Self Reflection
• Self Care
• Nutrition Tips & Tricks
• Healthy Habit Stacking

When:  Monday’s 11am-12:30pm
Where: Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre
For more information click HERE.

Stay in the know with what’s happening at headspace Port Macquarie!

For more information keep an eye on the headspace Port Macquarie website.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council has public libraries in Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Laurieton, Wauchope, South West Rocks and Stuarts Point.

To see what’s on at your local library click HERE.

The FASS is a specialist family violence service that provides legal, emotional and social support to clients affected by family violence in the Family Law courts. The FASS comprises a partnership between Legal Aid NSW duty lawyers and social support workers. For women, The FASS are provided by the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services (WDVCAS). This is a new service for the Coffs Harbour Family Law Court Circuit.

We are seeking to employ a Family Advocacy Support Service (FASS) Worker on a permanent 35-hour per week position. In this role you will provide high quality trauma-informed casework, safety planning and support to our clients. The program is targeted to support women currently engaged with the Family Court System and who are either affected by family violence or who have allegations of family violence against them.

Being a woman is a genuine occupational qualification for this position under Section 31 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977.
Further information and a position description is available by request to: coordinator@nccas.org.au

If you are interested in this exciting new position, please submit a cover letter outlining how you meet the requirements of the role and include your resume. Please send your applications to: coordinator@nccas.org.au. Applications must be received by 4pm on Monday, 29^th  August 2022.

This service is funded by the Commonwealth Government.

We are currently recruiting for a People and Culture Manager to join our amazing team.

For more information and to apply click HERE.

Looking for a job? Find an ethical job that contributes for a more equitable, more just or more sustainable world.

For more information click HERE.

Each year, Vision Australia awards Further Education Bursaries to a select number of students who are blind or have low vision.

The bursaries provide adaptive technology to help students fully participate and succeed in their chosen studies. Assistive technology can eliminate barriers to education and enhance access to information. It enables students to read course material, conduct research and improve their student life.

For more information and details on how to apply, click HERE.

Applications close strictly on 30 September 2022.

If you have any queries or would like to speak with our Bursary Coordinator, please feel free to make direct contact:

Joy King – Bursary Coordinator
Joy.king@visionaustralia.org
Ph:  (03) 8378 1220

Build your disability awareness with an education session from the Let’s Talk Disability team! This training is delivered by people with lived experience of disability.

Check out their website HERE.

Mission Australia’s Family & Carer Mental Health Program supports families and carers of people with a mental illness through a comprehensive range of supports and services. Education and training sessions to build the skills and resilience of families and carers are held each month across the Mid North Coast, this month’s include Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Urunga,  Macksville and Woolgoolga.

To view the calendar for August, click HERE.

Presenters: Dr Lesley-Anne Ey, Julie Clifton, Vanya. Facilitated by Nicole Rollbusch.
Date & time: 10 August 2022, 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Cost: This is a free webinar.

Childhood bullying is a complex social issue and our understanding of bullying dynamics has evolved over time. It is important for practitioners to understand children’s knowledge and perspectives on childhood bullying so that they can better support them.
This webinar is designed to support practitioners to:

• understand how childhood bullying impacts on child mental health
• understand the importance of prevention and early intervention in limiting the effects of childhood bullying in adulthood
• be curious about children’s understanding and perspectives on bullying and why this is important
• explore strategies to work with children experiencing bullying or engaging in bullying behaviour.

This webinar will be of interest to practitioners who work with children and families in a broad range of settings given the wide reach of bullying involvement. It will be of particular interest to those working with children aged 4–12 years.

This webinar is coproduced with Emerging Minds.

There’s a lot being said about vaping at the moment – and much of it is conflicting and confusing. That’s why we’ve developed a suite of new social media resources that you can share to help clear the air on vaping.

The new resources include simple images and videos addressing some of the common questions about vaping by providing the facts. They’re ready for you to copy, paste and post on your social channels to share with your community.

View the resources HERE.

TLC for Kids is an established charity that has been helping sick children and their families since 1998.

We’ve developed a free smart device app featuring fun and colourful distraction games to divert children’s attention during short medical procedures. Distraction helps to reduce fear and anxiety and makes the whole process less stressful for the child, healthcare professional and the parent or carer. The app is completely kid-friendly, with no ads, sign-ups, plug-ins etc. Digital distraction is an anytime, anywhere distraction and can be used as a valuable resource now, and into the future, by your community.

Go to tlcforkids.app if you like and check it out – it’s really great!

Mission Australia’s Family & Carer Mental Health Program supports families and carers of people with a mental illness through a comprehensive range of supports and services. Education and training sessions to build the skills and resilience of families and carers are held each month across the Mid North Coast, including Coffs Harbour, Sawtell, Kempsey and Port Macquarie.

To obtain a copy of the education and training calendar for your area please email Libby Crispin at crispinl@missionaustralia.com.au or to read more about the program click HERE.

The Mid North Coast Local Health District is now offering their Covid-19 Vaccination Hub for community events!

If you would like to discuss having the hub available at your upcoming event, please see the flyer and give Clare Casey a call (contact details included in flyer).

MOBILE-CLIINC-PROMO-POSTER

The Mental Health Coordinating Council has many resources and tools available to the community, including a very useful Recovery Oriented Language Guide.

Check out their resources and tools page HERE.

What: Free Online Workshop
When: 16 August 10am-12pm
Where: MS Teams

Northcott is the local early childhood NDIS Partner in the Community across the Mid North Coast region. During this session, topics to be covered include:

• Understanding the human sensory system
• An in-depth look at sensory processing disorders
• Understanding the senses and what “stimming” is
• Recognising child behaviours related to sensory processing
• Practical tips for supporting sensory needs in an education setting
• How to support families to access supports from the NDIS and Northcott for children with sensory differences

This workshop will be held online via MS Teams. The link will be sent out to participants closer to the event date.

To register, click HERE.

This Small Grants program (up to $750) supports projects proposed by individuals and or organisations and or communities who would otherwise be limited by the constraints of other funding programs. The project needs to directly or indirectly assist, involve and benefit LGBTQIA+ people and promote positive social outcomes and mental health in the community.

There are three small grant rounds in 2022, with the following closing dates:

• Round 1 closed on Monday, 7 March 2022
• Round 2 closed on Monday,  11 July 2022
• Round 3 closes on Monday, 14 November 2022

Applications that are particularly creative and innovative are welcomed, as are those put forward by individuals, communities and organisations who have not received small grant funding in the previous 2 years. Projects that work as partnerships between individuals and organisations are also regarded favourably.

For more information, click HERE.

Blue Sky Community Services has received the following short-term funding and we would appreciate it if you could share this information with your networks and with anyone you think may be eligible for this support.

FLOOD AND RECOVERY RELIEF SUPPORT – GRAFTON TO GREAT LAKES
This funding will end on 30/6 and can provide assistance in the form of vouchers, to people who have experienced flood/storm damage (including mould).

Referred by an organisation: with the consent of the person, complete the (very simple) referral form and email it to: contact@bluesky.org.au.  We will then contact the person to make a time (probably on a Thursday) for a 30-minute phone call with our Financial Wellbeing Coordinator. During this phone call, our Coordinator will identify if there are any other supports the person might be eligible for, as well as arrange the issuing of a voucher (generally Woolworths or Bunnings or Good Guys, or combination) to the following value: Single ($600), Couple ($800) and Family ($1000).

Self-referred: Although a referral is the preferred process, as an alternative, if a person is eligible for the flood funding (refer to the fact sheet), they can contact us on: (02) 6651 1788 and say that they wish to make an appointment for the flood funding.

Please refer to the Fact Sheet HERE and Referral form HERE for more information.

COVID-19 REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP GRANT SUPPORT – COFFS TO GREAT LAKES  
This funding will end in September and can provide assistance to people who are experiencing some hardship and vulnerabilities due to either testing COVID-positive or having to isolate. This assistance can be in the form of:

• material aid – such as essential grocery vouchers
• payment of essential items to help support people isolating
• links to well-being supports.

For assistance, please contact us at (02) 5632 4021 or email: CovidRPG@bluesky.org.au

Please refer to the attached flyer HERE for more information.

The Connecting you to My Aged Care services factsheet is now available on the Services Australia website in 21 languages.

This factsheet informs older Australians how agency staff, including Aged Care Specialist Officers, can help with their aged care matters.

Key topics include:

• what we can help with
• where to find more information
• what Aged Care Specialist Officers can help with
• how to find an Aged Care Specialist Officer.

To access the factsheet click HERE.

During National Child Protection Week, 4-10 September, Mid North Coast Local Health District is celebrating outstanding leadership, innovation and commitment to promoting better outcomes for children and their families here on the Mid North Coast.

Click here to nominate an individual, service or initiative that deserves to be recognized for the difference they are making in our community.

This year’s award categories are as follows:

1. Children’s Champion.
2. Agent for Equity and Equality.
3. The People’s Champion.
4. Dedication to collaborative work.
5. Leadership in promoting the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and Families.
6. Leadership in promoting the health and wellbeing of culturally and linguistically diverse families.
7. Working with adults to keep children safe.
8. Empowering women in pregnancy.
9. Partnering with Young People

Nominations are now LIVE!

Click here to learn more about this year’s theme.

Visit the MNCLHD Child Protection and Child Wellbeing Intranet pages to learn more about The Child Safe Standards

Contact the child protection and wellbeing co-ordinator Jody Clayton at clayton@health.nsw.gov.au or on (02) 6691 1907

In 2022 Australia is celebrating Child Protection Week with the theme- ‘Every child, in every community, needs a fair go. To treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.’

Anxiety occurs across a long continuum, from occasional ‘butterflies’, to feelings of panic which can be recurring and disabling. Even though most children who experience mild or occasional anxiety will not need to see a mental health professional, there may be circumstances that mean a referral to a specialist service is important. Learning more about the child’s experience of anxiety helps practitioners and parents to decide when support from a mental health professional may be required.

Co-produced with the Parenting Research Centre (PRC), we have developed two practice guides for children aged 4–8 years and 9–12 years who may be experiencing mild to moderate levels of anxiety. By being aware of anxiety and responding early to their experience, practitioners may prevent children from developing severe and/or persisting anxiety or other mental health concerns in the future.

View the practice guides HERE.

If you’re an Aboriginal person and have been thinking about buying a home there are support grants available as well as support on how to purchase a home.

Check out the grants HERE.

And you can also call Debbie Avery | 0491 228 003 | homeownership@aho.nsw.gov.au  | Northern Region

Kempsey Uniting is now offering evidence-based group programs to help safeguard against Family & Domestic Violence.
‘Women Can, Kids Can’ and ‘Parenting after Domestic Violence’ spots are available now.

Contact Louise 0418 246 755 | lwells@uniting.org or Amanda at 0481 396 765 | asteger@uniting.org

Women-can-kids-can-3

Apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram allow young people to connect with peers, be creative and express themselves through images and videos.

Online dares and challenges encourage users to share videos of themselves or others taking part in a challenging activity. Sometimes, these dares can be creative and inspiring and build a sense of belonging. But young people can also feel pressure to participate, even if the challenge might result in harm to themselves or others.

Platforms usually don’t allow activities that might cause harm. For example, TikTok’s Community Guidelines ban dangerous challenges.

TikTok has also just released a package of information and safety features to help users stay safe around online challenges. The package includes a 4-step process that users need to go through before taking part in challenges, and they’ve also made it easier to report dangerous challenges.

Learn more about dangerous online challenges and how you can talk to young people about them and minimise the potential for harm.

‘All One Under the Sun’ is a remedy to racism campaign for the whole community, driven by young people and using the arts to promote inclusion, belonging, connection, education and empowerment.

The project, based in Coffs Harbour, began in April 2021 and has recently launched with an original song written collaboratively by young people and Music Producers ‘Grow the Music’, alongside a film clip and documentary created by ‘Bathtime Productions’.

To find out more and download the song and watch the film clip & documentary go to www.alloneunderthesun.com.au.

For more information contact Project Coordinator Naomi Steinborner on 0427 037 558 or naomisteinborner@bluesky.org.au.

13YARN [Thirteen YARN] is the first national crisis support line for mob who are feeling overwhelmed or having difficulty coping. We offer a confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with a Lifeline-trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter who can provide crisis support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 13YARN empowers our community with the opportunity to yarn without judgement and provides a culturally safe space to speak about their needs, worries or concerns.

If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, we encourage you to connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter.
This is your story; your journey and we will take the time to listen. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. We’re here for you.

We have co-designed this line using Lifeline expertise with several Aboriginal mental health professionals including NACCHO, Black Dog Institute Aboriginal Lived Experience team and the Centre for Excellence in Suicide Prevention, along with input from Torres Strait Islander, remote, regional, and urban peoples with lived experience.

We work to explore options for ongoing support, and community members will always be reassured they will be connected to another Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who will understand where they are coming from and value knowing HOW to listen, without judgement or shame.

For more information click HERE.

Hello, all AHPs and AHAs on the NSW Mid North Coast,

We need to find you all! Can you help by supporting the current initiative of the development of an Allied Health Community of Practice for the NSW Mid North Coast? Please see the flyer below for more information:

This Community will be inclusive of ALL disciplines and ALL cohorts – Health, Disability, Aged Care, Early Childhood, Education, Private Practice, Government and Non-Government.
The problem is, we don’t know who you are! Are you an Allied Health Professional or Allied Health Assistant working on the NSW Mid-North Coast? Do you know other AHPs or AHAs working in the region?
We want to ensure that everyone is aware of the Community of Practice and knows that they are welcome to join.

To this end, we are collating a contact list here.

We would be so grateful if you could:

• check to see if we have found you yet – and if we have do we have all of your info?
• add information that you are comfortable sharing
• add yourself if you are not already there
• share this email with anyone who you notice is missing from the list.

For more information, contact Ashlee Law at Ashlee.Law@ndis.gov.au

The Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) gives free legal advice to people with disability who live in New South Wales, including students and families with disability.

We have created the online toolkit “Learning Together – Tools to help you get the support you need at school” so that students with disability and their families can understand their rights in education, and advocate more effectively for the supports they need – HERE.

This website contains the toolkit and its accessible versions, information about upcoming training and other useful resources. The toolkit will be translated into community languages and free translated training will also be offered in those languages from May 2022. The first round of languages is Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Vietnamese.

We are keen to work with community groups and organisations to plan face-to-face training sessions in these languages, so would love to discuss further.

There are many options for accessing mental health supports online.

Don’t hesitate to reach out, as we all need help from time to time.

Check out the flyer via the link below to explore these options.

Mental-Health-Supports

If you’ve been impacted by the recent floods and storms, we’re here to help, in several ways, including the following:

Rental support
The Rental Support scheme will provide up to 16 weeks of financial rental support to flood victims in temporary accommodation. Total funding available will depend on the number of people per household including children.
To be notified when more information is available, please register your details or call 13 77 88.

Temporary housing support
To be notified when more information is available, please register your details or call 13 77 88.

Financial Support
Immediate financial help and payments are available to people living in disaster declared areas.

Clean-up
Cleaning up after a natural disaster can be dangerous – here’s some advice on how to clean up safely and deal with hazardous waste.

Food & essentials
Essentials and personal care items such as blankets, clothing, and medication are also available.

Recovery Centres
Flood Recovery Centres are a one-stop shop for you to access recovery service.

Landlords and Tenants’ Rights in a Flood
If you live in or lease a rental property that has been affected by a flood or storm, tenants and landlords have certain rights and responsibilities relating to payment of rent, damage to belongings and urgent repairs.
Any tenancy related disputes following a natural disaster can be taken to the Tribunal.

Help with Animals
You can get immediate assistance with animals by contacting WIRES, Wildlife Rescue Australia, RSPCA or NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Neurodiversity is an umbrella term that refers to the diversity in brain functioning associated with a range of developmental conditions and experiences. Evidence suggests that conventional counselling approaches may not be as effective for neurodiverse children, since these individuals may need additional support to learn. This practice paper provides an overview of principles and strategies that can help practitioners to support children with neurodiversity to engage in counselling and reflective learning.

Key Messages:

• Emerging evidence suggests that a range of developmental conditions and experiences can be associated with neurodiversity.
• A psychological assessment is needed to confirm a child’s neurocognitive status, and it can be helpful to support a family to pursue an assessment if this is deemed appropriate.
• Children with neurodiversity may have more difficulty in reflective learning, and in developing behavioural and emotional control.
• Children who experience neurodiversity may need additional supports to help them engage with and benefit from counselling, develop new skills, participate in learning environments, and develop self-regulation.
• Children with neurodiversity can become more engaged with learning in the context of an environment that is characterised by structure and predictability, and that is scaffolded by visual supports and simplified adult-child interactions.
• Children with neurodiversity cannot control their sensory sensitivities and how they respond to the sensory world. They can be supported to understand how the sensory world affects them and be taught to use behavioural strategies to manage this impact.
• Children’s adaptive functioning can be extended by understanding the barriers that exist for each child as a learner; and using explicit and systematic techniques to gradually improve their independence in manageable increments.

To read the publication, click HERE.

Check out the Blue Sky Community Services Training & Events page to learn more about the various upcoming NDIS information sessions.

For more information and to register click HERE.

Disability Advocacy on the Mid North Coast is taking referrals, however, there is a considerable wait for non-urgent matters.

For more information click HERE.

The ATO have developed new resources to assist people from CALD backgrounds with tax and superannuation. Check out the video stories by people from CALD communities via the following link.

For more information click HERE.

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 and Forster areas.

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 NDIS Support Services pages on the Blue Sky Community Services website.

Who do we help?

We support anyone who has been bereaved or impacted by suicide including:

• individuals, families, friends, witnesses
• schools, workplaces and community groups
• first responders and service providers.

To find your local StandBy site, please visit our website.
For more information click HERE.

Feeling stressed or worried? Not coping so well at the moment?

Call and have a yarn with our Aboriginal Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Staff on 0408 985 916.

For more information click HERE.

• Women’s Legal Advice Line
• Domestic Violence Legal Advice Line
• First Nations Women’s Legal Contact Line
• Working Women’s Legal Service

The Beware of Scams factsheet has been updated and is now available on the Services Australia website in 26 languages.

The factsheet provides tips on how to protect your personal information, how to identify a scam by knowing what Services Australia will and won’t do and what to do if you have been scammed.

The factsheet is also available on the How to know if it’s a scam webpage. This webpage has other useful information, including links to current scam alerts and examples of scams.