Re-Connecting Taree 15th May 2008

Reawakening Eldership
Reclaiming, Recreating & Reconnecting Elders’ Wisdom with Family, Community & Earth

(Contact Manning Valley Neighbourhood Service For more details -

Tel: 02 65535121

WHO
A 1 day seminar to for older Tenants:
If you are Aboriginal, you need to be 45 years of age or older
If you are Non-Aboriginal, you need to be 55 years of age or older

AIMS:
1. To provide a safe place where Older Tenants can explore:
¯ How, when and where they feel their Eldership has been undermined
¯ The losses they might have experienced because of this
¯ The impact of those losses on them, their families and their communities, and
¯ Validate the value of their experiences and wisdom

2. To explore ways individuals can reawaken, reclaim and express their Eldership within the context of their families and communities

3. To create pathways to Eldership that re-establish the communities’ perception that there is value in – and urgent need of – Elders’ involvement in families and communities

4. To develop specific projects that will be self-sustaining in a number of communities across the Northern Region which will:
¯ Re-establish the network of Eldership within individual communities
¯ Recreate an intergenerational connection to and respect for the Elders in each community
¯ Reconnect younger members of the communities with the value of becoming an Elder in their own time
¯ Support a continually widening network of Older Tenants across the Region
¯ Reclaim the wisdom of the Elders in each community for the benefit of their families, communities and country-environment


HOW THE FORUM WILL RUN

We will discuss & explore:
¥ Whether Eldership has been lost in our communities – both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal
¥ If we decide it has been lost, we will explore how and why that has happened &
¥ How this has affected Elders, families, young people, children, babies, the whole community and our country-environment
¥ We will do this individually, in small groups, and together as a larger group
¥ We will play, we will create, we will listen to Elders tell their stories
¥
We will watch dvds that will help us understand what has happened across the planet and in this country ….
¥ We may need to grieve for some of these losses

J We will work out what sorts of projects and programs will work and what we can realistically achieve as individuals and as a group
J We will design projects that each Elder feels comfortable about creating in their own families and communities
J We will think about the difficulties that might get in the way of success and how we can help each other overcome them
J We will identify what we need to make these projects work: money, support, materials, etc.
J Above all, we will help each other grow into our own Eldership

WHEN IT’S ALL OVER

NRTRS will:
¯ Support the Elders who have attended the Forum in the projects they decide to take back to their communities and
¯ We will help them to find the resources they need to make them work
¯ Encourage other Elders to join in & support the projects and programs as they develop
¯ We will write a report for the Department of Housing so that they are aware of our intentions, achievements and needs

Mortgage Stress

There are increasing reports of households approaching NGOs because of problems keeping up with their mortgage. Many people in this situation do not know what they can do or where they can go for legal or financial help.
Two new brochures provide helpful information for people who are in trouble with their mortgage, from those who are in the process of being evicted from their homes to those who are just experiencing difficulty meeting their mortgage payments. They explain what you can do about your situation, and provide information about where you can get help.
Problems paying your mortgage? Things you can do. (Information on where you can get legal and financial help).
They are trying to take my home. (Answers common questions about home repossession and what you can do).
You can either download the brochures or order printed copies (publications@legalaid.nsw.gov.au; T 9219 5028).
The brochures are part of an information kit. To get a copy of the full kit, or to find out where to get help, phone LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529.
The brochures are produced by Legal Aid NSW, the Consumer Credit Legal Centre and LawAccess NSW.
Please circulate to your networks.

RYDON Conference

RYDON ANNUAL YOUTH WORKER CONFERENCE
10 & 11 June 2008
REGISTRATIONS DUE 23rd MAY 2008

RYDON (Regional Youth Development Officers Network) is a network of Youth Development Officers from the Cessnock, Dungog, Gloucester, Gosford, Great Lakes, Greater Taree, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Merriwa, Murrurundi, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Scone, Singleton, and Wyong Local Government Areas.RYDON's primary purpose is to focus on community development activities that will assist young people to access community resources and opportunities. This is done through:
Promoting coordination, cooperation and networking between providers of services to young people;
Lobbying government and other relevant bodies on behalf of young people and providers of services to young people;
Supporting, organising and providing training for those working with young people;
Representing the interest of young people and those working with young people

Go to www.rydon.org.au for more details

Core of Life

What is Core of Life?
Core of Life in an innovative, ‘hands on’ health education program providing current, research based information about Pregnancy, Birth, Breast Feeding and Early Parenting to both male and female adolescents. Core of Life are currently calling for expressions of interest for people interested in being trained as a Core of Life facilitator in Coffs Harbour later this year. The training costs $220. There are a number of people already trained on the Mid North Coast including midwives.

The purpose of Core of Life is to achieve better health outcomes for young people and future families in our wider community.

The program was developed by two midwives at Peninsula Health’s Rosebud Hospital in Victoria, Australia.

Core of Life aims to:

Assist in reducing teenage pregnancy rates;
foster increased levels of responsibility and confidence in youth; and
facilitate positive community and early childhood development.
Core of Life is an ideal addition to secondary schools’ health education programs or programs for youth at risk in the community.

The program is presented in partnership by a midwife and a youth/health professional and engages participants using slides, video, discussions, power point presentations and the opportunity to be involved in role-play.

The Core of Life program is currently being offered in secondary schools and community settings throughout Australia. The program can be easily adapted to suit the needs of various community groups including English as a Second Language (ESL) students and Indigenous communities. Core of Life is currently developing modified resources for Australia's Indigenous community in partnership with several Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health organisations.

For more information on Core of Life or to register your interest in the training visit http://www.coreoflife.org/facilitators/workshopdates.html

Care from the Begining

Care from the Beginning Forum
Expression of Interest

The Mid North Coast Area Management Group is currently calling for agencies who are interested in presenting at the “Care from the Beginning Forum” on the 22nd July at Port Pacific Resort in Port Macquarie. The forum aims to promote the importance of antenatal care and showcase the various services available to families expecting a new baby. Please complete and return the form below if your agency is interested in giving a presentation to the forum.

Title
First Name and Surname
Role/Position
Organisation:
Type of service provided: ( ie Pre/Post natal, Midwifery, Obstetrician, Support service)
Target Group
Contact Phone No’s.
E-mail
Fax:
Postal Address
In 250 words or less please give an overview of your agency for inclusion with the program.

We are anticipating that presentations will be 15 minutes in length, although we can look at this if need be. Also as part of the presentations we are asking agencies to speak about what is working well and if there are any areas of improvement. This information will be further explored as part of a panel session at the end of the day.

Children and Grief Workshop

CHILDREN & GRIEF

This workshop will explore how living through loss, grief and trauma affects children’s behaviour, emotions and relationships. Learn and practice skills to assist children to cope with extreme stress, loss and trauma. Ages 5-12.
This workshop covers:
 Overview of loss, grief and trauma effects and responses.
 Learning creative and effective play therapy skills to assist children.
 Explore a range of “tools” e.g. Workbooks, drama, games, sand tray play, cards, story telling and much more.
 Cast studies “The Magic of Memories, Helping Children Live with Grief” Dianne McKissock’s CD.
This workshop is interactive and will allow hands on experience. Participants receive a workbook with notes and exercise for future use.

TRUDY HANSON OAM
Trudy is the Manager of the NALAG Centre for Loss & Grief Dubbo and Chapter Co-ordinator for NALAG (NSW) Inc. She is an accredited Grief Counsellor & Educator who has worked in the field for the past 20 years. Trudy is an accredited Seasons For Growth Trainer and Companion.

She has worked in health promotion in the area of Youth Suicide Prevention and established a mentoring program for Homeless Youth. She travels extensively throughout NSW promoting NALAG, training and establishing new chapters. She visits remote NSW communities conducting Healing Days. Her special interest areas are working with children and traumatic grief and trauma response.


REGISTRATION DETAILS ( cut out and send )

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 5pm Monday 24th March 2008


NALAG ONE DAY WORKSHOP at Taree Friday 2nd May 2008

Non MNCC
Member Member
0 FULL DAY (Includes lunch) $ 60.00 $ 55.00
(Maximum 30 people)


0 WORKSHOP DINNER
6pm for 6.30pm
Island Trader Restaurant $ 25.00 $ 15.00




0 CHEQUE or MONEY ORDER
Enclosed for total amount due $
Cheques Payable to NALAG (MNCC)
Please post to: NALAG
PO Box 85
LANSDOWNE NSW 2430


Name:

Address:



Phone: _______

Email: _____________________________


Tax Invoice ABN 1905 1500 655
GST Not Applicable

Free Screening

HAVE YOU HAD UNPROTECTED SEX?

 DO YOU ALWAYS USE CONDOMS?

 DO YOU NEED THE STRICTEST CONFIDENTIALITY? + FREE TESTING?

CALL THE SEXUAL HEALTH CLINIC
For free screening, treatment or advice at
Taree Community Health –on 6592 9421
Forster Community Health on 6555 1800

You may or may not have any symptoms of infection, and some people don’t necessarily notice symptoms from sexually transmitted infections( STIs), such as Chlamydia.
Chlamydia is the highest reported STI in NSW and mainly affects young people.
Treatment is simple ,but if left untreated Chlamydia can result in infertility.

BE COOL BE TESTED

There are even a few different ways to get tested … a quick urine test at your GP or FREE at your friendly Sexual Health Clinic.


ALWAYS USE CONDOMS /AND HAVE REGULAR CHECK UPS.

Core of Life Program

As part of our local planning for Families NSW we have identified a need to initiate a working party to coordinate the Core of Life Program in local High Schools. Core of Life is a program which addresses the emerging attitudes of adolescents towards the issues of pregnancy, birth and early parenting. There are a number of people who were trained last year to run the program. We would like to hear from people who would be willing to use their training and facilitate the program in Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester high schools.

We are holding a meeting on Friday 4th April at 10.30am in Education room 7 at Taree Community Health, to look at how we can get the program up and running. If you are interested in being involved please come along. If you cant make it on this day but are still interested in being involved please let me know.

Hope to see you there.

Regards
Kim Thomson
Senior Regional Strategies Officer - Child, Youth & Family
Mid North Coast
Communities Division
Department of Community Services

' (02) 6563 7830
Ê (02) 6563 7885
È (0437) 403 760
, PO Box 350, Kempsey, NSW 2440

Training for Community Groups

Training Workshop on Planning for community groups

26 March, 10am-4pm

Nabiac Showground Hall, Nabiac St, Nabiac

This workshop will cover the essential areas of how to contribute to planning and management for regional not-for-profit organisations. Participants will look at where their organisation is now, where they want to be and how to get there. This course de-mystifies the process of business planning and turns it into a tool that can be used effectively by groups of all sizes. It unpicks the jargon and gives you the skills and language to be able to clearly set out your long term plans and share them with potential support networks like local government. By the end of the workshop you will have drafted key elements of a Business Plan.

Although the workshop content is geared towards cultural organisations, volunteers working in all community-based organisations in regional Australia are welcome to enrol. The more people who come to a workshop from an organisation, the greater the benefit will be, because you can work together on issues.

This workshops is funded by the Australian Government, through the Regional Arts Fund. The workshop is supported by Arts Mid North Coast and Great Lakes Council. The cost to the participant will only be $25 including training resources and all catering for the day (lunch, morning and afternoon teas)

To enrol online at: www.regionalartsnsw.com.au

Enquiries: Contact Chloe Beevers at Great Lakes Council on 65917312 or chloe.beevers@greatlakes.nsw.gov.au
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Free Workshops

Strengthening Families ProjectManning Valley Neighbourhood Services Inc has a project funded by the Department of Family & Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) to facilitate free workshops and courses to help parents with children 0 - ¬8 years develop better relationships between themselves and with their children and to enhance their parenting skills.
All workshops and courses will be facilitated by experienced professionals from Interrelate Family Centres.

Free workshops for parents of children aged 0 – 8 years!
“Creating Positive Relationships”
Friday 14th March 12.30 – 3pm

“Positive Parenting”
Wednesday 26th March from 5.30 – 8pm

More courses and seminars to follow throughout
2008 – 2009!

ALL BOOKINGS TO BE MADE by phoning 6553 5121, OR BY E¬MAIL
mvns@mvns.org.au Mon, Tuesdays, Weds, Thurs 9am – 3pm