by Kim | 27, Jan 2022 | Housing and homelessness
Click the links below to view the latest rental vacancy lists for the Northern Rivers region, including Tweed Heads, Lismore, Ballina, Grafton and Casino.
If you or somebody you know is homeless, or is at risk of homelessness, contact Link2Home 1800 152 152 for 24 hour emergency support.
If you are living from Tweed Heads to Grafton, you can contact Connecting Home on 1800 048 310 between 9am – 4:30pm
Monday – Friday or email [email protected]
- Grafton
- Ballina
- Lismore
- Tweed Heads
- Casino / Kyogle
Grafton Greater Region Rental Properties
Ballina – Greater Region, NSW
Lismore Greater Region Rental Properties
Tweed Shire Rental Properties
Casino North Casino Rental Properties
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Employment opportunities
Social Futures is currently advertising numerous positions.
- People and Culture Officer
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8467144
Due to an internal promotion, Social Futures is searching for an experienced administration professional to join the People & Culture Team. The People and Culture Officer provides administrative supports, with a focus on recruitment, database administration and general support for the delivery of all employee services. This is a fast paced, hands-on role in a dynamic environment which is going through a significant period of growth and change.
2. Yarn Safe Worker (can this please be boosted around Lismore)
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8457679
An exciting part-time fixed term opportunity is now available due to an internal promotion to join our headspace Lismore team as a Yarn Safe Worker. The Yarn Safe Worker works to promote headspace Lismore services and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People access health and other well-being services. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team the Yarn Safe worker will work alongside the community to build referral pathways and assist with culturally safe access to headspace services.
3. StandBy Program Worker 9can this please be boosted around Dubbo – Broken Hill)
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8351877
StandBy support after suicide service is a community-based postvention program developed in response to an identified need for a coordinated community response to assist families, friends and associates who have been bereaved or impacted through suicide, regardless of when or where the suicide occurred. It is an integrated response service utilising existing emergency and community support networks, resulting in bereaved people accessing the right support at the right time and place. Participation and cooperation with a wide range of agencies, essential.
4. Local Area Coordinator
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8393488
Social Futures is looking to add to our NDIS Local Area Coordination teams across Western NSW service regions. As a Local Area Coordinator (LAC), you will assist people with disability to access the full benefits of the National Disability Insurance Scheme as well as other community and mainstream organisations that support their individual goals.
5. Program Worker – Complex Homelessness Support
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8360423
We have an opportunity for a passionate Program Worker to join our homelessness service with our Lismore team! You will be part of an innovative team that supports those experiencing homelessness, or at risk thereof to identify and access sustainable housing outcomes, as well as appropriate supports such as education and employment opportunities. No two days will be the same. You will be providing high quality, customer centred assistance, with a mix of home based support and outreach. There will also be a requirement to collaborate with a variety of community based organisations to ensure the best possible outcomes.
6. Program Worker – Youth
https://careers.socialfutures.org.au/job-details/query/8409990
Social Futures is seeking a motivated and skilled person to join our Youth Team as a Program Worker in our Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP). This exciting opportunity will see you working with young people (aged 12-15) and their families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Apply now for a First Nations pre-apprenticeship program at TAFE NSW Lismore
TAFE NSW Aboriginal Education and Engagement Coordinator is working with National Indigenous Culinary Institute who, on completion could assist you with obtaining an Apprenticeship within the industry.
Apprentice opportunity locations include; Byron Bay, Lismore, Ballina and more.
Register interest via Link –NICI Pre apprenticeship Commercial Cookery or QR Code on the flyer
You can also enrol now for the Certiciate III Aboriginal Cultural Arts at TAFE NSW Lismore (CUA30515)
Apply now Via QR Code on Flyer or via link https://online-enrolments.oneebs.tafensw.edu.au/Apply/Process/GetStarted/165/10577212
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Join us for an Information Session
Where: TAFE NSW Lismore, 64 Conway Street
When: 27th Jan 2022
Time: 10am – 11am
G Block, Level 1, Room (G1.26)
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Families and children, Health and wellbeing (including Mental Health)
The Northern Rivers Community Foundation (NRFC) is inviting Northern Rivers women to play an active role in empowering vulnerable women and girls in our region.
The newly formed NRFC’s Women’s Giving Circle brings Northern Rivers women together to achieve equality and human rights for women and girls in our region, and enable them to realise their full potential.
Benefits of being in the Circle:
- Connect with a like-minded group of women who want to have a social impact beyond what they could achieve alone
- Give strategically and know how your donation is making a difference
- Participate in the grant-making process and develop a greater understanding of the challenges and needs of women and girls in our region
Visit the Women’s Giving Circle on the NRFC website for more information and to join the Women’s Giving Circle.
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Training and professional development
Wollongbar TAFE is offering a FEE FREE Statement of Attainment in Espresso Coffee for 2021 school leavers, 16 years or over or anyone aged between 14-16 and not at school.
Course starts on 31 January and runs over 4 days until 3 February from 9am – 2:30pm. The below two units will be covered in the course:
SITHFAB005 Prepare and serve espresso coffee
SITXFSA001 Use hygienic practices for food safety
Know anyone who might be interested? Ask them to call the section on 6620 4888 with any questions or click here to enrol
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Families and children
The Family Support Network offers many programs to parents and carers in the Lismore area for free.
The Summary of Services brochure is downloadable Summary_Of_Our_Services_2021.pdf
If you would like to join our mailing list to receive information about our programs then please click here.
Parenting Groups
Parenting Groups can help you build a positive relationship with your child, understand what motivates their behaviour and improve parent-child communication.
All our groups are free of charge, contact us or phone 02 66212489 to register.
Please join our mailing list so we can email you about upcoming events including groups in Nimbin or other locations.
We offer a range of Parenting Groups each school term, including Triple P, 123 Magic, Bringing Up Great Kids and Tuning In To Kids. You can download our 470kB Summary_Of_Parenting_Groups.pdf here. Groups start again online in February 2022.
What parents are saying about our Parenting Groups:
“I have learned how to listen to my children. I have made different choices as a Dad.
Counting and time out are working well.”
“We got positive feedback and validation about our parenting and will continue working with what we have learned.”
What is the Start Together Program?
This new program offers support for parents of children 0-3 years old to help them achieve their developmental milestones. Start Together focuses on each family’s strengths, capabilities and skills. Our Start Together team share knowledge, ideas, activities on:
- Ways parents and carers can provide exciting, inexpensive educational experiences for babies and children
- Using everyday experiences as learning opportunities
- What to look for and expect as children grow and develop
- Ways to help children develop a love of books and stories
- Setting realistic limits for children’s behaviours
- Our Baby Group is running in Lismore & Nimbin Bring your baby up to 12 months old, meet other parents and share your experiences. Share our activities that encourage baby’s development and early learning through play.
Lismore Young Ones Group runs during school term on Thursday, 1pm to 3pm at 41 Wilson Street, South Lismore. We invite caregivers to attend with their children up to 3 years of age. Our poster 400 kB PDF file is linked Here.
Nimbin Babies Group runs 10am to noon on Tuesday during school term, at Nimbin Family Centre, 81 Cullen Street, Nimbin.
More detail about Start Together is available in the 1.1Mb attached Start_Together_Brochure_2019.pdf
Provides parenting support, education, home visits, group programs, information, resources, advocacy and referral for families in Lismore local government area with dependent children 0-17 years old. Our Family Workers recognise the uniqueness of each family and offers emotional and practical assistance to families seeking extra support and information to strengthen and maintain parenting and family relationships.
READ MORE: CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM
Our Nimbin and South Lismore playgroups are combined and being held online Wednesday & Friday 10am to 12pm.
Sign up by finding zoom link here on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/southlismore.playgroup
This is current to April 2022 and we hope to return to face to face playgroups, in both locations from May 2022.
Join our South Lismore friends: https://www.facebook.com/southlismore.playgroup talking about Early Childhood and parenting Wednesday mornings 10-11am in November & December 2021.
READ MORE: NIMBIN PLAYGROUPS
Family Group Conferencing is a family-focused, strengths based form of alternative dispute resolution that strengthens partnerships between Dept of Communities & Justice (formerly FaCS) and families and encourages greater family decision making and responsibility. As part of the NSW Child Protection Legislative Reforms proclaimed in 2014, FGC was implemented by FACS through a staged roll out in all districts.
FGC aims to :
• Empower parents and families in making decisions to ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people at risk of significant harm, through
the development and implementation of a Family Plan.
• Improve outcomes for children and young people by providing them and their extended family with a stronger voice in decisions about their care.
• Maintain children in the care of family where possible by including extended family in the FGC process.
Benefits of FGC
• FGC involves extended family members, provides opportunities to identify family placements and for children and young people to be placed within the family network.
• It also can be used across the child protection system as early intervention during case planning following a safety and risk assessment, through to looking at restoration when a child is in out-of-home care. However, as part of the governments Safe Home for Life reforms they are seeking to use it as early as possible in the child protection continuum.
• FGC also demonstrates respect for families and their views and builds on the strengths of the family to facilitate change which provides safety for children and young people.
Outcomes of FGC
• Fewer children and young people are likely to enter out-of-home care, and where a child does need to come into care to keep them safe a greater number are placed with family.
• Family Plans which improve child safety are developed and implemented with families at an earlier stage in the child protection system.
• Reduced frequency and time spent by families and caseworkers with the court system.
• Supporting consideration of restoration as a permanent placement option as early as possible.
• Improved family engagement with FaCS.
• Provides information, engagement and collaboration with other services that can provide support to the family.
• Shared decision making and responsibility for implementing a family plan.
Family Group Conferencing has been recently been introduced within the context of the broader FaCS Care and Protection Practice Framework and Practice Standards.
Background
The FGC model is based on the New Zealand model however participation of parents and families is voluntary. The FGC process consists of five important stages:
1. Referral
2. Preparation
3. The Conference
4. Implementation of the Plan
5. Review of the Plan
The conference (stage 3) includes three significant components to the FGC model, which are:
• Introductions and information sharing
• Private family time, where the Family Plan is developed by the family
• Presentation, negotiation and agreement to the Family Plan
Family Support Network has a number of professional, trained FGC facilitators who can facilitate a conference for you on a fee for service basis.
If you wish to discuss having a conference please contact us and we will be happy to discuss this in more detail. or use the attached Referral Form, a 1.5MB Word document.
FSN is pleased to announce that we are now offering a customised Family Support Service (on a fee for service basis) called the Tailored Family Support Program.
This service is available in the Richmond River, Kyogle, Ballina, and Lismore LGAs as well as certain parts of the Byron LGA. This service is primarily intended for the more complex cases similar to those of the existing EIPP Family Intensive Services. However it can be scaled back to suit client needs.
The service has been developed in response to a gap that exists locally in service delivery between the low needs services such as Child Youth & Family Support and the abovementioned Family Intensive Services. This service is guided by FSN’s recently developed Pro Active Case Management Framework, and can be tailored to the particular needs of the clients in terms of transport requirements, visits to specialist services and the like.
The usual practices such as intake, client assessment, goal setting and case reviews are all part of the service. In addition detailed reports can be provided in formats specific to the needs of your agency. You can determine and control costs by setting the amount of hours spent with the client as well as frequency of service. We can work with clients for as long -or short- a period as you (the purchaser) feels necessary.
A typical example of how the service would work:
- The service would commence with an initial meeting with a FaCS representative and/or client to discuss the client’s needs.
- FSN staff will then do our own intake and assessment (based on our Strengths and Needs Tool).
- FSN will then develop a case plan.
- FSN will then commence activities such as home visiting and referrals. The frequency and length of home visiting can be by agreement with FaCS.
- FSN will carry out referrals to other services where required and provide logistical support such as transport.
- FSN will then conduct a case review.
- FSN will also develop an exit plan when the time is right. This could include a step down to a less intensive service.
For more information or to arrange Tailored Family Support, please contact Helen at Family Support Network on 6621 2489.
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, Families and children, Health and wellbeing (including Mental Health)
Due to Covid 19, the Heartfelt House ‘Healing Pathways’ group will now be conducted online instead of face to face.
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, COVID-19, Disability and inclusion, Employment opportunities, Families and children, Services and support groups
Sometimes bills are forgotten, mail stays in the letterbox or you just can’t afford to pay your electricity or gas bill. You may face disconnection of your energy supply or worse have already been disconnected. Contact your provider straight away to find out how to stop the disconnection or get reconnected.
If you cannot come to an agreement with your provider, call us.
We are the Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW (EWON), a free, fair and independent complaints-handling service for all electricity and gas customers in NSW, and some water customers.
Ask your provider…
- For an extension, or to set up a payment plan. Be realistic and only agree to a payment plan you can afford. Your provider must offer at least two payment plans within 12 months on request.
- To be transferred to an affordability program for longer term support, if you are experiencing ongoing difficulties
- If fees for disconnection and/or reconnection can be waived considering your circumstances.
Electricity must be reconnected within two business days of your request, and gas within five business days.
Energy Accounts Payment Assistance (EAPA)
If you’re struggling to pay your current household energy bill because of a short-term financial crisis or emergency, such as unexpected medical bills, or reduced income due to COVID-19, you could be eligible for the NSW Government’s EAPA vouchers.
Vouchers are worth $50 and are sent electronically to your energy retailer. The number you receive will depend on your circumstances. Contact an EAPA provider service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/energy-accounts-payment-assistance-eapa-scheme or call Service NSW on 1377 88 to apply.
You cannot be disconnected if…
- You make payments towards an agreed payment plan
- You owe less than $300 and have committed to a payment plan
- Your home is registered as having life support equipment
- It’s before 8am or after 3pm
- It’s a Friday, weekend, or the day before/of a public holiday
- If you have arranged an appointment for Energy Account Payment Assistance
Water restriction
Your water provider may restrict your supply if you have an unpaid bill however, it must give you notice first.
For further information about disconnections and restriction of supply, read our factsheet on disconnections.
How to get in touch with us
Freecall: 1800 246 545* Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm
Freepost: Reply Paid 86550 Sydney South NSW 1234
Interpreter: 131 450
TTY/Voice: 133 677
Online: ewon.com.au
* If you are calling from a mobile phone, let us know and we will call you back.
by Social Futures Community Hub | 27, Jan 2022 | Training and professional development
The ACE Community College has a raft of exciting new courses coming up.
ACCREDITED COURSES
Whatever your 2022 goal, this is the perfect opportunity to take a deep breath, refresh your thinking and make magic happen. Our fab ONLINE enrolment process makes it super easy to connect with a course that calls to you. It’s as easy as 123.
1) Apply to any future course, directly via our website <https://acecolleges.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fad03d19fe9907bf391015469&id=390054fbe9&e=5af1cb764e>
2) Start your course online, on time
3) Achieve, accomplish and SUCCEED.
LEISURE AND LIFESTYLE
GREAT news. We know you’re keen on some self-care. Register your interest for our Leisure and Lifestyle workshops to be the first to know when they return. Wait lists are OPEN for all programs – click here <https://acecolleges.us13.list-manage.com/track/click?u=fad03d19fe9907bf391015469&id=7cf4903ff8&e=5af1cb764e> or call us 02 6622 1903.
Sunny days are ahead, all it takes is to believe.
Let’s get started.
by [email protected] | 26, Jan 2022 | Families and children, Young people
At our January 2022 Better Chances Forum (BCF) online connection session we looked back to our September 2021 discussion about engagement practice and picked up the theme of holding hope and supporting people’s goals. Having come through another festive season impacted by Covid-19 it seemed a good time to focus on hope and lift our energy as we launch into 2022.
Twenty BCF members joined the discussion and we started where we left this theme in September 2021 recognising:
- hope and believing in people impacts wellbeing
- we can support people’s goals, big or small
- encouragement and hope fosters empowerment – seeing goals people thought were impossible are possible with support and time.
So what contributes to holding hope and supporting people’s goals? Here is the summary from our conversation.
- Taking time to make a connection. Believe in people, value them without judgement or your own agenda.
- Support people to understand short, medium and longer-term goals and how they can build on each other. Acknowledge success no matter how small.
- When you have built trust and connection you are better placed to help reframe and support people to see their strengths.
- Actively listen to families about their needs, how the family functions, support they already have in place and support they need.
- Use simple, accessible language, which benefits everyone.
- Hold hope for ourselves first and support our welling. This is an essential foundation if we are to support children and young people and their families and communities. This will be the theme for our next practice conversation in the 16 February 2022 BCF connection meeting. Please join us if you can.
For more information download the meeting summary or contact [email protected].
