Shoalhaven Aboriginal Community Alliance Interagency SACAI
Minutes
Date: / Tuesday, 2 February 2016Time: / 10:00 am
Place: / South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (SCMSAC)
51-53 Berry Street Nowra
Attendees: / Kate Smith (Soway-ADHC), Marilyn Brown (FACS –ADHC), Sharlene Cruickshank (SCMSAC), Amanda Doyle (SCMSAC),
Greg Isles (Mission Aust – Gambling Counselling), Kadie Spresser (DHS), Kerry Avery (FACS), Margaret Simoes (Shoalhaven Council),
Renee Leslie (NSW Health), Sylvia Timbery (Habitat), Tyrone Taylor (PM&C), Ray Smith (PM&C), Mary jean Kelly (Shoalcoast Legal Community), Shondelle Bolt (NSW AA), Kelly Jones (Cullunghutti ACFC), Stephen Taylor ( Cullunghutti ACFC),
Kristine Falzon (Waminda), John Bolt (SESIAHS), Rashelle Dear (Care South), Sue Cutmore (Family Relationship Centre)
Apologies: / Mal Timbery (SCMSAC), Violet Green (Brighter Futures), Lana Callaghan (NSW AA), Winsome Watts (Care Coordinator - CTG Program), Sofia Lema (Illawarra Shoalhaven Medicare Local), Michelle Woszatka (Anglicare), Lara Acevedo (NSW Health)
Chairperson: / Sharlene Cruickshank
Item / Description
1 / Welcome and introductions
2 / Apologies
4 / Review of actions from December meeting – Minutes weren’t available
ACTION: Anglicare provide minutes at the April meeting
Acceptance of minutes of previous annual general meeting
Moved: / Seconded:
Passed/Not passed
Discussion / Outcome
5 / SCMSAC Updates:
· SCMSAC Organisational’ s structure has been restructured
· Amanda Doyle (Ability/Early Links Coordinator)
o Ability Links Service covers from Wollongong to Victorian boarder
o Referral can be made via email or phone – ( referral process is the same as Early Links Service
o SCMSAC are looking for staff to deliver the Ability Links Service in the lower south coast- (enquires can be made to directly HR)
o Ability Links Services doesn’t provide case management support to clients, only referrals
o Examples of referrals can be made are;
§ Windmill Program - early intervention therapy service for children with disabilities from rural and regional NSW
§ Services Our Way (Soway) - a Packaged Support program that assists Aboriginal people with a disability and their carers to plan and prepare current and future living and care arrangements and supports. It recognises that Aboriginal people with a disability and their carers need practical, emotional and cultural support.
§ Paediatrician Services
§ Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Service
§ Ability Links Service can support those with a disability from 0 to 64 years of age
§ Mal Timbery role is to complete the reporting requirements for the services
§ Early Link Services can arrange transport to attend appointments
· Nathanael Curtis (Client Services Supervisory Manager – Social Health Client Services Team)
o Social Health Team which also looks after programs such as:
§ Aboriginal Men’s Group (Wednesday)
§ Aboriginal Women’s Group (Tuesdays)
§ Family & Community Support Groups at Wreck Bay (Monday) & Jerrinja (Thursdays) – these support groups are aimed at supporting those with addictions or mental health issues, also the affected family
o 4 Drug & Alcohol Workers:
§ 2 outreach (1 male and 1 female)
§ 2 male workers who are located at our main building on Berry Street
§ 1 youth worker (position will be filled soon)
o 3 Social Emotional Wellbeing Workers:
§ 1 Mental Health
§ 1 Social Emotional Wellbeing Worker
§ 1 Adolescent Counsellor
o Nathanael role as Client Services Supervisory Manager is to;
§ Assist with Case Management Plans and other reporting requirements
§ Brief the SCMSAC board on success/issues
§ Follow up on referrals with other services
§ Stakeholder engagement
o ReferralsSocial Health Client Services
§ Self-Referral – Clients can come into the SCMSAC and meet with an intake worker and they will help support person and assist in filling out a referral form as well as a screening tool.
§ External Referral - another organisation or a school can complete a referral and email can be to . SCMSAC intake worker will contact to gain more possible information and the individual whom is referred and complete a screening tool.
§ Family Referral - family members can meet with SCMSAC intake worker about any drug and alcohol or mental health issues on behalf of a family member.
§ Referral Allocation - SCMSAC has an referral intake allocation meeting, where referrals are allocated to the appropriate caseworker. The case worker has receives the referral and make contact with the individual
§ Referrals
o Sharlene Cruickshank – Seasons for healing programme
§ The program is based on the successful Seasons for growth adult program, and has been developed to support Aboriginal adults in responding to their often complex experiences of change and loss.
§ The Seasons for healing is a small group program is facilitated over 4-8 sessions to small groups of 4-7 participants
§ SCMSAC can arrange Seasons for healing workshops upon request / Action 1:
Nathanael send out referral form
Action 2:
SCMSAC with partnerships with local Area health scope out opportunities for an Community Support Information Day – informal gathering to discuss impact of substance use and info on support services
6 / General Business and Agency updates;
· Renee Leslie (NSW Health)
o New role with Binji Boori Antenatal and Maternal Health Service
o Binji Boori provides maternity service/care ends at no cost to your family.
o Services are staffed by Registered Nurses and mid wives
o Health checks are available
o Upcoming Planning Day
o Scope to relocate premises – unsure if final decision has been made
· Margaret Simoes (Shoalhaven Council)
o New foyer at Council
o Potential proposal for an amalgamation Kiama Council – currently still business as usual and info on Council’s website
o Regional NAIDOC Awards 2016 will be hosted by Kiama Council – potential to be held at Win Stadium
o In memory exhibition is on display at Nowra Sub Branch
· Marilyn Brown (FACS –ADHC)
o NDIS roles out in the Shoalhaven in July 2017
o NDIS sites include: Batemans Bay, Bega, Nowra and Wollongong
o National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) will administer the initiative
o NDIS Conference in Illawarra attracted
· 150 attendees
· 300 attendees over 3 days
· 85% of the attendees were community members
o Shoalhaven Aboriginal Network of Disability Services
· Kerry Avery (FACS)
o Designing plans for NDIS
o Workshops held for clients to understand how to manage their NDIS budget
o Early intervention public report available soon
o Social housing discussions and reforms currently taking place
o Consultation on February 26 at Coniston in regards to Aboriginal Inclusion Framework. Darrell Brown is the Chair and Shoalhaven is being represented by selected Aboriginal Leaders
· Rashelle Dear (Care South)
o Mariah Corbin on maternity leave
o Based in Illawarra as the Aboriginal Community Development Officer servicing Illawarra and Shoalhaven
· Kristine Falzon (Waminda)
o Programmes for 2016 has commenced
o Upcoming Women’s Wellness Festival on March 18th at Gray’s Beach ,Nowra
· Theme is domestic violence
· Guest speakers will be presenting
· Stall applications are available from Waminda – free for non-for-profit, and fees apply to profitable organisations
· Seeking volunteers to help on the day
o Referrals available for the Dead or Deadly Programme
· Kadie Spresser (DHS)
o No Jab No Pay, New Immunisation Requirements for Family Assistance Payments From 1 January 2016:
· Only parents of children (less than 20 years of age) who are fully immunised or are on a recognised catch-up schedule can receive the Child Care Benefit, the Child Care Rebate and the Family Tax Benefit Part A end of year supplement.
· Children with medical contraindications or natural immunity for certain diseases will continue to be exempt from the requirements.
· Conscientious objection and vaccination objection on non-medical grounds will no longer be a valid exemption from immunisation requirements.
· Families eligible to receive family assistance payments and have children less than 20 years of age, who may not meet the new immunisation requirements, will be notified by Centrelink.
· You will be able to submit the details of vaccinations given to persons less than 20 years of age to the ACIR.
· From 1 January 2016, all states and territories will be providing free catch-up NIP vaccines for all children less than 10 years of age on an on-going basis.
· Parents who wish to immunise their children in order to continue to receive family assistance payments will have access to free catch-up vaccines for a time-limited period (1 January 2016 to 31 December 2017).
· Greg Isles (Mission Aust – Gambling Counselling)
o Gambling Counselling is free and confidential
o Also available for families/friends who have been affected by Gambling
· Sylvia Timbery (Habitat)
o Indigenous Community Links is still located at East Nowra, Community Hub, 1 Stuart Street
o Indigenous Community Links provides access to computers and can assist with information, support and referral to support services
o Tuesday is Youth Group
o Mentors Group is progressing and potential camp in April and 3 students from nominated schools will be selected to participate
· John Bolt (SESIAHS)
o Vacant Aboriginal Liaison officer position at Shoalhaven Hospital
o Traineeships being offered in Health
o Selected on Board with other health Workers representatives and the Board meets every month in Canberra
o Scholarships available for Health students
o EOI for Shoalhaven NAIDOC Committee sent out soon
· Shondelle Bolt (NSW AA)
o Back in Batemans Bay in previous position
o Working on Strategic reforms with Melissa Ellis (NSW AA) and FaCS
o Aboriginal Cultural Lore Camps in development with Waminda and informal discussions will be held around substance use, wellbeing, forming a Yuin Nation Women’s Council and regenerate cultural practices
o Youth Leadership project in partnership with Council to lead in Community. $20,000 spent on developing the model
o AECG/ School Principals are being consulted and Mentors will be engaged to participate
o A lot of work in lower south coast around Cultural fishing rights
· Mary Jean Kelly (Shoalcoast Legal Community)
o Anne Stonham is the new Centre Coordinator
o Aboriginal Legal Access Project – Shoalcoast can provide community legal education opportunities in local Aboriginal communities to increase knowledge of and access to legal services.
o Shoalcoast are working on Care Protection Project
· Sue Cutmore (Family Relationship Centre)
o Business as usual
o Assessments and mediation outreach service available bi-monthly at the following locations
· Jerrinja (2nd Monday of the month)
· Moruya (2nd Tuesday of the month)
· Wreck Bay (2nd Friday of the month)
o Gary Finch is delivering a Dads program which provides mediation support for fathers / Action 3:
John Bolt send through information on the Health Scholarships to share with SACAI members
13 / Meeting close
Minute Taker: / Tyrone Taylor (Dept Prime Minister and Cabinet)
Next Meeting Date: / 5th April 2016 - 10am-12pm
Host / Family and Community Services
Location / Family and Community Services Office,
Graham Street, Nowra
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Minutes - February 2016