Author: pixeld

Help spread Christmas joy for families

Uniting Emergency Relief provides disadvantaged Geelong families with emergency food and other useful support at its Norlane and Grovedale centres.

Emergency Relief Co-ordinator at Uniting Barwon, Karen Mather, said “we know the impact of cost-of-living pressures has stretched many budgets beyond breaking point. Whether it’s the cost of rent, gas and electricity or putting fuel in the car, we know people are really struggling to get by. 

“With Christmas approaching, this is adding extra pressure on many families. Christmas should be a special time for food, fun and memories to last a lifetime. 

“But sadly, for many families, as rising cost of living pressures continue to bite, it will be so much tougher to afford gifts for their children.”

Ms Mather said Uniting’s Gifts for Families Appeal provides toys and gifts generously donated by the community for children in need at Christmas.

“Gifts For Families is one of the highlights of every year for us. For our volunteers, putting smiles on the faces of families and providing gifts to deserving children and young people is so rewarding,” she said. 

“We hope you, your group, school, workplace or family can support Gifts For Families in some way and help us make sure there are gifts under every Christmas tree in our community.”

Anyone able to help is asked to contact Uniting Barwon on [email protected] or phone (03) 5278-8492.

Little Aths is sport for all

Corio Little Athletics Centre has partnered with Sport4All through the City of Greater Geelong and has welcomed Travis Zimmer in the role of inclusion coach.

The Corio centre is committed to providing an inclusive environment and is confident the support provided by Sport4All will help enhance what it provides. Travis is guiding the centre to make the sport and facilities more inclusive and accessible for athletes, families, visitors and volunteers with disabilities to actively participate.

Committee members recently had their first inclusion training session, facilitated by Travis, and coaches and officials will also be trained to help the centre provide a supportive experience for everyone. Travis is also developing a targeted plan for Corio Little Athletics Centre to achieve its goals.

Corio Little Athletics Centre Publicity Officer Sharron Colls-McKenzie said Little Athletics is an individual sport, so is able to integrate all-abilities athletes into the program at Centre level, with personal adjustments as needed. 

“The Centre’s All Abilities Co-ordinator works with families to identify the best way to support their athletes,” Sharron said. “This might be adjusting weights and heights of equipment, allowing a support person to run or walk alongside the track etc.” 

Kirrilie, mum of all-abilities athlete Florence, said: “Corio Centre is inclusive and encouraging and provides a safe space for Florence to develop confidence in her abilities both on and off the track.”

Athletes with disabilities wanting to compete at Region and State events need to be assessed and classified by Little Athletics Vic to compete as multi-class athletes.

Another initiative by the Centre last season was creation of a quiet sensory space inside the clubrooms, for athletes to take a break if needed.  

For more information about Corio Little Athletics Centre, contact Meridith, 0412-166-760.

Support for young stroke survivors

Cloverdale Community Centre volunteer Jasmine West is providing important feedback on a support service being trialled for young stroke survivors. 

Jasmine, who suffered a stroke when aged just 25, became involved with the Young Stroke Service trial through her involvement with The Stroke Foundation.

“Eighteen young Australians have a stroke every day,” Jasmine said. “I was busy working one day and collapsed. I ended up on life support for 18 days.”

Jasmine (pictured) spent five months in hospital, learning the skills she needed to live independently. She has right-side weakness but has resumed university studies and volunteers up to 15 hours a week.

The Young Stroke Service supports young people with stroke aged 18 to 45.  It is an outpatient service established to fill critical gaps in care for young people with stroke and is being trialled in Victoria and South Australia.  

The Young Stroke Service can help:

  • Understand stroke and navigate services.
  • Understand and manage memory and emotional changes.
  • Explore transport options, including driving.
  • Explore options for work and study.
  • Suggest ways to connect with other young people with stroke.

The services are provided via telehealth for young stroke survivors from anywhere across the state. To access the service, you need a referral from a healthcare professional, such as a General Practitioner or Allied Health Professional. The Young Stroke Service details can be found at https://www.youngstrokeservice.org.au/. For more information phone 0427-259-191.

Time to get ready for 2025

Families are getting ready to finish another school year, but it’s also time to think about 2025. 

Preparing children for a new school year is more than buying a uniform, bag and lunchbox. Many will start their transition to school in Term 4.

Prep teachers at Northern Bay College have suggested that parents follow tips from the Department of Education and Training, which advises them to:

  • Practise the journey to and from school.
  • Arrange play dates with families who have children at the same school.
  • Encourage independence – skills like dressing, packing and carrying a bag, applying sunscreen and going to the toilet.
  • Label all belongings – clothing, bags, lunch boxes, drink bottles.
  • Talk about and practise any after-school arrangements.
  • Check the start and finish times and where to drop off and collect your child.
  • Be positive, get your child excited and talk about any worries they have.
  • Visit a library and read with your child.
  • Start using the name of their new teacher to help build familiarity.
  • Establish predictable routines including dinner, bath time and bedtime.

Other things to focus on include opening zips on bags and lunchboxes, practicing a morning routine, children packing their bag, bathroom routines including washing hands, taking on and off jumpers and jackets and tying shoelaces.

There are Prep classes at four of the Northern Bay Colleges – Wexford, Peacock, Tallis and Hendy – and up to 160 new school starters are expected in 2025. Other primary schools in the northern suburbs include St Francis Xavier and St Thomas Aquinas.

To enrol your child for 2025, contact the office of the nearest campus to where you live. The staff will support you with enrolment paperwork and provide dates of information and transition sessions.

Families wanting to enrol children other than Preps can also contact the office of the campus they are zoned to for help with paperwork. They’ll also be able to meet with a member of the Principal Team to talk about starting dates and answer any questions.

If you’re not sure about which campus you’re zoned to, contact any of the P-8 campuses and they will point you in the right direction. 

Northern Futures and Meli join forces

Northern Futures, the grassroots program dedicated to supporting disadvantaged communities in Geelong’s north, has joined community services organisation Meli. 

Northern Futures CEO, Andrew Palmer, said the decision reflected a mutual respect between the two not-for-profit organisations and a shared commitment to better address barriers to employment in Corio and Norlane. 

“The success of Northern Futures’ model is the strength of trusted partnerships and the effectiveness of our bespoke support to clients,” Mr Palmer said.

Northern Futures Board Chair, Rob Birch, said stakeholders and existing funders had unanimously confirmed their support of Northern Futures at Meli. “The ongoing success, sustainability and growth of Northern Futures is our highest priority, and we believe that joining Meli is the key to this success,” Mr Birch said. 

Meli CEO Grant Boyd said bringing Northern Futures into Meli would build on the positive outcomes already achieved and provide a foundation for better outcomes going forward. He confirmed the expert team at Northern Futures would continue at the current location in Station Street, Norlane, and existing clients would experience no disruption to their service. 

Northern Futures provides critical wrap-around support to help clients navigate employment barriers to help them into sustainable employment as a bridge out of instability. Data shows that 78 per cent of clients who undertook Northern Futures training in 2022-2023 found employment, and both their training completion and employment outcomes consistently exceeded national outcomes for previously unemployed people.

Student art and films featured

Northern Bay P-12 College recently hosted the Stories Without Borders exhibition as part of Refugee Week celebrations in the Goldsworthy Campus’ new gallery and auditorium.

Stories Without Borders is a two-part exhibition featuring art installations and a short film festival, created by students from the senior campus.

The art installations and short films highlighted the creativity, passion, journeys, experiences, and resilience of the students, providing insight into their unique refugee journeys. The exhibition not only shared these experiences but also aimed to spread empathy and understanding within the community.

The short film festival presented 10 short films directed by the students, covering themes such as identity, belonging, memories, and life in Australia. This event shone a spotlight on the resettlement journeys of students in Corio and Norlane, offering a deeper understanding of their experiences and cultural identities.

Education Support at NBC and the curator of the exhibition, Brandon Dellow, said: “This event was a worthwhile opportunity for the community to see the creative minds of our young people. “I am incredibly proud of our students’ hard work and creativity.”

Northern Bay P-12 College, where 40 different languages are spoken by students hailing from 55 different countries, is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and inclusive education from Prep to Year 12, fostering academic excellence, innovation, and community engagement to prepare students for future success.

Victoria In Bloom 2023 garden competition

Each year, Victoria in Bloom recognises and rewards the great work of gardening enthusiasts living in public or community housing.

Renters can enter all types of gardens – from balconies, to back yards and community gardens. No garden is too big or small.

Nominations for the 2024-25 Victoria in Bloom Garden competition are open from Monday, August 26 and close on November 22. To enter, once nominations are open, you need to register your garden in one of the following ways call (03) 8633-4357 or email: [email protected] 

For more information and to be inspired by previous winners, visit: https://www.housing.vic.gov.au/victoria-bloom-garden-competition

Community kitchen helpers

Barwon Health Community Kitchens program is calling for new volunteers to facilitate weekly cooking sessions in locations throughout Geelong and the Bellarine region.

Community Kitchen Facilitators people who are able to relate well to people from all walks of life, and able to organise the kitchen program, which is held at a local community kitchen during school terms. They should love cooking and enjoy sharing meals with a small, friendly group for three to four hours per week.

Volunteer Facilitators are matched to a local Community Kitchen group. They receive free recipe resource packs and facilitator training, as well as food handling, kitchen safety and budgeting and healthier menu planning certification.

Volunteer Facilitator Marg runs the Rosewall Community Kitchen, where she cooks with up to 24 people each week. She was introduced to Community Kitchens when she went along with a friend, in Highton, 11 years ago and has been involved ever since.

“While you’re the facilitator, you’re also a member of the group like everyone else,” Marg said. “You run the group with friendship and compassion.”

For more information or to register,  contact the Community Kitchens Co-ordinator by email [email protected];  phone (03) 4215-3476 or visit the website www.barwonhealth.org.au and search for community kitchens.

Concession calculator gas bills

Are you eligible for a winter gas concession? Discounts on gas bills are available for eligible concession card holders to help ease the cost of living during the winter months. 

You may be eligible if you have a Pensioner Concession, Health Care or Veteran’s Affairs Gold Card.  Use the Concessions Eligibility Calculator to find concessions, benefits and other assistance that you may be eligible for at https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-and-benefits or by calling the Concessions information line on 1800-658-521.

Do you have a concession card but not sure about the available services?

Concessions are available to low-income Victorians having trouble in paying their council rates, water, gas and electricity bills. Discounts are available on essential services to ease the financial burden for low-income Victorians. Eligibility applies to each type of concession. 

Concessions programs are designed to ensure eligible cardholders have access to essential services. You can go the website below and check the full list of available concessions and services for your concession card. https://services.dffh.vic.gov.au/concessions-eligibility-calculator

Connecting and thriving through food

The ability of food to bring people together is celebrated at Cloverdale Community Centre, where Lotus Kitchen and Lotus Catering continue to grow.

Lotus Kitchen was formed when the COVID pandemic struck and Issara Saeyim was in the early days of student placement as part of her Diploma of Community Services. At the time, Issara was challenged to find a creative way to connect to people who were in lockdown and isolated.

“I’m from Thailand and I love cooking, so I use food to connect people,” Issara said. The program not only brought people together to cook but gave them purpose and connected them with others in similar situations.

Each Thursday, a team of volunteers prepares and serves up to 600 boxes of affordable takeaway Thai meals. The meals are advertised and ordered through Cloverdale Community Centre’s Facebook page, or by phoning the centre before noon on Wednesday.

The dishes vary each week and might be an authentic red, green or massaman curry, chicken satay or stir fry. They are collected from the pick-up window of the centre’s kitchen.

Among the volunteers are women who have experienced family violence and have been helped by Issara, herself a survivor of domestic violence. They volunteer in the kitchen as a way of giving back to their community and connecting with others in a safe space.

Issara, who is now Cloverdale Community Centre’s multicultural and wellbeing co-ordinator, has also launched Lotus Catering. The catering business employs some of the volunteers and has provided food for events for the City of Greater Geelong, Cultural, Leisure Networks and other business and community organisations.

Issara won a City of Greater Geelong Women in Community Life Award for Education in 2023 and is currently studying a Bachelor of Social Work. She continues to inspire others with her simple philosophy: “You can create a good thing and change lives with your passion. I really love what I’m doing.”

For information about Lotus Catering, phone 5275-4415.

Weekly Lotus Kitchen menu and ordering information is available on the Cloverdale Community Centre Facebook page.