News & Resources

April 2023

In this newsletter, you’ll find News, Stories of Impact, Local Community Heroes, Research, Events and Career Opportunities from across Queensland.

Maryborough Neighbourhood Centre's Cancer Support Group provides vital connection and support

Maryborough’s Cancer Support Program is a group that provides a safe and welcoming environment for people to connect with others who are living with, have survived or are supporting someone with a cancer diagnosis. From singing and dancing, to resources and presentations, the innovative program provides vital connection and support in an area where no other similar groups existed. 

The group started at the Maryborough Neighbourhood Centre, which has been a supporter of the Cancer Council through hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea fundraisers since 2014. Gay Cayabyab, Maryborough’s Centre Manager highlighted, the success of the fundraisers, with the participants growing year on year.  

“The fundraisers started with 30 people having morning tea in the courtyard supporting the event, then 40 the next, until we decided we need to move the event to the hall to accommodate at least 100 people.”   

In the following years, people started inquiring at the Centre about local cancer support groups. With minimal options available in the area, Gay took it upon herself to find willing volunteers to help her start a group at the Centre. 

Meet Natalie Saroglia, the Coordinator of Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre and this month's Local Community Hero

Say hi to Natalie Saroglia, the Coordinator of Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre for over 20 years, and this month’s Local Community Hero.

Natalie’s Neighbourhood Centre journey started in 1997.  She was just 20 years old and teaching music when the opportunity to work in her local Neighbourhood Centre presented itself.

“Initially I had no interest in working at the Centre, I happened to know the president of the Centre because I went to school with her children. She thought I would be a good fit for one of the programs, but instead, I ended up on their board as the youth representative.”

“I had no idea what the Neighbourhood Centre did when I started, it was just this building – that looked like a normal house, here in Burdekin.  And after I came on board, I stayed”. 

Twenty years on, Natalie is the coordinator of the centre. Natalie’s approach to her work is a deep embodiment of participatory community development.

“When I finally started doing courses and learning about community development I thought, Yes! This just feels right.”

Meet Jacob Amos, NCQ’s new Sector Lead in Operations

Jacob will be working with us to improve the NCQ member experience, developing organisational systems and processes and implement policies among many other key responsibilities, including managing HR and quality assurance. 

Prior to working at NCQ, Jacob grew up in the Northern Gold Coast region before graduating with a Bachelor of Business from QUT in 2015. Since then, he has worked in Retail Operations Management for Woolworths Group, before pivoting to work in a consulting organisation. It was in this role that Jacob realised he wanted to engage in work that was underpinned by purpose. 

“I uncovered my love for purpose-driven work, particularly when I was given the chance to work on projects with a community, sustainability or capability building focus. I worked on everything from environmental start-ups to state-wide network uplift projects, engaging with stakeholders ranging from senior government workers in Brisbane through to local champions and specialists on the ground in communities right across the state.”

Meet Esther Kiernan, NCQ’s Social Work Placement Student 

Esther joined the NCQ team in early April and will be with us for 3 months as part of her social work student accreditation. Esther is studying a Bachelor of Social Work with Deakin University, with hopes to enter direct practice and support people through some of their most challenging moments in life.  

Since she began her placement, she has been working alongside Chris Mundy, providing support with the 2022 Sector Impact Report and research into community development frameworks and methods of practice. During the week Esther also joins the Varisty Lakes Neighbourhood Centre and has visited the Nerang Community Centre. 

“I have met people working from the heart of the community, who have a genuine passion to connect with and work alongside their local community. I have found a Neighbourhood Centre to be a place of connection. A hub that supports community members, driven by the needs of their local community. A Neighbourhood Centre is an inclusive, safe space that welcomes all warmly and empathetically. I am excited to learn more about them and build on relationships throughout my placement.”  

A self-professed fan of all things nature, when she isn’t working or studying, Esther is out camping and walking. 

It is great having Esther on our team, bringing a social work perspective to our work at NCQ. 

A blueprint to tackle Queensland’s housing crisis

QCOSS’ in partnership with Tenant’s Queensland, The Serrvices Union and UNSW City Futures Research Centre recently published their blueprint to tackle Queensland’s housing crisis. The blueprint provides a deep and comprehensive exploration of the causes, contexts and impacts of the current housing crisis in Queensland and provides policy recommendations to tackle it.

Door-to-Door for Mental Health: A Summary Report

Door-to-Door for Mental Health: A Summary Report presents research and evaluation findings for the Assisting Communities through Direct Connection Project. This project involved teams of people knocking on the doors of over 37,000 doors in 21 Australian communities to ask households about their wellbeing. The teams collected data through a survey, responded to any needs that arose, and provided information and assistance by suggesting support options or linking people to services. Among other findings, the report found people were very responsive to informal conversations about mental health and welcomed the opportunity to engage and a conversation at the doorstep provided people with a safe, non-judgmental space and an opportunity to reflect or act on their needs.

Connection to Community

Connection to Community is a report that explores the role that connecting to community plays in the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations Peoples. It details the negative impacts of colonisation on Indigenous People and how strengthening community connection is a vital part of Aboriginal resilience and can improve outcomes for people experiencing poor mental health and suicidal ideation. The report provides insight into concepts of cultural continuity and cultural identity alongside the risk and stress factors that impact First Nations wellbeing. The report also provides an evaluation of existing programs and policies as well as overarching approaches and best practice recommendations.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Cultural Competency Webinar

This free webinar is designed to provide an introduction to Aboriginal culture and competency. The webinar is Tasmanian based but will provide useful and tangible practice knowledge for community organisations, businesses and individuals across Australia.

What will it cover?

• How to improve inclusivity and cultural awareness in the workplace
• Identify and develop strategies to model culturally safety practices in the workplace
• Continue to improve knowledge of the values of the palawa community
• Learn about historical, social, political and economic issues effecting Aboriginal people

Centering Creative Youth in Community Development

Young people are an essential part of communities. As we grapple with the impacts of the pandemics and other life-altering changes to the world, our communities seek to overcome the trauma and persistent challenges that arise. Through the perspectives of young creatives as researchers, their answer is simple: unabashedly, young creatives have faith that their creative projects to promote more just and thriving communities.

In this webinar, Jeff Poulin, an American educationalist, Cultural Administrator and Social Entrepreneur will explore their answers more deeply through three sets of findings: community benefits defined by young creatives, opportunities for partnering to expand the reach of projects, and defining success in new ways. Jeff will share what his research has revealed about the role creative young people must play in building the communities they and we deserve.

Career Opportunities

Neighbourhood Centre Coordinator
Ravenshoe Community Centre

Job posted on: 5 April 2023
Applications close: 28 April 2023

Housing Assistance Worker - Asylum Seeker & Refugee Assistance
Communify

Job posted on: 13 April 2023
Applications close: 30 April 2023

Community Connect Worker
Ravenshoe Community Centre Inc.

Job posted on: 15 March 2023
Applications close: ongoing

Coordinator - Housing and Homelessness Program 
Sherwood Neighbourhood Centre

Job posted on: 17 April 2023
Applications close: 5 May 2023

Community Access Program Case Management Officer 
Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre

Job posted on: 24 March 2023
Applications close: 8 May 2023

Upcoming dates of recognition or celebration

1 May Labour Day
8-14 May Neighbourhood Centre Week
14 May Mothers Day
15-21 May National Volunteer Week
17 May IDAHOBIT
24 May World Schizophrenia Awareness Day
25 May Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
26 May National Sorry Day
27 May - 3 June Reconciliation Week
27 May Anniversary of 1967 Referendum
3 June Mabo Day
5 June World Environment Day

NCQ acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the Country; we pay our respects to their Elders, ancestors, land and seas.

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