NEWS

Neighbourhood Centres support local community resilience. Will our State MPs support Neighbourhood Centres?

Since February, NCQ together with Neighbourhood and Community Centre (NCC) representatives have been meeting with State MPs. During these meetings, we've highlighted the role and impact of NCCs and the unprecedented demand centres are facing due to the housing crisis, Covid-19, natural disasters and the cost of living. In these meetings, we've shared and sought support for our State Budget Asks 2022-2023.

During Neighbourhood Centre Week (9-15 May), we posted and emailed letters to all 92 State MPs, requesting their support for our State Budget Asks. The response has been positive, with many committing in writing to support our asks. 

We look forward to the State Budget Release on June 21.

MEDIA RELEASE

Crucial community services set to be cut in time of critical need

Demand for Neighbourhood Centre services has increased dramatically due to the Covid pandemic, Queensland's housing crisis, and the February floods.

Currently, operational funding for centres is a median of just $124,000 per centre, which is barely enough to cover the wages of just one worker and keep the lights on. QCOSS and NCQ are calling for a new minimum sector base level of $256,000 per centre. 

This month we partnered with QCOSS to distribute a joint media release, highlighting the reality faced by NCCs and calling for State Government support.

The issue has been featured on 7News, ABC, and in print. More media coverage is planned.

MEDIA

7 News highlights the role of Neighbourhood and Community Centres

In May, 7 News visited Caloundra Neighbourhood Centre, and spoke to Tomas Passegi who shared the challenges that face centres. "Some programs might have to be cut. It's the quality of the service, the integrity of what we do, is being chipped away and eroded over a number of years" he said.

Em James, CEO of NCQ, shared "Centres are struggling to keep their doors open and are often only just one grant away from having to lose a service or having to let a staff member go." 

"They've been stretching and stretching... to be there for their communities, but that strain is really affecting their ability to support people." Em James said.

Watch the news piece here.

MEDIA

The ABC interviews Em James
CEO of NCQ

In May, Sarah Howells interviewed Em James, who shared “Whether it’s a sleep bus in Maroochydore or a Mental Health service in an area that doesn’t have any mental health supports, Neighbourhood Centres are doing an amazing job of bringing resources to their communities. But the challenge is without that operational funding… we’re one lost grant away from one of those critical services or supports to communities having to close.” 

Listen to the full interview here.

MEDIA

The ABC interviews Corrie McColl
from Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre

Corrie McColl, Coordinator of Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre, was also interviewed by the ABC, and shared the challenges his centre faces. 
“We [Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre] are in contact with around 10,000 people a year, whether it's on the phone, email, Facebook or walk in. Many of the people who come in our front door, per se, don't have a lot of options left. They're looking for homes, they're looking for funding to be able to eat tonight. They're looking for support services because of domestic and family violence. And the list goes on and on and in fact it has increased quite a lot over the last few years." he said. 

"We do get around $123,000 a year to run the centre. It actually costs us around $256,000 a year to keep the doors open and do everything that we need to do. So the shortfall is already there." Corrie McColl explained.

"Without us, people don't know where to turn to in times of need. They simply start asking someone else, or they start calling services ad hoc to try and find out where to go. As a one-stop centre for the Bundaberg community, we are the first point of contact, a lifeline for people that really don't know where to turn next."

Listen to the full interview here.

MEDIA

The ABC interviews Jeanelle Horn
from Emerald Neighbourhood Centre

Director of Emerald Neighbourhood Centre, Jeanelle Horn, was also in the news, adding her voice to speak up for her community.

“We provide lots of different programs at the centre, one of them being emergency relief. We have a social psychosocial program, we have our community to connect program, skilling Queenslander program as well. So we have a variety of different programs operating from there, plus other different services that visit through the centre,” Jeanelle Horn, Director of Emerald Neighbourhood Centre told Paul Culliver.

“We've got people that are [coming] in from all different parts of Central Queensland that have been in dire straits. We actually have people fleeing domestic violence from interstate as well that ended up coming through our centres here. So it's not a small issue. It is a significant issue and for us to be able to continue what we're doing it'd be wonderful to have their [Government] support.”

“We have children coming in and donating their pocket money to help us out to larger companies providing support but unfortunately is still isn't enough, but we've got a really committed team that puts in extra hours on top of their daily hours to make sure that we try to keep the doors open.”

Listen to the full interview here.

MEDIA

The ABC interviews Alana Wahl
from Laidley Neighbourhood Centre

In May, Laidley Neighbourhood Centre was hit by the third flood within 6 months. With the community shaken by yet another challenge, Alana Wahl, Coordinator of Laidley NC, took the time to speak with David Iliffe on the ABC about the reality she is faced with every day.

“When people don’t have anywhere else to turn to, and they come to us and we find ways to support them – the emotion that is in their eyes – if it is an old bushy of a farmer who hasn’t reached out for help before that has come to us, and it might be something as simple as food or a coffee and a chat – the tears well up in the eyes and you know you are making a difference,” she shared.

“It is meaningful every day. It is an industry where you can make a lot of impact in people’s lives because they are definitely at rock bottom.

“A lot of the time they come to us and when we don’t shut the door and we say, ‘We won’t send you home without helping you’, they sort of feel that sense of relief and hope that at least someone is there for them.”

Listen to the full interview here.

NEWS

Neighbourhood Centre Week Celebrations take place across Queensland

Neighbourhood Centre Week Celebrations were held throughout Queensland this month, with celebrations including open days, art events, barbeques, fundraisers and more.

Many centres shared photos of the faces and thoughts of the people who visit their centre. 

We look forward to celebrating again next year.

NEWS

The Human Library: Where readers borrow a ‘Human Book’ and listen to their life story 

This year for Neighbourhood Centre Week, Nicolette Ffrost and her team at The Neighbourhood Hub Mackay hosted a Human Library event.  
 
Human Libraries allow readers to borrow a ‘human book’ and listen to their life story. The event is designed to offer a safe space for conversations that challenge stereotypes and prejudices and provide an opportunity for community members to connect, learn and understand.  
 
Nicolette explained her motivation behind wanting to host such a unique event at The Neighbourhood Hub “We are naturally curious as individuals, I think sometimes we have that fear of asking the wrong questions, and we really miss that opportunity to get to know someone really well. Human books are going to be different, there will be different themes. The more we learn about each other the more we un-judge, and we start to unpack.” 
 
Over a few hours, seven ‘human books’ were rotated between small groups of ‘readers’, each gave a short introduction about their own life experiences. The readers then proceeded to ask questions and explore the books further. The ‘books’ were diverse, including a young widow, a female police officer, a blind person, a foster mother and someone who had experienced migration.

The event was a great success, and the public interest was so great that the hub has organised more human library events for later this year.

Read the full story here.

EVENTS

Business Continuity Planning 
for Neighbourhood and Community Centres

Tuesday 14 June, 10:30am - 12:00pm   |   Online

Do you know if you can keep supporting your clients and community during a disaster?

When disaster hits, whether it’s flooding, bushfire, flooding or a cyclone, Neighbourhood and Community Centres should have a business continuity plan in place so they can keep supporting their people and their community during and after the disaster.

Join CSIA, NCQ and other Neighbourhood and Community Centres for this online session on Business Continuity Planning tailored to Neighbourhood Centres. The session will include practical steps, templates, resources and scenario planning. 

Register in advance for this online workshop here.

After registering, you'll receive a confirmation email with the link to the workshop.

LOCAL COMMUNITY HERO

Meet Local Community Hero: Denise from Laidley Neighbourhood Centre

20 May, 2022

Say Hi to Denise, a long-term team member, volunteer and ‘jack of all trades’ at Laidley Neighbourhood Centre, and this week’s Local Community Hero! 

Denise started her journey with Laidley Neighbourhood Centre back in 2016, and after retiring briefly in 2021, she decided she couldn’t stay away and came right back. She returned at a particularly intense time for the Laidley community and has been at the centre helping people throughout the floods and Covid lockdowns. Denise spoke of her experiences and what drives her to continue volunteering.   

“Once, this fellow came in with his two children. The first time he came in he ended up leaving in an ambulance because he was so dehydrated and stressed just trying to keep his children. He was homeless, so we looked after him and got him into a crisis home. After about 3 months he had his own place and he looked well. It’s just really rewarding to see these transformations. It does take a while, but we’re with people all the way and we make sure to give them the support they want, so they know they’re not on their own.” 

Read the full story here.

NEWS

“If we close, where do all the homeless people go?” Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre funds One Roof Project with no government support

6 May, 2022

Started in 2016, the One Roof Project runs two nights a week to provide free meals to vulnerable community members on the Sunshine Coast. It is run by Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre’s dedicated team of staff and volunteers who have helped it steadily evolve over the years into far more than a meal service. Michael Henning, Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre CEO, speaks to that evolution and how the idea came about.

“[In 2016] there was nowhere on the length of the coast where you could find free meals, so some of our volunteers suggested we do meals for the homeless. We organised a programme where we served just one night a week. From there it evolved to two nights and has become a wraparound service, incorporating a range of organisations like Orange Sky Laundry, Sunny Street Medical Services, financial counselling and people who come on board to do referral services for employment and assessments.”

The need for the One Roof Project has continued to grow, as the pandemic drives up house prices on the Sunshine Coast, with interstate buyers flooding the market, purchasing and renting homes sight-unseen (ABC News).

“It has gotten to the point where low-income earners just can’t afford rent. We have got quite a significant number of people that are homeless. We already had a large homeless rate, and the rental market has just exacerbated the problem even further. We have a number of families sleeping in cars and people who are underemployed or have low paying jobs who can’t afford the high rents and are also sleeping in cars.”
Michael Henning (Maroochy Neighbourhood Centre)

Incredibly, the One Roof Project is completely unfunded by the government. Henning, and his team have managed to cope with the growth through much needed support from the Sunshine Coast community who see the value in their work.

Read the full story here.

NEWS

Neighbourhood and Community Centres provide soft entry into support for those experiencing Domestic and Family Violence

5 May, 2022

Each May, Queensland marks Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in an effort to raise community awareness and understandings of family violence (DFV). In 2021, astounding figures from the Queensland Police revealed they responded to an average of more than 400 cases of domestic and family violence every day. This figure is at a 13% increase from the previous year and is attributed by many experts to the effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic (Wordsworth 2021).  

Restrictions, increased unemployment and financial stress linked to the pandemic alongside lockdowns have created a ‘perfect storm’ for these cases of violence to spike across the state (Kennedy 2020). Lack of resources have left many frontline services unable to keep up with demands for help (Kennedy 2020).  

Neighbourhood Centres Queensland’s 2021 Sector Impact Report found a significant rise from 26.5% of Neighbourhood and Community Centres providing DFV assistance in 2020, to 38% in 2021. This assistance comes in many forms from short (or even extended) intervention by centre staff, funded DFV activities, support groups for those affected by DFV or developing community-based responses to DFV.  

Through building deep, long-term relationships with local communities, Neighbourhood and Community Centres have become uniquely placed as a local, safe option to assist those experiencing DFV. The soft entry point provided by NCCs via programmed activities means that NCCs are often able to identify domestic and family violence in community members early for internal or external referrals for assistance. Throughout Covid, one neighbourhood centre engaged their team in performing welfare checks on families of concern, to listen and provide a supportive safety net. 

Read the full story here.

RESOURCE

Preventing intimate partner violence against older women

RESOURCE

Brisbane City Council 2022 Flood Review

This month, Brisbane City Council published the review of the February floods.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Financial Resilience Worker

Caloundra Community Centre, Sunshine Coast

Job posted on: 23 May, 2022
Applications Close: 3 June, 2022

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Community Development Worker

Caloundra Community Centre, Sunshine Coast

Job posted on: 23 May, 2022
Applications Close: 3 June, 2022

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Nambour Community Centre Manager

Nambour Community Centre, Sunshine Coast

Job posted on: 17 May, 2022
Applications Close: 30 May, 2022

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Family Support Coordinator - Nambour

Nambour Community Centre, Sunshine Coast

Job posted on: 28 April, 2022
Applications Close: No Deadline

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Psychologist / Team Leader - Murgon

Graham House Community Centre

Job posted on: 27 April, 2022
Applications Close: No Deadline