Welcome to G'Day UCSA

We hope you enjoy the 2022 Winter Edition

An update from Harry, CEO

The last three months have seen our staff and volunteers provide continued support to regional communities who are doing it tough. The challenging environment emanates from two years of covid exacerbated by war in Ukraine, and a series of floods on the East Coast of Australia. The collective effect has been to increase the cost of living, an effect which is amplified in our most vulnerable community members. I am grateful to our staff and volunteers for working hard to make a positive difference in the lives of those who need it most. Thank you.

Deb Devlin will retire on 29 July, ending two decades of employment with UCSA. My special thanks go to Deb for her leadership in the areas of quality management, tender writing, training, special projects and policy.

Consistently performing to a high standard over a twenty-year period, Deb has played key roles in the acquisition, implementation and growth of services to communities across our footprint.

As many of you may know, Deb also served on the Port Pirie Regional Council for 4 consecutive terms, reflecting her strong interest in the development of regional communities.

On behalf of the organisation, I express my sincere thanks to Deb for her contributions within, and outside of, UCSA. What an extraordinary executive career. You will be missed. We wishing you all the very best for retirement.

Expanded community housing support services for Yorke Peninsula.

In an exciting partnership Southern Yorke Peninsula Community Housing Association Inc. have recently transferred 34 houses in the Yorke Peninsula area to Uniting Country Housing.

See https://www.ucsa.org.au/news/expanded-community-housing-support-services-for-yorke-peninsula

There was an amazing little girl called Lennie..

This incredible young lady, with the support of her mother Kate, did a food drive over the course of a month to collect donations for the Kadina on-site pantry.

(1) To do this job you have to have to have the heart for it

(2) Country Children in Care

(3) The Effects of Pastoral Care Workers on Student Wellbeing in Regional and Metropolitan Schools

Well done to all those staff members who contributed to this research.

To access the research visit - Research | Uniting Country SA (ucsa.org.au)

South Australian Volunteer Awards

Congratulations to Kylie Crouch who was a finalist in the South Australian Volunteer Awards 2022 in the category of Excellence in Volunteer Management.

This award recognises a Volunteer Manager for their dedication to supporting and facilitating the engagement of volunteers.

UCSA Annual Report 2021/22

This years theme is 'Celebrating Success'

Thank you to the Financial Inclusion and Domestic Violence team for their stories.

If you have any client stories please send them to anna.cornish@ucsa.org.au.

Youth Event - June

Congratulations to the Port Augusta team for their National Reconciliation Event at Gladstone Square. Kids painted skateboards, designed t-shirt and enjoyed some great food - well done.

More than 150 kids enjoyed the event.

Long Service Awards

Congratulations to the following staff who have achieved the following milestones.

10 Years - Daniel Burgess, Rachel Mayfield, Sarah Kemp, Bernadette Noonan, Janet Mayfield, Jodie Neck, Kristan Litchfield

We look forward to hearing from them later in the year.

Gender Bias

Gender bias can creep in to the workplace based on prejudices and stereotypes. Gender bias can be conscious, and something someone is aware that they have. Gender bias can also be unconscious, or something a person is not aware of.

Brought to you by the White Ribbon Committee.

What is coming up..

9th August - Homelessness Person Week

26th August - Wear it Purple Day

11 - 17 September - Foster & Kinship Carer’s Week

8th September - RU OK Day

7 – 13th October - Gambling Harm Awareness Week

3rd – 9th October Mental Health Week

17th – 23rd October Anti Poverty Week

10th – 16th October National Carers Week

Volunteers Needed

Do you have friends, family or clients that would benefit from volunteering at any of our social enterprices including the Food Hub, Goods@Gertrude, Port Pirie Community Centre or in the regions?

We will be rolling out a targeted campaign aimed at young people, people returning to the workplace and people who are retired.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a form of self-awareness training and meditation it all about being in the present accepting things for what they are without judgment or being distracted.

Mindfulness can help improve memory concentration strengthen relationships. Assists to manage depression anxiety mood disorders and prevent relapse.

Some mindfulness strategies and useful quotes tips and pointers from the (CWC) mental health team Uniting Country SA to help sooth the mind and aid in the journey of recovery.

Incorporating mindfulness in every day life for the full benefit! Leading to a greater feeling of calm as circumstances present in our lives! Allowing us to take up the challenges as they present.

Try Mindful music - Mindful cooking - Mindful eating - Mindful breathing - Mindful showering

Mindfulness is a way of befriending ourselves and our experiences.

NAIDOC Celebrations

UCSA staff had some fantastic celebrations across our regions.

A message from Bev Agent.. FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5 22-23

“The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.”

What a blessing it has been for me to celebrate with Church family, the pain and suffering of Easter, the joy of the Resurrection and then Pentecost Sunday. The circle is complete – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Triune God. The Holy Spirit was given to us to be our helper – certainly, we need all the help we can get because we can not work alone even though we think we can.

The fruits of the spirit guide us as we walk together with colleagues and clients. Our footprint is large and sometimes the task can be daunting. It is a privilege to work in an environment which supports worker, client, and community.

The fruits of the spirit – present in LOVE, a deep love of family, love for those with whom we work. JOY – a feeling we receive from a job well done, helping our clients to be the best they can be. PEACE – there are so many areas of conflict impacting on the world, these remain a matter of concern for us, but we also want peace in our community and in ourselves. Looking for inner peace it is important to have FAITH and SELF CONTROL. Whatever method you use to find that inner peace -- prayer, meditation, well being methods there is a certain amount of discipline required to stay on track.

Whilst we seek peace, we also need to have a degree of PATIENCE, nothing comes immediately, and it is in celebrating those baby steps for ourselves and for our clients that we acknowledge growth.

A friend of mine lost her partner to cancer and one of her lasting legacies was an appeal to everyone to “BE KIND.” KINDNESS costs nothing. It is wonderful to hear of the random acts of kindness which our workers conduct every day. Not seeking recognition, but just going that extra step to make someone’s day a little better.

May we be GENTLE with ourselves. GOODNESS abounds in all that we do. It is our purpose for working or volunteering in this wonderful organisation.

UCSA have worked with artist to create some beautiful murals for the community in Kadina and Port Augusta.

See Me for Me Campaign

Department of Human Services has recently launched a campaign with the aim to shift the narrative about what it truly means to live with disability.

See more - See Me For Me - Home

Welcome New Staff

Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis

Role: Aboriginal Community Development Worker - Safety and Wellbeing, Port Augusta Stirling Road

Tell us about your cultural background? I am an Aboriginal / Greek woman, my mum is Aboriginal and my Dad is Greek, I am very proud to be a part of both cultural backgrounds.

- If you could choose your age forever, what age would you choose and why? It would defiantly be 25, it’s a quarter of a century, you are wise enough to know right from wrong but also immature to not care what others think and just dance for no reason.

- Who is your hero and why? My grandmother, as she had all odds against her and still accomplished so much for her mob. She only went to grade 2 and represented her people in China and got to to walk the Great Wall of China, she also was a part of getting Native Title for people. She got a family station for all of her family members to go back to country. This year she was nominated SA NAIDOC Female Elder of the year.

Rachel Osborn

Case manager on the homelessness team based here at Ward House, Port Pirie.

The last TV show I watched and enjoyed was Derry Girls.

My favourite animals are elephants.

My favourite place to visit is Italy.

Before working at UCSA I was in the police force many years ago which had interesting moments!

My favourite season is English autumn

A message from the LGBTIQ+ committee....

Celebrating Volunteering Week

We enjoyed BBQ's across sites to celebrate Volunteering Week held on 16 - 22 May 2022. From Kylie Crouch 'Our Volunteers are just fantastic'.

Defensive Driving Course - over 40 new staff recently enjoyed this core competency training held at the Port Pirie Aerodrome.

Have you visited our socials yet?

Facebook, Instagram, Instagram, Youtube, TikTok are tools UCSA use to communicate and connect with clients. We communicate our services, locations, values, staff. and achievements.

We encourage UCSA staff to like and share our posts.