MyLink is an online community information hub. It's purpose is to inform and connect community groups, service providers and members of the community.

This webpage provides information to local community service providers and community groups. This page is designed to provide an online noticeboard to share initiatives, training and community information that are of interest to you, your clients and stakeholders.

Information that you would like to be shared can be sent to us at mylink@portstephens.nsw.gov.au

If you can please include a brief description of your program or event, key information and contact details. Preferably please share a picture file if you would like to share an image.

Please allow one week for the noticeboard to be updated. All news stories can then be forwarded on with a click of the mouse button, via either email, Facebook, twitter or LinkedIn.

GENERAL INFORMATION & EVENTS

Jupiter will be hosting a community morning tea and planning day to help bring the International Youth Day Galas and more to life.

If you would like to be part of the planning register HERE

Tuesday 6 May

If you would like to take part in the Jupiter's fundraiser gold day, click HERE to register.

Friday 16 May 2025

8:30am start

The team at New Life Community Reach will be hosting a "Black Tie Musical Bingo" fundraiser on 7 June at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club.

More details including how to purchase tickets, coming soon.

Join New Life Community Relief at the Terrace, for a free meal!

Starts on Friday 28th February 2025!
Here is the flyer for more information.
6:30 - 8pm
Located under the Raymond Terrace Council Carpark (undercover area)

Bushfire is an unfortunate part of life in some areas of Port Stephens. With summer just around the corner and the temperatures increasing those that are living in areas susceptible to bushfires, you need to live bushfire-ready.

That means knowing your risk and having a plan for what to do during a fire. You can make your plan online in as little as five minutes by clicking here

Or you can sit down with your family and discuss what you will do using the NSW Rural Fire Service guide to making a bushfire survival plan.

To ensure your home is bushfire prepared follow the tips from NSWRFS by clicking here

Even if you plan to leave early, the more you prepare your home, the more likely it will survive a bushfire or ember attack. A well-prepared home can also be easier for you or firefighters to defend, and is less likely to put your neighbours' homes at risk. A well-prepared home will also give you more protection if a fire threatens suddenly and you cannot leave.

Join the team at the Yacaaba Centre for a refreshing morning of conversation, connection, and empowerment. Whether you're looking to meet new people, share ideas, or just take a break from the daily grind, this is your time to socialise, network, and be inspired!

10-11:30am every Thursday morning. See flyer HERE for more information.

Council has developed a flyer that outlines where the community can seek assistance for food and crisis relief.

Click HERE

The ELDAC project, funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care, has developed a free Home Care Search Filter. This tool simplifies the process of finding evidence to support your home care programs. (Link: https://www.eldac.com.au/Technology-and-Innovation/Home-care-search-filter).

STARS plan to enhance the wellbeing of seniors through musical theatre and recreation.

For more information click HERE

Atwae offer members of the public, discounts in beauty treatments and massage which are performed by students.

Opening Hours

For Appointments call 0401 095 481

THURSDAY & FRIDAY (during NSW school Terms)

9.30AM - 2.00PM

Click here for the beauty menu

Our service is here to support families with Mediations while navigating parenting and property issues that arise as part of separation or with any other issues that may need meditation within family relationships.

As we are a new service to Bungree there is no current waiting list for and under our current funding we are:

-Able to provide fee free mediation services.

-While our program is funded to service Aboriginal community, we can support non-Aboriginal people as long as there is an Aboriginal person within the family dynamics.

-Our program services the Cessnock/ Upper Hunter, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Central Coast areas with offices in both Cessnock and Gosford.

Please see attached the Bungree Service Aboriginal Family Dispute Resolution Services.

Please see attached referral form

YOUTH SERVICES

Click HERE to view the minutes

The OzHarvest Nourish Program is a hospitality focused pathway to engagement and employment for young people aged 16-25 who face barriers to education and employment. OzHarvest has partnered with Allara Learning to support the Certificate II in Cookery component of the Program. Nourish is facilitated by our team of qualified chefs and industry professionals with a holistic approach to teaching valuable hospitality, life and employability skills. We focus on building self-esteem and working with students on their individual needs to enable them to succeed.

Nourish is free of charge for participants.

For more information and to apply click HERE

Black Dog Institute has new free resources called Teens and Screens to support parents and carers with children in years 7-9. Please feel free to share this information with parents and carers in your team:

To read the March edition click here

Join Black Dog for an insightful and empowering webinar focused on providing strategies and resources to help you in supporting your teen.

Delivered by a Clinical Psychologist facilitator, and Black Dog Institute lived experience presenter, we will explore:

  • How to make sense of adolescence
  • Identify signs of mental health struggles.
  • Understand how to support your teen.
  • Know where you and your teen can get support.

This webinar is free and open to all parents, caregivers, and anyone interested in supporting the mental health of teens in their care. Reserve your spot today and embark on a journey towards greater well-being for you and your family!

See upcoming dates and register here: For Parents - Black Dog Institute | Better Mental Health

Contact: schools@blackdog.org.au

Attention Referring GP's, parents, community, schools and other service providers, jupiter - space to talk continues to provide free, accessible, inclusive and confidential counselling for young people in Port Stephens.

To find out more information click HERE

Do you find the School holidays boring? Do you need some adventure?

Come and join in celebrating youth week with jupiter - 16 April 2025.

For more details including locations click HERE

NEWSLETTERS AND GROUP CATCH UP'S

Healthy strong Aboriginal men often find value in sharing stories with each other, as it fosters a sense of brother-ship and mutual understanding.

Click HERE to find out more information about the fortnightly catch ups and for upcoming dates.

Click here to read the newsletter

Click here to view One Door's March Newsletter.

A message from Anthony Shannon:

This edition of TEI Inform includes information about:

  • Final chance to have your say on the draft TEI Program Specifications
  • TEI Evaluation Lunch and Learn
  • Celebrating Aboriginal-led early support services
  • Free coercive control training now available

To read more on each topic click HERE

Click here to read the March updates

Clock HERE to view news from FAMS

SEMINARS, TRAINING AND RESOURCES

The hidden root causes and why traditional methods aren’t working, run by Melanie Peers.

Sunday 4 May

10-11:30am

For more information and to register click HERE


An one hour webinar provides an introduction to the area of Complex Trauma. This webinar is aimed at a diverse range of roles and focused on understanding trauma.

16 May 2025

All via zoom. For more details see here

Delivered by Beth Innes and Renee Selby, 2 grant writing workshops will be offered to help you secure funding across the community, sports, art, infrastructure and academic grants

Charlestown workshop

Wednesday 2 July

9:30-3:30

Maitland workshop

Thursday 3 July

9:30-3:30

For more information and to register click HERE

For more information about the parenting programs, playgroups, art making and meal creating please click here

Workplace Mental Health: Current realities, future impact: recent panel discussion available just for our workplace clients (not shared publicly), you can access it here

Teen Mental Health Matters: free upcoming webinars focused on providing strategies and resources to help parents and caregivers support their teens, RSVP here (scroll to the bottom of the page)

Empowering recovery from complex trauma.

Check out Blueknot's bi-yearly public training calendar HERE

Check out CHSP's upcoming webinars and event HERE and how to register.

For information and how to best prepare for a heatwave, check out Port Stephens Councils and NSW Health, heatwave awareness resources.

For public releases of data and dashboards on early intervention, child protection, out-of-home care, social housing, homelessness and other key statistics on community support, click HERE

The Lifeline Training Support Team hosts Lifeline's community training and dedicated workplace delivery.

View their range of training options available HERE

Tafe NSW is offering certificate 11 education pathway courses,see more

The Gambling Impact Society (GIS) continues to provide Free Education about Gambling Harm through the Consumer Voice Project - Raising Awareness of the impact of gambling harm, owing to funding from the State Government. We have provided a number of these in your area to the PS Interagency, planning meetings, community groups, TAFE and University students and they have been well received.

For more information Click HERE

COMPETITIONS, GRANTS & EOI

The Tomaree Community Connect Week, is an initiative designed to connect local residents with vital support services available on the Tomaree Peninsula.

This year’s event will take place at Salamander Bay Square from May 12th – 16th, ensuring greater accessibility by bringing services directly to the community.

Each participating organisation will be allocated one day, with a maximum of eight organisations per day and a total of 40 organisations able to take part throughout the week.

This is a valuable opportunity for service providers to engage with the community, share information, and offer support in areas such as health, housing, employment, legal services, family services, seniors’ services, wellbeing, and more.

Event Details:

  • Bump-in (Set-up): 9:00 AM
  • Event Time: 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
  • Bump-out (Pack-up): By 3:00 PM

If your organisation is interested in participating, please complete the Expression of Interest (EOI) form:
https://forms.office.com/r/CN91RMUNeZ

Tertiary Accommodation Grant (TAG) supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enrolled in tertiary studies with grants of up to $10,000 per student to offset the cost of living while studying a Diploma or above.

For eligible students they will need to apply through the SmartyGrants link:

Students will need the following supporting documentations when applying for the grant:

  • Confirmation of Aboriginality (As per the AHO Eligibility for Service Policy)
  • Identification (student card or USI number)
  • Proof of enrolment (Letter of enrolment, Unit transcript, Support letter from education provider or invoice or payment of receipt of tuition.)
  • Proof of income (payslips, Centrelink annual statement or latest fortnightly statement, PAYG payment summary statement or BAS statement)
  • Proof of address and independent living in NSW (A residential tenancy agreement with you name on the lease, social housing letter from your provider, a rental bond notice or a letter from landlord outlining rent payable)
  • Personal statement on how this grant could help with your studies (max 400 words ).

Ensure you have also read the guidelines

This opportunity will target multicultural community-led grassroots organisations. Eligible organisations will be able to apply for grants of up to $100,000 over 2 years from 2024–25 to 2025–26 for the following types of activities:

  • Multicultural celebrations, such as festivals and events
  • Multicultural amenities, such as building upgrades, furnishings and equipment
  • Intercultural connections, such as intercultural sports programs or art projects.

Further detail is available on GrantConnect