Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 10am Rotunda, Warners Bay Foreshore

Cupcakes will be provided following the walk. To make sure there are enough cupcakes for everyone, please RSVP via the link

Together, we will walk in unity along the foreshore, showing our shared commitment to building respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community.

This is a welcoming and inclusive event for schools, community groups, families and the broader community. Let’s stand together, walk together and be ‘All In’ for reconciliation.

View flyer here.

The Men’s Yarning Circle provides a relaxed and welcoming space for men to come together, have a yarn, share stories, and connect with one another in a supportive environment.

This year, sessions will continue to focus on connection, wellbeing, and community, with the aim of making the group as accessible as possible. Locations may rotate to encourage broader participation, and further details around venues, dates, and any available support will be shared as plans are confirmed.

If you or family members are interested in attending, or if you’d like more information, please feel free to get in touch. New yarns are always welcome, and we’d love to see familiar faces return as well.

Here are the yarn ups for February/March 2026.

Every Friday from February 27 10am-12pm.

Streetside Medics is a free, GP led, medical service for people experiencing homelessness .

It is staffed by skilled volunteers: GPs, junior doctors, nurses, and general helpers.

It operates from a well equipped mobile medical van.

It provides primary healthcare service to the standard of a normal General Practice.

More details here.

DV support recovery face to face counselling and case management will be available for adults and children as young as 4 years at 5 Phillip Street commencing next Friday 31^st October and occurring fortnightly.

Learn more HERE

GIVIT has partnered with the New South Wales Government to manage donations of essential goods, services, and funds for people affected by the recent flooding across the Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.

GIVIT is a national not-for-profit that partners directly with councils, recovery outreach teams, charities and community groups to connect needs with generous donors, ensuring that Australians experiencing hardship receive the essential goods and services they need, when they need them most.

To find out how GIVIT works and how your organisation can participate, click here

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).

One Door HNE Family and Carer Mental Health Program (FCMHP) for the Greater Newcastle and the Lower Hunter areas now have in place a waitlist for New Referrals and Capacity Limits for registered Carers as instructed by our head office.

As many of you are aware the Family and Carer Mental Health Program (FCMHP) is not a crisis service.

This will mean new referrals will be waitlisted and not be addressed until we have capacity with an initial expected minimum wait of 6 weeks.

We will continue supporting the Carers & families of those living with Mental Health within our program guidelines.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Michael Mills michael.mills@onedoor.org.au 0417 104 918

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/Pages/services-family-carer.aspx

https://www.onedoor.org.au/our-services/carer-supports/carer-services-hunter-new-england

Ready to support Young Women aged 18-25+ in building confidence, resilience and life skills from anywhere in Australia?

This program is built on our commitment to nurturing the growth and potential of young women across diverse communities.

As a mentor, you'll have the chance to share your knowledge, offer valuable guidance, and help shape the futures of these young warriors as they work toward overcoming challenges and achieving their goals.

Register to be a mentor here.

More information on the program here.

We are excited to share our Aboriginal Family Dispute Resolution (BAFDR) team currently have the capacity to accept new referrals.

Our program services Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland, Cessnock, Port Stephens area and the Central Coast prioritising servicing first nation’s family, although are able to provide service to all families.

Bungree conveniently has offices located in Gosford and Cessnock.

BAFDR is a fee free service funded under the attorney generals department.

At BAFDR we are able to assist with parenting plans and property settlement to support families post separation. The process is confidential and child focused.

Our program is tailored to be culturally appropriate while working with first nations families.

Please see attached brochure and referral and reach out for any further information/inquiries via AFDR email.

BAFDR brochure

BAFDR referral form

Road Safety Focus Group – Community Action for Safe Speed Evaluation

Would you like $50 for your contribution to road safety? The George Institute for Global Health is conducting evaluation of the Community Action for Safe Speeds study. If you are 18yrs+ and have come across the ‘Local Voices’ competition, resident messages supporting safer speeds, or attended the crash car display on Australia Day, you are encouraged to contribute. Please refer to this poster for further details and register your interest to participate here: https://redcap1.georgeinstitute.org/surveys/?s=9TM9TATHNHTFDDC7

Flyer here.

jupiter – space to talk provides free, confidential counselling and wellbeing programs for young people aged 12–25 in the Port Stephens community.

Our service offers a safe and supportive space where young people can explore challenges such as anxiety, stress, family or relationship difficulties, school pressures, identity, and life transitions.

Through counselling, group programs, and community connection, jupiter supports young people to build resilience, strengthen communication skills, and improve their overall wellbeing. Our goal is to ensure that every young person has access to early, accessible mental health support, regardless of their circumstances.

To contact us or book an appointment, head to: jupiter.org.au

The Inclusion in Sport project aimed to bring awareness to organisations around the barriers and gaps currently being faced by children and their families. The project also aimed to provide clubs/organisations with FREE training around inclusion for coaches, managers, volunteers and staff as well support for staff in school environments.

If you have not had the opportunity to complete the free training, please feel free to register and complete this wondering training program>> Join Our Disability Inclusive Sports Program - Sport4All

Check out some wonderful resources for clubs and families

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:

• Nine strategies to help you support your teen in an online world: Handbook of strategies parents can use to support their teens
• Screen Time and Teen Mental Health: Insights & Tips for Parents: Short webinar for parents and carers
• Free apps to support teens: Learn about free apps for teens like Sleep Ninja and ClearlyMe

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

THIS & YAP is a free Jupiter youth group for high school–aged young people (around 12–18) who want connection, support, and a space to talk.

The group combines fun, hands-on activities with gentle wellbeing skill-building in a safe, supportive environment, facilitated by qualified counsellors.

It’s a great option for young people looking for extra support, social connection, or a step beyond one-on-one counselling.

👉 To get started, head to our registration page and complete the referral form - CLICK HERE

UP&UP will be delivering the BRICC (Building Resilient and Inclusive Communities through Creativity) youth program across the region during 2026/27.

BRICC is a 10-week creative wellbeing program for young people aged 12–18, where participants learn street art skills and work together to design and paint a collaborative public mural, building confidence, connection and positive community engagement (see attached for more info).

2026 program locations & partners
• Term 2 – Raymond Terrace (school-based program with ALESCO)
• Term 3 – Kurri Kurri (school-based program with Kurri Kurri High School)
• Term 4 – Tanilba Bay / Lemon Tree Passage (community after-school program open to ages 12-18)

Three additional programs will be delivered across the same locations in 2027, with partner organisations to be confirmed.

As part of the program, we will invite guest speakers to connect with the young people and help introduce them to local services, supports and opportunities available to them in their community. If you or your organisation may be interested, you can register your interest here: BRICC Guest speaker EOI

We are also currently looking for potential mural locations in these areas. If you know of an exterior wall that may be suitable for a youth-designed mural, please feel free to reach out.

The BRICC program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and delivered by UP&UP.

Thanks for supporting positive opportunities for young people in our community.

Brochure here.

Kurri Kurri, 21 May 2026, 9.30am - 4pm

The NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS), in partnership with CALM Inc, Kurri Kurri Community Services and Central Coast Community Council, is holding a free one-day social sector forum to explore the existing strengths and solutions to shared challenges and unmet needs of community organisations.

Who is it for?

The forum is for locally-based non-government organisations and networks, including government agencies and local council staff, working and volunteering in the diverse field of social services and community health.

The forum is for services from Central Coast up to the Hunter, including Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Mid-Coast, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter Shire and Central Coast LGAs.

What can you expect?

• NCOSS will share important sector updates.,
• Have your voice heard in meaningful discussions about what matters most to our sector
• Connect and collaborate with like-minded people in your area and create new networks
• Build your capabilities through practical workshops and resources

Attendance is free with catering provided.

NCOSS is committed to supporting marginalised and historically excluded voices to be heard - if your organisation needs financial support to attend, please get in touch.

Register: https://events.humanitix.com/ncossforum-hcc

MyTime is a peer support program for parents and carers of a child with a disability, chronic medical condition or other additional needs including developmental delays.

Groups run every Thursday 12:30-2pm at Anna Bay Family Centre.

Learn more HERE

Click here to read the newsletter

This edition of TEI Inform includes:

• Apology and correction to Reconciliation Week theme in previous newsletter
• New webpage for parenting programs and supported playgroups
• Next steps following TEI and FCS evaluations
Safe and Strong Families evaluation

To read more on each topic click HERE

Click HERE to view news from FAMS

Please see attached the minutes from the meeting held on the 13/10 and the minutes from the online meeting from Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services.

Learn more HERE

Read the most recent HNE Carers Newsletter here!

https://createsend.com/t/i-ECCBCAA8AEB8AD252540EF23F30FEDED

Family is Culture Review – Briefing

Purpose:
The Family is Culture Review aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people, and families involved in child protection and care systems by embedding cultural safety and self-determination.

Key Principles

• Aboriginal Family-Led Decision Making (AFLDM): Families lead decisions about children’s care to maintain cultural identity and kinship ties.
• Aboriginal Case Management Policy (ACMP): Framework for culturally safe practice across early intervention, child protection, and out-of-home care.
• Community-Controlled Mechanisms: Aboriginal organisations play a central role in service delivery and decision-making.
• Proactive Efforts: Agencies must actively work with families and communities to keep children safe at home and connected to culture.

Cultural Safety

• Recognises historical trauma from colonisation and the Stolen Generations.
• Services must empower Aboriginal families and respect cultural knowledge.
• Practice aligns with Aboriginal Child Placement Principles to prioritise kinship care and cultural continuity.

Actionable Steps for Staff

• Engage Early and Respectfully:

• Contact families as soon as concerns arise.

• Use culturally appropriate communication and interpreters if needed.

• Apply AFLDM:

• Facilitate family-led meetings where decisions are made by the family, not imposed by agencies.
• Ensure Aboriginal facilitators are involved.

• Prioritise Kinship Care:

• Exhaust all options within family and community before considering non-Aboriginal placements.
• Document efforts to maintain cultural connections.

• Collaborate with Aboriginal Organisations:

• Partner with local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) for case planning and support.
• Seek guidance on cultural protocols.

• Continuous Cultural Competency:

• Participate in cultural awareness training.
• Reflect on practice to ensure cultural safety is embedded.

• Follow ACMP and Placement Principles:
  • Keep the child’s cultural identity central to all decisions.

• Review policies regularly and apply them consistently.

Family is Culture Review can be found here : Family is Culture | Communities and Justice

Lower Hunter & Greater Family & Carers Program Carers Newsletter March 2026

Access newsletter here.

Al-Anon is a self–help group.

We are partners, mothers, fathers, grandparents and adult children from all walks of life who are concerned about someone else’s drinking.

In Al-Anon we do not give advice but we do share our common experience of how we too have been affected by someone else’s drinking.

We learn about the disease of alcoholism and how we can understand and encourage our relatives & friends in a more effective way. We learn new skills which can help overcome the negative effects of living or having lived with someone with a drinking problem.

Al-Anon is free. As our groups are self supporting we donate what we can to pay for any meeting expenses such as rent.

So if you are concerned about the drinking of someone close to you Al-Anon can help.

Locations/dates and more details here.

The ALS Care & Protection and Family team can assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with free legal advice and social work support. Come have a Yarn with us!

May 2026 - Outreach Clinics

Thursday 7th May - Bungree Aboriginal Association 9B Hall Street, Cessnock, NSW, 2325. (1pm-3pm)

Wednesday 13th May - Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services 3 Jacaranda Avenue, Raymond Terrace, NSW, 2324. (10am-12pm)

Wednesday 13 th May - Wahroonga Aboriginal Corporation 14/25 Sturgeon Street, Raymond Terrace, NSW, 2324. (1pm-3pm)

Thursday 14 th May– Upper Hunter Community Services Cnr Bridge & Market Street, Muswellbrook, NSW, 2333. (9am-1pm)

Monday 18th May – Eastlakes Family Support 14 Hickory Road, Gateshead, NSW, 2290. (1pm-3pm)

Tuesday 19th May - Nikinpa Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Unit 9/13 Beckley St, Toronto, NSW, 2283. (1pm-3pm)

Contact our office on:

Email: als-family@alsnswact.org.au

Phone: (02) 4914 6565

See flyer here.

Blue Knot Foundation offers professional development training focused on complex trauma and trauma informed practice. Our training programs are focused on building skill and capacity in staff, leaders, practitioners and organisations.

Learn more HERE

To find out more information and resources on inclusion in play and sport, check out the links below.

Inclusion in play and sports - Sporting clubs

Inclusion in sports - Family resources pack

LAB Learning Clinic provides evidence-based therapy supports to help individuals develop functional skills, enhancing participation and independence in daily activities such as language and communication.

They provide support in the following areas:

• Therapy services across the lifespan to enhance functional skills, supporting greater participation and independence in areas such as written and oral communication in everyday tasks.
• Early intervention for children aged 0-9 with developmental delays, written communication difficulties or disabilities to achieve better long-term outcomes

To learn more click HERE

The NSW Government is continuing its campaign to raise awareness of coercive control among multicultural communities. In-language information is now available in 18 languages with the addition of Korean, Assyrian, Farsi, Punjabi and Filipino/Tagalog. To view the resources 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 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

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

Yfoundations is excited to announce the launch of a newlearning platform: ‘Working with children and young people who use violence’.

This series of online learning which will take participants approximately 5 hours to complete.

This course will include:

• Research and resources
• Digital stories with frontline workers
• 12 training modules with Ken McMaster
• 5 training modules with Shayne Hood

Learn more and register HERE

COMMUNITIES FOR CHILDREN

GREAT relationships - Growing, Resilient, Emotionally, Attuned and Thriving relationships.

The GREAT Relationships project supports positive and respectful interpersonal relationships by working with local parents/carers, children, and professionals.

HOW?

- Delivery of evidence based parenting programs such as Circle of Security, Bringing up Great Kids, Tuning into Kids/Teens, Parents not Partners and Building Connections.

- School Services Programs - student relationship programs for students aged 8-12, focused on addressing gender norms, healthy relationships and positive transition to high school - Moving into the Teens Years (years 5 & 6); Me and the Big Wide World (Years 3 & 4).

- Supported Parenting Activities - incl. brief intervention counselling support, referrals to relevant services/programs, advocacy, and parenting information.

- Sector Support including practice development sessions and capacity building workshops such as trauma informed practice.

COST

All programs and supports on offer are FREE if you reside in the listed communities

WHERE?

Raymond Terrace, Karuah, Tanilba Bay-Lemon Tree Passage, Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest, Salt Ash Public School

WHO?

Parents/carers with children aged 0-12 years; children aged 8-12 years- from the above areas. Local professionals working with parents/carers and children.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the program coordinator Bianca Teixeira on

Landline - (02) 4016 0550

Mobile - 0448 122 845

or email at bianca.teixeira@interrelate.org.au

More info here.

Held at lunchtime, these sessions are an invitation to pause in your day, whether that means eating lunch, stepping away from work or simply listening in. This series encourages learning alongside nourishment and care, recognising that taking a pause is part of a sustainable, trauma-informed practice.

Suitable for practitioners, leaders, and support roles with flexible registration options
Attend a single webinar or purchase the full six-part series to strengthen your professional development across the first half of the year.

March 26th 12pm AEDT

Holding Compassion in Our Work: Presence, Boundaries and Care (1hr)

April 30th 12pm AEST

Trauma-Responsive Leadership in Complex Systems (1.5hr)

May 28th 12pm AEST

Exploring Trauma-Sensitive Reflective Practice (1hr)

June 26th 12pm AEST

Embedding Trauma-Informed Principles in Practice (1hr)

More details here.

Brisbane -Tues. 5 May 2026

Sydney Central - Wed. 6 May 2026

Sydney (venue tbc) - Wed. 5 August 2026

Canberra - Wed. 23 September 2026

Gosford - Wed. 4 November 2026

If you are interested in attending, we ask a fee of $475 +gst per participant.

Payment of this fee will secure your place.

If you wish to register for this training, you will need to commit to:

1. Running the Black Box Parenting Program either with a group or an individual family in the following school term. It works best if you have a group or family organised before you attend the workshop.

If you are unable to organise this before the workshop, please let Kate know.

And

2. To attend 3 x 1 hour group video supervision sessions during the term that you run the program. Attendance to three supervision sessions is required to obtain accreditation.

Please complete this registration form and select your preferred workshop.

Please also see this Black Box Parenting Program flyer for content details and feel free to share with your colleagues.

Please email Kate.Newnham@theperegrinecentre.com.au if you have any questions.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The latest $50 Active and Creative Kids voucher for 2026 is now available, continuing to help make activities more affordable for eligible NSW families.

To help you raise awareness about the program, we have developed a communication toolkit containing shareable resources including:

• social media content
• posters
• flyers
• website banners
• resources for Aboriginal and multicultural communities.

Access the toolkit here

Key voucher information

• Available to families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A, Part B or both.
• Voucher 2 – 2025: Still available and must be used by 14 July 2026.
• Voucher 1 – 2026: Available now and must be used by 31 December 2026.
• Voucher 2 – 2026: Available from 15 July 2026 and must be used by 14 July 2027.

Families can combine two valid vouchers for a total of $100 towards an eligible activity.

For example: If a family has not yet used Voucher 2 – 2025, they can combine it with Voucher 1 – 2026 to save $100 for any activity before 14 July 2026. Later in the year, families who have Voucher 1 – 2026 can combine it with Voucher 2 – 2026 once it becomes available.

For more details, visit Active and Creative Kids.

Active and Creative Kids Voucher 1 – 2026 is now available.

Families can use Voucher 1 – 2026 together with Voucher 2 – 2025 before 14 July 2026 for a combined value of $100.

Please note that each voucher can only be used once. More information is available at:

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/active-and-creative-kids-voucher.

Applications for the At-Home Caravans Program, Renters Bond and Advanced Rent Grant, and Home Repair Grant open today (Monday 25 August 2025) through the Housing Recovery Service. The Housing Recovery Service connects homeowners, renters, and landlords with housing assistance such as grants for repairs, grants to help with rent and relocation, temporary housing programs and disaster relief grants and can be contacted on 1800 695 043. All the program pages can be accessed as sub pages from this master page https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/recovery/storm-recovery-updates/housing-support-package-for-nsw-mid-north-coast-and-hunter-floods, but they are linked below as well:

• https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/floods/recover/flood-recovery-updates/east-coast-at-home-caravans-program
• https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/renters-bond-and-advanced-rent-grant
• https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/home-repair-grant