Thanks to an exciting collaboration between The Salvation Army Employment Plus, Hunter Local Jobs Program, Newcastle City Council and the University of Newcastle, we are proud to present Deadly Futures: First Nations Careers and Community Expo.

Open to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers, high school students and community, this expo will provide valuable opportunities to:

• Highlight career and training opportunities
• Create valuable networking connections with local community
• Engage in meaningful, face-to-face discussions with businesses and other jobseekers
• Strengthen community ties and foster collaborative partnerships

Event details:

Join us to celebrate talent, create opportunities, and make lasting impacts.

Date: Thursday, 19th February 2026

Registration is on the Flyer.

NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show tickets on sale!

Free tickets for the comedy shows will be available to order online from 10am on Tuesday 3 February 2026 on the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show webpage.

Show details

• Sydney Town Hall, in partnership with City of Sydney at 11am, Tuesday 3 March

• Ulladulla Civic Centre, in partnership with Shoalhaven City Council at 11am and 1.30pm, on Thursday 5 March.

Meet this year’s comedy line-up

Check out the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show webpage to see the fantastic comedians bringing the laughs to this year’s festival. You won’t want to miss it!

We’re here to help

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

Bungree Aboriginal Association is here to support families with family dispute resolution/ Mediation, while navigating parenting and property issues that arise as part of separation.

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

• Able to provide fee free mediation services.
• While the program is funded to service Aboriginal community, they can support non-Aboriginal people as long as there is an Aboriginal person within the family dynamics.
• The program services the Cessnock, Maitland, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Port Stephens, and Central Coast areas with offices in both Cessnock and Gosford.

Learn more HERE. You can also download a referral 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

For more information on YOUTH WEEK 2026, head to the webpage 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

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

📅 Get Ready NGO & NDIS Providers Workshop

🕘 Wednesday 11 February 2026 from 9am – 5pm

📍 Maitland Town Hall – 263 High Street, Maitland

Come along to this practical and engaging session designed especially for local not-for-profits and NDIS service providers. It’s a great opportunity to learn about emergency management, business continuity planning, networking, and build your capacity to deliver even better outcomes for our community.

Join our upcoming virtual classroom training on 27 February 2026.

Using a Trauma Lens when working with Domestic and Family Violence is a one day training which provides trauma-informed information and skills for professionals working with domestic and family violence.

By attending this training, participants will:

• Develop understanding of the types, prevalence, neurobiology, adaptations and impacts of complex trauma including DFV
• Articulate the features and benefits of trauma-informed services for people experiencing DFV
• Apply the trauma informed principles to your role to enhance safety, minimise re-traumatisation and support recovery of people experiencing DFV

Click here to register for this training

Suitable for all staff and practitioners working with domestic and family violence.

Further information about this training program can be found by clicking here.

Circle of Security is a program designed for parents and carers of children aged 0-12 years who want to strengthen the bonds with their children and would like support to help their children to build secure relationships.

Participants are encouraged to look beyond their children's behaviour to identify and respond to the emotional needs to help prevent issues in the family.

Over the course of the program, participants gain a new understanding of how they can strengthen the bonds with their children, in turn helping them to feel secure.

Throughout this program, participants will:

. Understand their child's emotional world

. Learn to 'read' their child's emotional needs

. Support their child's ability to successfully manage their emotions

. Enhance the development of their child's self-esteem

Bookings essential contact

Bianca Teixeira on 0448 122 845 or

cfcnewcastle@interrelate.org.au

THURSDAYS

from 12th February to 2nd April

10AM - 12PM

8 sessions to be attended

VENUE

3 & 5 Phillip Street

Raymond Terrace, NSW 2324

(for residents in the Port Stephens area)

More info 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.

Calling all Port Stephens women - International Women’s Day Scholarship is now open!

We are encouraging local women to apply for the 2026 International Women’s Day Scholarship, with applications open from 13 January to 13 February 2026.

Our program offers three $1,000 scholarships to women aged 16 and above. These scholarships, aimed at fields such as arts, culture, environment, business, community, health, and sports, empower recipients to pursue their goals and positively impact their local communities.

Share this opportunity to win a $1000 scholarship with the amazing women in our community

See our flyer here.

Learn more: https://pscouncil.info/IWD2026

If you would like to discuss your application, please contact the Vibrant Places team on 02 4988 0255 or email Vibrantplaces@portstephens.nsw.gov.au

Delivered on behalf of the Department of Education.

The objective of this grant opportunity is to support the longer-term sustainability of eligible approved early childhood education and care (ECEC) services providing care to communities experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.

Applications are now open and close 9:00 pm AEDT on Wednesday 25 February 2026.

Find out more on GrantConnect.

The Aboriginal Affairs NSW Cultural Grants Program supports Aboriginal community organisations and groups across NSW to celebrate Aboriginal cultures and hold key cultural events and activities.

Key information

• Grant amount: From $1,000 to $20,000
• Application closes: 31 March 2026, 5:00 pm
• Further information: via the website

Types of projects funded under this grant

The following are a few examples of the types of projects that may be considered for funding:

• Women’s or Men’s gathering on Country
• Cultural health and wellbeing camps
• Create and digitise Aboriginal history of the local community
• State-wide or regional music and/or cultural festival
• Workshops

To be eligible, projects must also:

• Take place within NSW
• Meet the objectives of the Cultural Grants program

When the project can start and end

The project should be started by 23 January 2026 and the project must be completed by 31 December 2026.

*For projects needing to be delivered between:

• 23 January - 2 March 2026, please apply by 23 November 2025
• 2 March - 6 April 2026, please apply by 11 January 2026
• 6 April - 1 June 2026, please apply by 15 February 2026
• 1 June - 31 December 2026, please apply by 31 March 2026

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