NSW Reconstruction Authority have a series of upcoming film screenings and would love to encourage attendance to help support safer, more resilient communities.

These events highlight how communities across NSW are adapting and preparing for future challenges. Each screening features short films alongside a panel discussion exploring real stories of resilience and adaptation. More information is available on the website:

https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority/our-work/disaster-adaptation-plans/activities

Attendees can choose a screening and register here https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/events

•••Free entry•••Registration essential•••Refreshments will be provided•••

•Laneway Theatre Newcastle Tuesday June 16

•Yarramalong Hall Central Coast, Tuesday 23 June

•Taree Old Bar Surf Club Wednesday 24 June

•Murrook Cultural Centre Williamstown Tuesday 30 June

Hope to see you at the Murrook event! Please reach out if you have any questions.

The next Census is on Tuesday 11 August 2026

Every 5 years, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) counts every person and household in Australia through the Census. Information from the Census helps governments, businesses and community groups plan for schools, health care, transport and infrastructure.

We can't do the Census without our temporary field workforce. They collect the data that helps us all understand more about Australia and how it's changing.

We are looking for a broad range of people to reflect the diversity of Australia. This includes people working part-time and studying.

We are now hiring over 16,000 Field Officers

There are Field Officer jobs available in your area, and in most parts of Australia.

- Field Officers are the local face of the Census.

- They deliver Census letters and forms, answer questions from the public and follow up with households that have not yet responded.

- Applications open from 20 April 2026.

- To be considered in the first round of applications, we encourage people to submit their application by 18 May 2026.

See flyer here.

https://www.rydon.org.au/2026-rydon-conference

Book Online now!

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 from 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.

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.

The new Port Stephens refuge for women and children impacted by domestic and family violence is opening soon!

You can help create a place of safety, healing and hope!

Visit their online registry and contribute towards essential items that will help women and children begin to heal and recover.

The Registry lists items we need to fit out the refuge and we are asking for people to make donations toward the cost of purchasing all of the items – people can make a small or large contribution, everything makes a difference. All donations are tax deductible.

Access the Registry here.

Flyer here.

🦠😷🤒🤧FluTracking is a community surveillance system for tracking respiratory illness around Australia. Each 30-second weekly survey helps build a clearer picture of how flu, COVID-19 and RSV are spreading in real time. Your input helps improve public health responses and keep communities safer, especially during flu season. 🦠😷🤒🤧

It’s quick, anonymous, and helps keep your community informed. For more information or to access posters for your office or clinic, contact hnelhd-flutracking@health.nsw.gov.au.

If you’re already a participant, thank you. If it’s been a while, consider this your nudge. Not on board yet? It’s easy to join: https://www.flutracking.net/Join/AE/ps26

Access 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.

New opportunity from the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Young people’s views on consent and sex education matter.

That’s why the Australian Human Rights Commission is running the On Your Terms survey – an online survey that asks for young people’s views on consent, respectful relationships and sex education. The insights gathered will help shape how Australian schools teach consent and respectful relationships into the future, supporting schools to build safe and inclusive learning environments.

If you or someone you know is aged between 14–18 and lives in Australia, we encourage you to share this survey with them. It’s anonymous and takes just 10-15 minutes to complete. You can even enter a draw to win 1 of 40x $50 eGift cards by completing the survey.

Have your say or share the survey here: www.onyourtermssurvey.com.au

Kind regards,

National Office for Child Safety

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

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

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.

HNE Carer's Newsletter May 2026

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

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

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.

May 28th 12pm AEST

Exploring Trauma-Sensitive Reflective Practice (1hr)

June 26th 12pm AEST

Embedding Trauma-Informed Principles in Practice (1hr)

More details here.

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.

About the Program

Healing at Home on Country provides funding to support culturally safe, community‑led pathways for Aboriginal adults returning home to their families and communities.

The program encourages Aboriginal organisations to be innovative and creative, designing initiatives that respond directly to the needs, strengths and priorities of local communities. Activities incorporate community – based elders and mentoring and may include cultural healing, training, and other community-based supports that promote connection to Country and community.

Application Dates

Applications Open: 10:00am, Monday 4 May 2026

Applications Close: 4:00pm, Tuesday 30 June 2026

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) based in NSW

• Aboriginal specific sole providers or Aboriginal owned businesses

• NSW Local Aboriginal Land Councils

• Indigenous Corporations

Applicants must also:

• Be willing to work in partnership with Community Corrections, Corrective Services NSW

• Be able to enter into a funding agreement with DCJ

• Hold an ABN, Australian bank account, and Public Liability Insurance

Funding Available

Organisations may apply for grants of $5,000, or $10,000

What the Funding Can Be Used For

Funding may support (but is not limited to):

• Community projects and programs

• Cultural activities and healing initiatives

• Mentoring and training

• Resources to support effective program delivery

Funding cannot be used for:

• Commercial or profit‑making activities

• Existing debt or budget deficits

• Capital works

• Permanent salaries, wages, or equipment

• Business‑as‑usual operational costs

Assessment Process

This is an open, competitive rolling grant program. Applications can be submitted at any time while the program is open; however, all applications will be assessed after the program has closed.

Applications will be assessed on relevance, impact and implementation, with priority given to projects that demonstrate creative and innovative approaches to improve engagement and transition for Aboriginal people returning home to their families and communities.

If you require further information, please contact:

• For Community Corrections - ACCU@Correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au

• For Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Sole Traders - GrantDesignandSupport@dcj.nsw.gov.au