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CEO Update
“You help me to have a voice and listen to my story.”
“You made me feel like someone cares about my life.”
These are direct quotes from young people supported in our Intensive Youth Support Service. The program works closely with young people by building trustworthy and reliable adult connections. It seeks to create possibilities for the future while addressing past and present stresses and trauma.
All young people referred to the service have been at risk of being removed from their families and placed into child protection. The turnaround is remarkable. By working with the young person's family, their cultural connections, their strengths and by listening deeply we see big changes. In fact, 98% of the young people referred to the service stay with family and reconnect to a more positive future. It's fantastic what a difference professional youth and family workers can make when attuned to the needs of young people and their families.
Each of us can name a person who we think ‘really listens’. For some people it comes naturally, but for most of us listening is a skill we can strengthen. We can all work on developing our ‘listening muscles’. A simple start is to shut out other distracting thoughts (and devices!) when we’re with someone. Another is to check if you have listened more than you have spoken. I use the two ears to one mouth metaphor to remind me that I should listen twice as much as I speak.
When we listen we learn. And when we listen intently, we show we care and that the person we are with matters.
Kind regards,
Dave Pugh
Chief Executive Officer |
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Older people deserve quality services
Older people have the right to live a full and rewarding life with access to supports that respect their individual choices. Anglicare NT helps people maintain health and independence, remain in their homes, reduce the risk of isolation and strengthen links with community. Services include in-home support (personal care, meals, transport, home maintenance), individual and group social support, respite services and assistance for older people who are homeless. We also coordinate volunteer visitors to older people living in aged care facilities or their own homes.
A recent survey of our aged care service participants focused on better understanding individual experiences and identifying areas for improvement. Responses from 138 people showed high levels of overall satisfaction, trust, respect and feelings of safety with Anglicare NT service provision. 91% of respondents agreed that services assisted them a great deal or a lot in their day to day life and 92% felt listened to and respected by staff. The survey will be conducted annually in all regions to ensure services continue to meet or exceed expectations.
“Staff make me feel comfortable with personal care”
“Support is essential. I couldn’t do it without them”
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Young people living in out of home care have consistently experienced poorer life outcomes than their peers. But a good education can change the trajectory.
Set up a monthly donation to help young people like Jessica reach their potential.
Jessica moved into out of home care when she was no longer able to live with her family. The immense change impacted her sense of security and belonging. With so much out of her control, Jessica felt little hope for the future and started skipping school and developing unhealthy relationships.
Jessica began meeting one on one with our dedicated MeNTor teacher. Together, they set goals and developed plans to improve emotional awareness and communication. Our teacher helped address barriers to engagement and supported Jessica’s school to better accommodate her learning needs.
After 12 months of individual support, Jessica
- Improved school attendance and grades
- Learnt to open up about any difficulties she is facing
- Made positive connections with her classmates
Making Education Outcomes Reachable NT (MeNTor) supports young people in care to engage with school, build confidence and improve educational outcomes. Please donate today to help sustain this vital program, so more young people like Jessica can reach their potential.
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Building resilience for positive futures
The Intensive Youth Support Service (IYSS) is a unique, targeted response to engaging and therapeutically supporting young people at risk of entering the child protection system. Supports focus on building resilience, recognising strengths, developing nurturing relationships, connecting with relevant services and accessing stable accommodation.
Since its launch in 2014, IYSS has supported 300 young people in Darwin, Palmerston, Katherine and Alice Springs. On a day-to-day basis, IYSS provides personal support and helps young people address challenges, strengthen family relationships and improve engagement in school, study and work.
“I have more trust now and feel more comfortable. I can speak up and ask if I need help with anything”
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Collaborating with community for Families Week
Anglicare NT works with local partners in Alice Springs and East Arnhem to strengthen families, provide opportunities and help create child friendly communities and services.
During National Families Week, Anglicare NT hosted the ‘We Grow Them Up’ Learning Forum on the Gove Peninsula. The forum celebrates and showcases collaborative approaches and culturally meaningful, locally based early childhood, children’s and family support initiatives.
After a Welcome to Country by members of the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation, delegates participated in three days of interactive activities and presentations. Updates and learnings were shared by East Arnhem Children’s Services, East Arnhem Regional Council, Family as First Teachers, Families & Schools Together, Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, Playgroup NT, Connected Beginnings and NAPCAN.
In Alice Springs, the Child Friendly Alice project continues to work with a range of partners and the wider community on ways to improve opportunities for children to grow up safe, strong and healthy. In May, community members shared their ideas for a child-safe Alice Springs during a child-friendly event at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
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Couch Surfing puts focus on youth homelessness
The Northern Territory has the highest rate of youth homelessness in Australia, with many young people living in overcrowded accommodation or couch surfing. Couch surfing describes people moving from place to place with limited support and is the name of our annual youth event, hosted in partnership with City of Darwin.
Held on National Youth Homelessness Matters Day, twenty teams of young people from local schools and community groups joined the ultra-competitive couch race heats, with the Larrakia Nation & Grow Well Live Well team taking first place. Each team presented a fantastically decorated couch, featuring Aboriginal artwork, flags for inclusivity, graffiti and messages of hope.
The event was well supported by local dignitaries including Minister for Youth Hon Lauren Moss MLA, Minister for Territory Families & Urban Housing Hon Kate Worden MLA and Alderman Paul Arnold. Her Honour the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AO, Administrator of the NT started the first race of the day.
Many community services organisations were represented at information stalls and local businesses such as Bunnings, NT Major Events and Lo Castro donated generously. First Nations Radio broadcast live from the event and many other media outlets captured the excitement across television, radio and social media.
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Telling our stories
The stories of older people have been captured on camera as part of a compelling storytelling project in East Arnhem. Participants were proud to share significant moments from their lives and reflect on some of the good and bad experiences they have had as older people living in the region.
Having navigated living in two worlds and the many changes that have occurred for Yolngu people over the years, the professionally produced videos are an important digital memory for family and community. They also have the potential to help advocate for the needs of older people in the region and generate interest in services.
“Two of these fella, security, they said stop, what’s that, a gun? No, it’s not a gun, it’s an instrument, it’s a hollowed log that we play Down Under!" Donald Ganambarr
Yolngu women are very clever and sensible and very beautiful sense of humour. In our mind, in our knowledge, in our being.” Djerrknu Eunice Marika
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Investment needed in affordable housing
With the release of the annual Rental Affordability Snapshot in April, Anglicare NT called on the government to urgently invest in more affordable homes and raise the rate of welfare.
On the Snapshot weekend, 387 private rentals were advertised for rent in the Northern Territory. None of these properties were affordable for singles, single parents or couples with children living on the JobSeeker payment. No properties were affordable for singles on the Age Pension or Disability Support Pension, and only 2% of properties were affordable for couples on the Age Pension.
Compared to last year’s Snapshot, there are fewer private rentals available this year and the cost of renting has increased. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute shows that we currently have a shortfall of 6,700 social and affordable rentals across the Northern Territory. By 2036, that number is expected to grow to 14,500.
Nobody should be forced to make impossible sacrifices just to keep a roof over their head. It’s time the Government raised the rate of JobSeeker above the poverty line to make sure everyone has a place to call home.
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Supporting young people with eating disorders
Young people in Darwin who experience disordered eating now have access to broader supports through the development of an innovative partnership between headspace Darwin and the Royal Darwin Hospital.
Doctors at Royal Darwin Hospital work with headspace Darwin clinicians to support young people using a multidisciplinary team approach for treatment planning and interventions. Eating disorders are highly complex mental illnesses with significant physical complications and impairments including chronic heart and kidney disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and diseases associated with obesity.
Across the Northern Territory, there are limited services available for young people and adults experiencing disordered eating. With rates increasing and most frequently beginning during childhood and youth, the partnership addresses a gap in health services and provides young people with a safe avenue to early intervention support.
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Volunteers make a difference
Volunteers are central to creating vibrant, connected and thriving communities. They make communities stronger, more connected and inclusive.
Volunteers make a positive difference all the time but especially during times of great need or crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteers across the Northern Territory have stepped up. They’ve engaged in extra training, complied with precautions and helped organisations continue to deliver essential services, organise food packages and care for the wellbeing of Territorians.
Anglicare NT volunteers support others by delivering meals, providing transport, helping at the opportunity shop and by visiting older people in aged care facilities or living at home who may be socially isolated.
To learn about our volunteering opportunities phone 8985 0000.
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International Women's Day
International Women's Day celebrates women's achievements, raises awareness about women's equality and lobbies for accelerated gender parity.
To recognise this important day, several Anglicare NT sites hosted events embracing this year’s theme #Choose to Challenge. In Darwin, guest speaker Elizabeth Stubbs, Deputy CEO CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation, joined staff to share personal experiences of support, challenges, inspiration and encouragement.
Anglicare NT is committed to supporting women’s rights and equity. As an organisation, we continuously reflect on ways to better contribute as we continue to advocate for ‘a full life and social justice for all’.
“While progress has been made and many women have become the voices we need to hear, it’s up to all of us to continue the conversation and ensure this incredibly important narrative isn’t silenced,” Jade Gooding, Executive Manager Mental Health.
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Copyright © 2021 Anglicare NT
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