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CEO Update
'Hope' is a word that we all use a lot - ‘I hope so,' ‘hope all is well’ etc. Hope is also one of Anglicare NT's five core values. Interestingly, the people we work with say that they can spot hope in a worker’s tone and body language in the first 30 seconds of meeting. They tell us that hope is one of the most important characteristics of a good worker.
Hope and optimism go together and come from a deep place in all of us. At Anglicare NT we hold hope for ourselves and others because we know that change is constant, and that the people we work with have reserves of strength and ability to face their challenges. We hold hope because we have a deep well of experience where we have seen positive changes occur time after time.
In this Newsletter we share news and events that point towards improvements in our society and in services. We also talk about work we do to build individual and organisational ability to thrive, even during tough times.
After a tough year we can lose a bit of hope. I find time with loved ones and in peaceful reflection can restore my hope bucket. For many, Christmas is a time of being reminded that hope comes from God.
My hope is that you find your ‘hope’ bucket overflowing as we enter 2022. Once again, thank you for your support and interest in the work of this exciting and hopeful organisation, Anglicare NT.
Kind regards,
Dave Pugh
Chief Executive Officer |
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Year in Review 2021
The Anglicare NT Annual Report 2020-21 was launched at our Year in Review meeting in November. Guests were Welcomed to Country by Mary Williams, who shared historical images of Larrakia through the years and spoke of the ongoing connections the Larrakia have to this land. The Right Reverend, Dr Greg Anderson led a Welcome Prayer and reflected on the wide range of support that Anglicare NT provides.
Board Chair, Richard Giles, commended Anglicare NT for its continuity of service during a year of unprecedented challenges and CEO Dave Pugh shared reflections and highlights from the Annual Report. In the keynote address, CEO Territory Families, Housing and Communities Ken Davies PSM, spoke of his reflections and learnings gained over 30 years of dedicated service across the Northern Territory.
A presentation featured the story of participant ‘Koala’ and how the Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) program has assisted him on his recovery journey. The video helped explain how HASI assists people with a mental illness to maintain their tenancy, access psychosocial supports, develop life skills and enhance quality of life. East Arnhem Children’s Services premiered a video which showcased their annual We Grow Them Up Learning Forum.
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Celebrating 25 years of the Community Visitors Scheme
Anglicare NT celebrated 25 years of delivering the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) in the Northern Territory with an event for volunteers and participants at Parliament House in November. CVS is a national initiative connecting volunteer visitors with older people at risk of social or cultural isolation in aged care facilities or in their own home.
On the night we heard about one volunteer who often drives 300km from Yuendumu to Alice Springs to jam music with his older friend. Another supported a participant to complete physiotherapy exercises, which has increased mobility and enabled him to garden with his wife again.
Anglicare NT have recruited, trained and supported thousands of volunteers since 1996 and currently offer the program in Darwin, Palmerston, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy. Many special connections have been made over the years between people of different ages through shared language, life experience or deep cultural understanding.
For more information about volunteering with the Community Visitors Scheme, contact Anglicare NT on 08 8985 0000.
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 | We know Territorians from all walks of life have faced tougher times since the arrival of COVID-19. We have all been impacted one way or another; kept apart from loved ones or had holiday plans cancelled multiple times. But some people have struggled more - with isolation, soaring rents, jobs losses and life plans derailed.
Christmas is a time for giving and creating hope. Anglicare NT work with people all year-round, day-in, day-out. Through lock-downs and lock-outs we deliver essential services. We help keep families together, aid people to resolve money worries and debts, and assist people living with a mental illness to build skills, connect with the community and maintain their tenancy.
Any donation, no matter the size, gives people a hand-up. Donate online today or call our Head Office on 08 8985 0000 to make a donation or to get further information. |
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New Reconciliation Action Plan
The Anglicare NT Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan Sept 2021- Sept 2024 was launched in Alice Springs by Leonie Patterson, Executive Manager Cultural Safety & Partnerships. Our third Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and second Stretch RAP, builds on prior achievements and reflects a continued commitment to reconciliation.
To achieve our purpose of ‘a full life and social justice for all’, it is essential that we fully embed principles of self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As an organisation, we must understand and seek to address the damage of colonisation and deeply commit to two-way learning, cultural respect and cultural safety. Our latest RAP reflects these commitments and values in practical ways; through employment commitments, staff learning, service effectiveness, partnerships and celebrations.
Our Reconciliation Committee led the development of the RAP, strongly championed by our Board, CEO and Executive Management Team. It captures the voices of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff, stakeholders, service participants and reference groups in the many communities we work. The artwork weaved throughout was created by Warnindilyakwa woman and Anglicare NT staff member, Tanya Kelly, to represent truth-telling and two-way learning.
Photos
Left: Richard Giles, Leonie Patterson and Margaret Furber at the RAP launch.
Right: Warnindilyakwa woman Tanya Kelly painted our RAP artwork. |
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 | headspace Palmerston is coming soon!
We are excited to share that headspace Palmerston is coming soon! After many years of advocacy and supporting young people from the area, we are proud to draw on our expertise and skills in the development of this new centre. Anglicare NT has been operating headspace Darwin for over 13 years and launched headspace Katherine in 2019.
headspace Palmerston will provide tailored support to young people aged 12 to 25, along with their family and friends. Planning has commenced and we are working with young people and community stakeholders to ensure services meet local needs.
The centre is being funded by the Australian Government through the NT Primary Health Network. The headspace model is based on early intervention with the knowledge that adolescence and early adulthood is a critical time in a person’s life. Accessing help in the early stages of any challenge helps young people continue to thrive and reduces the likelihood of long term mental health issues. |
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Interest-free loans for vehicles
Individuals and families on low incomes can access safe, fair and affordable credit to purchase a vehicle with the introduction of a new No Interest Loan program in Darwin. Loans are available for up to $5,000 for the purchase of a vehicle. Repayments are set up at an affordable amount over 48 months.
For more information, contact NILS4Vehicles@anglicare-nt.org.au or phone 08 8946 4800.
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New partnerships will help strengthen families
CAAPS Aboriginal Corporation and Akeyulerre Aboriginal Corporation proposals for funding through the Family Support Service NTG grants process were successful. Through a partnership arrangement (subcontracted functions), Anglicare NT will deliver agreed components of the service in the Greater Darwin and Central Australian regions. Family Support Services will provide targeted, intensive and culturally appropriate support for families with a focus on keeping children safe and families together and connected to community.
We are excited by the opportunity to work more closely with CAAPS and Akeyulerre Aboriginal Corporation to implement this new service model.
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Supporting older people
Our services for older people include in-home support, individual and group social activities, respite care, assistance with care and housing, and the coordination of volunteer visitors.
While in hospital, Barbara commenced a Home Care Package with Anglicare NT. Barbara has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and much work went into preparing her home for her return from hospital. Upon discharge, Barbara was described as being non-verbal and having limited physical mobility, possibly requiring a wheelchair.
Two weeks later, Barbara commenced daily walks with her support worker, now knows her way around the neighbourhood and engages in conversations with staff. Barbara enjoys outings to Bunnings for a drink and a snack. We are so happy for Barbara and her family and look forward to continuing our support.
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Subscribe to our PSS eBulletin!
The Partnership Support Service (PSS) is an Anglicare NT social enterprise that works together with Aboriginal organisations to deliver stronger services for community. The service provides resources, project assistance and training to build on organisational strengths.
Subscribe here to receive our fortnightly eBulletin with the latest news, grant opportunities, resources and sector updates.
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MeNTor kicks goals
Charles Darwin University recently finalised an external evaluation of Anglicare NTs ‘Making Education Outcomes Reachable NT’ (MeNTor) pilot program. MeNTor supports educational achievement, strengthens school engagement and enhances home learning environments for young people living in Out of Home Care (OOHC) in Darwin. The program includes one-on-one teaching, informal and creative learning activities and mentoring, as well as a focus on student wellbeing, positive school engagement and academic progression.
The key findings demonstrate the MeNTor initiative is making a positive difference to educational attainment and that young people achieve higher levels of education participation and engagement with MeNTor teachers who use a range of effective practices.
The evaluation recommends expanding the MeNTor program to meet the need for educational interventions for children in OOHC in the Northern Territory and embracing the focus of the MeNTor program of educational attainment via tutoring, as well as broader engagement, liaison and advocacy.
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Anglicare Sunday
The month of October saw an Anglicare NT presence at Anglican parishes across the Territory for Anglicare Sunday. Anglicare Sunday gave us the opportunity to share our work with congregations in Alice Springs, Katherine, Palmerston and Darwin.
During each service, a member of our Executive Team was invited to speak about the services we provide, how we work to empower people so that everyone can enjoy fullness of life, and ways we use our voice on behalf of the most vulnerable to advocate for social justice.
We enjoyed morning tea with each congregation, some of whom generously offered to volunteer their time at our OpShop and programs for older people and purchased Christmas Cards to raise funds for the work we do.
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Suicide intervention skills training
Anglicare NT delivers workshops that teach participants to recognise the signs of suicide risk and apply practical intervention skills. The evidence-based, two-day LivingWorks Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and the half-day safeTALK session help participants build skills and play a role in helping people get the right support at the right time.
Our experienced trainers provide workshops across the Top End of the Northern Territory. In the 2020-21 financial year, training was delivered in Darwin, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Jabiru, Gunbalanya, Kalano, Maningrida and Binjari, as well as Warruwi and Minjalang. Nearly 500 people received this critical training (231 completed ASIST and 266 safeTALK).
In such stressful and challenging times, it is important to continue to meet community training needs as we know people’s mental health has been impacted. Our training teams worked hard to adapt arrangements and ensure all COVID-19 precautions were met and that training could still be rolled out.
Register for ASIST workshops in Darwin and Katherine online or contact tesiat@anglicare-nt.org.au for workshops in other locations in the Top End.
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Our offices will be closed from 25 December to 3 January 2022 inclusive.
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Copyright © 2021 Anglicare NT
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