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Baskets of Joy now Sharing the Joy
FamilyCare and our Baskets of Joy partners Greater Shepparton City Council and the Greater Shepparton Foundation, have greatly appreciated your support for our Christmas campaigns over the years. That support has helped us to brighten Christmas for many vulnerable families and children.
Christmas activities are going to be impacted by COVID limitations again. It seems for at least one more year we will not be able to allocate and distribute items as we have in the past. Even as restrictions ease between now and Christmas, activities that involve large numbers of people in close physical proximity, are unlikely to be safe or permitted.
We have decided reluctantly that physical baskets will not be possible again this year. We have decided to rename Baskets of Joy to Sharing the Joy; an online donation platform created for us by Greater Shepparton Foundation. This provides the opportunity for individuals to donate funds that will be converted to food vouchers for recipient’s families. If you would like to make a donation please click here
Download a Sharing the Joy flyer
If you wish to donate gifts or vouchers, there is a list of local donation sites available below or please contact Katie (khuddleston@familycare.net.au or call 03 58237059) to arrange collection or delivery.
FamilyCare Donation sites/ Wishing Trees can be found at these sites. Thank you for your donations which will be distributed to children and families we work with this Christmas.
The Orange Door Goulburn opens – 20 April 2021
Child FIRST intake function, information and advice service has moved to The Orange Door.
The Orange Door network is now providing family violence and child and family support across the Goulburn region. The Orange Door is a free service for people of all ages and backgrounds to seek help and support for family violence, as well as families in need of support with the wellbeing and development of children.
Call The Orange Door on 1800 634 245
Find out more about The Orange Door here
Sporting Chance – applications open Friday 19 March
Do you or your children want to play a sport or join a physical activity club or group? Are funds the only thing stopping you?
Sporting Chance has been established to ensure all Greater Shepparton residents can actively participate in sport and recreation, regardless of their means, through access to small grants. Greater Shepparton City Council together with The Community Fund and FamilyCare aim to provide social and recreational opportunities that enhance the lives of community members.
Playing sport and being physically active coupled with healthy eating is one of the best ways to live a long and healthy life.
One of the biggest barriers to playing sport for some children, young people and adults is cost.
Sporting Chance is here to assist and can fund registration and membership fees up to $80 for approved applicants
Applications open Friday 19 March 2021 and close Friday 9 April 2021
FamilyCare’s response to COVID-19 – Monday 23 March 2020
Like the rest of Australia, our region is also being affected by the COVID19 pandemic. This information will help people who use FamilyCare’s services to understand our responses.
From Tuesday the 24th of March, FamilyCare’s offices will be closed to all visitors. Please telephone us to discuss the service options that remain available, on:
ChildFIRST Shepparton: 1300 854 944
ChildFIRST Seymour: 1800 663 107
Other contact numbers for our various offices are available on the Contact Us page.
We will return to normal services as soon as we can. At the moment, this is the best way to maintain access to some support but stick to the rules for social distancing.
Here are some other sources of reliable and up-to-date information.
DHHS VIC – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Health Direct – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Paddock to Plate – postponed
With the rapidly changing situation regarding the COVID-19 outbreak we have decided it is in the best interests of our local community to postpone our upcoming Paddock to Plate Event scheduled for 24th May 2020.
FamilyCare would like to thank all those involved with the event for their support.
During this time Family Care wish you, your families and colleagues all the best and look forward to sharing with you the Paddock to Plate Fire and Feast Event at a later date.
FamilyCare’s Response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The recent changes to levels of restriction are very welcome. The COVID19 pandemic is not over however. This information will help people who use FamilyCare’s services to understand our responses.
Regardless of restrictions, FamilyCare will make every effort to maintain access to services and supports. How and where services are provided may have to change at short notice. We will give you as much warning as we can about any changes.
Your help to keep things working is really important.
If you are feeling unwell, with flu like symptoms, please do not attend our offices, or ask staff to come to your home. Call us first and we will try and work out options to meet your needs.
If you, a member of your family, or a person you have had close contact with, tests positive to COVID19, please let us know as soon as you can.
Here are some other sources of reliable and up-to-date information.
DHHS VIC – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
Health Direct – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
ManNewScript – rewriting the way we work with men – the presentations
Shame, blame and nothing to gain? Forming therapeutic partnerships with young men and adolescents as involuntary clients.
Russ Pratt, DPsych, Forensic Psychologist, Director, Prime Forensic Psychology
Working with adolescent males and young men when they are involuntary clients can present challenges for services and therapists alike. Getting the client in the room is one thing, then doing anything with them is sometimes another.
How can we give ourselves the best chance of meaningful connection with our young male clients, and thus provide the client with the opportunity to do something meaningful during their time with us (and who should decide what is meaningful anyway?).
In this one-hour session, Russ will provide some strategies and ideas that take into account the theory of what we know about young males, and what the presenter has learnt in over 20 years of working with young men in involuntary settings (for example youth in residential settings, young people who sexually abuse others, youth with impulse control issues). Practice stories, as well as practice strategies will be presented and discussed. Audience input and participation is not just welcomed, but is expected!
Download Russ’s presentation here
Unpacking the Man Box: Understanding the impact of men and boys’ attitudes towards masculinity
Matt Tyler
The Men’s Project at Jesuit Social Services will share findings from their Man Box research – the first study that focuses specifically on the associations between attitudes to masculinity and the behaviours of young Australian men aged 18-30. They are also completing similar work to understand the attitudes and behaviours of adolescent boys. The workshop will engage the audience in the findings from these projects including exploring the links between masculinity, the use of violence, mental health and broader indicators of wellbeing. The Men’s Project will also share lessons from their primary prevention work as well several innovative programs addressing violence that they are piloting and designing focused on engaging at-risk boys and men.
Download Matt’s’ presentation here
FamilyCare Men’s Program: How do we get dads to engage and understand the principles of great parenting?
Wayne Harris and Ron Garner
Research has demonstrated that dads are less likely to engage with child and family services than mothers. We need to consider a variety of methods when planning and delivering services.
The Bridge Youth Services: Challenges in engaging men and father’s in family work and exploring strategies to overcome these.
Stephen Hunter
Fathers are taking a much more active role in modern family life and sometimes may find themselves wishing for more options for dealing with the day to day issues that arise in the home.
Engaging with men from multicultural backgrounds in a respectful, meaningful and productive way.
Sarmed Yassin and Joel Board , Greater Shepparton City Council
Sarmed and Joel will be discussing the varies methods of engaging with men from multicultural backgrounds in a respectful, meaningful and productive way. This discussion will explore practices that can be applied when designing programs or planning events that are targeted to multicultural communities in general but men specifically.
Download Sarmed and Joel’s presentation here
Dardi Munwurro: Bringing out the best in Aboriginal men, for stronger communities
Joh
n Bryne and Josh Simms
Dardi Munwurro delivers a range of family violence, healing and behaviour change programs and services, to break the cycle of inter-generational trauma in Aboriginal families and communities, by empowering and inspiring individuals to heal the past, acknowledge the present and create a positive vision for the future.
The men’s healing and behaviour change program aims to equip Aboriginal men to become leaders, role models and mentors within their communities. The program model builds cultural connection as a pathway to healing the individual drivers for violence and ultimately developing pride and confidence for planning a future with healthy relationships in families and communities
Download John and Josh’s presentation here
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