18 July 2014
Cowra Information & Neighbourhood Centre Inc. Cowra Information & Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
July 2014
Main Building 15 Vaux Street Cowra NSW 2794 Ph: 02 6340 1100 Fax: 02 6341 1656 cinc@westserv.net.au
Indigenous Community Links 13 Vaux Street Cowra NSW 2794 Ph: 02 6340 1100 Fax: 02 6341 1656 indigsupport@westserv.net.au
Cowra Family Support 5 Vaux Street Cowra NSW 2794 Ph: 02 6340 1100 Fax: 02 6342 2510 donnahcfss@bigpond.com
Grenfell Outreach 14 Short Street Grenfell NSW 2810 Ph: 02 6343 1044 Fax: 02 6343 2487 grenfellcinc@westserv.net.au
Individual Highlights: New contact details
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New Website
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Changes a foot
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CINC Staff Changes
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New Contact Details In one of Cowra‟s spectacular electrical storms in April this year, our phone system took a ground strike which resulted in us operating on what could be termed at best as a “dodgy” phone system for a few weeks. Although at the time this caused a few headaches for clients and staff, we eventually made it through this trying period and came out the other side with a fancy new phone system, thanks to the boys at Datavoice and our insurer. Our new system is NBN compatible and therefore we have had some changes to our line system which resulted in a changed phone number. All Cowra services now have the same phone number which is 02 6340 1100. If you mistakenly call one of our old numbers, you will receive a message that redirects you to our new number. Our fax numbers have stayed the same at the moment and are all listed on the front cover. Grenfell‟s contact number remains the same.
Cowra Community Café 4 Stroke Presentation
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Program and Auspices
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Crafty Kids Report
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Thank you
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Bereavements
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CINC Goes Live on the Web! What does CINC do? This question is asked of us so often, and the answer is usually, What donâ€&#x;t we do? Well now you will be able to look us up on line on our website from the 01st August 2014.
www.cinc.org.au But wait, there is more! We also have new email addresses! Organisation cinc@cinc.org.au Board of Management chairperson@cinc.org.au Management execofficer@cinc.org.au Corporate Services Csmanager@cinc.org.au Transport and Home Modifications & Maintenance services@cinc.org.au Family Support Services and Community Programs programs@cinc.org.au
Changes afoot @ CINC As many of you would have heard over the past month or so, CINC is going under some changes at the moment. There has been a lot of gossip, rumors and innuendo regarding these changes, which we are about to set straight for you. Over the past 18 months CINC has spent a large amount of time, effort and money bringing the organisation up to best practice, in preparation for the transitional requirements to attain funding under Disability and Aged Care banners. We acquired the services of three contractors to review our business; these included a business psychologist, a professional business organisation and a business consultancy firm. In all of these reviews it was picked up that CINC needed to improve its business processes and its staffing model, to utilise public monies more efficiently. Over this time, the Board and management worked hard to develop a new constitution, business plan and strategic plan to prepare our organisation for accreditation under the new system, and we are just about there! Over the next three months we will be looking at our processes to make sure that we align to the new standards in Disability and Aged Care to ensure that we are accredited and able to continue to deliver services to the
Membership Renewals Date Extended The Board has extended the renewal date for memberships to the 01st of August 2014. If you would like information on how to renew our membership or becoming a member please contact Karen on 6340 1100.
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CINC Staff Changes As part of our changes at CINC, we have seen some changes in staffing. To ensure compliance to current and current funding needs we had to ensure that all of our staff are appropriately qualified to deliver the services to the standard that government agencies require. So what is the new structure and staffing at CINC? The Board still sits on top of our organisational chart as the elected members to govern the organisation. Our Executive Officer, Maria Biglands, does the hands on work of ensuring compliance to governance, legislation and contractual requirements, human resources, seeking funding opportunities and keeping the public informed on what we are up to. Our Corporate Services team is made of our Corporate Services Manager, Fran Stead who looks after all of the finance and administration needs of the organisation and she is ably supported by our Corporate Services Worker, Karen Pearson. Now the real changes! Our DOHA and ADHC programs, being Home Modifications and Transport have gone under one Team Leader of Services, Danny Jackett and he is supported by our two Administration workers in Home Modifications and Maintenance, Diana Broksema and in Transport, Kiara Cutmore, and of course our wonderful volunteer transport drivers. Barbara Kerr will not be leaving us completely as has agreed to pop in as casual staff member as needed. After interviewing for the past few days, we can now announce our new Services team. Family Support and Community Programs will share a Full time Team Leader over both programs, Nicole Powe. Nicole will be supported Family Services Client Worker, Donnah Chown (a familiar face to many of our clients) and the Community Builders Clients Worker, Rhee Ryan. The Team Leader will be taking an active part in the day to day operations of the services whilst offering support and mentorship. Our Indigenous Community Links team will continue as they are with Harry Williams at the helm, now working full time and being supported by trainee Bejay Cook. So all in all we have taken the organisation from 20 part time workers 18 months ago to 10 full time staff and one part time trainee. We have increased our operational hours to 8.30am to 5pm daily, giving our clients an extra 1 hour of service a day and provided consistency in staffing allowing our clients to tell their story once to a staff member without having to repeat it to multiple workers. We would like to say a really big thank you to our wonderful volunteers at the centre, especially on Reception, who have bravely held the fort through what, has been a time of great change and they haven‟t complained once. At least not that we have heard anyway!
“Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.” Machiavelli
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Cowra Community Café After a successful tender application to the Cowra Shire Council, CINC took over management of the Cowra Community Café in Squire Park on the 01 st of July 2014. This facility is available to members of the community as a rest centre and affordable eatery. CINC have contracted to services at the Café to Mic „n‟ Jay café leaving the friendly faces of Rhonda and Meg at the centre with their fantastic band of volunteers. During the next month or so there will some changes happening at this café including: Upgrade of the kitchen facilities Inclusion of an internet café Information on Community Services in Cowra Upgrade of all cooking and kitchen equipment and Upgrade of the baby change and breastfeeding facilities. These upgrades will be made possible through community donations and grant opportunities. CINC also hopes to work closely with council and local elected members to seek funding opportunities to further upgrade this facility. As the warmer weather approaches we will be running playgroup activities and community events in Squire Park to inform the community of the services available at this café and at CINC.
Stroke Presentation On the 19th of June 2014, CINC hosted a presentation by the National Stroke Foundation which informed the public on: What is a stroke? How to prevent a stroke? What are the signs and symptoms of a stroke? The FAST campaign The Strokeline1800 787 653 The Know your Numbers Campaign and The work that the Stoke foundation does in the community. This event was well attended and was presented by a volunteer StrokeSafe Ambassador. If you would like to have an Ambassador present to your workplace, organisation, group or school, please contact the NSFstrokesafeseminar@strokefoundation.com.au or call 1300
194 196.
Do you know that 30 percent of stroke sufferers in 2012 were under the age of 65.? Another way of looking at this is that 30 percent of stroke sufferers in 2012 were of working age! 4
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Programs, Auspices and Visiting Services Cowra Community Transport a Community Service for people with a disability, the frail aged and those who care for them. Community Transport is a service which provides low-cost transport. Please contact Barbara Kerr or Kiara Cutmore on 6341 20409.00 am – 5.00 pm Monday – Friday. Cowra Home Modification & Maintenance Service The Home Modification service provides low cost building modifications with Occupational Therapy advice combining to provide safer homes for our disabled & frail/aged community members. The Handyman Service provides to those in the community who are Frail-Aged, the Young and Elderly who have Disabilities & their Carers, the choice of a caring Handyman doing the small but sometimes impossible tasks in and outside your home. Please contact Danny Jackett on 6341 15669.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday – Friday. Indigenous Community Links supports Indigenous community members and their families, by providing links and referrals. Services based here are Barnardos and Binaal Billa. Please contact Harry Williams or Bejay Cook on 6342 4900, 9.00 am to 4.30 pm Monday – Friday. Cowra Family Support Servicewe work with families to help them cope with the some of the challenges of family life and raising children. We do it by providing information, skills, knowledge, access to resources, and links to the community and other organisations. The Mum’s & Bub’s Group is an interactive playgroup that runs on Thursday mornings at our Family Support Service.
For further information on any of these services, please contact Simon, Lee, Lynne or Donnah on 6342 3432. 9.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday – Friday.
Cowra Phone CareThis is a free people, people with disabilities medically dependent, living on volunteer makes a short, friendly make sure you are safe, and well.
Knitting with friendsis a social group of Cowra community members who get together every second Tuesday at 1pm to do community projects based around knitting and crochet. Book swap and shopCowra Neighbourhood Centre runs a large book library. This service costs $2.00 for membership and is available between 9amto 4.30pm weekdays. Volunteering Cowra Grenfellis a referral service for Volunteers and Volunteer Organisations. If you are interested in volunteering we have opportunities available on www.govolunteer.com.au type in your postcode and express your interest or alternately give Leanne a call on 6342 4900. Cowra Food Hall is an initiative of Cowra Uniting church and the Cowra Neighbourhood Centre. The Cowra Food Hall is held at the Wesley Centre Cowra Uniting church, this service operates on Fridays 9.30am till midday. Tax help is a network of community volunteers who provide a free and confidential service to help people complete their tax returns during tax time.Our Tax Help program operates from 1 July until 31 October. For information on any of the above programs, please contact Leanne Walsh on 6342 4900 9.00am to 3.30 pm Monday – Fridays. The Chance’s Clothes Project group meets every second Tuesday afternoon to socialise and make baby packages for Angel babies.
The Toy library operates from our facility at 5 Vaux Street and offers a large range of toys for youngsters. Open from 9:00 till 4:00 weekdays
Community Programs Community Development programs as follows:
Broadband for seniorsour kiosk features two computers our tutor Rob is here to provide training, so beginners are very welcome. Contact Leanne Walsh on 6342 4900 for training times
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service is for elderly and people who are their own.A trained phone call to you, to
Partners in depression are a support group for anyone who is caring for someone with a mental illness? This group meets weeklyon a Tuesday at 11.30am at our Family Support Building 5 Vaux Street for more information contact Leanne on 6342 4900.
Adults surviving child abuse (ASCA) assists survivors of any form of child abuse and their family and friends to find options to heal. The group meets every month on the 1st Friday of each month. Please contact Pascale on 6342 1612, have a chat, and assess whether this group is what you are looking for. No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) offers loans of up to $1000 to people on Centrelink benefits and low income earners in receipt of a Health Care Card. NILS office hours Tuesday‟s and Wednesday‟s for more information please contact Debbie Butwell on 6342 4900. Grenfell OutreachLooking for Health or Services Information, why not call into the Grenfell HACC Centre, 14 Short Street Grenfell for a cuppa and a chat. Please contact Rebecca Knight on 6343 10449.00 am – 3.30 pmWednesdays or Thursdays. Visiting ServicesStep up Loans, Lifeline, Audio Clinic Services, Home start, Family Relationships, Interact people services
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Crafty Kids Workshop July school Holidays 2014 What enthusiasm our local kids displayed at our Crafty Kids Workshop these holidays! Nearly 50 kids aged 9 years and over attended the Cowra Information and Neighbourhood Centre for 2 days fuelled with fun, friendship and creativity. A huge thank you to our volunteers Rhonda Ward, Michelle Coombes, Marcia Glencross, Dawn Evans, Gail Alchin, Mallory Biglands and Teresa Barber for providing the opportunity for our kids to develop a wide variety of skills in art and craft. Loom band making proved to once again be a hit, with kids requesting them non-stop on both days. And there was a growing confidence displayed in designs created using the paper quilling technique. Wool craft was explored using knot tying, and embroidery skills learned while making money piggy-banks with felt. Hessian provided a good foundation for the weaving of placemats. A team challenge was set for the kids to create their own game boards. And here I was thinking that a snakes and ladders style game would sufficiently challenge their holidaymode brains. But it was not to be. Our young Einsteinâ€&#x;s designed and created nothing less than a 3D Chess Set! Talk about talent! The all-time-favourite paper airplane competitions made lunchtimes even more exciting (and noisy! ) . No time for sitting back ....just full-on FUN!! Can't wait to catch up with all of you next holidays! Nikki Howden
The Crafty Kids of Cowra
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Thank You Over the past few months we have said good bye to some wonderful Volunteers and staff members. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of these team members, but would like to make special note of the following staff and Board Members. Dianne Oliver Board Member 2012/2014 Shane Budge Board Member 2012/2014 Simon Hiliier FSS staff member 7 years Lynne Watt FSS staff member 4 years Cheryl Beard Staff member 2 years Lee Brewer FSS Staff member 3 years We wish each and every one of our team a safe journey as they take their next pathway and hope that they will continue to be active supporters of our work in the community.
Bereavments
It is with great sadness, that we bid a final farewell to two members of our CINC community this month. We send our heartfelt wishes to the Beautyman family on the passing of our long term client David. With his love of Bing Crosby and dislike of popular music, David will be sadly missed at our service both for his adamant views on this subject and the laughter he brought. It came as a total shock to our team last week when we found out that we would no longer see our ever smiling volunteer driver, Maria Zidaru. Maria was tragically taken from our realm and her passing has affected all of us, clients and staff alike. We send our thoughts to Mariaâ€&#x;s family and partner, and hope that this offers them some support through this time. Mariaâ€&#x;s funeral will be held in Sydney and CINC are organizing a bus for any community members or team members who would liketo attend this event. Please contact Transport for further details
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