Centacare NENW Annual Report 2021-22

Centacare NENW Annual Report 2021/22

Matthew 13:3-8

Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!

Centacare NENW - planting the seeds of wellbeing since 2001

Centacare NENW: The social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Armidale.

Supporting people’s spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing

We wish to acknowledge that we are in the country of the Wainwan, Kamilaroi, Nganyaywana, Gumbainggir and Ngarabal People.

We pay respect to their elders.

We acknowledge the memories of their ancestors and celebrate their continuing culture.

We acknowledge the deep spiritual attachment and relationship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to this country and commit ourselves to the ongoing journey of Reconciliation.

Give us the grace to walk together as one.

Mungindi

Quirindi

Tamworth

Wee Waa Barraba

Warialda Moree

Walgett Narrabri Boggabri Gunnedah Walcha

Tenterfield Manilla

Bingara Guyra

Glen Innes Inverell Armidale Uralla

Bishop’s Message

20 Family Rural Resilience

23 Remote Schools Resilence

25 Family Law Services

26 Family Counselling

27 Specialised Family Violence

29 Women In Sport

30 Family Law Pathways

Centacare NENW is a quality accredited organisation which has met the relevant Standards of the Health and Community Service Standards, the National Standards for Mental Health Services (NSMHS) and the NSW Disability Services Standards (NSW DSS).

In response to the gospel call to love thy neighbour, Centacare New England North West (NENW) provides social welfare services to accompany individuals, families and communities in the Diocese of Armidale to reach their potential and enjoy the fullness of life.

Our values are based on Catholic moral values and the Four Pillars of Catholic Social Teachings: Dignity Community Cooperation Support

Our vision is for a society transformed by God’s love and compassion; a society that recognises and promotes the dignity , equality and participation of all.

Bishop’s Message

In the Diocese of Armidale, Centacare New England North West is a key “face” of Jesus Christ. A public and very visible sign of God’s liberating presence making a difference to the lives and wellbeing of people loved by God. As the then Cardinal Josef Ratzinger, now Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, said:

“It is from Christ the Redeemer that her (the Church’s) thoughts and action originate from, when, as she contemplates the tragedies affecting the world, she reflects on the meaning of liberation and true freedom and on the paths leading to them.”

(Instruction on Christian Freedom and Liberation 22nd March, 1986)

I recognise and thank Ms Louise Clarke, Chair of the Centacare Board, and the board members for their diligence during this year. I also express my gratitude to the staff of Centacare. Together the Board and staff are making a real difference in the lives of people they serve.

2 Corinthians 10:4:

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

This past year has been one of a transition for Centacare NENW, with the year ending with Centacare now an incorporated entity, with myself as the sole Member, and the deliberative Board of governance completing its first full year at the helm of strategy and governance. It places the organisation in the position to continue to grow, and to be well placed to respond to the needs of those in the community.

I commend the work of Centacare staff in their commitment to responding to the needs of individuals. Promoting and building resilience, mental health and wellbeing flows through every aspect of individual lives and into the wider community. The continued insight and support means that people are able to counter their life challenges with resilience, esteem, optimism and respect.

The battles that Centacare NENW and its clients face are often not public wars, but private ones. They are the battles against mental ill-health, poverty, marginalization and vulnerability. They are usually waged internally –inside communities, homes and personally. And the weapons used to fight these battles are education, insight and interventions.

Finally, I express my deep appreciation to Mr Fergus Fitzsimons, who has resigned as Chief Executive Officer. Fergus has been the CEO of Centacare for over 12 years and has overseen Centacare’s growth, change and stability during that time. Centacare’s future is well placed due to his lasting contributions. Our prayers and best wishes go with Fergus into his next chapter

Yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Michael Kennedy Bishop of Armidale

Welcome to Centacare NENW’s 2021/22 Annual Report.

It is my pleasure to present the 2021/2022 Annual Report on behalf of the board of Centacare NENW. The purpose of Centacare NENW is “Building the Kingdom of God through supporting people’s spiritual, social, and emotional wellbeing.”

The past 12 months have seen the New England North West impacted by significant economic uncertainty, weather events, and the continued impacts of COVID-19 on the community. This has increased the demand for Centacare services. Mental health impacts and is impacted by multiple socioeconomic factors, including a person’s access to services, living conditions and employment status. Mental health affects not only the individual but also their families and carers.

The board has spent considerable time examining the internal and external environment of Centacare As a board, we are focused on the continued sustained growth and development of Centacare – expansion and development of our resources, ensuring that we continue to provide timely, necessary, and welcomed services to our vulnerable communities.

On 1 July 2022 Centacare NENW became an incorporated entity. Incorporation is an intricate process. This work started with research and advice as to the best fit of structure for Centacare’s needs. The work concluded with minimal changes, ensuring that service delivery was uninterrupted during the transition. I would like to thank the legal team at Makinson d’Apice, the Centacare board, the Executive team, and all the staff involved in the process within Centacare for ensuring this transition was seamless.

In late 2022, the board shifted focus from who we are, to what we do, and began the process of developing a new Strategic Plan for our organisation. With a relatively new board in place and a new CEO in 2023, the board felt it was time to review the political, economic, and social landscape that Centacare operates within, ensuring that Centacare is well-placed for future community needs.

We are well on track to finalising our new strategic plan. I would like to thank our Board and the Centacare Executive team for their work to date which will help Centacare NENW continue to be recognised as a leading provider of mental health and wellbeing services in our region.

The incorporation and the strategic roadmap will guide growth and provide opportunities. This will be an exciting stage for Centacare as it enters the next stage of its development in the region.

The new year will see the departure of Centacare’s CEO, Fergus Fitzsimons. Fergus’ thirteen years with Centacare have seen the development of our programs, procedures,

Chairperson Report Louise Clarke

and resources that have put us in the favourable position we are now in. Fergus’s leadership has driven the growth and success of the organisation, and the Centacare Board thanks him and wishes him the best for the next chapter of his career. Fergus is leaving Centacare well placed, with an excellent team – both Executive and staff – who demonstrate commitment and dedication to the mission and values of Centacare NENW.

I would like to thank the Executive and staff of Centacare NENW for their insight, enthusiasm, and dedication to providing support to our region’s most vulnerable individuals and families. In the past year, they provided over 45,000 sessions across the diocese, and through their, Mission Committee provided support to those affected by the various socio-economic impacts of the past year. Individually and collectively the Centacare team has made lives a little easier for our communities, and I thank them wholeheartedly.

It is my pleasure to be a part of Centacare NENW and to Chair the Governance Board. I commend my fellow board members for their contributions, time, and dedication over this year, and for their skills and knowledge in affecting this transition.

I would also like to thank our Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Kennedy, for his guidance and continued faith in Centacare’s mission, its Board, and the Centacare Team. His unwavering support and advice have aided in the goals we have achieved as a board.

We

remained an open and available service in the region, despite COVID-19

coordinated over 70 volunteers to visit isolated individuals in federally funded aged care facilities in the region employed over 140 staff, across 8 towns, to deliver over 30 different programs for wellbeing and mental health

to the New England North West region, including Individual Placement Support, Women in Sport and Remote Schools Resilience

increased outreach to over 15 rural towns, including Kingstown, Bundarra, Gilgai, Deepwater and Yetman

explored opportunities for community wellbelling

The 2021/22 year was my last full year with Centacare NENW, as I am resigning in late October 2022.

Last year in this report I spoke of the changes that COVID-19 had brought to our region, and how it had changed the way we worked, lived and interacted with others. The past two years have brought many changes for Centacare, and I am certain that they will not stop here. I am exiting an organisation poised for further growth and development, which has me reflecting on the growth and development to date.

I began at Centacare in 2009 and at the time, Centacare had recently started delivering Family Relationship Services from our Tamworth office, bringing our program delivery up to 5 programs. We employed less than 40 staff, mainly in Tamworth and Armidale. At present, we employ over 150 staff, out of 9 different offices across the diocese, and while the number of offices will not change much in the near future, the staffing numbers will continue to grow along with the programs we deliver from them. Currently we have over 30 programs across 5 strategic areas –family, mental health, youth, disability and cultural.

Other memorable milestones during my tenure include:

•

2011 – obtaining our first Quality Accreditation under an external audit, a designation we have been able to successfully continue to achieve over the past 11 years;

Bishop Michael Kennedy and Fergus at the Blessing of the Sr Patricia Bartley Reflection Room in Tamworth Centacare

• 2013 – the start of service delivery for headspace Tamworth, providing accessible and free mental health services for youth in our region. Since then, headspace has received awards for Health and Wellbeing, and obtained further funding to provide services in Armidale, Gunnedah, Moree and Narrabri. Add on funding has also been obtained to provide services for youth in the areas of complex mental health and vocational services;

• 2015 – saw the fledgling beginning of our disability program, with the provision of in-home support services to a house in Tamworth. Centacare currently provides in-home support 24/7 to 2 houses in Tamworth, along with a technologically advanced NDIS Plan Management service and NDIS clinical services;

• 2017 – Reconciliation Australia endorsed our first Reconciliation Action Plan, cementing our commitment to our First Nations People. Our follow up plan (Innovate) has recently been endorsed by Reconciliation Australia and work underway to achieving our plan for reconciliation; and

• 2019 – the Family Services Conference, held in Tamworth, was an all-round success in bringing workers in the region together with highly regarded national and international experts in the field of family services. With a keynote address by Federal Circuit Court Judge Harman, and sessions conducted by Nathan Wallis (New Zealand based neuroscience educator) and Stuart McMinn (cultural competency educator), the conference attracted over 100 delegates.

And there are many more achievements and memories that have resonated with me over the years.

And while I may have been CEO during this time, it does not mean that these achievements are necessarily mine. They are ours – mine and our team of executives and staff. While I have led them, my role as a leader was to have faith in their beliefs, to earn their respect, and provide it in return. To understand my team and acknowledge that they were the key to success (or failure). I pushed them when they needed it, and got out of their way when they didn’t. I had to make some hard decisions during my time at Centacare, but endeavoured to find alternative solutions wherever possible.

So, to that end, I would like to thank our staff – this humble group of individuals who come together every day to enrich, improve and expand the wellbeing of our communities. They have helped steer Centacare NENW towards the successes of the past 13 years, and will continue to push on for the betterment of our communities.

And while I reminisce on the achievements of years

Report

Fergus Fitzsimons

past, that does not mean that Centacare NENW did not achieve great things this year. With lockdowns continuing into the beginning of this financial year, Centacare NENW continued to open their doors every day, remaining available to our whole region for the provision of quality mental health and wellbeing care. Our teams worked alongside the Centacare NENW Governance Board to achieve incorporation from 1 July 2022, whilst continuing to successfully gain funding for new programs – like our Rural Schools Resilience Program which will see a group program for young people delivered through some of our most remote public schools.

I would like to thank our Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Kennedy and the Centacare NENW Board, for their faith in myself and the team at every level of the organisation. We have truly appreciated their time, input and dedication to Centacare NENW.

2022/23 is gearing up to be another big year, the first as an incorporated entity. With renovations about to begin in our Armidale office to house the expanded headspace services, I am certain Centacare NENW will continue to seek innovative and accessible ways to deliver necessary support, advocacy and assistance to our community.

From humble beginnings in 2001, with 3 staff members and limited counselling services, Centacare NENW continues to grow and provide exceptional mental health and wellbeing services to our community.

In 2022, we employ 146 staff members and provide services from 9 offices, in 8 towns across the New England North West, under 30 programs, aligned with our 5 strategic focuses: Mental Health, Families, Youth, Disabilities and ATSI/CALD services.

Centacare NENW Exploring opportunities for our Rural Resilience

2013, Centacare begins service headspace Tamworth.

2001 2010 2005

2002, Centacare NENW officially opens first office, in Tamworth NSW.

2001, Centacare NENW was established.

2006, expands psychology services to include Medicare services.

2008, begins service delivery of the Tamworth Family

2002, Centacare NENW enters into first contract with the Catholic Schools Office.

2011, Centacare NENW obtains Quality Accreditation for first time.

2012, office Walgett.

2014, signs first contract with AccessEAP providing subcontracted psychology services.

Corporate Services David Holzigal

The 2021/22 financial year was a hybrid year coming out of COVID lockdowns and moving to the new “normal”.

The Corporate Services portfolio that includes Quality Assurance (QA), Finance, Human Resources (HR), Information & Communication Technology (IT), Media and Marketing and all Centacare NENW Administration continued to build a strong platform for Centacare to service our clients of which Centacare NENW delivered an amazing 48,000 occasions of service across the diocese.

With Centacare NENW’s impending Incorporation (1st July 2022) the Corporate Services team have had many additional tasks to ensure the transition to an incorporated entity is a smooth process.

A number of staff in the Corporate Services portfolio have been part of the planning for the major renovation of the Armidale site which is expected to commence this calendar year.

The 2021/22 financial year saw Centacare NENW conduct external penetration testing along with a number of cyber security tests.

Once again following on from 2 years of COVID change the Corporate Services Team continued to show how well the team adapts to change to continue to deliver a stable platform for clinicians to deliver services to community whilst taking on new projects.

Centacare NENW continues to consolidate on great results of previous financial years, to ensure Centacare NENW is in the strongest financial position in its history. With the Centacare NENW board embarking on a strategic planning project towards the end of this calendar year the strong financial position will have the organisation in a great position to achieve the strategic plan over the coming years.

As Corporate Services Manager I would like to congratulate not only the Corporate Services Team but the organisation as a whole on an outstanding 2021-22 financial year.

Executive Leadership

Our Team

Managers

David Holzigal Corporate Services

Grahame York Disabilities

Fallon Roberts Families, Wellbeing & Justice

Cigdem Watson PsychoSocial Support

Rhonda Partridge Catholic Schools Program

Anne Lane Community Visitors Scheme

Josefina Hofman Clinical Mental Health

Kourtney Orman Tamworth/Gunnedah Wellbeing

Nichole Corby HR, WHS, Risk

Amber Varcoe Western Wellbeing

Matt Andrews GambleAware

Brenna Castro Media

Alex Byrnes Information Technology

Sam Davis headspace Programs

Amy Quinlan Families, Wellbeing Business Manager

Pranjal More Clinical Services

Sarah Keenan Armidale/Glen Innes/Inverell Wellbeing

Centacare NENW has had another busy year in Quality with a number of external audits performed this year including hMIF (headspace), National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Specialised Family Violence Program (SFVS), GambleAware and our annual financial audit.

All staff are to be commended for their continuous efforts in achieving and/or maintaining accreditation.

Quality Assurance Nichole Corby

Centacare NENW’s Quality Department continues to implement Centacare NENW’s Total Management System to ensure compliance against legislation, regulations and standards. This year has seen the Quality Assurance induction program move to an online training module which is included as part of orientation.

The Information Communication and Technology Department is working hard to gain ISO 27001:2013 accreditation in early 2023. ISO 27001:2013 is an international security standard that lays out best practices for how how companies should manage information security risk by creating an information security management system (ISMS).

In addition Centacare NENW will be undertaking its 5th Quality Accreditation Certification against the QIC Health and Community Services Standards 7th Edition and the National Standards for Mental Health Services.

The Board, Management, Staff and Stakeholders are to be commended for their continued contributions and support which has ensured our continued success and recognition as a Quality Organisation.

We Wish to Thank...

External Members of the NSW Government funded Youth on Track Regional Governance Committee:

Principle Project Office, YOT Youth Justice: Catriona McDonnell and Thomas Writer Department of Education: Julie Kirk, Julia Ramsay and Jane Boulton Department of Communities and Justice (Formerly known as FaCS): Sarah Bradford and Rebecca Benson

Area Manager New England Youth Justice: Lyle Young

Area Manager Maitland/Upper Hunter Youth Justice: David Lowe

Assistant Manager Tamworth Youth Justice: Elise Sinclair

Assistant Manager Glen Innes Youth Justice: Tina Whitfield

Assistant Manager Armidale Youth Justice: Graham Smith

NSW Police Oxley LAC: Snr Constable Michelle King

NSW Police New England LAC: Snr Constable Fiona McCormack and Inspector Matt Hemsworth Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council: Fiona Snape

Tamworth Regional Youth Centre: Katey Allwell

PCYC Armidale: Snr Constables Bradley Killen and Penny Wain

PCYC Tamworth: Snr Constables Andrena Sanderson and Trevor Roberts

PCYC Gunnedah: Snr Constables John Croger and Sarah Hobson

Members of the Federal Government funded headspace Consortium:

Tamworth Family Support: Annette Pascoe

Tamworth Local Aboriginal Land Council: Casey Howard

Homes North: Chantelle Annlan, Tiarne Russell and Danny Radoll

One Door Mental Health: Diane Dobson

Department of Education and Communities: Dianne Kelly and Melinda Stephens

Good Samaritans: Georgina Purcell

BEST Employment: Nev White and Stephen Vile

External Members of the Clinical Governance Committee:

Ibrahim Dib (external consumer representative) Steve Flak (external consumer representative) Azaan Vhora (external consumer representative)

Mental Health Programs

Psychology & Clinical Services

Josie Hofman Pranjal More

The 2021-2022 financial year continued to demonstrate innovation and the value of wellbeing at the staff and community level. During this year 80% of client sessions were conducted face to face, due to our community reporting value of in-person sessions, particularly during periods of restrictions.

Our staff demonstrated resilience, teamwork and a strong community spirit, all essential requirements in the delivery of high quality clinical services.

Our clinical leadership team worked strategically to support staff, enabling the utilisation of staffing across programs and enhancing cross collaboration and active team work. A professional development highlight from this year, was our ability to host Dr Russ Harris, a Pioneer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Leading Author and Presenter. Dr Russ Harris is highly regarded in the Clinical Field and his dynamic and thought provoking workshop was well received by all attendees.

These programs are funded by a mix of Federal and State Governments, private organisations and fee for service

Catholic Schools Program

Rhonda Partridge

The CSO team have continued to provide excellent support to the many students and staff across the Armidale Diocese Catholic Schools.

Our program provides counselllors to each Catholic School in the diocese, providing support to both teachers and students and their families. The team have developed presentations and Information packs for families that outline alternate Centacare Services that may offer relevant support, in addition to the on-site services provided.

COVID-19 has seen a spike in anxiety presentations for our students over the past few years, encompassing both the effects of the virus as well as the isolation due to shut downs. During these times, counsellors have provided video and tele-conferencing sessions, mailed out resources and continued to support the teachers and support staff.

CSO Clinicians have become increasingly involved in the school communities that they service. In addition to counselling and assessment services, the team had contributed to Intervention and Wellbeing teams at Schools; consultations with teaching, leadership, and specialist staff; attended staff meetings; provided professional development to staff; and increased engagement with school communities at school events.

Case Study:

A 14 year old Female, diagnosed with ADHD, was referred to counselling for support with difficulties she was experiencing with peers and friendship. Some months later, she reported that counselling helped her to build new social skills and she has now started forming friendship groups that help her feel supported, respected and help her to make good choices.

This program is funded via a contractual agreement with the Catholic Schools Office

Self care hampers provided to attendees of Centcare NENW’s 2021 Multicultural High Tea

Psychosocial Support Services Cigdem Watson

Case Study:

Niokaisa49yoKamilaroiwomanwithadiagnosisof PTSD and depression attributable to her extensive history of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Domestic Violence.

Unfortunately, due to recent traumatic events that occurred in her accommodation setting, Nioka’s PTSD and depression had become heightened. The feelings of sleep deprivation, feeling unsafe, depressed and anxious, often result having suicidal ideation returned.

Centacare staff were able to assist Nioka with applying for a community housing transfer, attending her local GP to have the medical form completed to assist her housing transfer request and providing a support letter for her application.

Nioka was provided a housing transfer within 3 weeks of her application. Nioka is now in a nicer & friendlier unit block, with closer proximity to Centacare and the centre of town.

Since relocating Nioka’s mental health has improved significantly as she can enjoy sitting outside on her veranda again without the frightened feeling she had been experiencing. Nioka is once again finding joy in engaging in cultural healing practices such as traditional basket weaving.

With the support of Centacare, Nioka attended a local Harmony Day Celebration at the Narrabri Fish Farm in March. The event focused on celebrating AboriginalCulturewithspecialguest‘TheWalkabout Barber’.

The Walkabout Barber presented a cultural suicide prevention workshop alongside haircuts and beauty therapy. Nioka thoroughly enjoyed the event and enjoyed socialising with community.

This program is funded by the Federal Government.

GambleAware Program

Matt Andrews

The GambleAware service provides a stepped care mental health model aimed at supporting anyone affected by gambling harm or at risk of developing issues with gambling. The service is accessible to the individual undertaking the gambling behaviour, as well as any friends, relatives, partners or colleagues. As gambling harm is usually associated with other underlying issues such as depression, anxiety and trauma, clients accessing support through this service receive holistic mental health support and/or Financial Counselling with trained professionals. There are no age restrictions and referrals can be made by anyone, including self-referrals.

GambleAware services are delivered by Centacare NENW within the New England region, with Centacare NENW overseeing the delivery of services through CatholicCare Hunter Manning in the Hunter region. Due to identified community need, this year saw GambleAware clinicians deliver regular collaborative face to face services from community based organisations, such as Armidale Community Corrections, BackTrack Youth Works, Coledale Community Centre, Miruma Corrective Services and the Billabong Club House.

During the 2021/22 financial year, GambleAware has drawn on the knowledge and expertise of the GambleAware Aboriginal Service – completing a cultural competencies assessment and action plan for the coming year. GambleAware has delivered education sessions with the support of the GambleAware Aboriginal service to local Aboriginal medical practices including TAMS and Armajun.

In response to community need, the GambleAware program saw the rollout of recovery groups in Tamworth and Muswellbrook this year, with attendance rates growing.

Case Study:

Client (Sam) engaged with our service due to longstanding urges relating to gambling at local clubs. Sam only recently moved to the area from a small country town where they had been working in a local club. While working in the club, Sam was given responsibility of certain areas of gaming offered at the club, and soon found a way to use the club’s system to gamble. It was discovered and Sam was forced to resign. The club did not pursue any criminal charges but precluded them from entering the premises in the future. Sam was reported to the gambling regulator for ongoing exclusion.

Sam struggled to remain in town due to the stigma, but also found that they could not stop the urges to gamble. Sam originally considered that by moving away it may give them an opportunity to become more anonymous and gamble freely. Available funds prevented this as COVID lockdowns hit and the hospitality opportunities dried up.

Sam struggled previously with hard drugs also. Sam found that drugs were a way to reduce the anxiety and stress involved with his family situation, as well as other aspects of life.

Sam was well educated. He knew the right answers when discussed within the counselling environment. Sam actively participated in the counselling process, performing various exercises when offered. The challenge, was to find a way to put in to practice those things that Sam knew in theory.

Sam has very close nephews in the family. Sam saw how his behaviours directly affected his nephews. We began to consider the nephews as mirrors of Sam’s own situation and behaviours.

Moving into 2022/23, the GambleAware service will be focusing on engaging with new stakeholders and services in addition to expanding group program delivery to additional sites. GambleAware awaits the implementation of the GambleAware online portal which will see intakes further streamlined and clients eventually able to schedule their own appointments.

While Sam still has a long road ahead, he now has been able to understand the impact his actions and even his thoughts have on young, impressionable lives such as Sam’s nephews. In turn, Sam has been able relate this back to himself in a more compassionate, patient and understanding way where change is not only possible but achievable, with a lot less judgment and more positive action.

This program is funded by the NSW State Government

Family Wellbeing Programs

Inverell Family Fun Day April 2022

Tessa Monkton and Kaitlyn Law preparing for a little Easter Fun

Family Rural Resilience Amber Varcoe

Kourtney Orman

With such an increase in the need for digital technology over the lockdown periods, the FRRP team has introduced a new program within the New England region using videogames as a tool for discussions and rapport building. These groups see young people and FRRP staff play videogames once a week – with discussions during this time focusing on cyberbullying, cyber safety, anger management and general wellbeing. Following the success of the initiative, the team will continue to work with their respective schools to see how we can continue programs of this nature.

The Family Rural Resilience Program (FRRP) has continued to provide valuable mental health and wellbeing support services to individuals and their families across the New England North West region over 2021-2022.

The FRRP team has continued to be innovative and adaptive in their approach to service delivery, with ongoing disruptions continuing over the last year from the COVID-19 pandemic. During the year, the FRRP team drew on their entrenched community connections and vast resources to ensure services continued to be offered in blended methods.

Further innovation during periods of lockdown saw the FRRP team in Moree hold three face-to-face and three online art & wellbeing classes for kids during the January school holidays. Both platforms were a success, but particularly the online platform, which allowed participants to dial in from the comfort and safety of their own home. This was particularly well received during the peak of the pandemic and allowed children to participate in activities and interact with other children virtually from around the region. Participants dialed in from near and far, including locations such as: Uralla, Orange, Parks, Warrawong, Duri, Halls Creek, Gunnedah, Lake Heights, Narrabri, Armidale, Bellata, Ogunbil, Dubbo & Narromine. Over the 6 sessions, there were a total of 102 attendances, with 82 of those being via the online platform.

The FRRP team facilitated a collaborative event with the NRL State of Mind program, to promote mental health to high school students in Narrabri and Tamworth LGA. The State of Mind program took place on 8th and 9th June, which saw the amalgamation of football skills sessions, with locker room discussions around mental health and wellbeing. The event was well received within both communities, providing students with the opportunity to connect with members of the NRL, whilst also learn the various support services available in their local area. Centacare continues to receive positive feedback following this event from students, teachers and the NRL with future sessions to be continued into the new year.

The FRRP team will continue to provide supports across the region over the coming year, drawing on their strong relationships with many of the local schools and community stakeholders, delivering both psycho-educational programs and interventions. The team continues to work with the needs of their local communities to provide targeted supports to meet those needs.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Rural Parenting Resilience

Amber Varcoe Sarah

Kennan

next financial year. Guest services also include physio from Moree Community Health to provide education on pelvic floor exercises.

RPRP staff held 3 colour run events across Glen Innes, Inverell and Tenterfield with the aim of raising Centacare and RPRP’s presence in the community. In addition to the colour run, staff held a BBQ and a face painting for participants. This was a great event with community really getting into the spirit of things and over 200 community members attending across the three sites. receiving great feedback for all events.

RPRP continues to deliver high quality parenting services across the service area, RPPR see consistent participation in all their service streams including parenting education, play groups and peer support groups.

RPRP Moree coordinated an Easter Family Funday with 175 attendees; this is a testament to the hard work being completed in Moree from the RPRP team. In addition to this, the RPRP team in Inverell facilitated two Easter Family Fundays in Tenterfield and Emmaville – with 100 attendees.

RPRP Moree have partnered with Moree Community Health- Child and Family nurse to deliver a New Mum Program. It was identified with Mums at general playgroups that Moree was missing a group for New Mums, RPRP Moree responded to the feedback and has now delivered three blocks 6 weeks, with the plan to continue into the

The Inverell team introduced the “Wellbeing Warriors” program for women. Wellbeing Warriors was developed in response to an increasing trend of disclosure of experiences of Family and Domestic Violence from both new and existing clients.! With support and collaboration from a local Inverell Gym owner, the program was able to offer two terms of boxing, self-defense and fitness, interspersed with resilience and communication skills, kicking off with nine women who signed up and attended regularly for the first group, and 14 registered for the second.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Remote Schools Resilence

Kourtney Orman Amber Varcoe

RSRP staff made initial contact with the remote school in the region to promote RSRP and explained what the program delivers. Follow up contact with each school was completed and staff did a road show of the regions to meet with as many schools face to face as possible. From this consultation a calendar for service delivery was developed. The first schools to receive the RSRP program included:

- Bellata Public School

- Bingara Central School

- Bullarah Public School

- Mallawa Public School

- Carroll Public School

Remote School Resilience Program is funded through the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program and aims to provide support services including:

1. Group Work

2. Family assistance

3. Sport

4. Counselling

RSRP commenced in September 2021, during the first term of the program staff spent time getting to know the program and completing training for programs that would be delivered into the schools. Staff spent time gathering resources needed for each program that was being offered.

- St Joseph’s Primary School

- Kelly’s Plains Public School

- Dungowan Public School

- Warialda Central School

- Delungra Public School

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Family Law Services

Amber Varcoe Kourtney Orman Matt Andrews

The suite of family law services (FLS) is comprised of the Family Relationship Centre, the Regional Family Dispute Resolution Service for more complex mediation cases and Post-separation Cooperative Parenting which is delivered through parenting education courses.

In the 2021/2022 financial year, the FLS saw over 1,400 client’s access one or more of our suite of services, including mediation, education and access to our cultural or multicultural worker.

The Family Relationships Family Dispute Resolution Services and Regional Dispute Resolution continue to provide quality Family, Property and Financial mediation services to the communities within the Armidale Diocese. Mediation has been provided for post-separation parenting, grandparent access, property and financial settlement and workplace disputes. With the merger of the Family Court and the Federal Circuit Court into the Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia, there have been some changes for the Mediation team to navigate, most notably a new post-filing mediation process, which the team is learning and incorporating into business as usual.

The FRC continues to engage in training and build skills in response to the needs and trends identified in our clients, as well as maintaining best practice. The team has attended Cultural and Multicultural training opportunities, sector specific training for mediators and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners, and the opportunity to attend the Family Relationship Services Australia Conference. The conference was a wonderful opportunity to see how we sit within the wider sector and to share the challenges and opportunities presented by COVID-19, the Court Merger, and the day-to-day interactions with families in conflict.

Education facilitators have continued to provide quality and responsive education and learning opportunities across the diocese, engaging in both traditional face to face and outreach models, but also continuing to use the learnings from COVID-19, and provide education groups and one to one education opportunities via video conferencing technology, increasing opportunities for clients and communities to engage with the FRC’s Facilitators.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Family Counselling

Amber Varcoe Kourtney Orman

The family counselling team have been managing ongoing high demand for service across the region. While counsellors are based in Tamworth and Moree, weekly outreach schedules are provided in Armidale, Narrabri and Inverell.

Case Study:

In July 2021, a client (aged 6) was referred to Family Counselling in Inverell by her father. Bethany’s referral to Family Counselling was made after the separation of her parents resulted in behavioural issues at school. These behavioural issues were mostly displayed as fights during both class time and within the playground. Using an early intervention approach a focus was placed on helping Bethany understand her emotions and learn techniques around emotional regulation and building social skills.

Bethany participated in seven sessions in total. Due to COVID restrictions there was a month where Bethany wasn’t able to participate in counselling. During this time however, Bethany was sent fortnightly counselling activity packs to help her stay engaged within the counselling process.

Through attending these sessions Bethany has been able to have a better understanding of how to express her feelings and emotions in a positive manner.

Bethany’s father reported that he has noticed a “positive change” in how Bethany acts at school, with there being no reports from the school since Bethany has returned for the 2022 school year.

Bethany recently completed a Family Counselling Feedback form during her final session where she was able to identify that since attending counselling she is now able to better deal with her anger.

Celebrating Harmony Day 2022 with Indigenous culture and our multicultural community.

Specialised Family Violence Kourtney Orman

by Debra Dunstan was completed and provided us with valuable information and recommendations moving forward for continuous improvement.

Specialist Family Violence this year saw 78 men referred into the program. Out of that 78, 62 men were assessed or partially assessed with 29 men entering the groups. Four groups were held during 2021/2022 with one being held in the evening to accommodate those men that are unable to attend during the day due to work commitments. An after hours maintenance group was established to provide continued support to those men that requested ongoing support. Approximately 6 men attend this group on a fortnightly basis.

Women and their children were also supported during this financial year with 36 women being provided direct support either face to face, via phone or a combination of both. There were 17 children who received indirect support through internal or external referrals, which included Psychology, Family Counselling, FRRP and Playgroup.

MBCP reference group was established in 2021/2022 with representation from Police, DCJ, Local Court, Health, Community Corrections, Local Solicitor, Challenge Community services and Tamworth Family Support Service. The role of the reference group is to ensure the integrity of the program, monitor, assist and review program results in order to inform and amend any future program planning and delivery.

SFV has secured further funding under both the State and Federal Government. The security in funding allows Centacare to focus on this much needed service and continue to service those families that have been affected by Domestic and Family Violence. We have been able to employ two (2) fulltime Program Facilitators, a Family Safety Worker and a part-time administration worker.

Fallon Roberts and Sarah Keenan presented on SFV at the FRSA conference in Adelaide, which was well received and given very positive feedback. SFV external evaluation

The SFV team continues to engage in education opportunities to ensure that the service adheres to the NSW minimum services and industry best practice standards. The team has accessed learning and development through the Graduate Certificate in Individual and Group Interventions for Men’s Behaviour Change, Motivational Interviewing , Identifying and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence to name a few, as well as having representatives attend the No To Violence conference, coordinated by the NSW Peak Body for the Men’s Behaviour Change sector, and offering insight and reflections around the currency of modalities, identified and emerging trends, supporting best practice and creating and maintaining connection with other MBCP providers across the state.

Case Study:

A young woman engaged with to the program in March 2021. On first presentation this young woman (20 years old) disclosed some historical childhood trauma and her recent separation from her violent partner.

Working with this Amy, a narrative, client centred, strength-based approach was used. Whilst working with Amy we explored her resilience and her acts of resistance that kept her safe during the relationship. Together we developed a safety plan, looked at her natural support network and began looking at her future goals.

Since then, Amy has achieved most of her goals that she had set, such as gaining employment, studying design online, and strengthening her family relationships. Amy has developed a very clear understanding of what a healthy relationship looks like and “red flags” that she can now identify.

Amy has been able to successfully implement mindfulness activities when she becomes overwhelmed or when she has trauma related “flashbacks”, which she reports are becoming less frequent.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Women In Sport

Kourtney Orman

Centacare NENW’s Women in Sport Program was introduced this year through the Stronger Country Communities Fund – Rural Female Sports Capacity Builder (Tamworth).

The program has been introduced to offer eight schools in the Tamworth LGA the opportunity to be involved in The Rural Female Sports Capacity Builder Program. Women in Sport aims to engage young women in the community by giving them access to sporting and wellbeing programs, bringing communities together through a resilience program targeted to reduce barriers for mental health services and provide sporting opportunities. Accessibility to sports will be achieved through both School Based workshops, as well as female specific sporting clinics.

During our first term of the program, Centacare NENW engaged with both the Primary and High School within the Barraba community. The community response was to run skills building clinics targeting Rugby Union, where we successfully ran these in collaboration with Rugby North West over the term.

Women in Sport will continue to provide services over the coming year, with more schools and clinic days to come. This program is funded by the State Government

Family Law Pathways

Kourtney Orman

appearances. This service was taken up by community members who were at a disadvantage accessing technology not just during sitting times, but at other times as needed, and will continue.

Over 2021-2022, the committee has continued to support the National FLPN Webinar Series. This saw the coordination and delivery of a number of online webinar training sessions offered to members of the FLPN. Sessions included topics such as; The new family law court: how will it be different?, Men in Focus/Unpacking masculinities, Neurodiversity in Family Law Context & The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principles. (National FLPN).

The Family Law Pathways Network (FLPN) facilitates a Steering Committee across the Tamworth Region supporting a network of representatives from legal firms, community legal services, family services, Children’s Contact Services, family violence services, community based Aboriginal services and family support services.

The steering committee has continued to work towards a number of initiatives over the last year, with their most notable event being a collaborative event between the Tamworth FLPN and the Tamworth Children’s Contact Service (CCS). The event was a networking and educational event for all working within Family Law in our region. The venue was the new Children’s Contact Centre premises. Attendees toured the freshly established Children’s Contact Centre, met the staff, enjoyed drinks and canapés, and heard presentations from the staff of both Centacare NENW and the CCS.

As adjustments were made to facilitation of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the committee implemented a Circuit Court Kiosk to allow the service to continue to be provided throughout the COVID-19 court changes. FLPN offered the Tamworth and Armidale Centacare sites as virtual court kiosks for those who were unable to access the necessary technology to make their Court

Tamworth FLPN also hosted an in-person lunch at the Centacare NENW premises with FCFCOA Judge Carty, when she was in Tamworth for the regional sittings. The event was catered and attended by approximately 25 local legal practitioners and other service providers. This was a great opportunity to meet the judge, as she is new to the role, meet her staff for the first time, to learn what will happen next in terms of court service coverage for our region, and to hear about the impact of the court merger.

The committee will continue to work towards their objective goals for the coming year, continuing to engage through education, facilitation and collaboration with members of the FLPN and increase the diversity of their member base.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Moree Community Garden Christmas Gathering December 2021

Emergency Relief

Cigdem Watson

Centacare NENW Emergency Relief Program deliver services to Walgett, Lightning Ridge, Narrabri and Moree LGA’s this support extends to the small communities in this area. Emergency Relief saw an increase of support offered to these communities by 130%, a sign of the increased pressure of the current financial landscape.

A number of clients accessing the Emergency Relief Program have accepted referrals to other services and programs including financial counselling to assist with longer term supports which can assist with better outcomes for the individuals and families.

The type of assistance offered included one-off assistance such as:

• part-payment of utility accounts

• food assistance

• budgeting assistance and/or

• referrals to other services that help to address underlying causes of financial crisis.

Emergency Relief have established partnerships with providers in the rural and remote locations to ensure that services can be easily accessed, with Lightning Ridge and Walgett IGA accepting Emergency Relief clients, allowing

individuals to have access to food assistance in their local communities.

This list is not exhaustive, with many families and individuals provided support during the past 12 months.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Community Visitor Scheme Anne Lane

The Community Visitor’s Scheme, in its tenth year running with Centacare NENW and its 30th year since inception, has again seen another challenging year with many Aged Care Facilities restricting access to volunteers while they work out what their new ‘normal’ is.

Centacare employs one manager located in Tamworth and four coordinators located in Tamworth, Armidale (incorporating Glen Innes), Gunnedah (incorporating Narrabri and Quirindi), and Inverell (incorporating Moree and Warialda), who work together towards alleviating isolation to residents in approved aged care facilities.

Our wonderful volunteers have continued to keep in contact with the residents via visits, letters and phone calls as the facilities go in and out of lock downs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The volunteers have made contact 978 times with 59 residents in the twelve months since July 2021.

We are extremely grateful for the work that both our coordinators and volunteers perform in the community by providing dignity to the aged care recipients that they so deserve.

We look forward to continuing the service into the new year by engaging additional volunteers who wish to give back to the community.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Family Law Pathways Network lunch at the Pavillion

Cultural Wellbeing Programs

Weaving Magic

Culturally Appropriate Services

Fallon Roberts

The Family Law Programs Multicultural officer has been busy throughout the year, engaging with community and supporting local events including, but not limited to: Refugee Week, Harmony Day, Fiesta La Peel, Women’s Day, a local Latin Night, and a Women’s self care and High Tea. As well as supporting the community at large, the Multicultural Officer has also been offering Groups to the community- Newcomer Orientation Sessions - offered as a group or individually, helping New Australians learn about life in rural Australia and how to access services in our region; Cuppa ‘n Chat - offering connection with local community while practicing English and making new friends; and Finding My Way - support for migrants to understand the changes and transitions and support positive mental wellbeing, including building skills and confidence and understanding your new home.

An international Movie Screening was turned into an amazing event, complete with a quiz, on theme decorations and some Colombian treats, providing opportunities for locals to get involved learning about other cultures with the release of Encanto, it certainly was a night to remember!.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Youth Wellbeing Programs

RU Ok? Day 2021 was celebrated during lockdown for our region. headspace arranged for some essential RU Ok? Day resources to be provided to staff at local Coles Supermarkets to help spread the message.

headspace Sam Davis

The headspace team has continued to work with dedication this year to provide a high quality service to young people across the New England North West Region.

During 2021-2022, headspace has expanded with the employment of two full-time YCC (Youth Care Coordinator) roles and a Youth and Community Engagement Officer. This recruitment is to support the expansion of the Armidale Satellite Site into a stand alone Centre for the 2022-2023 financial year.

headspace has hosted a number of Social Work student placements in Tamworth and Armidale and will continue to offer student placements in the future. New funding for the Student Placement Program for the 2022-2023 financial year will further develop our Student Placement Program, with the appointment of Student Placement Co-ordinators.

The headspace “Emerge” Program ensured distribution of Seminars and Information Packs throughout several schools within the New England North West, with great success.

In December 2021, headspace Tamworth partnered with Northern Inland Football as they wanted to have an event to raise funds for headspace, $6000 was donated to the headspace program.

Other highly successful events included the UNE (University of New England) Open Day on Friday May 6th 2022, this saw over 1000 students from all around NSW. Monday June 27th 2022, headspace Armidale attended the “What Can You Do for Mob Expo” at the Armidale Secondary College, with over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and people in attendance.

Case Study:

Katelyn is a 19-year old female who was referred to headspace due to persistent low mood, anxiety and symptoms consistent with PTSD.

Katelyn was referred to the headspace psychiatrist for diagnostic clarification, and was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder (with panic attacks), PTSD, Major Depressive Disorder (with deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation) and potential early stages Bipolar Disorder.

ToreducetheimpactofPTSDsymptomsandmanage suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviours, a combination of dialectical behavior therapy skills (namelydistresstolerance,mindfulnessandemotion regulation) and trauma-informed stabilisation strategies were employed. Further, additional strategies to manage self-harming behaviours, worries associated with Generalised Anxiety and symptoms of depression were addressed.

Katelyn reported that the combination of these strategies has given her practical skills to manage distress, build on her current relationships with friends, family and her partner; as well as cope with symptoms associated with PTSD such as nightmares, flashbacks and trauma triggers.

Prior to engaging with clinician, Katelyn was on leave from work due to being unable to cope and engaging in self-harming behaviours regularly to cope with distress. Katelyn’s quality of life has since improved, enabling her to work full-time and maintain meaningful relationships. Katelyn disclosed recently that she has also reached over 205 days without engaging in self-harming. Katelyn reports goals of getting married to her long-term partner and relocating in the next few years.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Individual Placement Support Sam Davis

Our IPS staff have shown their ability to not only place clients into meaningful employment and education but to refer to other Community Services. This assists with building valuable skills and confidence so that our Young People can develop and achieve their goals both financially and social/ personal growth. This holistic approach has been an integral part to the success of our IPS service and ensuring that our Young People stay in employment and education and continue to see growth within themselves and their Community.

The IPS program has undergone some recent rebranding and is now known as ‘Work and Study’, with new resources for young people, sites and stakeholders finalised and available through headspace National.

The IPS team have placed a total of 34 Young People into Employment during this financial year, and continue to support these Young People by providing regular Post Placement Support via phone or in person. The IPS program has seen a number of Young People, who have previously had no career or personal goals, achieve certificates that build skills and improve self-confidence, for example, engaging in driving lessons that provide independence and sense of accomplishment.

As our IPS program continues to expand, we are exploring further opportunities for our Young People, in order to access training and development opportunities and to assist local employers build and develop their workforce.

Case Study:

Tamara is a young woman who has been engaging with the headspace IPS program since January of 2022. At her first appointment, Tamara talked about how she wanted to find alternate employment as her current employment had been detrimental to her mental health - she had felt bullied in the workplace and had her hours cut. Tamara said she would like to work in childcare as she helped care for young children at home.

Tamara has been supported to enrol in a cert III in early childhood education and care at TAFE. Tamara and her vocational worker have additionally been working towards finding a traineeship in childcare. During this time Tamara has also received funding from Anglicare Psychosocial Support to complete first aid training with Tamworth Community College.

Tamara recently been offered a traineeship with a local childcare centre and will be commencing fulltime employment in August 2022.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Centacare NENW were proud of the members of our weaving group who became award winning weavers at the Narrabri Show in May.

Nurturing Resilience and Growth Sam Davis

Our NRG Program (Youth Complex Mental Health Program), has been an essential service for young people during and post COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. Our NRG clinicians have demonstrated commitment and innovation during this 2021-2022 financial year, ensuring some of the most vulnerable clients received quality clinical care and counselling services.

Our NRG program focuses on supporting young people who present with high and complex needs, with staff based across the New England Region, in Tamworth, Armidale, Moree, Narrabri, Gunnedah, Glen Innes and Inverell. NRG has continued to see a steady stream of referrals across this 2021-2022 financial year, with the team working diligently to provide services , ensuring quality case management across services and providing much needed individual counselling and support for the youth of our region.

Young people have continued to respond well to the alternative phone and video modalities of treatment with a high demand of complex patients under the NRG Program.

Case Study:

May self-referred to the NRG program after being diagnosed with PTSD.

Originally, she struggled to engage, missed a few sessions and was visibly struggling to open up. However, over a few weeks, she was able to become more trusting and was brave enough to voice questions and concerns regarding her treatment.

While her anxiety symptoms reduced over a few months, May continued to struggle with her trauma symptoms. Collaboratively, we were able to find a way to process her trauma in a creative way. May was an artist, working with painting, pottery, and sculpture. We were able to incorporate these talents into the therapy process. This allowed May to tell her story in a creative and unique way.

Towards the end of therapy, May became more confident and her communication with friends and family improved. She started trusting her partner and found a new job that she really enjoyed.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Youth on Track Kourtney Orman Matt Andrews

Youth on Track (YOT) delivers intensive early interventions for young people who are at risk of continued engagement in the criminal justice system. The program works with individuals aged between 10-17 years through one on one case management and family collaborative work, targeting specific criminogenic factors that are contributing to their offending.

With the expansion of referral pathways for YOT, the program has continued to explore collaborative opportunities with stakeholders across our service area. Over the months of May and June, the first youth agricultural program was organised and run with 12 at-risk youth. The program was a collaboration with Centacare, PCYC and Juvenile Justice. The program was designed as an entry level introduction to the agricultural industry and consisted of a two-day cattle-handling course, followed by an on-country cultural healing day and concluding with an on- site visit to the cattle exchange where young people learnt the sale process. A number of young people had expressed interest in working in the field resulting in the team developing the specific program to meet the need.

With ongoing impacts to service delivery during 20212022, YOT staff continued to be innovative in their approach to engaging clients. YOT staff contacted all of the waitlisted young people via the phone to discuss the program and while this is not the normal process, YOT staff have had success in gaining consent to support young people via electronic sessions. These electronic sessions include video services (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, etc.), phone contact, video game sessions and text messaging.

YOT staff have also been accompanying NSW Police Youth Case Managers in undertaking home visits to highrisk young people and waitlisted clients across the region. YOT staff have been providing brokerage support to families in the form of food vouchers and mobile phone credit when required.

Almost 80% of Centacare’s YOT participants reduced or stabilised their formal contacts with police 12-month post referral, the highest achievement for the program across the state.

In the coming year, YOT will be looking to develop further their innovating approach to youth engagement and skill development.

This program is funded by the NSW State Government

Youth Drug and Alcohol Service

Maree Dewson

YDAS continued to deliver high quality Youth AOD services across Tamworth, Narrabri and Moree during this past year. YDAS has strong working relationships and referral pathways with a number of services across the service area, including Narrabri High School, Moree Secondary College, Boggabillia and Toomelah Schools, and headspace.

Strong involvement with Community Groups and organisations across the region ensures that the young people accessing our AOD services have a voice in the development of programs and ensures that young people have equal access to services being delivered in the community.

YDAS Tamworth have been involved in the Local Area Lands Council Community Connect Consortium, assisted with the redevelopment of the Community Drug Action Team and are active members of the Youth Rent Choice program.

YDAS Narrabri has been involved with the redevelopment of the Community Drug Action Team, working with the Summit Stakeholder advisory committee and is an active member of the Rent Youth Choice program.

YDAS Moree have been working closely with Flat Track to deliver Programs to the remote communities of Boggabilla and Toomelah, this ensures that young people living in remote areas have access to services without having to leave their communities.

This

program is funded by the NSW State Government

Disability Inclusions Programs

Disability Services Grahame York

and thoroughly enjoying the fruits of their labours. The garden includes such things as strawberries, onions, spinach, citrus fruits, and a variety of herbs, to name a few.

The Centacare NENW Inclusions Disability Program has continued to provide its National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants with quality services in the 2022 financial year. Whilst the COVID 19 pandemic has continued to have an impact on services, the program has been able to successfully navigate these challenging times. Staff working under the Program are to be commended for their stoicism and endurance during what has been called a once in a lifetime experience.

At this time last year, the NDIS had approximately 400,000 participants across Australia. This number has since increased to more than 534,000 participants – this is indicative of the ever-expanding need for supports in this area. It also represents an ongoing area of growth for the Program and a continuing ability to provide services to some of our most vulnerable community members. To give some perspective to the NDIS and the role it plays in society, approximately $31 billion was spent on it in 2022.

Whilst 2022 saw some reduction in the number of staff providing services across sites, the Program has also taken the opportunity to review and improve the manner in which it is providing services. For example, an increased focus has been placed on client engagement, further streamlining services, and effectively utilising available technologies to ensure continued provision of a quality service.

2022 saw the number of Supported Independent Living (SIL) participants serviced by Centacare NENW reduce from 5 to 3, with the organisation now overseeing 2 SILfunded homes in Tamworth.

A good news story from one of the SIL homes has been the establishment of a veggie garden. This was prompted by an idea from one of the staff, with other staff and both participants in the house now committed to the project

The Plan Management component of the Program has experienced steady growth across the 2022 financial year. There has been an increase in the number of participants serviced as well as the amount of invoices processed and paid on behalf of these participants. The feedback about Plan Management from the aforementioned client engagement has been overwhelmingly positive, with many clients commenting on the speed and consistency at which payments are processed.

Across 2022, Centacare NENW has continued to work with software developers to investigate ways in which we can take advantage of the technological improvements that the Digital Partners Office (DPO) of the NDIS have implemented. To continue to work with the DPO, Centacare NENW is now required to receive ISO 27001 accreditation. This accreditation focuses on assessing the calibre of the organisation’s cyber security.

The last twelve months has seen the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) implement a number of new standards. These standards largely came about due to the ongoing pandemic and the inclement weather events that we have experienced in the last two years. A primary function of these new standards is the requirement of NDIS support providers to have contingency plans in place that ensure their continued ability to provide essential supports to NDIS participants, no matter what is occurring environmentally or otherwise.

With the change in Federal Government that occurred after the May 2022 election, the incoming Minister for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, has overseen the formation of a panel to perform an independent review of the NDIS. Support providers are excited to see what findings come from this review and the subsequent recommendations that will shape future service delivery.

This program is funded by the Federal Government

Our Story

Centacare New England North West (NENW) was established in 2001 by the Bishop of the Armidale Diocese, Most Reverend Bishop Luc Matthys, to extend counselling services to families and children of the Diocese of Armidale. Since then, Centacare NENW has grown to offer a wide range of programs and provides a significant portion of mental health and family based services in the New England and North West regions of NSW. We have nine offices located across the region from as far north as Tenterfield and Mungindi, to Werris Creek and Quirindi in the south, and all localities in between.

As one of the leading providers of Mental Health and Wellbeing within the New England North West geographic area, we aim to provide information, education and referral pathways to individuals, families and carers. We have highly qualified staff working across a broad range of programs and currently hold contracts with various federal and state funding bodies, and private organisations for the delivery of services.

The Centacare NENW service delivery model is a clinical based model, underpinned by the Catholic faith and the Catholic Social Teachings. Centacare NENW is well versed in the requirements surrounding clinical service delivery, such as professionalism relating to confidentiality, record keeping, private meeting rooms, professional support, qualification and on-going up-skilling of staff, best practice service delivery and Clinical Governance. Centacare NENW is committed to the ongoing training and development of staff and we encourage our team to pursue the highest standards in performance and provide opportunities to attend relevant training courses, workshops, forums and conferences.

The operational policies, procedures, and quality commitment of Centacare NENW demonstrate and support this approach in practice. Centacare NENW has Governance, Management, Financial, Workplace Health

and Safety (WHS) including Risk, and Quality frameworks all meeting the requirements of third party accreditation and external financial audited acquittals. We have embedded a Total Quality Management system (TQM) ensuring we develop, deliver, manage and monitor all program objectives and the needs of our communities and individuals. We focus on evidence based practice and outcome evaluation is crucial. We also believe in embedding research based practice into our service delivery with a number of our existing programs now either having published research on their client outcomes or in the process of publication. This is a large part of our Strategic and Quality service commitment to our communities and families and formally embeds client/stakeholder consultation and feedback into our processes. Centacare NENW is Quality Accredited by Quality Innovation Performance (QIP) Australia’s most comprehensive notfor-profit accreditation and certification organisation. We are accredited under the QIC Health and Community Service Standards, Mental Health Standards and Disability Standards. The accreditation ensures high standards of practice including - Policies and Procedures, Governance, WHS, Human Resources, Quality Assurance, General, Service Area Specific, Clinical and Financial all reviewed annually.

Our vision is for a society in which there is recognition of individual and social rights and responsibilities, a society that promotes the dignity, equality and participation of all its citizens. We work within the Catholic Social Teachings, working for dignity, common good, solidarity and subsidiarity for our communities and those who live and work within them. We care about people. We care about children. We are committed to enhancing quality services to ensure client and stakeholder needs are met through best practice models.

Our Finances

Future Directions

As a growing organisation, Centacare NENW seeks to provide sustainable mental health and wellbeing services to our community.

From 1st July 2022, Centacare will commence operations under a new corporate structure, as an incorporated company limited by guarantee. This move reflects Centacare’s growth and best practice corporate governance.

In most respects it will be “business as usual”. The current board members, management and staff will remain the same. We will offer the same products and services as we currently provide (subject to availability of ongoing funding) as a registered charity.

The future of Centacare NENW remains true to our vision and mission:

In response to the gospel call to love thy neighbour, Centacare New England North West (NENW) provides social welfare services to accompany individuals, families and communities in the Diocese of Armidale to reach their potential and enjoy the fullness of life.

Our vision is for a society transformed by God’s loveandcompassion;asocietythatrecognisesand promotes the dignity , equality and participation of all.

Our values are based on Catholic moral values and the Four Pillars of Catholic Social Teachings: Dignity, Community, Cooperation, and Support.

Centacare NENW acknowledges our community is richly varied, multicultural and diverse, spread across small and large towns throughout our Diocese of New England North West. We also recognise that our community includes many without basic needs, and many who are vulnerable, marginalised or disadvantaged. We value and respect everyone in our community and tailor our services to their unique context. We do this by being present with and listening to our people, local communities and stakeholders to help as best we can meet their needs.

Our Guiding Principles for how we deliver on all outcomes include:

1. We will engage with and listen to our people, local communities and stakeholders to ensure our programs meet the needs of those we serve and include them when we consider resourcing.

2. Our services will always be delivered in ways consistent with Centacare NENW expressed Catholic identity.

2023 will see Centacare NENW launch a new strategic plan. One where our mission and values inform our service delivery.

Centacare NENW is committed to providing services that enhance the stability, wellbeing and connectedness of families, youth, Indigenous and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) persons, the mentally ill, and those living with, or caring for someone with, a disability.

Centacare NENW Board Members

Louise Clarke - Chair

Louise is an Executive Leadership Coach with over 30 years of senior executive experience in the banking and financial services sector. Louise is Chair of the Board and Governance Committee and a member of the People, Quality and Safety and Finance, Audit and Risk Committees.

Louise is a non-executive director of PN Bank and a member of their Risk and Governance Committees. Louise is a beef cattle producer in the Walcha District.

Louise holds a Bachelor of Business and is a member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Anne Carroll - Deputy Chair RN, BHst(N), MPH, MAICD

Anne is the Principal Consultant of QH Australia, specialising in consulting in Clinical Governance, Quality and Health Care Management. Prior to this role, Anne was a senior Hospital Manager for over 25 years with experience in all aspects of acute and sub-acute hospital management. Anne is a Non-Executive Director for Catholic Healthcare Limited, Arthritis NSW and Family Drug Support. She was also a Non-Executive Director for Uniting NSW.ACT and is the Chair of the Private Hospital and Day Surgery Benchmarking Groups. Anne is Chair of the People, Quality, and Safety Committee.

Robert Mulcahy

Robert has over 30 years senior executive experience in the financial services and for purpose sectors nationally and internationally. Robert has experience in general management including strategic planning, operational excellence, business development and risk identification and mitigation.

Robert has been directly responsible for children and family services including innovative social and financial transactions which include the NEWPIN Social Impact Bond and the Foyer Central Youth Accommodation initiative. Robert’s financial services background is complemented with a strong understanding of the social and community housing sector, in particular with regional locations especially in First Australian communities.

Stephen Bartlett

Stephen is a career veteran of Local Government with more than 40 continuous years employment in the industry. Stephen has held Council Senior Staff positions for more than 30 years and was formerly employed at Tamworth, Gunnedah, Dubbo and Nundle Councils. Currently Stephen is a director of Destination Country & Outback NSW Ltd, a tourism promotion and capacity building organisation and member of a number of committees and foundations in the Tamworth region.

Stephen has a Bachelor of Business (Local Government), Master of Local Government Management, Master of Local Government and Environmental Law and Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies.

Chris Hietbrink

Chris is currently a Board Member of Centacare NENW and is a member of the People, Quality and Safety Committee. She is also a Committee Member of Armidale Neighbourhood Centre. For almost nine years and prior to retiring in early 2021 she was the Coordinator of The Hub at Guyra, Guyra’s neighbourhood centre; and coupled with that role Chris was also the Convener of the Guyra Interagency Group and Convener/Chair of the Local Community Services Association NENW Region. She sat on the Armidale Regional Council’s Wellbeing Committee for three years.

Chris has had a long career in various community service roles in and around the Guyra community and in Sydney, and volunteered as President of the St Mary of the Angels St Vincent de Paul Conference Guyra for eight years.

Jennifer Harman

Jennifer is the Chancellor and Professional Standards Manager for the Catholic Diocese of Armidale and has worked in the Diocese of Armidale for over 30 years. Jennifer became involved with Centacare when Bishop Luc Matthys first started considering establishing Centacare over 21 years ago.

Jennifer has experience in organisational administration, Church & secular governance, Canon Law, financial administration, strategy and risk. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Economics and Masters in Business.

Jennifer resigned from the board on 30 June 2022.

Rowena McNally FAICD LLB FRI FIML

Rowena is a facilitator for the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an associate of VUCA Trusted Advisors and has regularly provided governance training to boards in Australia and overseas. She served for a number of years as a dicastry healthcare advisory member (Vatican) and is a member of Centesimus Annus – Pro Pontifice. She has chaired numerous not-forprofit boards, including Cerebral Palsy Qld, National Employment Services Association and is an Immediate Past President and honorary life member of the Resolution Institute.

Rowena resigned from the board on February 2022

Our Locations

Armidale

150 Rusden Street

Ph: 02 6738 7200 armidale@centacarenenw.com.au

Glen Innes

303A Grey Street Ph: 02 6739 7700 armidale@centacarenenw.com.au

Gunnedah

31 Henry Street Ph: 0429 056 247 Inverell

21 Oliver Street Ph: 02 6721 6400 inverell@centacarenenw.com.au

Moree

48 Auburn Street Ph: 02 6750 8500 moree@centacarenenw.com.au

Narrabri

1/116 Barwan Street Ph: 02 6792 9300 narrabri@centacarenenw.com.au

Tamworth

V Guy Kable Building 201 Marius Street Ph: 02 6762 9200 tamworth@centacarenenw.com.au

Walgett

86 Wee Waa Street Ph: 02 6817 9001 moree@centacarenenw.com.au

headspace Tamworth

2 Darling Street Ph: 02 6762 9290 headspace@centacarenenw.com.au