The Good Times, Edition 1

Will YOU help us go the distance for kids with cancer?

Every month in Australia, 86 children are diagnosed with cancer, so we're taking on the challenge to conquer 86km throughout March to help find a cure but we need YOU!

Donate today and let’s put an end to childhood cancer.

DONATE TODAY!

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There to Care Mi

Chris’ Corner

Inside Stories

Celebrate the wins within ou organisations!

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Training Updates

Understand our commitment continuous improvement wit training and education.

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Keeping You In The Loop

Integrity 4 Life Update: From Passion to Practice, page 24

Big Brown House Update: Uniting for a Brighter Future, page 28

The Gray Area Update: Where not Everything is Black & White, page 32 inside sto

Say hello to Tyler Bartolo

Say hello to Di Lewis, pag

Say hello to Peter Brown

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Sporting Sponsorships

Giving back to our local sporting clubs is an important part of what we do. We are proud to be back on board sponsoring some incredible sporting clubs for 2024

Women in Sport Unwrapped

An insight into the the event that was more than just a celebration of the achievements of women's sports, but a community collaboration.

Celebrating

Developmental Disability Awareness Month

Embracing a World of Opportunities

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RMHC, NNSW Meals from the Heart

Join our team as they brighten the nights of sick children and their families staying at Ronald McDonald House, NNSW

women in

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als from the Heart, pag

Cooking with Kids

Sit down with Rostering Officer, Viv and to get to know her secret for getting her family excited for healthy, nutritious foods!

Mexican Style Pork Pasta Bake

Feed the family with this budget-friendly Napoletana pasta bake featuring flavourful pork mince seasoned with chipotle for a smoky and slightly spicy twist.

A campaign designed to show our commitment to supporting the community through the care and services we deliver.

United by the 'There to Care' mission, Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life and The Gray Area are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of integrity and service delivery in our communities to ensure we are providing care to everyone who interacts with us on their journey.

We are There to Care for...

...our team.

We are There to Care For Our Team; past, present and future across all organisations. Building and maintaining a strong team culture is of utmost importance, and we strive to enhance it every day. When it comes down to feedback, we don't just hear, but listen and implement changes to ensure a content and healthy workforce. Our innovative approach to recruiting and onboarding drives us to consider future employees and identify means to improve their onboarding experience

...our community.

We are There to Care for Our Community by supporting local sporting clubs and charities that make a difference We are dedicated to providing support and care to the community through active involvement with local charities, sporting clubs, and events. By doing so, we aim to communicate our message to a broader audience and foster connections that will improve the lives of those around us. We understand that our operations couldn't exist without the support of our community, and we are committed to giving back.

...our participants.

Our three organisations embrace customised approaches when working with each individual to ensure they attain their objectives and lead a fulfilling life We align ourselves with the mission of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), pledging a person-centred approach to support and care Our ‘There to Care For Our Participants’ statement is a testament to our commitment to promoting accessibility, empathy, and understanding for people living with disabilities in every step we take.

Connection Community Care

...our young people and their families.

We strive to create a sense of community and belonging, where everyone feels valued and respected for who they regardless of culture, history, or background We want to provide opportunities for young people, and their families to help them grow in all aspects of life Whether social or educational, our primary goal is for all our young people to live a life of fulfilment and purpose.

...your mental health.

We are dedicated to supporting the mental health of our community. We understand that mental well-being is not a luxury but a basic human necessity that requires attention, care, and resources. Promoting self-care is essential to us, and we urge everyone in our community to prioritise their mental well-being alongside their physical health No matter the issue, we want everyone to feel reassured that there are pathways to seek support and find healing.

...our future.

We are There to Care for Our Future; to be a voice for future generations and create a world we want to live in Our efforts aim to make a positive impact on our community by providing thoughtful and therapeutic services today, tomorrow, and everyday. We are dedicated to looking at the bigger picture with our ultimate goal to leave a lasting legacy and be remembered as the organisations that made a true difference in our community

#ThereToCare

CEO of BBH, I4L, TGA CHRIS BROWN

Director of The Gray Area MYLES CHERRY

GM, Integrity 4 Life IAN CAMPBELL

GM Operations ASHLEE SALTON

GM, People and Strategy CALIDA HAWKINS

GM, Practice and Quality ALKIRA BOLLARD

Content Collation STEPHANIE TONNA

Creative Direction and Marketing MEG BLACKBURN

Sub Editors TAYLOR MOORE & TARA BRIGGS

Practice and Quality Manager DEHANNE PARTLAND

Training Officer AMY STORK

Marketing and Community Engagements MEG BLACKBURN

Therapeutic Support Worker (TSW), Sydney TYLER BARTOLO

Program Manager, Murrumbidgee DI LEWIS

NDIS Team Leader, Hunter PETER BROWN

Rostering Officer, Western TEGAN LEARY

Rostering Officer, Hunter VIVIENNE HOCKRIDGE

Youth Development Officer, Dubbo Regional Council CHARMAINE MARA

Events Coordinator, Peibri Place KATELYN ATKINS

Business & Community Partnerships Manager, Westpac Rescue Helicopter JASON BOURKE

Relationship & Development Manager, RMHC, NNSW AMY OSBOURNE

Individual Giving Lead, Children’s Cancer Institute RACHEL JAMIESON

Integrity 4 Life (I4L) Big Brown House (BBH) and The Gray Area (TGA) acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

On

Hello Everyone and welcome to the first edition of The Good Times magazine! We are excited to share some of the inspiring moments we have created within the first quarter of the year across Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life and The Gray Area We will also share stories and updates on the organisations we work with and support to give you an idea of the collaboration we are doing across the state

These past few months for me have been very busy with working on new programs, services, and ways we can further work together with the wider community We celebrated International Women's Day focusing on celebrating Women in Sport The morning was about empowering the community with some fantastic women speaking at our event about their journey in sports and inclusiveness It was a wonderful day for our organisations and community with around 100 people attending the event and raising over $3,500 for the families staying at Ronald McDonald House, NNSW

We had people from our organisations support a cause that was close to them through a super Swim For The Starlight Foundation It was awesome to hear of the team's commitment to raise money for a great cause close to their hearts I was really proud of the staff involved and them giving it their all in the pool

This month I have been working towards supporting another great cause with one of our community partners the Children's Cancer Institute (CCIA) and am participating in doing 86K For A Cure that represents the 86 children who are diagnosed with cancer every month

This cause is closely linked with our organisation and staff who have gone through this personally The institute does vital research into childhood cancer and we are proud to be able to work with them ongoing to support and raise awareness of childhood cancer

Well with the Fall or Autumn season (depends on what country your from whether you say fall or Autumn so being safe with both) upon us, change is in the air We have been working hard on delivering training across the state through Case Management, CARE (Children and Residential Experiences) and TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) training The regular training opportunities we provide our team enables us to assess our processes within the organisations to ensure we are always striving to improve the support and services we provide to the community

With this quarters theme of The Good Times being Creating Brighter Futures for All, this really is the overall goal of what we do We want to ensure that the services we deliver to the wider community, the organisations we connect with and the people we support feel that our interaction has a lasting positive impact on their lives With this being said we hope you enjoy our first edition of The Good Times magazine!

Chris Brown

Chris Brown CEO chris@bigbrownhouse com au

EXPRESS GET LOUD EMPOWER

INSIDE STORIES

O u r s e r v i c e s r e a c h o u t t o o u r c o m m u n i t i e s , b u t o u r m i s s i o n b e g i n s a t t h e g r a s s r o o t s l e v e l b y c o n s i s t e n t l y s u p p o r t i n g , r e c o g n i s i n g , a n d v a l u i n g o u r t e a m T h e f i r s t q u a r t e r o f 2 0 2 4 h a s s e e n e a c h o r g a n i s a t i o n c o n t i n u e t o e v o l v e a n d g r o w t h r o u g h o n g o i n g d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m m e s , t e a m b u i l d i n g e x e r c i s e s , e x p a n s i o n i n t o n e w r e g i o n s a n d c o n n e c t i n g o v e r s h a r e d v a l u es a n d o b j e c t i v e s a s w e c o n t i n u e t o s u p p o r t o u r c o m m u n i t i e s t o g e t h e r , T a k e a l o o k i n t o l i f e b e h i n d t h e s c e n e s w i t h i n o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n s , t h e b o n d s w e c o n t i n u e t o c r e a t e a m o n g s t o u r t e a m a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y w e a p r o u d t o b e a p a r t o f

CASE MANAGEMENT TRAINING (CMT)

I n t e g r i t y 4 L i f e B i g B r o w n H o u s e a n d T h e G r a y A r e a c o l l a b o r a t e d d u r i n g a t h r e e - d a y C a s e M a n a g e m e n t T r a i n i n g ( C M T ) s e s s i o n T h i s c o m p r e h e n s i v e p r o g r a m a i m e d t o a s s e s s c u r r e n t p r a c t i c e s i n t r o d u c e n e w s t r a t e g i e s , a n d i m p r o v e s e r v i c e q u a l i t y w h i l e f o s t e r i n g t e a m w o r k a n d c o m m u n i t y c o n n e c t i o n s

D u r i n g t h e s e s s i o n , w e d e l v e d i n t o w a y s t o e n h a n c e o u r c o m b i n e d i n f l u e n c e o n t h e c o m m u n i t y W i t h t h e h e l p o f t a s t y t r e a t s w e g a i n e d a b e t t e r i n s i g h t i n t o e a c h o t h e r s g o a l s , p a v i n g t h e p a t h f o r c u s t o m i s e d p l a n s t o r e a c h o u r a s p i r a t i o n s

“ C a s e M a n a g e m e n t T r a i n i n g i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y

f o r a l l o u r t e a m s a c r o s s t h e s t a t e t o c o m e t o g e t h e r t o s h a r e e x p e r i e n c e s , b u i l d

c o n n e c t i o n s , a n d g r o w t o g e t h e r H o s t i n g a l l o f o u r o r g a n i s a t i o n a l t r a i n i n g g i v e s m e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d t h e c h a l l e n g e s w i t h i n o u r r e g i o n s a n d h e a r a b o u t t h e a m a z i n g w o r k t h a t i s h a p p e n i n g t o s u p p o r t t h e c h i l d r e n , y o u n g p e o p l e , a d u l t s , a n d c o m m u n i t i e s w e w o r k w i t h . I t ’ s i n s p i r i n g t o s e e o u r t e a m t o g e t h e r – s u p p o r t i n g , l a u g h i n g , c o n n e c t i n g a n d l e a r n i n g f r o m e a c h o t h e r . ”

Calida Hawkins GM, PEOPLE & STRATEGY

SYDNEY

05.03.24

SYDNEY TEAM CELEBRATES VICTORIES WITH SIZZLING SUCCESS

T h e S y d n e y T e a m c a m e t o g e t h e r f o r a f e s t i v e S u m m e r B B Q t o

c o m m e n d t h e i r o u t s t a n d i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r

n o t a b l y t h e s u c c e s s f u l s u p p o r t p r o v i d e d t o a Y o u n g P e r s o n i n

B B H , r e s u l t i n g i n t h e i r r e u n i o n w i t h f a m i l y T h e B B Q f e a t u r e d a s u m p t u o u s s p r e a d o f d e l e c t a b l e t r e a t s f o r e v e r y o n e t o e n j o y , a n d t o a d d t o t h e e x c i t e m e n t M e l ' s a d o r a b l e f u r r y f r i e n d s t o l e t h e s p o t l i g h t a s t h e e v e n i n g s V I P g u e s t !

PLANNING FOR SUCCESS WITH THE PRACTICE TEAM

T h e H u n t e r t e a m g o t t o g e t h e r f o r a m o r n i n g o f n i b b l e s t o w i s h o u r b e l o v e d P r a c t i c e M a n a g e r , D e e f a r e w e l l a s s h e e m b a r k s o n h e r j o u r n e y i n t o p a r e n t h o o d W h i l s t t h e t e a m a t B B H I 4 L a n d T G A w i l l f e e l y o u r a b s e n c e , w e w h o l e h e a r t e d l y w i s h y o u t h e v e r y b e s t f o r t h i s e x c i t i n g n e w c h a p t e r a h e a d

SUPPORT

T h e P r a c t i c e T e a m g o t t o g e t h e r i n S t o c k t o n t o p l a n o u t t h e i r p r o j e c t s f o r t h e c o m i n g 1 2 m o n t h s D u r i n g t h e d a y t h e y h a d a t e a m b o n d i n g e x e r c i s e o f c o o k i n g B u r r i t o s b u t c o u l d n ' t f i g u r e o u t h o w t o t u r n o n t h e o v e n ! A m i d s t t h e o v e n c o n f u s i o n t h e t e a m h a d s o m e s o l i d c o n v e r s a t i o n a b o u t f u t u r e p r o j e c t s c u r r e n t o b j e c t i v e s , a n d i m p l e m e n t i n g a p l a n t o c o n t i n u e t o e n h a n c e t h e i r d e p a r t m e n t

WELCOMING A FOUR LEGGED FRIEND TO THE TEAM

O u r t e a m i s a l w a y s g r o w i n g , b u t t h e l a t e s t a d d i t i o n t o o k u s b y s u r p r i s e M e e t C o c o N u t B r o w n , a s m a l l B o s t o n T e r r i e r p u p p y w h o j o i n e d u s a t j u s t 1 0 w e e k s o l d , b e c o m i n g o u r y o u n g e s t t e a m m e m b e r W i t h h e r a d o r a b l e l i t t l e n o s e t i n y p a w s a n d c u r i o u s n a t u r e , C o c o h a s q u i c k l y w o n o u r h e a r t s a n d i s n o w a n i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e t e a m W e l c o m e a b o a r d C o c o !

c a l

i n g L o

S u p p o r t

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES & PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

W e h a v e p a r t n e r e d w i t h T & J F a m i l y M e a t s S t o c k t o n , t o p u r c h a s e o u r m e a t s f o r e a c h o f o u r h o u s e s W e a l s o a r e c o n t i n u i n g t o b u i l d d a i l y l i f e s k i l l s o f t h e c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e i n t h e c o m m u n i t y b y h a v i n g t h e m c o l l e c t o f t h e m e a t f r o m t h e b u t c h e r w i t h t h e i r T h e r a p e u t i c S u p p o r t W o r k e r ( T S W ) B y b u y i n g l o c a l l y s o u r c e d m e a t s a n d p r o d u c e , w e a i m t o p r o v i d e o u r C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u n g P e o p l e w i t h a w h o l e s o m e p r o t e i n s o u r c e i n s t e a d o f f a s t , u n h e a l t h y t a k e o u t o p t i o n s

A FLYING VISIT WITH WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER

L a s t y e a r w e w e r e t h a n k f u l f o r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t t h e W e s t p a c R e s c u e H e l i c o p t e r B a s e i n B r o a d m e a d o w

T h e W e s t p a c R e s c u e H e l i c o p t e r B a s e i n B r o a d m e a d o w i s a n e s s e n t i a l f a c i l i t y t h a t p l a y s a c r u c i a l r o l e i n s a v i n g l i v e s a n d p r o v i d i n g e m e r g e n c y m e d i c a l s e r v i c e s t o t h o s e i n n e e d

T h a n k y o u C h r i s a n d B i g B r o w n H o u s e f o r y o u r

Murrumbidgee • TAKing CARE

FEE FREE WITH AURORA TRAINING

A u r o r a T r a i n i n g a n d P r o f e s s i o n a l S e r v i c e s a r e o f f e r i n g C e r t i f i c a t e I I I i n I n d i v i d u a l S u p p o r t - D i s a b i l i t y a s f e e f r e e t r a i n i n g N e w e n t r a n t e m p l o y e e s c a n s t a r t w i t h t h i s q u a l i f i c a t i o n a n d t h e n p r o g r e s s t o t h e C e r t i f i c a t e I V i n D i s a b i l i t y S u p p o r t P l e a s e r e a c h o u t t o h r @ i 4 l c o m a u i f y o u a r e i n t e r e s t e d o r w o u l d l i k e a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n

TAKING CARE IN MURRUMBIDGEE

O u r M u r r u m b i d g e e t e a m r e c e n t l y s p e n t f o u r d a y s t r a i n i n g i n C A R E - C r e a t i n g C o n d i t i o n s f o r C h a n g e T o g e t h e r , t h e t e a m e x p l o r e d t h e s i x C A R E P r i n c i p l e s t h r o u g h t h e o r e t i c a l , s k i l l b u i l d i n g a n d e x p e r i e n t i a l a c t i v i t i e s E v e r y o n e i s l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o p u t t i n g a l l o u r l e a r n i n g s i n t o p r a c t i c e , t o s u p p o r t t h e c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e i n o u r c a r e !

THE CREATIVE JOURNEY WITH SARETTA FIELDING

T o w a r d s t h e e n d o f t h e l a s t y e a r , o u r L e a d e r s h i p T e a m c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h W o n n a r u a a r t i s t S a r e t t a F i e l d i n g t o g a i n a c o m p r e h e n s i v e u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n s n a r r a t i v e v i s i o n v a l u e s , a n d i m p a c t o n t h e l a n d a n d r e l a t i o n s h i p s w i t h c o m m

T r a i n i n g U p d a t e s

Building Skills, Building Futures: Creating a Culture of Learning.

Training has a direct impact on how confident you are in your role, and provides an avenue for further learning and growth in knowledge and skills.

At Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life, and The Gray Area, we aim to provide the necessary and relevant training to meet our staff needs We provide them with the skills to ultimately best support the children and young people in our care

Within our organisations, there are a variety of training courses and support available to ensure best outcomes for our Children & Young People (CYP), with two of those being Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training and CARE training

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) Training

TCI Training encompasses how to support children and young people in prevention and management of crisis events, and is a criteria to work within our organisations To maintain a current certification, refresher hours of 12 hours per year are needed

CARE Training

Our CARE Training then looks at how we can create the conditions for change and make decisions in alignment with principles that guide our practices with children and young people

So far over NSW this quarter year we have delivered:

6 TCI Training Courses

4 days of TCI Refresher Training

2 TCI Refresher Webinars

1 Post Crisis Response Training

2 CARE Training Sessions (over 8 days)

2 days of Case Management Training

This is approximately 210 hours just in TCI and CARE Training!

Sydney Team after completing CARE training in 2023

Shared Services & Ops Teams Taking Training Outside

Our Shared Services and Ops Teams participated in CARE training outdoors to improve awareness and decisionmaking aligned with principles for interactions with children Activities focused on empathy, communication, and collaboration to create a supportive environment and better serve children and young individuals

management while also taking time to relax and have fun

Throughout the training, our team participated in interactive activities aimed at strengthening learning goals and promoting teamwork These activities included role-playing scenarios and group discussions, providing a supportive and collaborative setting for applying their knowledge

The emphasis we put on training within our organisations underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence in the care and support of our community

By recognising the pivotal role that training plays in bolstering confidence, fostering continuous learning, and honing essential skills, we prioritise the professional development of our staff We aim to equip our team with the tools they need for their tool box and provide them with appropriate skills and resources to ensure they feel confident and comfortable when navigating complex situations and create

positive outcomes for those in our care

By investing in ongoing training and support, we not only ensure the well-being of the children and young people we serve but also cultivate a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within our organisation

Our dedication to providing the highest standard of care remains unwavering, driven by our belief in the transformative power of education and training in shaping brighter futures for all

keeping yo in the loop

STAY UP TO DATE WITH WHAT’S GOING ON WITHIN OUR ORGANISATIONS. CELEBRATE THE WINS WITH US, GET EXCITED FOR THE FUTRE AND JOIN US ON OUR JOURNEY.

FROM PASSION TO PRACTICE

WRITTEN BY IAN CAMPBELL, GENERAL MANAGER OF I4L

2024 is well underway, marking our fourth yea of operations at Integrity 4 Life, where steady growth continues to define our journey.

Throughout the first quarter, we have continued to grow at a steady pace within all aspects of the business We have continued to maintain and strong service delivery across everything we do to ensure our participants feel heard, included, and most importantly valued. Although the first three months of the year have passed quickly, we have witnessed remarkable success stories within our organisation. These include assisting a participant on their business endeavours, acting on the demand for services in our regional areas, and expanding our team with quality disability support workers.

Whilst we continue to support the Hunter region, our focus is on expanding into new service delivery areas. We're now active in regional locations like Dubbo, Orange, and Bathurst, while also eyeing the metropolitan landscape, particularly in Sydney's Western region up to Penrith Through targeted social media efforts, we aim to connect with individuals seeking genuine person-centred support Additionally, we're eager to forge partnerships with like-minded organisations that share our values and mission

An integral aspect of what sets Integrity 4 Life apart and differentiates us from the other disability providers is that we genuinely care about participants. We remain small and intimate for this reason. Our focus is not just business, these are people lives’ and we are intimately entwined through the support we deliver on a daily basis. It’s a privileged position to be involved in. One of our passions is the development of authentic relationships with participants, built on trust and respect.

From the moment a participant enters the services, communication and transparency is key Management meet and greet participants at onboarding and remain in regular contact throughout the time they choose to be supported by Integrity 4 Life We make ourselves available to participants, sensitive, accepting and invested in their needs Participants come and go from our office spaces, know more staff than just their direct support staff and we want them to know that this is their organisation too! They are part of the team that is ‘I4L’

In our ‘Community Corner’ section on our website we talk about the wins within our community Recently, we shared a heartfelt story discussing the positive impact our services have had on one of our participants and the genuine relationships we have developed along the way

MEET JESS

Local Novocastrian, Jess, has been one of our longest supported participants at Integrity 4 Life We want to take a moment to recognise her unwavering hard work, resilience, and commitment to personal growth, which she demonstrates daily Jess consistently strives to build strong relationships with her Disability Support Workers (DSWs) and the community at large While we provide support for her choices, Jess has taken the lead in making business, Rose Pet Services, and lifestyle decisions We are delighted to see her reaching her goals and we are excited to see what the future holds

“Hi, I am Jess I have been supported by Integrity 4 Life for 2 years and I feel I have come so far on my journey with their support When I first came into this company I was depressed I had no self-esteem due to being overweight and unemployed I4L helped me overcome these hurdles They taught me about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how that positively impacts my mental health,” she says

If you would like to know more and have that peace of mind, no matter what kind, please contact email Jess at rosepetservices@outlook.com and follow her Instagram!

OUR VISION

I4L takes an individualised approach to working with participants to ensure that they are achieving their goals and living a meaningful life.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to respond to the needs of the community by providing high quality, person centred supports that allow people with a disability to live the life that they choose.

The key elements to the service we deliver is having the right staff with the same ‘drivers’, passion and values that align with our Mission, Vision and Values. Being a newer, smaller provider in a saturated market can be a challenge, particularly when we are attempting to build a professional, committed and ethical workforce Our very reputation is driven by our front-line staff – they work with our participants and ‘word of mouth’ remains our most important marketing tool

That said, recruitment has been strong, and we are more than ever ready to grow and support more participants both locally and in the newer regions We have attracted quality staff with experience ready to build capacity and achieve goals with participants As I4L continues to grow, we are constantly looking to expand our team with like minded individuals who share our vision

Understanding how to give back to our staff on the ground and how to support them to continue to develop and engage will be a significant focus in 2024 Integrity4 Life is acutely aware they are our most important resource In the early parts of the year we have set a new minimum hourly rate above the award to reward our staff. This however is not enough, and we understand that staff want growth and development opportunities.

Keep an eye on this space as we continue to focus in this area – and we welcome staff to feed into the conversation! It’s your ‘I4L’.

Keep an eye out for our future Communities of Practice (CoP) in the new regions. We aim to mirror our successful quarterly sessions of the Newcastle CoP, which has been running for 2+ years This contribution to the community, is a free service we facilitate in the disability sector bringing together smaller services and expertise to assist in building professionalism and knowledge in the sector An event that is kindly contributed to by other services and professionals in the local regions with particular skill sets and expertise that can assist other providers in creating successful businesses delivering high quality service to participants

General Manager, Ian Campbell, says “I am always excited for what the future holds for I4L We are working hard to make lives and communities better!”

Creating Brighter, Happier, Futures for all

I AM ALWAYS EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR I4L. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES BETTER!”

UNITING FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE

WRITTEN BY ASHLEE SALTON, GENERAL MANAGER OPERATIONS AT BBH

Picture this: a community where teamwork isn't just a concept, but a way of life. At Big Brown House, that vision becomes reality, as we strive to create a brighter future for those in need.

“

Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much,”Helen Keller

This quote perfectly sums up the start of the year for Big Brown House We have started the year strong in both our out of home care and casework support scheme programs For our out of home care teams, they are adjusting to the new referral pathways with the changes in the high-cost emergency space This has resulted in a strong focus on the quality and response of services, and ensuring timely placement matching, and promoting effective communication and collaboration among stakeholders

The Case Work Support Scheme Program have extended into Sydney, expanding our locations from Hunter, Central Coast, Albury, Wagga Wagga, Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst Recently we have been able to support one of our young people to be restored home to his father and maintain support in home with his key staff.

This has been a fantastic outcome for this young person and his family, and showed the incredible teamwork between our out of home care and case work support scheme teams Our teams continue to offer much needed services to families and carers through mentoring, family time, and respite

We are continuing our CARE (Children and Residential Experiences) journey and we had the pleasure of bringing our operations and shared services teams together recently for four days of CARE Training We had representative from out of home care, case work support scheme, rostering, human resources, administration, and practice We had phenomenal discussions regarding the applicability of CARE and the concepts in each of their roles, and importance of us all working together for a common goal CARE continues to provide us with shared language and a framework for working within the best interests of children.

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

Through the commitment of our team and the incorporation of CARE principles into all aspects of its operations, we continue on our mission to having a positive impact on our community and our continuous mission to brighten the futures of others.

Through creating a culture of compassion and dedication, we strive to make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us. Together, we believe that even the smallest actions can lead to significant changes, and we are committed to making a meaningful impact on the world around us.

Our teams continue to offer much needed services to families and carers through mentoring, family time, and respite.”

WHERE NOT EVERYTHING IS BLACK & WHITE

Written by MYLES CHERRY, DIRECTOR OF THE GRAY AREA

The Gray Area stands as a beacon of hope and understanding in the ever-evolving landscape of mental health care.

We are a client-centred psychological practice that is passionate about evoking positive change and direction within the ever-expanding Newcastle, Port Stephens, Dubbo, Bathurst, and Orange communities. As such, we place the needs of the individuals, families, or groups that our engaged with our services at the epicentre of our therapeutic approach, empowering them to navigate their journeys into their ‘ areas of grey ’ .

We firmly understand that mental health is not always ‘black and white’, fuelling our mission to provide clarity from a diagnostic, therapeutic, and intervention focused lens to best identify the needs and solutions of our community

The opening quarter of 2024 has seen The Gray Area grow and adapt to change, as we have moved into our lovely new, purple building at 21 Mitchell Street in Stockton To add to this, we have also expanded upon our services, now offering Positive Behaviour Support and Early Intervention within our organisation

To specify our psychological services, we offer a range of therapeutic modalities, comprehensive psychometric assessments, early intervention, and behaviour support plan development and implementation.

Our therapeutic approach takes many forms as we offer cognitive-behavioural therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, solution – focused therapy, amongst others Our team is experienced and knowledgeable in working alongside individuals across the lifespan with a varying degree of emotional, behavioural, cognitive, and social concerns

To further inform the treatment plan and identify the needs of our community, we also provide comprehensive psychological assessments to better understand the challenges of our clients. These assessments can target specific learning difficulties, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), intellectual disabilities, anxiety-related disorders, and other presentations.

Furthermore, a tailored service to assist with those below the age of 7 with psychological challenges is also available under our roof Such service is titled as ‘Early Intervention’, with the goal of building the overall capacities of our young community members and their families

Likewise, we also provide Behavioural Support Plan development and implementation for those with significant behavioural challenges. The overarching goal of this service is providing clarification and tangible strategies surrounding why particular behaviours can occur, and how we can best understand the needs of the individual involved.

“AT THE GRAY AREA, WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT WORKING ALONGSIDE ALL INDIVIDUALS IN ASSISTING THEM ON THEIR PATH TO SELF-DISCOVERY, SELFREGULATION, AND SELFFULFILLMENT.”

M Y L E S C H E R R Y Director

We understand that these services can appear intimidating and complex upon reading, however, we want to take the confusion out of the mental health journey for all As such, we pride ourselves on accessibility and a commitment to working toward successful outcomes for all community members Our team of dedicated professionals is here to support you every step of the way, providing guidance, resources, and a compassionate ear to listen We strongly believe that everyone deserves access to quality mental health care, and we are honoured to be a part of your community.

Your well-being is our top priority, and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for you to explore your mental health journey. Whether you simply want to chat, seek guidance, or explore our services further, we are here to help.

We want to say a massive thank you to all who are reading for welcoming us into your community! Please ensure if you ever stroll pass the big purple building in Stockton to please pop your head in and say hello We very much look forward to meeting you

meet the team

MEET THE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAKE UP OUR ESTEEMED TEAM. OUR SKILLED, AND EXPERIENCED STAFF WORK TOGETHER TO NURTURE AND SUSTAIN STRONG, SECURE, AND INTERCONNECTED RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

TYLER BARTOLO Say hello to

T H

E M P L O Y E D W I T H : B i g B r o w n H o u s e

T I M E W I T H T H E O R G A N I S A T I O N : 2 + Y e a r s

H O B B I E S : O z t a g , R e a d i n g , B u s h W a l k s & P l a n t c a r e

T H I N G S T H A T F I L L M Y C U P : M e d i t a t i n g , S a u n a s , A f f i r m a t i o n s , E x e r c i s e a n d C o f f e e

P E T S : V a c - K i e C h a n ( R o b o t V a c u u m )

Vac-kiec

chan

I FEEL ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE NEED TO DO AS TSW’S IS LISTEN TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY FEEL, NEED, AND WANT.” “

W h a t i n s p i r e s y o u i n y o u r w o r k w i t h y o u n g p e o p l e a n d c h i l d r e n t o c r e a t e b r i g h t e r f u t u r e f o r t h e m ?

I b e l i e v e a l l c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e s h o u l d h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o e x p e r i e n c e a p o s i t i v e a n d s a f e c h i l d h o o d T h e e a r l y y e a r s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a r e t h e b u i l d i n g b l o c k s f o r t h e r e s t o f o u r l i v e s U n f o r t u n a t e l y , n o t a l l t h e c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e w e w o r k w i t h h a v e h a d t h e e a s i e s t o f u p b r i n g i n g s , a n d I s e e t h a t i t s o u r j o b a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s u p p o r t a n d w o r k w i t h t h e m t o f u l f i l l i n g t h e i r p o t e n t i a l an d a c h i e v i n g t h e b r i g h t f u t u r e t h a t t h e y d e s e r v e

H o w d o y o u p r i o r i t i s e s e l f - c a r e a n d w e l l - b e i n g w h i l e w o r k i n g i n a d e m a n d i n g e n v i r o n m e n t t o e n s u r e y o u r c u p i s f u l l b e f o r e f i l l i n g o t h e r s ?

I h a v e a c o m p r e h e n s i v e s e l f - c a r e r o u t i n e t h a t h a s r e a l l y e v o l v e d o v e r t h e l a s t f e w y e a r s I f i n d t h a t f o c u s i n g o n m y p h y s i c a l w e l l b e i n g f i r s t a n d f o r e m o s t w i t h s a u n a s e x e r c i s e a n d b u s h w a l k s r e a l l y h e l p s c l e a r m y m i n d a n d m a k e s m e m o r e r e c e p t i v e t o t h e m i n df u l n e s s s i d e o f w e l l b e i n g I t h o r o u g h l y e n j o y r e a d i n g d a i l y a f f i r m a t i o n s , m e d i t a t i n g a n d j o u r n a l l i n g W h e n I a c h i e v e t h i s , I f e e l l i k e I a m i n t h e b e s t s t a t e t o c a r e f o r o u r C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u n g p e o p l e a n d I f e e l t h a t I c a n s h a r e m y p o s i t i v e e n e r g y a n d k e e p u p w i t h t h e d e m a n d s o f t h e j o b

H o w d o y o u w o r k w i t h y o u r t e a m t o e n s u r e y o u r s u p p o r t e n a b l e s b r i g h t e r f u t u r e s f o r a l l ?

I b e l i e v e t h e b e s t w a y t o w o r k w i t h o u r t e a m s i s h a v i n g t r a n s p a r e n t c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h o u r T h e r a p e u t i c S u p p o r t W o r k e r s ( T S W s ) , T e a m L e a d e r s ( T L s ) , a n d C h i l d r e n & Y o u n g P e o p l e ( C Y P ) W h e n e v e r y o n e i s o n t h e s a m e p a g e i t a l l o w s f o r s e a m l e s s r o u t i n e s , a n d e a s e s a n x i e t y f o r o u r C Y P w h e n t h e y u n d e r s t a n d w h a t s h a p p e n i n g W h e n s p e a k i n g w i t h o u r C Y P , I f e e l o n e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s w e n e e d t o d o a s T S W ’ s i s l i s t e n t o r e a l l y u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e y f e e l , n e e d a n d w a n t W e a r e a d v o c a t e s f o r o u r C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u n g p e o p l e a n d w e c a n c r e a t e a b r i g h t e r f u t u r e f o r t h e m w h e n w e a r e a l l w o r k i n g t o w a r d s t h e s a m e g o a l s

I LOVE THAT WE CAN CREATE POSSIBILITIES AND CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY FOR THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR CARE.”

GIRLINTHEWORLD

Poppy AKATHEGOODEST

W h a t i n s p i r e s y o u i n y o u r w o r k w i t h

y o u n g p e o p l e a n d c h i l d r e n t o c r e a t e b r i g h t e r f u t u r e f o r t h e m ?

I l o v e t h a t w e c a n c r e a t e p o s s i b i l i t i e s a n d c h a n g e t h e t r a j e c t o r y f o r t h e c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e i n o u r c a r e S e e i n g a y o u n g p e r s o n f e e l i n g s a f e e n o u g h t o m a k e c o n n e c t i o n s a n d a l l o w o t h e r s t o s u p p o r t t h e m c o n t i n u e s t o i n s p i r e m e I l o v e s e e i n g o u r c h i l d r e n a n d y o u n g p e o p l e f i n d t h e i r s e n s e o f f u n a n d l e t u s s e e w h o t h e y a r e , i t a b s o l u t e l y m a k e s m y d a y !

H o w d o y o u i n c o r p o r a t e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f e m p a t h y a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n t o y o u r i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d t h o s e y o u s u p p o r t ?

I d o m y b e s t t o m e e t p e o p l e w h e r e t h e y r e a t i n b o t h m y w o r k a n d p e r s o n a l l i f e W e d o n t k n o w w h a t s o m e o n e m a y h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d o r w h a t t h e y m a y b e f a c i n g o n a d a i l y b a s i s s o I t r y t o c o m e f r o m a p l a c e o f c u r i o s i t y a n d k i n d n e s s

W h a t a d v i c e w o u l d I g i v e n e w s t a f f m e m b e r s j o i n i n g B i g B r o w n H o u s e ?

D o n t b e a f r a i d t o b e v u l n e r a b l e A s k q u e s t i o n s , t r y , o r s u g g e s t n e w t h i n g s E n j o y t h e o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d t r a i n i n g t h a t w i l l b e o f f e r e d t o y o u a n d d o n t b e a f r a i d t o r e a c h o u t a n d a s k f o r h e l p W e r e a l l o n t h e s a m e t e a m a n d w e r e a l l m o r e t h a n h a p p y t o p r o v i d e s u p p o r t

PETER BROWN Say hello to

I 4 L T E A M L E A D E R

E M P L O Y E D W I T H : I n t e g r i t y 4 L i f e

T I M E W I T H T H E O R G A N I S A T I O N : 1 0

M o n t h s

H O B B I E S : M u s i c , B a s s P l a y e r

T H I N G S T H A T F I L L M Y C U P : P l a y i n g m u s i c w i t h m y f r i e n d s w h e n I a m

c o a c h i n g a n d s o m e o n e g e t s a l i g h t b u l b

m o m e n t . W h e n I h e l p s o m e o n e a n d

t h e y s a y " T h a n k y o u "

P E T S : D o g

CASSIE SWIMMING WITH DOLPHINS

W h a t m o t i v a t e s y o u t o w o r k t o w a r d s c r e a t i n g b r i g h t e r a n d h a p p i e r f u t u r e s f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y , y o u n g p e o p l e , a n d p a r t i c i p a n t s y o u s u p p o r t ?

A s t h e p a r e n t o f a d a u g h t e r ( C a s s i e ) w i t h a d i s a b i l i t y , I h a v e h a d t h e p r i v i l e g e t o s u p p o r t h e r i n a n a m a z i n g j o u r n e y o v e r t h e l a s t 3 5 y e a r s W h e n C a s s i e w a s a b o u t 3 y e a r s o l d , w e w e r e t o l d t o p u t h e r i n a h o m e a n d f o r g e t a b o u t h e r B u t w e k n e w t h a t t h e r e h a d t o b e s o m e t h i n g b e t t e r t h a n t h e c u r r e n t t h e r a p y o p t i o n s , s o w e s o l d u p e v e r y t h i n g a n d m o v e d t o S y d n e y , w h e r e w e h e l p e d s e t u p a n o v e l E a r l y I n t e r v e nt i o n P r o g r a m c a l l e d C o n d u c t i v e E d u c a t i o n , b a s e d o n a p r o g r a m f r o m H u n g a r y T h i s w a s t h e s t a r t o f C a s s i e b e c o m i n g a s t r o n g , i n d e p e n d e n t p e r s o n w i t h a h u n g e r t o a c h i e v e

A f e w y e a r s l a t e r , C a s s i e w a s g i v e n a S t a r l i g h t F o u n d a t i o n W i s h , w h i c h w a s t o s w i m w i t h d o l p h i n s

T h i s g a v e h e r t h e c o n f i d e n c e t o l e a r n h o w t o s w i m , t h e n s t a r t e d t o c o m p e t e a n d e v e n t u a l l y

g a i n e d 4 A u s t r a l i a n S w i m m i n g R e c o r d s H e r d e t e r m i n a t i o n d i d n ’ t s t o p t h e r e , a s s h e w e n t o n t o d o t h e G o l d D u k e o f E d i n b u r g h A w a r d a n d w a s g i v e n t h e h o n o u r o f g i v i n g t h e g r a d u a t i o n s p e e c h

O v e r t h e y e a r s , t h e r e h a v e b e e n m a n y p e o p l e , g r o u p s a n d d i s a b i l i t y p r o v i d e r s w h o h a v e h e l p e d u s o n t h i s j o u r n e y a n d i t i s r e c o g n i s i n g t h e s u p p o r t t h a t o u r f a m i l y h a s h a d w h i c h m o t i v a t e s m e t o m a k e t h e s a m e d i f f e r e n c e i n s o m e o n e e l s e s l i f e Ev e r y o n e m a y n o t b e a b l e t o a c h i e v e s w i m m i n g r e c o r d s , b u t i f I c a n h e l p t h e m l i v e a l i f e w h e r e t h e y c a n g r o w a n d a c h i e v e t h e i r g o a l s t h e n I a m a h a p p y p e r s o n

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN STORY. LISTEN TO THE STORY AND HELP THEM CREATE THEIR OWN JOURNEY. IT IS ABOUT UNDERSTANDING THEIR GOALS AND HELPING THEM BUILD THEIR CAPACITY TO ACHIEVE THEM.” “

W h a t a d v i c e w o u l d y o u g i v e t o n e w s t a f f m e m b e r s ?

H o w d o y o u i n c o r p o r a t e t h e p r i n c i p l e s o f e m p a t h y a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g i n t o y o u r i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d t h o s e y o u s u p p o r t ? E v e r y o n e h a s t h e i r o w n s t o r y L i s t e n t o t h e s t o r y a n d h e l p t h e m c r e a t e t h e i r o w n j o u r n e y S u p p o r t i n g a P W D i s n o t a b o u t h e l p i n g t h e m w i t h t h e i r m e a l s o r

W i t h a l i f e l i v e d w i t h a d a u g h t e r w i t h a d i s a b i l i t y , w e h a v e l i v e d t h r o u g h a l l o f t h e s t r u g g l e s t h a t a P W D w o u l d e x p e r i e n c e F r o m p e o p l e w h o d o n ’ t k n o w h o w t o t a l k t o a p e r s o n i n a w h e e l c h a i r , t h r o u g h t o s t r u g g l i n g i n a s u p e r m a r k e t o r g o i n g t o a c a f é w h i c h o n l y h a s s t a i r s a n d n o d i s a b l e d a c c e s s E v e n a p u b l i c l i b r a r y t h a t h a d a r a m p , b u t t h e d o o r w a s t o o n a r r o w t o g e t a w h e e l c h a i r t h r o u g h E v e r y d a y l i f e i s a s t r u g g l e f o r a P W D , a n d h a v i n g l i v e d e x p e r i e n c e r e a l l y h e l p s u n d e r s t a n d a n d e m p a t h i z e w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y t h a t w e s u p p o r t

h o u s e w o r k o r s h o p p i n g , i t i s a b o u t u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e i r g o a l s a n d h e l p i n g t h e m b u i l d t h e i r c a p a c i t y t o a c h i e v e t h e m

CASSIE & HER POOCH

supporting communities together

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITIES IS THE ESSENCE OF OUR WORK ACROSS ALL ORGANISATIONS. THROUGH EMPOWERMENT AND CELEBRATION, OUR GOAL IS TO FOSTER CONNECTIONS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES AND ENHANCE FUTURE PROSPECTS.

VIP SEATING WITH NEWCASTLE BASKETBALL

Signed, sealed and seated! We are thrilled to announce that we will be supporting Newcastle Basketball as a court-side sponsor, securing the best seats to watch the Newcastle Falcons when the season tips off in April. Don’t miss out on the fun, head to their website and keep up to date with upcoming games.

FIRST NATIONS SPONSOR FOR PORT STEPHENS AFL WOMEN’S TEAM

After an outstanding season last year, we've made the exciting decision to partner with Port Stephens AFL as their First Nations Guernsey Sponsor for 2024. The guernsey, uniquely designed by Aboriginal artist Mikaela Cameron from Badagarang, who is based in Newcastle, holds special significance. The team proudly wears this guernsey while traveling from Terrigal to Muswellbrook when playing against teams with Aboriginal players, as a gesture of respect towards their culture. Look out for the team as they journey up and down the coast.

SNAPPED

UP BY THE STOCKTON

SHARKIES

“You came onboard as a new sponsor in 2023, as a training jersey sponsor As we reflect on the incredible journey, we want to say thank you again for your unwavering support Your support has played an integral role in the success and growth of our club, and your partnership has not only been a financial investment but a testament to the community values we hold as a club “

- Stockton Sharks Football Club

We are so excited that we have signed for another year with the Stockton Sharks as their training and away jersey sponsor for 2024! Last year the club had a remarkable development within their culture and skills, bringing a high level of standard and sportsmanship to the game They continue to have such a positive impact on the Stockton community is something Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life and The Gray Area is truely grateful to be a part of

ARE YOU THE NEXT

RISING STAR?

W e b e l i e v e t h a t s p o r t i s a g r e a t w a y t o s h a r e e x p e r i e n c e s , l e a r n a b o u t t e a m w o r k a n d g o o d s p o r t s m a n s h i p , a n d a c h i e v e a s e n s e o f b e l o n g i n g i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t y .

NURTURING POTENTIAL

APPLY TODAY!

O u r R i s i n g S t a r S c h o l a r s h i p i s a s p o r t i n g p r o g r a m , p r o v i d i n g y o u n g p e o p l e a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s w i t h s u p p o r t t o h e l p t h e m a c h i e v e t h e i r s p o r t i n g d r e a m s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s . A s a n a c t i v e p a r t o f t h e

c o m m u n i t y , w e h e l p f a m i l i e s t o p r o v i d e t h i s

o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o m m i t t e d a n d d r i v e n y o u n g

a t h l e t e s .

I f y o u , o r s o m e o n e y o u k n o w , h a s a p a s s i o n t o

f o l l o w a s p o r t i n g d r e a m a n d n e e d s s u p p o r t , p l e a s e a p p l y o n l i n e .

WOMEN IN SPORT

Unwrapped

Written by MEG BLACKURN

Integrity 4 Life, Big Brown House, and The Gray Area hosted their first International Women’s Day Event with Newcastle Basketball to celebrate and empower women in sport The event was more than just a celebration of the achievements in women's sports; it was a token of generosity, with all proceeds generously donated to Ronald McDonald House, NNSW

at the newly established Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander owned venue, Peibri Place, the morning unfolded with an array of exciting guest speakers, picturesque waterfront views, and exclusive raffle prizes generously provided by local businesses. This collaborative effort brought together individuals from all walks of life, united in a shared vision of empowerment and inclusivity

all contributing to the morning with a series of exclusive gift and lucky door prizes.

With women's achievements in sports gaining global recognition, the theme of "women in sport" resonated deeply, aligning seamlessly with the International Women's Day theme of 'Inspiring Inclusion ' The event welcomed the entire community, fostering engagement and participation in the ongoing mission to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and equality

Located

Saretta Art and Design, Body in Motion, Kimba Activewear, Chunkeez Cookies, Chronic AUS and Personal Touch Fitness

Photography Sergio Whaleboat, Peibri Place

Sarah Marco, Managing Director of Inner Works (left), Joy Flint, Owner of Personal Touch Fitness Gym (middle left), Laura Chapman, National U67 5kg Class Australian Champion (middle right), Hope Mulheron, Natural Bodybuilder & Behaviour Support Practitioner (right)

We all are perfectly capable of more than we think and sometimes it’s good to share our own stories that might just help someone else.”

Joy Flint

Today, at sporting events around the world, men and women can compete at elite levels But this has not always been the case for sports and recreational physical pursuits In the not-so-distant past, women faced numerous challenges and barriers to participating in sports at a professional level and we want to celebrate the milestones we have overcome as a community

With women's achievements in sports gaining global recognition, the theme of "women in sport" resonated deeply, aligning seamlessly with the International Women's Day theme of 'Inspiring Inclusion ' The event welcomed the entire community, fostering engagement and participation in the ongoing mission to cultivate a culture of inclusivity and equality

Our team was lucky enough to connect with each speaker on a personal level and understand the importance of the event to them Despite some understandable nerves, each speaker expressed genuine excitement and deep gratitude for the opportunity to share their stories

The guest speakers at the event presented a diverse group of local women deeply involved in the sports sector, aiming to inspire, motivate, and empower others to pursue their aspirations Laura Chapman, the National Under 67 5kg Class Australian Champion, commenced the speeches by sharing her sporting journey, conquering body image challenges, and balancing athletic commitments with a fast-paced corporate job

Following Laura, Hope Mulheron (Natural Body Builder and Behaviour Support Practitioner) addressed the audience as she shared her story of adversity due to having epilepsy and being a female within a male dominated sport Sarah Marco, (Successful Business Entrepreneur and Fitness Enthusiast) shared her insights next, followed by Kirsten Ansell (Director of Girls Day Out), who offered her perspective on women's empowerment and paving the way for future generations Wrapping up the lineup was Joy Flint, (Owner of Personal Touch Fitness and Australian National Title Figure Champion) leaving attendees inspired, empowered and determined with her motivational guidance in believing in yourself “We all are perfectly capable of more than we think and sometimes it’s good to share our own stories that might just help someone else,” Joy said

Photography Sergio Whaleboat, Peibri Place

Collaborating with Newcastle Basketball was instrumental to the success of the morning, as we welcomed their sponsors to kick back, relax and get inspired Newcastle Basketball stands out for its commitment to fostering an inclusive, safe, and welcoming atmosphere for a diverse range of community activities, with a strong emphasis on equality and inclusion for all within the basketball sphere

Their dedication to nurturing a supportive environment is evident in its efforts to champion influential female players who serve as role models for future generations Their unwavering commitment to fostering inclusion and advocating for strong, skilled, and determined women is commendable and undoubtedly leaves a lasting impression

By empowering our community, we found a meaningful way to give back by directing all proceeds to support a charity deeply cherished by us: Ronald McDonald House Charities, NNSW The funds collected from the event have facilitated over 260 visits for local families to any of our three Family Rooms situated within John Hunter Children’s Hospital and Gosford Hospital These rooms offer a comforting and homely environment where families can momentarily escape the challenges of hospital life, allowing them to recharge, regroup, and concentrate on their child’s healing journey

The morning was hosted by Amy Osborne, the Relationship & Development Manager of RMHC, NNSW, who expertly guided the event as the MC “I want to express my deep appreciation for inviting me to MC Stepping into that role was definitely outside of my comfort zone and completely new territory for me However, I realised that's what International Women's Day is all about, isn't it? Women inspiring women, ” she said

Photography Sergio Whaleboat, Peibri Place

Pictured: Joy Flint presenting Matthew Neason (General Manager at Newcastle Basketball) with the 1st Place Raffle Prize

a

Pictured: The Big Brown House Team enjoying the guest speaker presentations b

Pictured: Amy Osborne Mc’ing the IWD Event c

Celebrating this day is an important celebration at Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life, and The Gray Area aligning perfectly with our organisational mission and vision as we continue to provide support that creates a brighter future for all

Stepping into that role was definitely outside of my comfort zone. I realised that's what International Women's Day is all about, isn't it? Women inspiring women, ”

Amy Osborne

Not only do we dedicate ourselves to supporting local female sporting clubs throughout NSW, but we also strive to promote inclusivity and equality in every aspect of our work This shared vision resonates deeply with us as we collectively aspire to create a world where women and men are valued equally and celebrated This vision isn't just for ourselves but for our daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, wives, and friends alike

Prior to the event CEO of BBH, I4L, and TGA, Chris Brown, touched on the significance of this day for him as a proud father He said "On a personal note, it's really special to me as I have a young daughter who enjoys sports and just ensuring she has the same opportunities as my son in this world to play sports, get an education, to travel, to feel safe and feel that she's empowered and has the same rights as anybody else."

We are thrilled to share that our IWD Event, focussing on Women in Sport, has successfully raised over $3,800 to support sick kids and their families staying at Ronald McDonald House, NNSW. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our sponsors whose contributions made this event possible, as well as to everyone who attended. Thank you for joining us in supporting, empowering, and celebrating our community.

Photography Sergio Whaleboat, Peibri Place

Newcastle's ultimate event destination.

EMBRACING A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES:

Written By Ian Campbell

March holds significance as we honor Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, providing an opportunity of reflection and celebration to the journeys of individuals facing life with distinct challenges.

Even if a man cannot see, it doesn't mean he lacks vision,"

S t e v i e W o n d e

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T h i s y e a r , u n d e r t h e t h e m e o f " A W o r l d o f O p p o r t u n i t i e s , " w e a r e n o t j u s t a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e s f a c e d b y i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t a l d i s a b i l i t i e s b u t a l s o h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e i m m e n s e p o t e n t i a l a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h a t l i e w i t h i n e a c h i n d i v i d u a l W e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t d e v e l o p m e n t a l d i s a b i l i t i e s e n c o m p a s s a s p e c t r u m o f c h a l l e n g e s e a c h r e q u i r i n g t a i l o r e d s u p p o r t a n d u n d e r s t a n d i n g F r o m A u t i s m S p e c t r u m D i so r d e r s t o D o w n S y n d r o m e a n d C e r e b r a l P a l s y a n d i n c l u d i n g a l l o t h e r d i s a b i l i t i e s , e a c h i n d i v i d u a l s j o u r n e y i s u n i q u e , a n d i t i s i m p o r t a n t t h a t o u r a p p r o a c h a n d s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y r e f l e c t s t h i s d i v e r s i t y

I m a g i n e a s o c i e t y w h e r e e v e r y o n e i s i d e n t i c a l – w h e r e s a m e n e s s r e i g n s a n d d i f f e r e n c e s a r e s u p p r e s s e d T h e r i c h n e s s o f o u r w o r l d l i e s i n i t s d i v e r s i t y , w h e r e e v e r y i n d i v i d u a l b r i n g s a u n i q u e p e r s p e c t i v e a n d t al e n t I n o u r i n c l u s i v e s o c i e t y , i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t a l d i s a b i l i t i e s a r e n o t d e f i n e d b y t h e i r l i m i t a t i o n s b u t c e l e b r a t e d f o r t h e i r p o t e n t i a l e n r i c h i n g o u r c o m m u n i t i e s w i t h t h e i r u n i q u e c o n t r i b u t i o n s W h i l s t o u r e f f o r t s a s a s i n g l e s e r v i c e p r o v i d e r c r e a t e s a r i p p l e i n o u r c o m m u n i t y , w e r e c o g n i s e t h a t c r e a t i n g s i g n i f i c a n t c h a n g e r e q u i r e s a c o l l e c t i v e e f f o r t f r o m e v e r y o n e I t i s o u r d u t y t o w o r k w i t h t h o s e w e s u p p o r t , t o l e a r n f r o m t h e i r s t o r i e s , a n d t o e m b r a c e t h e b o u n d l e s s p o s s i b i l i t i e s t h a t l i e a h e a d E v e r y o n e h a s a v i s i o n o f a l i f e f i l l e d w i t h o p p o r t u n i t i e s , a n d i t i s o u r c o l l e c t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o e n s u r e t h a t v i s i o n b e c o m e s a r e a l i t y

HEART MEALS FROM THE

Written by MEG BLACKURN

Integrity 4 Life, Big Brown House, and The Gray Area visited Ronald McDonald House, Newcastle with one goal: to brighten the nights of the families staying there through their Meals of the Heart program. They cooked a range of comforting foods to nourish not just their bodies but also their hearts and spirits

Upon arrival, Kerryn Scully, the Community Engagement Coordinator, warmly welcomed the team The team received an overview of the history, purpose, and significance of Ronald McDonald House, NNSW, and its impact on the families who stay there

Many families who come to Ronald McDonald House have had to leave everything behind in their rush to get their seriously ill or injured child to John Hunter Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald House Newcastle is dedicated to improving the welfare of children with illnesses and disabilities, along with their families Through the Meals from the Heart program, teams or groups can offer direct support to these families during difficult moments

The team, consisting of Integrity 4 Life’s disability support workers (DSW’s) and Shared Services quickly dove into preparations and collaborated seamlessly, resembling their own efficient 'production line' Acknowledging each other's strengths swiftly, the team worked together effectively and productively They crafted homemade burger patties, chopped vegetables, prepared potato waffles, and all the necessary trimmings with a shared objective – to bring happiness to families The quality of the food served reflected the collective effort and dedication of the entire team

At 6 o'clock, the children and their families began to arrive for dinner, with BBH Program Manager Ash Kell making a significant impression on one of the young girls staying at the house by referring to her as 'her new bestie.' Each member of the team had the opportunity to have dinner with the families, connect on a deeper level and listen to their stories

“Being able to connect with the family we were sharing the table with and listen to their future plans after the house was so heartwarming I felt super privileged to be able to connect with the young girl, listen to her excitedly talk about her 18th birthday party next week and hopefully we made their last night a happy memory and Ronald McDonald House ”Leah Cheeseman, TGA Practice Manager

"Being able to connect with the family we were sharing the table with and listen to their future plans after the house was so heartwarming."

With the urgent need for treatment and care at the forefront of people’s mind, birthdays can often get overlooked This being said, we celebrated a special mum ’ s birthday singing happy birthday over a thick piece of chocolate mud cake ultimately ‘making her night’

As the night began to wrap up, empty plates were collected and the clean up began, the team used this opportunity to reflect on their night, all agreeing their cups felt extremely full.

“Spending time with the families was the best, giving them something normal in their life like singing happy birthday or talking about their other children was such a huge impact for them and warms my heart," Viv says

"

Spending time with the families was the best, giving them something normal in their life like singing happy birthday or talking about their other children was such a huge impact for them and warms my heart."

The team celebrating Josie’s birthday

The team connecting with the families during dinner

MEET THETEAM!

"

It is very thoughtful to provide a meal for those away from home,"

Many families staying at Ronald McDonald House have hurried to John Hunter Children’s Hospital to seek urgent care for their critically ill or injured child Meals from the Heart relieves the burden of arranging dinner, providing families with valuable downtime and a moment of normalcy

“Thank you so much for a delicious meal We appreciate these facilities and services so much It is very thoughtful to provide a meal for those away from home,” one family member said

Big Brown House, Integrity 4 Life and The Gray Area are proud sponsors the the BBQ area at Ronald McDonald House, NNSW as well

Opportunities like these provide us with an insight into the lives of those that we support and this is a reminder of the powerful impact we provide by offering the support we do on a daily basis in order to support the community It is a token of team work as well as graciousness and a combined effort to brighten the lives of those who need it most. It is also a way to create meaningful memories within the team and connect across different departments

Considered mission accomplished

A special thanks to Viv Hockridge, Riza Hill, Ebony Puru, Wayne Van Vorst, Ashlee Kell, Leah Cheeseman, Meg Blackburn and the Ronald McDonald House, NNSW staff.

And

OODFORTHE FAMILY COOKING with kids!

F

WITH BBH ROSTERING OFFICER, VIV & FAMILY

Struggling to get your children excited to eat foods other than McDonald’s and KFC? We sat down with BBH Rostering Officer and Tasty Treat Queen, Viv Hockridge, to get an insight into how she get’s her 9 year old son, Logan, excited about cooking healthy, nutritious food.

Hey Viv, thank you for catching up with us We have been absolutely loving your tasty treats recently! Please can you share with us a little bit about yourself and what fuels your passion for baking and cooking.

Absolutely For those who are new here, my name is Viv Some of you might know me as the friendly rostering officer for the Hunter region but first and foremost I am the proud mum of two with a passion for cooking and baking. Recently I have been filling the tummies of our team here in the Hunter which started on a Wednesday however has now become a daily ritual Baking brings me joy and it's a safe place for me to keep my mental health in check I also love being able to supply Head Office with treats each week

At home I love being able to share my passion of cooking with my family

That is awesome. We are so grateful for the treats, they definitely put a smile on all our faces We love that you can share your passions as well with your family. Could you tell us more about what preparing in the household is like?

I believe food brings a family together and I am all for family time I do this by meal/menu planning with my 9 year old son Logan He also loves to cook Logan has ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety, OCD and ASD tendencies Because of these things in his life, and in ours we keep a very planned and routine home life to help him to be able to cope with and work through his day with the least amount of stress possible He also has issues around his sensory stuff and food. I also have a gluten free household due to intolerances for the whole family and my husband and Daughter are Dairy and Egg free

That is so awesome, does Logan like to help you cook as well as decide the meals for the week?

He certainly does! Logan is my main man when it comes to meal planning We do this together every week Logan will go to the freezer and see what we have in there and then grab his iPad and look up recipes for what we already have on hand

He will also research something new each week to try I have worked with him to learn about balanced meals throughout the week, so he knows we can't have 5 pasta dishes, we need to have a variety of red meat and chicken. He will add in a variety of dishes each week, including one fish meal and we try to do one vegetarian meal each week

Once he has worked with me on what meals we are having each day the next week, he will go to the pantry and fridge with his recipes and see what we need in shopping Logan has a shopping list app on his phone that we all have linked and he will go through what he needs and add those things Logan will also talk to his sister and dad about other things they might need or want in shopping and add those items to the list. He will make sure we have enough fruits and vegetables, milk, bread, and dog food; dishwasher tablets, and things for the bathroom.

Wow, do you think it is his calling to be a chef?

For sure He loves everything about the process He even likes to come shopping. He has the shopping list and is like a machine at grabbing things and ticking them off

He is learning about how packing the shopping bags with things that are similar makes it much easier when we get home and put everything away On a Sunday night Logan with clean off our menu whiteboard on the fridge and he will put the coming weeks menu up

Viv, what an excellent little sous chef you have Incredible How do you plan to continue to work with Logan to support him and his skills for when he is older?

I am working with him on remembering to check the menu in the morning and get any meat we need from the freezer out so it can defrost He has been doing this by adding a reminder in his phone to check it every morning I am also working on his independent living skills, to help him manage routine, regulation and know what is happening.

We are so excited to see Logan excel with his culinary skills and the tasty food he makes. What is one of his favourite dishes to prepare?

So am I! Here is one of his favourite things to cook, a delicious take on a quick and easy Mexican-style Pork Pasta Bake

Yum, thank you for also sharing the recipe with us. We will definitely be trying it out

Thank you again Viv for sitting down and talking to us about your passion and it is so inspiring watching you share that passion with your son and the rest of the family From what, I can take away there is never a hangry moment in the Hockridge household

ON THE MENU

HOMEMADEPIZZA S A TAY BEEFNOODLES

MEXICANSTYLE PORK PASTA BAKE

Feed the family with this budget-friendly Napoletana pasta bake featuring flavourful pork mince seasoned with chipotle for a smoky and slightly spicy twist.

S e r v e s : 4 P e o p l e

P r e p T i m e : 5 m i n s

C o o k T i m e : 2 5 m i n s

I N G R E D I E N T S

2 5 0 g B u o n t e m p o G l u t e n F r e e P a s t a S p i r a l s

2 t s p e x t r a v i r g i n o l i v e o i l

4 0 0 g p o r k m i n c e

5 0 0 g L e g g o ' s N a p o l e t a n a p a s t a s a u c e w i t h

c h u n k y t o m a t o & h e r b s

2 t s p c h i p o t l e s e a s o n i n g

5 0 0 g f r o z e n c a r r o t s , p e a s & c o r n

1 / 4 b u n c h c o r i a n d e r , l e a v e s p i c k e d

M E T H O D

B r i n g a l a r g e s a u c e p a n o f w a t e r t o t h e b o i l . C o o k p a s t a f o r 8 m i n u t e s o r u n t i l t e n d e r . D r a i n .

S e r v e p a s t a b a k e t o p p e d w i t h c o r i a n d e r 1 2 3 4

H e a t o i l i n a l a r g e f r y i n g p a n o v e r h i g h h e a t . C o o k m i n c e f o r 5 m i n u t e s o r u n t i l b r o w n e d , b r e a k i n g u p w i t h a w o o d e n s p o o n . S t i r i n s a u c e a n d s e a s o n i n g a n d s i m m e r f o r 5 m i n u t e s . S t i r i n v e g e t a b l e s .

P r e h e a t o v e n g r i l l T r a n s f e r m i x t u r e t o a l a r g e 6c u p - c a p a c i t y ba k i n g d i s h G r i l l f o r 1 0 m i n u t e s o r u n t i l g o l d e n

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