Centacare

The Chive Flower Lifecycle

During the 2008–2009 and 2009-2010 periods Centacare utilised the seed and the sprouting of the seed of the chive flower, respectively, as the symbol representing the organisation and its people entering a new phase of growth, education and development; commencing a number of new initiatives that will positively impact the way in which services are delivered.

“planting the seed”

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“sprouting the seed”

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“the seedling”

The next phase in the chive flower’s life cycle, the seedling, represents Centacare’s journey during the 2010-2011 period; as many new initiatives took root, and previously introduced initiatives began to thrive.

Centacare is working on identifying ways to broaden its funding base to ensure sustainability of the organisation into the future.

Working collaboratively with other service providers
(to meet the needs of rural and remote communities)

Seed planted 2008-2009 - The seed was planted when other service providers were invited to participate in Centacare’s March 2009 drought tour, including workers from Centrelink and the Capricornia Division of General Practice. The collaborative relationship developed as Centacare Rockhampton and the other agencies came together to run a ‘Pitstop’ for Men during Beef Week 2009. 

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Organisers of the National Caravan Rally contacted Centacare requesting that the ‘Pitstop’ service be delivered for their show in October 2009. Centacare agreed and, together with Centrelink, delivered the ‘Pitstop’ program counselling and support services to male participants at the National Caravan Rally held at the Rockhampton Showgrounds.

Seedling 2010-2011 - Building on the firm collaborative roots laid down over the previous  years, Centacare has focused on two different collaborative opportunities: the Mental Health Community of Practice (MHCoP), which has continued to flourish in Rockhampton with new seeds being planted in the West and an invitation to grow in the North; and involvement in the Service Management Interagency Community of Practice (SMICoP) as part of a development project across the state for non-Government organisations focusing on innovative and collaborative service delivery opportunities.

Identified Community Need of Deaf Support Services

Seeded planted 2008-2009 - Counselling services for the deaf community was highlighted during ongoing discussions with Disability Services and the wider community.  Centacare employed a counsellor with specialised skills (AUSLAN proficient and fluent) to work with deaf clients and we commenced advertising the service’s availability. Community feedback was very positive.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Due to the success of the new service the Central Queensland Deaf Support committee approached Centacare Rockhampton to house their service one day a week.  The agreement was formalised and services rolled out in April 2010.

Seedling 2010-2011 - CQ Deaf Support has thrived in its new location, and Wednesdays see a regular client base accessing these vital services.  Aware of the need to ensure clients were able to feel welcome, Centacare Administration staff were given the opportunity to learn basic sign language.  This has enabled Centacare to support and communicate with deaf clients, who are both grateful and sometimes amused at this commitment.

Community Care Services Expansion

Seed planted 2008-2009 - Discussions were held between staff of the Community Care Services (CCS) program in Bundaberg and the Catholic Parish of Bundaberg regarding the Bundaberg Catholic Community Centre, and the possibility of both Centacare and the local community utilising the centre’s facilities more widely. These discussions were in response to a growing awareness of some support groups outgrowing the current facilities at Woongarra Street (Bundaberg). Negotiations with the Parish resulted in permission for Centacare Bundaberg to repair and upgrade one of the buildings at the Bundaberg Catholic Community Centre; from which services could then be provided.  

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Initially funds were made available to commence work on just one of the rooms at the centre, however by the end of the financial year the whole building had been renovated and customised, enabling Community Care Services and other Centacare programs to run a wide variety of workshops and community support groups tailored to the client needs.  Work on the building’s exterior has also commenced, along with the start of an exciting new Community Garden at the Bundaberg Catholic Community Centre. 

Seedling 2010-2011 – The Community Garden at the Bundaberg site saw the completion of its first stage of development, and Community Care Service (CCS) clients have been able to enjoy planting out the garden and overseeing its progress.  Produce from the Community Garden has been abundant and utilised in another CCS program, Cooking Solo.  The Community Garden has provided many clients with the opportunity to enjoy the delights of gardening with the addition of supports as required, and has been a useful teaching tool, enabling clients to understand what grows best in the Bundaberg region and climate, as well as when produce should be planted.

Innovations - Broadband for Seniors

Seed planted 2008-2009 - “How could Centacare continue to improve service delivery to clients?” was the question discussed by Centacare staff.  A number of very creative and innovative ideas were put forward during these discussions, with the underlying emphasis on the continual improvement and promotion of client independence. Many different assisted technologies, used around the country as the sector grapples with how to encourage clients to maintain their independence, were examined.  One such idea highlighted through discussions was how to enable clients to access the world of the internet.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Broadband for Seniors, based at the Bundaberg Catholic Community Centre, grew from the staff discussions. The service provides frail and aged clients access to the internet, as well as support services to ensure clients can gain skills, which enable them to navigate and communicate via the web. 

Seedling 2010-2011 - Participants of the program are now able to send and receive emails to friends and family and use SKYPE to connect with faraway relations.  Bundaberg’s Broadband for Seniors program continues to be open during the week and volunteers assist seniors to continue in the development of their ICT skills.

Innovation in Community Care Services – Promoting Functional Independence

Seed planted 2008-2009 – Community Care Services (CCS) Staff delivered a presentation paper at the HACC (Home and Community Care) Conference in Gayndah in 2008 about projects that could be developed that would promote functional independence for aged and frail clients.  This seed was planted in Bundaberg with the roll out of Robotic Vacuum Cleaners for some CCS clients in the Domestic Assistance service.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 – CCS expanded their functional independence program with the increased use of Smart Assistance Devices (like the Robotic Vacuum Cleaner) to encourage clients maintain their independence.

Seedling 2010-2011 - Funding from HACC provided the opportunity to trial a range of Smart Assistive Technologies. As a result the CCS seedling grew exponentially with clients experimenting with and utilising tools such as Apple iPads, a portable oxygen concentrator and robotic floor washers. The implementation of the Promoting Functional Independence program was also rolled out throughout the Diocese-wide CCS services.

1-2-3 Magic

Seed planted 2008-2009 - Staff from Centacare Bundaberg’s counselling program attended a 1-2-3 Magic training course.  Immediately recognising the extraordinary benefits that the 1-2-3 Magic ‘strength-based’ program could deliver to parents struggling with parenting issues, it wasn’t long before the first course was delivered to the community by Centacare staff.  It was a resounding success, and consequently staff from other sites began to hear about it.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Counsellors, educators and caseworkers throughout the Diocese have all gradually attended the training for the 1-2-3 Magic parenting course, enabling them to either deliver the program in a one-on-one situation with clients or in group work.  Both workers and clients alike have been able to immediately see the benefits of the program, thus Centacare continues to actively continue our Mission’s focus “to enhance the wellbeing of individuals and families”.

Seedling 2010-2011 – The 1-2-3 Magic seedling has certainly continued to thrive and in Bundaberg has had continual high attendance records. Working collaboratively with the Bundaberg Neighbourhood Centre to conduct courses, participants from a range of backgrounds have benefited from 1-2-3 Magic. The program has been delivered to almost all Family Intervention Service clients in Rockhampton, who are struggling to improve their parenting skills and remove the need for Child Safety interventions in their life.  And finally it has also rolled out in both the Emerald and Mackay sites.  Other community education courses delivered throughout the Diocese included Coping with Depression and Anxiety (Bundaberg and Mackay), Raising Children’s Self Esteem (Bundaberg and Mackay), Problem-solving and Relaxation (Bundaberg) and Leaps and Bounds (Rockhampton).

FRC - Legal Partnership

Seed planted 2008-2009 - The Attorney-General announced a change in policy that enabled legal services to be provided through Family Relationship Centres, and allowed a client’s lawyer to be present during Family Dispute Resolution (FDR).  The development of formal collaborative partnerships between FRCs and Community Legal Centres assisted clients to be better informed, offered them an opportunity to achieve better outcomes within the Family Dispute Resolution process. The collaborative legal partnership seed was planted and officially signed off in 2009, between FRC Mackay, Legal Aid and Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - The partnership resulted in the implementation of weekly legal information sessions for clients conducted at the FRC in Mackay. This partnership ensured that clients are better informed about their legal rights and responsibilities. Under the Family Law Act 1975, all relevant professionals are required to help clients focus on, and reach agreements that are in the best interests of the child/ren.

Seedling 2010-2011 - The growth of the FRC Legal Partnership seedling has resulted in the addition of subsequent legal partnerships established in both the Mackay and Rockhampton FRC’s. Staff turned their focus to ensuring that “the best interests of the child/ren” were of uppermost importance in the FDR process. Practitioners conducted child-focused sessions with both parents before the commencement of the FDR process, which is underpinned by a strengths-based approach utilising Building Connections programs and the framework of Dr Jennifer McIntosh. This approach significantly enhances the opportunity for parents to remain child-focused with the FDR process and diverting the parental focus away from conflict.

Photo Above Right: FN Jarrett addresses a gathering of the Family Law Pathways Network.
L-R FM Jarrett, David Hooten, Lindy Sinclair, Sue Rice, Sandy Paton (FLPN Project Officer), Leonie Wovat

Art Therapy

Seed planted 2008-2009 - A counsellor, based at Centacare Rockhampton, commenced utilising Art Therapy to work with clients and was approached to provide these specialised services to a local Catholic primary school. As a result the counsellor and students worked together to create a mural on one of the school’s walls dedicated to Blessed Mary Mackillop. 

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Consequently, the Art Therapy counsellor commenced working collaboratively with another Non-Government Organisation, the Red Cross, providing support to a group of particularly vulnerable people.  As a result of this work, a mural was painted by the PHaMs (Personal Help and Mentors) group for a local Anglican church.  The Art Therapy service was also provided to rural and remote clients as the counsellor travelled with Centacare’s drought tour in November 2009.

Seedling 2010-2011 - Centacare counsellors providing counselling to Catholic primary schools were involved in group work this year, and regularly used Art Therapy, among other intereactive therapies, to work with students aged 6 to 12 years.  In particular group work was done with Grade 6 and 7 students focusing on peer mediation, self esteem, social skills and bullying themes.

Training Packages delivered throughout the Region

Seed planted 2008-2009 - Throughout the year, the Centacare Mackay Manager, Alex Collins, delivered a number of training packages to the Mackay community.  The training sessions were always well attended, and positive feedback was received. The Mackay community was delighted to have the opportunity to up-skill across a range of different relational issues. 

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - Following the success of the Centacare training packages offered in the Mackay region, training packages were rolled out down the coastline to Rockhampton and Bundaberg.  The range of training packages delivered included Mental Health First Aid, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Psycho-Neuroimmunology, Power of Victim Behaviour and Protective Behaviour Training.  The training sessions were well attended by Centacare staff as well as members of the wider community, taking advantage of the opportunity to increase their practice skills.  As this seed has sprouted, Centacare has increased its profile within the community sector, as others have begun to recognise its professional development service arm.

Seedling 2010-2011 - The floods of December 2010 had a devastating effect on our Diocese - severely impacting both clients and staff in the Emerald and Bundaberg sites. In response to community needs in the aftermath of the floods, two workshops were developed by Centacare Professional Supervision and Training Manger Alex Collins with outstanding results, namely “Building Personal and Professional Resilience” and “Life Coaching”. Both sessions were aimed at identifying levels of resilience and motivation in individuals in order to build an internal base of resilience for participants who can then begin the slow journey of moving forward. In 2010 these sessions were presented in three different regions with the Building Professional and Personal Experience (Choose Not Excuse) workshop becoming the elected professional development avenue to finish off the year. As NGO´s and government insititutions have become aware of the extraordinary growth of this seedling, Centacare’s Professional and Personal Development arm, Alex Collins and her training programs have been in high demand across the region.

New ICT Infrastructure

Seed planted 2008-2009 - Planning commenced for the rollout of Centacare’s new Information & Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure, aimed at replacing the independent systems and infrastructure housed at each site with a common ICT infrastructure across all sites.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - The new ICT Infrastructure was implemented progressively over the year.  The new infrastructure ensured that each site in which Centacare operates is connected to all other sites; enabling staff to access systems and support from whichever site they visit.  The infrastructure utilises a thin client system with onsite servers, supported by externally hosted servers.  The new phone system provides internal connectivity across the Diocese, allowing for internal calls between staff at all sites which don’t attract charges.  Plans are now in place to support the introduction of a new human resources system (including payroll functionality), and an upgrade of other systems.  There is scope for growth within the system, and it equips Centacare to meet the growing needs of the sector.

Seedling 2010-2011 - One area of extraordinary growth that has stemmed from the inital ICT seeds planted in 2008-2009 is the expansion of the tailor-made database for the FRC, counselling, education and family support services – CSNet©.  By the end of 2009, our database had proven to be so successful that Centacare Rockhamptonm was invited to share the learnings and design with other Centacares throughout the state.  The end result has been the QLD CSNet porjest, a collaborative ICT venture that ensures all five Dioceses in Queensland are capturing data in a consistent and streamlined manner, enabling future collaboration from  a much wider organisational perspective.  Another feature of the growth in our ICT included the development of a specially designed payroll and personnel system called HR3 that includes: online timesheets for Centacare staff; online leave processes; and the roll out of an electronic workplace health and safety system.

FRC Domestic Violence Research

Seed planted 2008-2009 - As recognition of the need for practice to inform research became apparent in 2008; Centacare took the opportunity offered to contribute to evidenced-based practice. This opportunity focused on the need to examine the professional support practices in relation to Domestic and Family Violence within the FRCs. Given the unique position of having two FRCs within the Diocese and the close working relationships with other Centacare FRCs, the decision was made to compile a research expertise staff group.  And so the research seed was planted.

Seed sprouting 2009-2010 - In collaboration with Centacare Townsville and CQUniversity, the FRC research group undertook a groundbreaking piece of research into the nature of domestic and family violence presenting to the Family Relationship Centres. The research looked at client data gathered by the intake and assessment stage of the Family Dispute Resolution process. Senior management presented the research findings at the FRSA (Family Relationship Services Australia) conference and submitted it for publication.

Seedling 2010-2011 – The research seedling has continued to thrive with involvement in research collaboration with Centacare Townsville, CQUniversity and Flinders University, using a larger sample of client data. Important outcomes for the FRC include developing strategies to ensure best practice for clients when identifying Domestic Violence, staff using appropriate responses to support clients, overall service delivery design improved, and appropriate training rolled out for FDRPs (Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners). The research has also been published in international journals and in more local journals, ensuring that other practitioners can also access it.