We hope all our members had a fantastic Christmas and New Year break filled with joy, relaxation, and memorable moments.

Community Industry Group has resumed office operations this week.

As we step into the promising landscape of 2024, Community Industry Group is thrilled to welcome you back and share our first newsletter for the year.

Free Training Opportunity Attract - Recognise - Value Workshop

This will be delivered over 2 half-day sessions, Thursday 8th February & 15th February 2024, from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm.

Delivered as a collaboration between the Booroongen Djugun and Community Industry Group Sector Support and Development Teams, this toolkit aims to:

• Assist an organisation or individual in identifying what they are doing well in their cultural competency, where they might improve, and some strategies to get there

• Promote the development of cultural competency in employment practices, policies, and processes to encourage Aboriginal applicants to apply

• Encourage the development of culturally respectful policies and processes to improve retention rates of Aboriginal workers and Aboriginal service users

• Promote strategies to improve links between Aboriginal people and the generalist service sector

Upon completion, participants will have information and strategies to improve:

• Their organisation’s cultural competency

• Employment strategies for Aboriginal people

• The capacity to create a culturally appropriate, respectful and safe environment for Aboriginal people.

As this is a free training opportunity, spaces are limited, so get in quickly and register before they are all gone.

Register here

Suicide Alertness safeTALK Training - Dapto and Nowra

Community Industry Group in conjunction with LivingWorks Australia will be holding 2 free 4-hour training sessions. One on Wednesday 21 February in Dapto and another on 22 February at Nowra focusing on suicide alertness via SafeTALK training.

SafeTALK is a half-day training session to help participants recognise a person with thoughts of suicide and connect them with resources who can help them in choosing to live. Participants don’t need any formal preparation to attend the training.

Continuing Professional Development: SafeTALK and provides continuing professional development points for:

• Australian Psychological Society (APS)- 4 hours, accredited, details uploaded by member.

• Australian Counselling Association (ACA)- 4 points, accredited, details uploaded by member.

• NSW Education Accreditation Authority (NESA)- 4 hours, accredited, details uploaded by LivingWorks to eTAMS once the training is completed. For teachers/early childhood educators.

• Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

• Royal Australian College GP's (RACGP)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

• Australian College of Nursing (ACN)- 4 hours, self-identified hours, details uploaded by member.

Dapto - Register Here

Nowra - Register Here

Member Update Guidelines: If you are a member and want to add something to our Newsletter email [email protected]. Please keep all submissions between 50 and 100 words with a link to further info (images are also welcome).

Lean into Conflict Online Workshop

Community Industry Group (CIG), Social Futures, Macarthur Disability Services (MDS), and 3 Bridges have partnered with BTS Spark to deliver the Lean into Conflict Online Workshop 

Outline: Whether you are the CEO, Manager, Team Leader, or Care Worker with a CHSP provider, understanding conflict is an essential skill to have in your toolkit. 

This workshop aims to empower individuals and teams to become comfortable dealing with conflict, providing opportunities to build trust and strengthen relationships.  

Participants will explore various conflict models, share case studies, and apply their learning practically in small groups.  

Feedback from previous participants: "It was great to have an opportunity to practice the new skills in a safe space" & "Reflecting on the different models really helped me understand what I need to do" &"Awesome training and trainer" 

This workshop is aimed at CHSP providers. 

Where: Online

When: 27 February 2024 (online workshop) at 10:00 am- 12:00 pm (EST)

Register here

Want to know more about Families with Children and Centrelink?

This free online session will outline Centrelink payments targeting families with children, including Parenting Payment, Family Tax Benefit, Parental Leave Pay, Dad and Partner Pay, Carer Payment, and Child Care Subsidy. ⠀

Speakers will address eligibility requirements, income and assets tests, mutual obligations relating to work, and the way that the number and age of children affects different payments. The session will explain how relationship status (single/partnered) affects payment and will outline Centrelink payments intended to support people trying to escape domestic violence. It will also address how issues related to separation can have a major impact on social security payments, particularly child support and the amount of time a child is in the care of each parent.⠀

We will explain how people needing further support may access a Centrelink Social Worker, and what they can do if a claim is rejected, payment is stopped, or a debt is raised.⠀⠀

Target audience: Community workers and volunteers, social workers and lawyers⠀

When: Tuesday 6th February 2024, 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm

Where: Online via Zoom, register below. 

Rural Financial Counselling Services

Offering free, personalised, independent, and confidential face-to-face support to people in financial difficulty within the Illawarra region.

Through our government-funded personal financial counselling program, our dedicated team is ready to provide you with the assistance you need to regain control of your finances.

For more information check out the flyer

Renewing your Working with Children Check

Next time you renew your Working with Children Check (WWCC), you'll have the option to do it online. This development is a first for Australia and makes it easier for the 1.9 million people who hold a WWCC to renew, including essential workers

Click here to Renew

Introductions to Child Safe Standards

These sessions are intended for people who are responsible for developing and understanding child safety within their organisation including leaders and frontline staff. The 10 Child Safe Standards were enacted into legislation in NSW on 1 February 2022. They provide a framework for organisations to create and maintain environments that support children and young people to feel and be safe and for organisations to meet their legal obligations under the Child Safe Scheme.

This webinar provides an overview of each of the 10 Child Safe Standards with some tips on ways to imbed and practice.

18th January 10.00 am - 12.00 pm

Register here

Child Safe Info Day

9.30 am to 2.30 pm at Anzac Memorial Hyde Park Sydney

The Child Safe Info Day on 23 January 2024 is a chance for everyone who works in a child-related role in a child safe organisation to find out more about the 10 Child Safe Standards and how they keep children and young people safe from harm and abuse. Come along and share what you've learned on your child safe journey and bring your questions for our child safe trainers.

Please register to help us plan for the day. If you have any questions, contact Child Safe Trainers Jenn Petersen or Craig Thacker.

Register Here

Developing a Child Safe Risk Management Plan

3.00 pm to 5.00 pm - Online

As part of the Child Safe Scheme, all child-related organisations in NSW should apply the Child Safe Standards. Standard 8 refers to risk management where ‘physical and online environments minimise the opportunity for abuse to occur’. Child safety cannot occur without efficient risk management.

Our child safe trainers guide participants through our child safe risk management handbooks to help them understand how to develop a robust Child Safe Risk Management Plan to help keep children and young people safe from harm and abuse. 

Register here

Child Safe Resources

In addition to free training, the Office of the Children's Guardian has a number of resources on its website to help child-related organisations understand and implement the Child Safe Standards, to meet their obligations under the Child Safe Scheme. 

Resources can be found here

Data Exchange System Update - January 2024

System Closing 30 January 2024

Please be aware you have until 30 January 2024 to finalise your data before the system closes for the July to December 2023 reporting period. .

To avoid any last minute complications, please ensure

• All staff who require access to the Data Exchange have access

• Your outlets are current with the correct program activities attached

• You have quality assured your data before uploading

• You use the Data Exchange reports to confirm your data has uploaded correctly.

The Data Exchange helpdesk is receiving a high volume of calls and emails. While they are working hard to respond to all inquiries, there are a number of useful resources available on the Data Exchange website to assist with troubleshooting any issues you are experiencing. Below are links to some of the key documents.

• Add a user

• Bulk File Upload technical specifications

• Bulk XML upload errors and explanations

• Create and manage outlets

• Find and edit a client

• Webinar - Accessing Reference Data

• Web services technical specifications

• Data Exchange Protocols and Program Specific Guidance

 If you have any technical queries relating to the Data Exchange, please contact the Data Exchange Helpdesk between 9.00am and 5.00pm AEDST Monday to Friday, via email or phone 1800 020 283.

Care Positions

• Home Instead CareGivers

• Catholic Care Various Positions

Family Preservation Caseworker, Nowra Region Job in Nowra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

CareSouth are committed to responding to Community, Sector and Participant needs. We are looking for a Caseworker to join our team!

Community Activities Assistant Job in Koonawarra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

CareWays is seeking a Community Activities Assistant to work join our Neighbourhood team in a permanent part-time capacity, apply today!

Manager, Customer Service and Support Job in Wollongong, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

If you thrive in a dynamic environment, excel at strategic planning, possess effective interpersonal and communication abilities this role's for you!

Participant Care Coordinator Job in Nowra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

This is a dedicated team with a focus on excellence and inclusivity, and strives to make a meaningful impact on the lives of our participants.

Care Manager (Home Care Packages) - South Nowra - Full Time Job in Nowra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Interested in healthy ageing principles and have a passion for working with older Australians and their carers? Then we would like to meet you!

Customer Service Officer (CSO) - Part Time - Fixed Term (up to 12 months) Job in Sanctuary Point, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Join our team as a Customer Service Officer and be the driving force behind exceptional customer experiences

Lifestyle Activities Coordinator - Shoalhaven/Illawarra - Min 30 hrs per week Job in Sanctuary Point, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Seeking a positive and engaging person who is experienced in facilitating fun and enjoyable programs and activities in centres and in the community.

Administration Assistant – Assets Job in Nowra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Provide administrative and customer service support to internal and external customers and the Building Services Assets team.

Disability Support Worker Job in Nowra, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Working in the My Life department, where we offer group activities, real-life hands-on experiences with cooking, 3D printing, barista skills and more.

Community Care - Care Services - Aged Care Job in Broulee, Wollongong, Illawarra & South Coast NSW

Be part of a team of professional clinical and care staff supporting clients to live a full independent life in their own home.

Rural Mental Health Small Project Grants

Do you have a research project that you think will improve mental health service delivery in rural or regional NSW?

The Peregrine Centre and NSW Health are pleased to offer a total of $400,000 in grants for small projects in 2024-2025. Minimum grant amount is $5,000 and multi-year funding will be considered.

Find out more here

ANROWS Research Grants

We are currently seeking applications for research projects that will inform policy and practice design decisions about prevention, early intervention, and responses to people who use domestic, family, and sexual violence. This grants round is funded by the Commonwealth government.

ANROWS Research Grants: Funding new research to grow the evidence base. As the leading domestic, family, and sexual violence research body in Australia, we fund new research to develop evidence on domestic, family, and sexual violence. Our research grant rounds are drawn from the research priorities in The Australian National Research Agenda (ANRA) to End Violence against Women and Children 2023–2028. These research priorities were established by identifying existing research gaps through evidence reviews, focus groups with victim-survivors, and consultation with other experts such as leading academics and practitioners.

The priorities under the ANRA also align with the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032. Together, these two frameworks coordinate a national approach to developing new research and evidence to prevent and better respond to gender-based violence and support victim-survivor healing and recovery.

All ANROWS research grants are funded by the Commonwealth and/or state and territory governments.