Maitland & Cessnock Combined Youth Interagency

MAITLAND & CESSNOCK COMBINED YOUTH INTERAGENCY

Date: 27/03/2015

Meeting open: 9:30am

Chairperson: Lakin Agnew & Bron Dyason Minutes: Bron Dyason

1. In attendance

Cass McCarthy DHS 0457 542 191 [email protected] April Phillips Maitland City Council 02 4934 9835 [email protected] Steve Maitland Regional Suicide 0424 285 466 [email protected] Schumacher Prevention Network Bron Dyason Maitland/ Dungog YDO 0407 891 650 [email protected] Katie Brown Maitland High School 02 4933 7933 [email protected] Student Support Officer Liz Hammond Safe Schools Coalition 02 8752 4370 [email protected] Tracy Hickey Blackhalls Park Public 02 4959 1213 [email protected] School Nicole Blackhalls Park Public 02 4959 1213 Nicole.wotherspoon- Wotherspoon- School [email protected] Brown Alicia Drewe SCIT (Maitland High School) [email protected] Jennifer Jackson Youth Off The Streets 02 4936 1917 [email protected] Joel Shakespeare SHS- Samaritans Intake and 02 4922 1502 [email protected] Community Engagement Officer Cathryn Bourne School Counsellor- 02 4933 1799 [email protected] Maitland High School Laura Baird Reconnect 0417 080 767 [email protected] Steve Locke Hunter Trade College 02 4932 2400 [email protected] Jalam Glossop NSW Police- Student [email protected] Liaison Police Katie Pryor Headspace Maitland 02 4931 1000 [email protected] Emily Cant The Reach Foundation 0417 679 397 [email protected] Kylie Pratt CatholicCare Cessnock Early 0415 139 680 [email protected] Intervention Caseworker Ben Snedden AbilityLinks 0429 411 717 [email protected] Lakin Agnew Cessnock YDO 0328 636 009 [email protected]

Harmonie Attwill Francis Greenway High 0408 579 574 [email protected] School Teacher & Wellbeing Team Justine Russell Maitland PCYC 0407 212 557 [email protected] Sarah Trelease Allambi Care Juvenile 0481 206 335 [email protected] Justice Monique Davison AllambiCare Juvenile Justice 0434 380 220 [email protected] JSP Janene McIntosh Deputy Principal, Francis 02 4964 1282 [email protected] Greenway High School

2. Apologies:

Rebecca Ferbrache, HNE Health; Lisa Dundas, TAFE

3. Previous minutes Minutes were emailed out and accepted

4. Safe Schools Coalition

Who are the Safe Schools Coalition?

We are a national coalition dedicated to helping schools to be safer and more inclusive for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, school staff and families. We are creating change to ensure that every student and every teacher in every school has access to a safe and inclusive learning environment. Schools can join the coalition in Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania today. We will be launching the program in the remaining states and territories by mid-2015. Joining Safe Schools Coalition Australia is free. By joining us, you are committing to building a school that is free from homophobic and transphobic bullying, that’s safe and inclusive for all students and staff. And in exchange, we’ll provideprofessional development for staff, resources and advice and support for schools to help build connective and supportive spaces for students now and in the future. Safe Schools Coalition Australia builds on the successful Safe Schools Coalition Victoria model (funded by the Victorian Government) at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria at La Trobe University, a program that has already worked with thousands of school staff and students to challenge homophobia and transphobia and positively support gender diversity and sexual diversity. Safe Schools Coalition Victoria was originally a joint initiative of FYA and Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria. Now, nationally convened by FYA and federally funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, the coalition is going Australia-wide.

For resources and sign up sheets, contact Bron Dyason, Maitland/Dungog YDO

TO contact Liz Hammond from the Safe Schools Coalition, see below Liz Hammond Safe Schools Coalition NSW Phone: 02 8752 4370 Email: [email protected] Website: safeschoolscoalition.org.au

5. Contact Cards for young people in schools

The Maitland Regional Suicide Prevention Network have some funding so that services or schools can get business cards printed, with contact telephone numbers on the back for young people. Young people can then keep the business card in the wallet and have access to emergency contact and helplines. Contact Steve Schumacher for more information on this: Steve Schumacher Maitland Regional Suicide Prevention Network Phone: 0424 285 466 Email: [email protected]

6. Youth Week updates for Cessnock and Maitland

Events in Cessnock:

Monday 30 March Big Breakfast, St Phillips Christian College

Tuesday 31 March Big Breakfast, Mt View High School

Wednesday 1 April Big Breakfast, Kurri Kurri High School

Thursday 2 April Big Breakfast, Cessnock High School

Friday 10 April: Take the Stage, Cessnock

Saturday 11 April: Outdoor Cinema, Cessnock

Monday 13 April: Graffiti Workshop, Kurri Kurri Youth Centre

Tuesday 14 April: Cupcake Decorating Workshop, Cessnock

Wednesday 15 April: Graffiti Workshop, Cessnock

Thursday 16 April: Indigenous Art Workshop, Cessnock

Friday 17 April: Indigenous Art Workshop, Cessnock

Greta Day Out, Greta

Saturday 18 April: Battle of the Youth Groups, Kurri Kurri

Sunday 19 April: Youth Fest, Kurri Kurri

Events in Maitland:

Saturday 11 April: Tunz1 Street Art Mural painting, Maitland

Sunday 12 April: Tunz1 Skate Park painting, Woodberry Skate Park

Sunday 12 April: Swamp Stomp Festival, Woodberry

Saturday 11 April: SHRED Skate Fest

Friday 17 April: Sun Street [Music and Arts] Festival, Maitland

7. March Case Study

This is an approach to interagency collaboration and done so in the spirit of Keep Them Safe principles. Each interagency meeting will provide members with an opportunity to bring complex cases challenging the work being done with the people they support. It is hoped that through sharing ideas, resources and knowledge we will offer participants with new options for the people we work with.

This month’s case study is from Francis Greenway High School A young Aboriginal female student presents with complex issues.

The student identifies as male. The student dresses in a male uniform and refuses to wear female underwear. The student is attracted to females but does not identify as a lesbian. The student has requested to be called ‘Tom’.

The family refuses to accept the sexuality of the student, and refuses to engage in any conversation or actions that relate to this, including the altering of the name. There is a degree of negative attention in the family around this and so the student feels unsupported. This has resulted in evidence of self harm.

Educationally, the student is well below stage level, does not engage in the classroom and has refused the support of LAST and SLSO’s. To help with reengagement, a partial attendance plan was implemented but this was not successful as attendance is still of concern. A Distance Education application was commenced but withdrawn due to not meeting the new requirements for such applications.

Behaviourally, the student has begun to demonstrate aggressive behaviours, bullying and using stand over tactics with other students. There has been little to no evidence of the student being bullied.

Concern: How to support this student whilst respecting the family and the issues presenting on many levels.

Options for this young person  Talk to Deputy and Head teacher Welfare to see if young person is linked in with outside services, or school counsellor  Ring legal branch (Education) for advice  Once young person is 16, can make their own legal decisions  Have conversations with young person to determine preferences at school  School to have conversation with student and parent together  Department of Education/Communities have a legal bulletin which is a useful document  The Gender Centre in Sydney has a group for parents to learn about transitioning  Build on protective factors for this young person- there is a lot of cultural support so build on that  School to reengage young person  Liz Hammond to link Francis Greenway in with another ‘Safe School’ to have conversations  Link parent with services such as ‘PFLAG” and ACON  Safe Schools Coalition can attend the school and talk to student to create a school Action Plan  Contact ‘Dr Elizabeth Riley’- Liz Hammond has details.

ACTIONS WHOM Any services that can offer a service regarding this young person to contact Everyone Harmonie Attwill for more info. 8. Self Care Activity

This self care activity is a ‘setting goals’ activity. Below is the mindfulness activity that was completed, and all workers then set some goals creatively on paper as a quiet reflection time.

Guided Reflection

Wherever you are in this room, in this moment, I would like you now to just simply bow your head, and close your eyes. And as you keep your eyes closed, I ask you to do this so that you can listen to my voice, without being distracted by the people around you, and let your imagination take you on a journey. It’s not often that you get the opportunity to close your eyes and just relax so make the most of it and take a deep breath. Now with your head bowed, eyes closed, I want you to spend a few seconds thinking about where you are at in your life. Each of us in this room is on a completely different journey and we are the only ones who can influence where we go and how our journey will continue. So what is the next step in your life? What are the things that are really important to you, the things you truly value? Is it freedom? Is it respect? Is it your family and friends, being loved and cared for? Or loving and caring about others? Being a good friend? Being happy? Being healthy? Living with passion? What is it that you need to do in order to live out these values? If you could set yourself a goal that would have a meaningful impact on you, what goal would you set? Do you have a dream? If you could imagine yourself achieving anything, and experience the feeling of pride, what is it you would want to achieve? For you right now, what is one goal that you could set yourself that would take you forward on your journey? Once you have thought of a goal, I want you to quietly lift your head, open your eyes and wait in silence so I know you’re ready.

9. Service updates

Please see attached scanned sheets about some great initiatives from Cass McCarthy

Next meeting: Cessnock Thursday 23 April, 9:30am-11:30am SINC Cessnock

Maitland Thursday 28 May, 9:30am-11:30am Maitland TAFE Room AG.14

Meeting closed: 1:00pm