AUTUMN 2020 | EDITION 18 REACHING OUT TO THE REGIONS Supporting communities to reach their full potential STRIDING TO GREEN SUCCESS Carinity leading sustainability initiatives SOWING THE SEEDS OF COMPASSION Gardens growing social connections CEO’S MESSAGE to reassure you that Carinity Many of our services are located is doing everything we can to outside Brisbane – in cities continue to deliver safe services. such as Townsville, Bundaberg, Carinity has comprehensive Toowoomba and Hervey infection management and Bay and smaller towns like control systems in place to Beaudesert, Yeppoon, Boonah protect our service users, and Mount Morgan. residents and staff, including In communities such as Laidley, strict hygiene and social Gladstone, Woodford and distancing measures. Toogoolawah our counsellors, The rapidly evolving nature teachers, prison chaplains, of the pandemic and the aged care staff and youth and disability support workers All of us at Carinity have unprecedented risk it poses are continuing to make a real been deeply saddened by to the most vulnerable in our community is a challenge to us difference in people’s lives. the events of the last few all. At Carinity we are meeting As we face the coronavirus months as the coronavirus this challenge by constantly pandemic together, we pray for has spread rapidly around modifying our service protocols all to find their souls’ needs met the world. as quickly as changes are made through Easter’s message of to the latest health advice. hope, forgiveness and eternal Reaching out The COVID-19 pandemic presents the greatest challenge the Despite the upheaval due to life through Christ. global community has faced COVID-19, Carinity is committed in our lifetime in terms of the to the people and communities JON CAMPBELL risk to lives and livelihoods. we support across Queensland as CARINITY CEO to the regions Understandably, the virus is illustrated by the stories featured causing great concern so I want in this edition of Belong. “Our vision is to create communities where people are loved, accepted and supported to reach their full potential.” Contents Covering almost one- also face a number of challenges. The tyranny 3 REACHING OUT SOCIAL MEDIA / ONLINE quarter of the continent, Daily challenges associated with TO THE REGIONS distance, lack of infrastructure, of distance carinity.org.au Queensland is Australia’s Supporting communities attracting experienced personnel, Among the challenges second largest state – and 6 SOWING THE SEEDS /carinity higher costs and economic associated with living in regional OF COMPASSION the most decentralised constraints are just a few areas is distance. Generous community garden carinity_qld on the mainland. of them. “People in regional Queensland 8 STRIDING TO GREEN SUCCESS @carinity_org With a population of just over Given Carinity’s drive to support do not have the same level of Carinity leading sustainability five million people, Queensland and serve communities to make access to support services as CONTACT US 9 MY STORY is the nation’s third-most a real difference to people in those living in Brisbane,” says The journey to chaplaincy 07 3550 3737 populous state with around half need, it’s no surprise that more Christine Hill, Executive Manager the population living outside of of Carinity Education. 11 GROWING SOCIAL than 70% of Carinity services are [email protected] CONNECTIONS Brisbane – and one-quarter living delivered to regional areas. “If young people in Gladstone Planting the seeds for outside south-east Queensland. PO Box 6164 Mitchelton Q 4053 Carinity’s service reaches or Townsville, for example, need inter-generational friendships COVER CREDITS While regional Queensland offers 22 towns and cities – major to access mental health services From left: Danielle Carter and Anne they might have to wait months 12 STARTING A NEW CHAPTER Tadman Cramb from the Flourish PYO many benefits such as a relaxed regional centres like Townsville, God leads chaplain community garden in Toowoomba. way of life, lower cost of living, Rockhampton and Toowoomba, through school doors deeper sense of community, and and smaller rural communities, Above: Registered nurse Georgina Varrie chats with resident Bill Kinglsey at the Carinity This paper is biodegradable, renewable and sustainable. It is ISO home to some of Australia’s top such as Boonah, Toogoolawah, 14 CHAPLAIN’S CHAT certified, using forestry plantations. Providing clean air, clean water, Karinya Place aged care community in Laidley. We’re all His favourites wildlife habitat and carbon storage. Printed in a solar powered facility. natural landmarks, the regions Beaudesert and Laidley. carinity.org.au 3 for an appointment at the one “Enabling clients to access “More than 500 students in Headspace office in each area. services is important to us. At five locations have access to Wahroonga in Rockhampton alternative education programs “And when problems are not we have established a low-cost in Carinity schools. There are addressed quickly there’s a waiting lists because so many danger students will give up wellness and psychological young people are challenged trying to seek help.” support service. We have minimised the cost barrier by poverty and disadvantage,” Janelle Heyse, Manager of by providing sessions under Christine says. Carinity Youth and Community the Medicare Better Access Funded child safety programs Services, agrees. program,” Janelle says. in Rockhampton, Yeppoon, “We also work closely with local Narangba and Beaudesert “Carinity’s support services organisations, partnering with target young people in need, reach into many regional them to extend our service particularly those who have areas where there is socio- reach in a community. Our suffered trauma, abuse or neglect. economic disadvantage.” partnership with The Black Dog Ball in Rockhampton, and as a Tracey Blok-Earl is the Program “Carinity programs enhance social connection and engagement beneficiary of their fundraising, Manager for Carinity On Track through community-led enterprises and through education.” “Distance is a disadvantage – has allowed Carinity to provide which cares for young people and the lack of efficient public longer-term mental health from the Rockhampton district, transport in some areas adds to support beyond what clients can largely Indigenous males, who Aid during crisis can lead to social isolation. For students in Carinity’s special the difficulty – but Carinity has access via Medicare.” are unable to live with their Social stigma makes people assistance schools, connection “When regional communities are a number of services that have parents or others carers. more likely to withdraw rather with the wider community is grown out of local needs. We Support where affected by economic downturn than seek appropriate help,” preparation for the future. “The Indigenous community or natural disasters, Carinity’s use site vehicles and buses to Samantha says. “We aim to empower young here has an amazing strength of reduce that barrier for our clients and when it’s support services are in even “Improving community people, remove the barriers culture that I feel privileged to higher demand,” says Samantha at Toogoolawah and Boonah,” most needed to learning and help students learn about and assist. Working attitudes to mental illness and Janelle says. Caves, Community Development Carinity’s support services encouraging appropriate help- become employable. We are in a rural area, access to services Coordinator at Carinity Fassifern Distance from major centres also reach into many regional areas seeking should be a priority disrupting systemic poverty and skilled professionals is Community Centre in Boonah. and teaching young people makes it more difficult to attract where there is socio-economic always difficult, so creative in regional communities.” specialist personnel to regional disadvantage including lower “Primary Health Network funding to be responsible citizens,” thinking and sharing resources Workshops facilitated by a areas, and the cost of services levels of employment, income helped support communities Christine says. and practices within the sector is registered psychologist support can be prohibitive. and educational attainment. affected by ongoing drought and essential,” Tracey says. people living with mental health In regional areas, Carinity is the recent bushfires. The team issues arising from illness, stress, often the first point of contact at Fassifern Community Centre family crisis or financial pressure. for individuals facing immediate distributed health and wellness or complex needs. Carinity staff hampers containing personal “Workshops on mindfulness and ‘go the extra mile’ for their clients hygiene products, including managing change and stress are and their families. Local staff locally made soaps, and vouchers designed to increase community know the local community and to spend locally,” Samantha says. knowledge and understanding of understand local problems. mental health, and to help people “They made a huge difference to Samantha sums up: “Responding navigate support services,” those finding it tough to make to enhance the wellbeing of Samantha says. ends meet. Providing a voucher vulnerable people is at the for a café break with a friend not Making a difference core of Carinity’s vision and only improves overall wellbeing, mission. Carinity seeks to make The emphasis is on community: it’s good for the local economy.” a real difference in people’s offering support, building