Welcome to the summer edition of the Koori Grapevine, edition #31. December 2019 - February 2020 We hope you enjoy the read. Contributions are welcome via email to [email protected] Please be advised images and/or names of people passed over may appear in this publication Acknowledgement of Country and Traditional Custodians Aboriginal Community Plan 2019-2023 Following on from two years of community consultation through emails, social Let's shape suc media, print and radio media, and Council’s website, the Draft Aboriginal n - are) ne futu i th yiku(to aclt in Community Plan 2019-2023 ‘Bayikulinan’, (to act in the future), was endorsed by Ba cess Council and launched at Council’s 2019 NAIDOC Week event on Wednesday 10 July. The Plan sets out 38 actions to work through and links in with other Council Plans and Strategies to assist us to take a coordinated approach to addressing disadvantages in the community. The Plan is available on Council’s website or email [email protected] to request a hard copy. LAKE MACQUARIE CITY | ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY PLAN 2019–2023 Council NAIDOC Grants of up to $1000 are on offer Week grants in Lake Macquarie for Youth Week This year Council granted sixteen 2020 events and activities applications from schools and Council is offering funding to eligible organisations for events not for profit organisations with a and activities staged as part of the annual national celebration total of $14,550 to enable a hands of young people, to be held 1-9 April 2020. on cultural event for students, The grants are available to any incorporated non-profit members of their organisation and organisation hosting Youth Week activities or events within the community. The largest festivals Lake Macquarie LGA aimed at young people aged 12-24. in Lake Macquarie, the Westlakes NAIDOC and Eastlakes NAIDOC Events and activities that achieve outcomes identified in the Family Fun Day events were again Lake Macquarie Youth Strategy, such as improving access to supported to the amount of $2500 services for young people or ensuring they have the opportunity each. Both days saw a high volume to make a meaningful contribution to the community, will be of attendees and spectacular highly regarded for funding. weather. In the past Youth Week grants have helped fund a variety of Applications for 2020 will open in events, from skate festivals to drama workshops. early February for four weeks. Grant applications can be lodged online at Youth Week events funding before Wednesday 18 December. Voice of a Survivor – by Jacob Little My name is Jacob Little. I am based in Brisbane working for an organisation called the Voice of a Survivor. (Guidance) When I was younger, I went to a youth detention Yudhilidin centre, and suffered some abuse. I am helping - Guiding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander others out who have been through the system and people back to wellbeing have suffered abuse. After I suffered my abuse I Yudhilidin is focused on recovery for Aboriginal and ended up on drugs and drinking a lot. Trying to Torres Strait Islander people with significant mental block out what had happened to me. I ended up health issues. lost and confused. I got involved in the wrong A Yudhilidin Care Coordinator will help you navigate crowds and ended up heavily involved in gang the health system and get support. They will lifestyle. I ended up in jail. But I have put that all connect you with services who will work with you to behind me now and have been doing this job for achieve your recovery goals. a year and a half now. It has helped me to heal If you, or someone you know, identify as Aboriginal as many survivors didn’t make it through, due to and/or Torres Strait Islander experiencing mental suicide or drug overdose and I like to do this for the health issues, which affect their daily life contact ones who didn’t make it. our Yudhilidin team today. I want to reach out to people who may have being Am I eligible for support? affected so people are more aware about the important work that I am doing. We are searching You are eligible if you have been experiencing for survivors of the Stolen Generation and victims severe mental health and wellbeing issues that are of institutional child sexual and physical abuse. If affecting your daily life. you identify as one of these people, please speak How can Yudhilidin help me? up; you have a voice and it needs to be heard. Your care coordinator will: Do not carry around the backpack of shame, guilt • assist you to identify your health and wellbeing goals and anger. Hand it back to its rightful owner, the • provide you with information about culturally perpetrator. appropriate services in the local community This applies to anyone who has been affected • support you to create meaningful connections in boys’ homes, girls’ homes, foster care, DOCS, with services and work with you to build churches, church run institutions, missions and your skills and confidence to manage these reserves, any sporting teams, and scouts or girls’ connections guides. You do not have to be Indigenous; we work on behalf of all Australians who may have suffered What type of services will Yudhilidin help me to any trauma in the institutions listed. connect with? We encourage all survivors to speak out on this • GP and allied health services subject. For a confidential chat, please do not • mental health services including counsellors and hesitate to message me or call my mobile on Psychologists 0450 815 402 to talk through your options. • cultural and social and activities and programs • education, training and employment services 0450 815402 • housing and homelessness services @Thevoicefasurvivor How to refer PO BOX 561, Bulimba QLD 4171 Referrals to Yudhilidin are available by self-referral /TheVoiceofasurvivor and professional referral. https://thevoiceofasurvivor.com/ For more information on this service or, please contact the Yudhilidin team on (02) 4925 2259 or email [email protected] ABN 80 082 730 210 Contact HELEN 0421 220 152 [email protected] GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES Mowing, Hedging, Pruning, Yard clean-up, General gardening, Rubbish removal [tip charges extra], Branch trimming HANDYMAN SERVICES Gutter cleaning, Path cleaning, General repairs and maintenance DOMESTIC CLEANING SERVICES General house work, Spring cleaning • NEWCASTLE & SUBURBS • LAKE MACQUARIE • COALFIELDS – CESSNOCK, KURRI KURRI, WESTON, ABERMAIN • MAITLAND AREA • RAYMOND TERRACE AREA JobQuest is: • A Registered Provider under the NDIS • Certified to deliver services under Home Care Packages & Veterans’ Home Care programs • Certified under Occupational Health and Safety ManagementGrounds andSystems garden AS/NZS maintenance 4801 services ABN 80 082 JobQuest730 210 is: Mowing, hedging, pruning, yard clean up, general • A Registered Provider under the NDIS gardening, rubbish removal [tip charges extra], • Certified to deliver services under Home Care All Fieldbranch Workers trimming have clear Packages and Veterans’ Home Care programs HandymanPolice Checks services Contact HELEN• Certified 0421 under 220 Occupational 152 Health and Safety Gutter cleaning, path cleaning, general repairs Management Systems AS/NZS 4801 [email protected] and Fullymaintenance insured Domestic cleaning services GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE SERVICES FriendlyGeneral and housework reliable service and spring-cleaning Mowing, Hedging, Pruning, Yard clean-up, General gardening, Where Rubbish removal [tip charges extra], Branch trimming • Newcastle and suburbs • Lake Macquarie HANDYMAN SERVICES • Coalfields Gutter cleaning, Path cleaning, GeneralAll Field repairs Workers and maintenancehave clear Police Checks – Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Fully insured Abermain DOMESTIC CLEANING SERVICESFriendly and reliable service General house work, Spring cleaning • Maitland Area Contact Helen on 0421 220 152 • Raymond Terrace Area or [email protected] • NEWCASTLE & SUBURBS • LAKE MACQUARIE Access •toCOALFIELDS Belmont – CESSNOCK, KURRI KURRI, WESTON, Baths ABERMAIN • MAITLAND AREA • RAYMOND TERRACE AREA thanks to new amphibious access chair An amphibious wheelchair designed to give people priority, and with the baths unpatrolled Council JobQuest is: with disability the freedom of movement in open wants to ensure the Mobi-chair is used correctly. water has rolled into action at Belmont• A Registered Baths. Provider under the SignageNDIS in the chair’s storage shed provides The $4400 ‘Mobi-chair’ will be stored on-site and detailed instructions outlining the chair’s use in • accessible to anyone with a Master C Locksmithsertified to deliver servicesand under out Homeof the water. Care Access Key (MLAK) – provided by LakePackages Macquarie & Veterans’ Home Care Council is offering eligible residents the City Council to people with disability.programs opportunity for a limited time to obtain their Council’s Disability Inclusion Action • Certified Plan identified under Occupational own HealthMLAK andkey Safety free of charge. Go to lm.city/MLAK the need to improve beach and waterwayManagement access Systems AS/NZSor call 4801 4921 0333 for more information. for all abilities and this new chair goes some way towards addressing that need. The three-wheeled device – the firstAll Fieldof its Workers kind in have clear Lake Macquarie – will be stored in the baths’Police new Checks amenity building, with visitors simply required to hose it down after use. Fully insured A harness and flotation devices attached to the Friendly and reliable service chair mean users gently recline and gradually begin to float as they enter the water. Council recommends two carers should be on hand at all times to assist and supervise while the chair is in use. Safety is of course our number one Mobi chair for Belmont baths To celebrate Lake Macquarie Family Day Great Get Together Care’s 40-year anniversary Council hosted a community picnic in Speers Point Park on a beautiful day in October. Many turned out Community Picnic to see cultural dance performances from Belmont High School and to hear the lovely tones of Connor Wink.