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Jingi Wala

Hello and welcome to Ngunya Jarjum's August Newsletter. 
With the new Covid-19 restrictions in place, Ngunya Jarjum can confirm that we will still be delivering services to you and our jarjums that is in line with the NSW Public Health Orders.
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/public-health-orders.aspx
There will however, be some changes around Family Time Contact where jarjums are expected to travel.  
Our office will be closed temporarily except for pre-arranged visits. Speak with your caseworkers directly if you have any questions. We have masks at reception should you not have one. Please let your caseworker know if you’re experiencing flu like symptoms or have visited a known hotspot in the past 14 days. Take care and look after yourself, your families and our community.
In this issue...
  • NJ News: Changes to Family Time Contacts, Teenage Education Payments, Children's Day 2021, The Public Education Foundation Scholarships
  • From the desk of the Out of Home Care Team: Household Members 
  • HR News: Congratulations!, Positions Vacant
  • An Important message for our Carers: CYP Health Checks/Reviews, Updated Carer Agreements, Working with Children Checks extended for three months, When to contact us
  • Programs: Gumaguy, Balaa
  • Upcoming Training: Triple P - Positive Parenting Programs, How to recognise complex trauma in infants and children and promote wellbeing
  • Community News and Events: Active Kids and Creative Kids Vouchers
Multiple positions available at NJ
READ MORE...
Triple P - Positive Parenting Program
READ MORE...
NJ News

Changes to Family Time Contacts

Due to new COVID-19 restrictions, Family Time Contact for jarjums travelling to hotspot locations will need to re scheduled. For FTC occurring locally, please adhere to NSW Public Health Orders.

We know how important and significant FTC is for you and understand the disappointment however, we must follow the orders so we can protect ourselves and our community. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your caseworker directly.

Teenage Education Payments (TEP)

The Teenage Education Payment (TEP) supports carers and guardians of young children aged 16-18 years in out-of-home care to remain engaged in education, by providing eligible carers and guardians up to $6,000 per year to be spent on education related assistance. Payments are made in instalments of $1,500 at the beginning of each term. Applications for Term 3 are now due so now is a good time to speak with your caseworker. The Teenage Education Payments guidelines can be found online at https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/download?file=319954

If you are a carer (statutory and supported) or guardian, you may be eligible if:
•    You care for a young person aged 16 to 18 years who is in full time or part-time (subject to approval) education and/or training. 
•    The placements is more than 3 months in duration. 
•    You live in NSW or you care for a young person who is in education or training in NSW. 

To be eligible for the payment, you need to show evidence including:
•    The young person’s attendance at school or education/training (including apprenticeships).  The easiest way is to get a letter or email from the school or educational institution confirming attendance; and
•    If you have been caring for the young person since they were 15 years old, you must show you are receiving the Family Tax Benefit Part A, or equivalent income (income test requirement is $54,677 or less). A pension card can be provided if there is no Family Tax Benefit A documentation available. If the young person came into your care when they were 16 years or older you do not need to provide this evidence.

Children's Day 2021

The theme for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day 2021 is:

Proud in culture, strong in spirit

"When children sit, look at the sea that goes with the story, they capture all this message – it is not by accident when we teach our children about the land, about the sea, about the dance." – Rosemary Gundjarranbuy, Yalu Marnjgithinyaraw as part of Interplay Project, Ninti One

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities have provided love and care for their children, growing them up strong and safe in their cultural traditions, for thousands of generations. For our children, safety, wellbeing and development are closely linked to the strengths of their connections with family, community, culture, language, and Country.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have the right to experience and be proud of their history, cultural beliefs and practices.

The theme highlights the importance of supporting strong family and community connections to help our children achieve strong spiritual and cultural wellbeing and to form proud cultural identities.

Download the Children's Day 2021 4-page activity sheet or What does spirit mean to me?... activity sheet. To feature on SNAICC's website gallery, send in your drawings to media@snaicc.org.au

The Public Education Foundation
 

The Public Education Foundation has a range of scholarships to help young people at public schools reach their potential. Scholarship opportunities specific to Aboriginal and Torres strait students in NSW include: Applications for Secondary scholarships close midnight 14th September, and for the Primary school scholarships, 22nd September. 

Visit their website for information on all of the scholarships available.

From the Desk of the Out of Home Care Team

Household Members


A household member is considered a person who stays more than 21 nights a year in your home.
The OCG requires that all household members are entered onto the NSW Carer’s Register and we ask that you provide us with the names and dates of birth with any person who becomes a household member in your home.
 
The OCG information states:
 
Household member – A person (adult, young person or child) who resides at the home of an authorised carer or carer applicant is referred to as a household member. Residing at a home is not limited to a permanent living arrangement and there are a number of factors to be considered in determining whether or not someone resides at a home. 
 
These include (but are not limited to): 
 • the amount of time the person spends at the home 
 • how frequently they stay 
 • whether or not their staying at the home is a regular or usual arrangement
 • whether the arrangement will be ongoing. 
 
It also includes:
  • Anyone who lives in a structure adjoining a home (e.g. a granny flat or caravan), any person who regularly stays at a home, and visitors who stay at a home for three weeks or more are considered to be residing at the home. It is possible for a person to reside at more than one home.
Also we require updating if there are any changes – people leaving the home.
 
If the household member is an adult they require all probity:
 
• WWCC – compulsory for individuals aged 18 or over (for information, go to www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au).
 
The adult household member would need to provide the agency with an APP number which can be verified within 24 hours.
 
If a household member cannot obtain a WWCC or Does not Provide a WWCC Number may result in the Household member being asked to leave the home.
If the Household member is still living or frequenting the home, this may result in Suspended/Cancelled Carer Authorisation, Carer Payments being Stopped and/or an Alternate placement for the Child/ren.
 
It is compulsory for household members over the age of 16 to provide: 
• approved identification information:
  • Birth certificate front and back or passport
  • Drivers Licence front and back
  • Medicare card
  • Bank card
  • A ‘selfie’ photo holding your photo ID with faces and numbers that are clear.
• National Police Check 
• Community Services check 
For this information we would need 10 years of addresses.
HR News

Congratulations!

Matt Harbisher has been successful in gaining the position of PSP Out of home care Manager, Matt will lead the OoHC team. Matt comes into this role with 8 years' experience in Youth & Child Protection sectors nation-wide including Early Intervention, OOHC and Residential Care Programs.
Matt joined NJ as a Caseworker in 2018 after relocating back home to Bundjalung Country. The last couple of years Matt has sat in a Manager Casework position leading a team of 8 Caseworkers.
 
Sue Freeburn has been successful in gaining the position Manager Casework, Sue will lead one of the OoHC Casework teams within NJ.
Sue was part of the Gumaguy (Family Preservation) Team within NJ. Sue joined the Gumaguy team in 2019 having 24 years' experience as an Aboriginal Education Officer with the Department of Education. Sue has lived and worked on Bundjalung country for over 25 years. 
 
Ngunya Jarjum would like to congratulate Michelle Hicks on her 13-year anniversary. Michelle joined NJ in 2008 as Finance Manager and more recently as the Human Resource Manager. Michelle has lived and worked on Bundjalung country for 24 years. 

Positions Vacant


Caseworker (Aboriginal Identified)
Reporting to Manager Casework, your focus will be providing support and supervision to children in Ngunya Jarjum’s permanency support program (PSP) and to achieve quality outcomes for the children placed with the service. The closing date for this role is 5.00pm on Wednesday 4th August 2021. 70 hour Fortnight Full-time 12 month maximum term contracts available. READ MORE

Front Office - Administration Support Officer (Aboriginal Identified)
We are currently looking for a Front Office Administration Support Officer. Based in Lismore and reporting to the Finance Manager, your focus will be providing reception and administration support to all internal and external clients. The closing date for this role is 9am Wednesday 4th August 2021. 70 hour Fortnight Full-time 12 month maximum term contract available. READ MORE

Compliance Officer (Aboriginal Identified)
Based in Lismore and reporting to the Business Operations Manager, your focus will be providing quality compliance support to the organisation with a focus on compliance for our Permanency Support Programs. The closing date for this role is 9am Wednesday 18th August 2021. 70 hour Fortnight Full-time 12 month maximum term contract available. READ MORE

Reception/Admin Officer (Aboriginal Identified)
Based in Lismore and reporting to the Finance Manager, your focus will be providing high quality reception and administration services to all internal and external clients. The key objectives of the role include:
- Provide outstanding customer service to all internal and external clients in the areas of reception, record management, filing and general administration;
- Provide administrative support services to all staff; and
- Assist and support the maintenance of files, spreadsheets and databases to ensure data integrity and accuracy.
Full-time and Part-time 12 month maximum term contracts available. The closing date for this role is 9am Wednesday 18 August 2021. READ MORE

Intensive Family Worker (Family Preservation)
Ngunya Jarjum is currently looking to further expand our Gumaguy (meaning ‘family’) Programs team. This team is working to support families identified as at risk of children being taken away from home using a strengths-based, trauma informed practice model. As part of the Gumaguy team, your focus will be providing support to families to achieve quality outcomes for the children living at home with their parents. 70 hour Fortnight Full-time 12 month maximum term contract available. The closing date for this role is 9.00am on Wednesday, 18 August 2021. READ MORE

Health Coordinator
Ngunya Jarjum has recently secured funding to develop and implement the Indigenous Australians Health Program. Reporting to Manager Out of Home Care (OoHC),the Health Co-ordinator role will be key in developing and implementing this program in a culturally appropriate manner. The closing date for this role is 9am Wednesday 18 August 2021. READ MORE

An important message for our Carers

CYP Health Checks/Reviews

Our Compliance team closely monitors the children or young person’s health care by working with their Caseworker who then liaises with the Carer, child or young person, OOHC Health Coordinator and health clinicians with regular reviews, at least annually or when needed.

As a Carer you have signed our Code of Conduct which states that you will ensure the child’s health, wellbeing and dental needs are met and any planned intervention is carried out in a timely manner.
The health and development needs of children and young people in Out-of-Home Care include medical, dental, optical, auditory, nutritional, psychological and developmental needs.
You must:
  • Immediately notify your Caseworker of any major medical events, surgery, hospitalisation.
  • Regularly provide information to your Caseworker about the child’s well-being, including issues that may arise about their development, health, behaviour progress.
  • Let your Caseworker know if the child is prescribed a psychotropic medication or if the prescription is changed. A child who is prescribed psychotropic medication requires a Positive Behaviour Support Plan to ensure that other behaviour support strategies are being used to manage behavioural difficulties.

Updated Carer Agreements

Ngunya Jarjum has reviewed and updated the following Carer agreements:

  • Carer’s Code of Conduct
  • Carer Responsibilities
  • Carer’s Cultural Agreement

All Ngunya Jarjum Carers should have received an email with these updated documents. If your household has two approved Carers, both will need to sign. The documents can be signed digitally by typing your signature into the signature box. Please email your completed forms to compliance@ngunyajarjum.com. Alternatively, you can print these documents and give the signed copies to your caseworker at your next visit. Please sign and return these forms by 23rd August 2021.

Working with Children Checks extended for three months

The Children’s Guardian has extended all Working with Children Check clearances due to expire between 19 July 2021 and 26 September 2021 for three months. The three-month period applies from the date of the person’s current expiry date. People who are granted an extension will be advised by email and the system will be automatically updated. More information about this extension of clearances is available here.

When to contact us...

You should notify us about any changes effecting you, your partner or any household member. 
  • Moved to a new address?
  • Changed or have a new contact number?
  • Changed or have a new email address?
  • Change in personal circumstances and household movements?
Click Here to Update Your Details
Programs

Gumaguy

Gumaguy is a service aimed at reducing the risk to families, where children and young people have been identified by Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) assessment as being at risk of being removed from the family home. Families can only be referred to the program through DCJ. Gumaguy in local language means ‘family’.Gumaguy recently had one of their families exit the program on 17th May 2021, as case goal achieved.

Monday to Friday 9am to 4.30pm our Gumaguy team can be contacted through the Ngunya Jarjum switch. After hours, weekends and public holidays use the FREECALL 1800 325 081 or mobile 0438497743.

Balaa

In the local Widjabul dialect, ‘Balaa’ means to ‘help’. We consider the name appropriate, as the services offered through Balaa are provided to compliment quality case planning for children and families and wrap-around the child and family to improve outcomes for Aboriginal families in Northern NSW across the whole of sector. Through referral to the Balaa services, you can access casework support services such as:

  • Mapping Mob (helping you find links through families and kinship networks)
  • Youth Mentoring
  • Family Group Conferencing
  • Cultural case and/or Care planning
  • Transport services
  • Aboriginal consultation
  • Family time supervision
  • Adolescent / Caregiver mediation services
  • Individual / Specific services as requested
Simply call to ask for more detail about the services and/or request a referral form. (02) 6626 3700 or email intake@ngunyajarjum.com
Upcoming Training

TRIPLE P - Positive Parenting Programs

We will be running 1 Group Triple P Program this Term. The aim of the group is to increase parents’ competence and confidence by:

  • Increasing parents’ ability to manage common behaviour problems and developmental issues
  • Reducing parents’ use of coercive and punitive methods of disciplining children
  • Improving parents’ communication about parenting issues
  • Reducing parenting stress associated with raising children
Parents can discuss and share ideas about parenting and receive practical information about parenting skills that they can incorporate into everyday interactions with their children.

VENUE: Daytime Program:  Jumbunna Community Preschool 60 High St, Casino 
FACILITATOR:  Daytime Program: Wendy Ferguson
DAYTIME PROGRAM:     4 weeks:  Wednesday’s
                                                     Dates : 11th Aug, 18th Aug, 25th Aug, 1st Sep                   
                                                     Time : 1pm- 3pm                                                   
COST : Free of Charge.
CONTACT: Wendy @ jumbunna.com.au Or Jumbunna Community Preschool 6662 2866

How to recognise complex trauma in infants and children and promote wellbeing

Presenters: Trina Hinkley, Ali Knight and Kathryn Lenton
Wednesday, 25 August 2021 1:00–2:00pm AEST. 

Complex trauma in early childhood is distinct from other kinds of trauma. It can manifest in ways that affect body and brain development, and lead to poor long-term outcomes if not addressed. Early identification and support, including through trauma-informed practice, is critical to supporting infants and children who have experienced complex trauma.  
Effective trauma-informed practice can promote recovery and resilience in infants and children. However, it requires a comprehensive understanding of the signs and effects of complex trauma and the skills to hold protective conversations with parents and caregivers. 
This webinar will explore how complex trauma might present in children and impact their development, as well as how practitioners can respond in their work with infants and children, and their parents and caregivers.
This webinar is of interest to professionals working with infants and children, and/or their caregivers across early learning and care services, maternal and child health and other family support services. 
Register for this FREE event here.

Community News and Events

Active Kids and Creative Kids Vouchers

Under the Active Kids program, parents and carers can receive two $100 vouchers, per child, each year to put towards the costs of sporting, fitness and recreation activities being run by registered providers. The first voucher can be claimed anytime from January to December, while the second is available after July 1. Both vouchers are valid until the end of the year. The program has a wide choice of activities for children and young people to throw their energy into, from traditional team sports, through to individual pursuits. You can explore the full spectrum of activities via the Active Kids registered provider list

The Creative Kids program provides families with one $100 voucher per year to help support the costs of their children’s creative and cultural interests, from music, dance and visual arts to creative writing, craft and graphic design. Again, there is a Creative Kids registered provider list to help you discover the variety of activities that are available.   

Become a Member

It is important for people interested in the future of the corporation to be members and to attend the general meetings. A membership application form is available here.
If you are already a member and need to update your homes address, phone number or email address you can contact us by phoning 6626 3700 or emailing us at info@ngunyajarjum.com.

Join our team of Foster Carers

Ngunya Jarjum is always looking for new carers to join the organisation and help ensure the wellbeing of all our jarjums. We need quality carers with a commitment to community, family and culture. If you, or someone you know, is considering the important role of becoming a foster visit our website for more information and to apply. https://ngunyajarjum.com/becoming-a-carer/

Donate

We are a registered charity and rely on government grants and donations to keep operating. If you would like to make a donation you can donate via Paypal.
Visit our website to complete the form and you will be taken to our secure PayPal donation portal. 

Make a donation

We do appreciate your support!

Ngunya Jarjum would like to pay respects to our Elders both past and present, also to our children, who will be the Elders future coming. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land of which we live and work in, the people of the Bundjalung Nation, as well as to all other Indigenous people who join us today. We would also like to acknowledge the survival of our ancient culture. May we continue to thrive, learn, and develop within so we may pass our knowledge down through generations to come.
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