View this email in your browser

Support and advocacy services for individuals, families, and community groups since 1977

February Newsletter

Dear Community,

We hope everyone has been well and keeping safe. All of our services are up and running, with normal operating hours at both the Factory Community Centre and Counterpoint's Multicultural Centre. We are also excited to welcome new students at our Poet's Corner Pre-school.

The Factory Community Centre
67 Raglan St, Waterloo
Mon-Thurs, 9.15am - 4.15pm

Counterpoint Multicultural Centre
73 Garden St, Alexandria NSW
Mon-Thurs, 9.15am - 4.15pm
Fri, 9.15am - 12.15pm

Get that boost!
If you haven't received your booster and received your second jab 3 or more months ago (for those 12+ years), you are eligible! The booster shot. A booster dose helps to strengthen your immune system and improve your long-term protection against serious illness from the COVID-19 virus. There are pop-up vaccine clinics around the community, with information further below. If you would like to know more about the booster, click here. If you would like to chat to one of our staff about the booster shot, contact us.

covid@counterpointcs.org.au
(02) 9062 5161

After postponing following the uncertainty of the Omicron Covid-19 variant and subsequent uncertainty, we have a new date! While March 4 is no longer Summer, 'Autumn On The Green' just doesn't have that ring to it, so we are hopeful for a summery day to keep with the name!

Summer on the Green is all about bringing the local community together to celebrate the incredible diversity of Waterloo. The event is completely FREE so all you need to do is show up and no doubt you'll have plenty of stuff to do with activities for all ages.

We will be in touch soon with a program for the event. A big thank you to our event supporter the City of Sydney along with sponsors NSW Government Department of Planning and Environment as well as Waterloo Metro Quarter John Holland & Mirvac.

Programs and Services

Community Support Outreach

Our experienced and dedicated community support team are conducting outreach in Surry Hills and Redfern with outreach services in Glebe coming soon. Our team provide case management support, and assistance with issues such as housing, health and maintenance.

Surry Hills
Northcott Community Centre, 48A Belvoir St, Surry Hills
Tuesdays 9am - 12pm

Redfern
Poet's Corner Our Place Community Room, 43-127 Morehead St, Redfern NSW 2016
Wednesdays 9am - 12pm

Free TAFE Foundation Skills Courses

TAFE Randwick is offering a range of free courses for Australian residents and eligible visa holders to start semester 1, 2022. The courses are suitable for adults of all ages and include people from English and non-English speaking backgrounds, and are delivered in a supportive learning environment by experienced teachers. The courses include:

CII Introduction to Aged Care, Nursing & Disability Work
This introductory course is for people who would like to work or study in the Aged Care, Nursing or Disability Services areas.

English Reading and Writing courses
These courses are for people who would like to improve their reading and writing for personal use, for work or for further study.

Digital Literacy – Smart Phone and Tablets
This course is for people who would like to improve their skills in using their smartphones and tablets.

Literacy & Numeracy Skills for the Enrolled Nursing Entry Test
This course is for people who would like to prepare for the entry test to study CIV in Enrolled Nursing [EN] at TAFE.

Individual programs
TAFE Randwick also offers individual programs for people who have specific English language or literacy needs or for people who cannot attend regular classes.

If you are interested and would like to know more, contact Caroline Kane at Randwick TAFE via email literacy.randwick@tafensw.edu.au or phone 0490 027 736.

Alternatively, Counterpoint staff are always happy to discuss your educational goals. You can arrange a chat with our staff by contacting us, info@counterpointcs.org.au or phone us on (02) 9698 9569.

Pop-up Vaccine Clinics

NSW Health are doing pop-up vaccine clinics to target the boosters or any vaccinations of 12yo + in Waterloo as per the dates below.

Waterloo Neighbourhood Centre
95 Wellington Street, Waterloo
8.30am - 4pm, Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 February

Children's Vaccinations

COVID-19 vaccinations are available for children aged 5-11. Children's vaccination clinics are located in Redfern, Forest Lodge, Marrickville, Croydon, Canterbury, Sydney Olympic Park and more. Visit Sydney Local Health District to find out more.

Events & Activities

Multicultural Art Group
Poet's Corner

Multicultural Art Group hosted at the Poets Corner, Our Place Community Room in Redfern, will be back in Feb!! Join us on Friday afternoons to paint, draw, colour in or whatever you feel inspired to create. This is a free class including art supplies.

To register your interest, please contact Elle on 02 9698 9569 or info@counterpointcs.org.au

Sydney Lunar Festival

To Celebrate Chinese New Year 2022, the City of Sydney is putting on a bunch of exciting activities, many of which are FREE!
Have a look at the City of Sydney What's On page to see what's on!

Festival Activities

REDWatch Meeting
6pm, Thursday February 3
Waterloo South: What makes high-density work for the community?

The Waterloo South social housing redevelopment will create one of the densest areas in Sydney.

What needs to be done to make it work, especially for those on low incomes? Join REDWatch to explore these questions with some experts. Bring your questions and find out what to look out for when the exhibition happens.

This meeting will be held online via Zoom. Contact REDWatch to arrange participation from Counterpoint's Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street Waterloo, if you can't join us online.

Zoom meeting link:
tinyurl.com/RedwatchZoomMeeting

REDWatch Contact:
mail@redwatch.org.au
8004 1490
Follow us on Facebook!

Local News & Information

Waterloo South Exhibition

Update from Department of Planning and Environment

The Department of Planning and Environment are proposing new rules for how land in Waterloo south can be used.

We are currently working to get the proposed plan ready for public exhibition. During the exhibition period the proposed plan will be shared with the public and the community will be encouraged to have their say. To help with this, the department will provide information and hold events so people can learn more about the plan, ask questions and give feedback.

The current outbreak of COVID 19 has impacted timing for the public exhibition, which we planned for early 2022 and had hoped would start in January 2022. We continue to work with the community on timing and engagement for the exhibition. The focus is on making sure we can provide information and receive feedback in a way, and a time that meets the needs of the community and is safe for everyone.

We appreciate the community’s interest in the proposed plan and will keep you updated with details on timing and how you can be involved in the planning process.

If you have feedback or would like to ask a question on the Waterloo south planning process, please email us at
waterloo.project@dpie.nsw.gov.au or phone 1300 420 596 (Mon-Fri 08:30-17:00).

Kind regards,
The Waterloo South Planning Proposal Team

Waterloo South Planning Proposal

While the final planning proposal for Waterloo South is yet to be made public, some details of the plan have. The Department of Planning and Environment held two workshops with agencies and residents in December 2021, and have released summaries of the sessions. You can access the summaries via the REDWatch website, along with questions and answers that arose from those workshops.

REDWatch Co-Spokesperson Geoff Turnbull has published an article in the South Sydney Herald detailing some of the things we can expect out of the planning proposal.

600-660 Elizabeth Street, Redfern

In October 2021, NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) cancelled the Build to Rent (BTR) scheme for the site. This would have seen the site leased for 40 years for the purpose of rental housing. LAHC says that the “proposed planning controls have reduced the yield to a level where a BTR model is not viable and no longer meets the objective of delivering the project at no cost to government.” LAHC initially wanted 450 units on the site but the planning controls developed by the City of Sydney Council only allow 300.

As LAHC considers the Communities Plus model for the site which would see the sale of 70% of the site for private development in order to self-fund 30% new social housing, Action for Public Housing is advocating for 100% social housing, citing the 1000 families on the social housing waiting list within the Inner City alone. To sign the petition below to demand LAHC retain ownership and build public housing instead.

Sign the petition

Copyright © 2021 Counterpoint Community Services Inc. All rights reserved.

Email: info@counterpointcs.org.au
Phone: 02 9698 9569
Location: The Factory Community Centre, 67 Raglan Street, Waterloo, NSW 2017

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.