Upper Mid North Coast
This year we helped 2,977 clients throughout the Upper Mid North Coast region.
The year had many highlights, but central to all of these was the sense of consolidation and capacity building
throughout all our services and staff.
A major highlight for us was our birthday event to celebrate 40 years of continuous service in the Coffs Coast
region. We were joined on the day by members of the Board, some of the Executive and Senior Managers, and
a strong turn out from local community partners, agencies and staff (past and present).
We were involved in a number of successful collaborations this year including:
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Participation in meetings and forums regarding improved engagement and access for Aboriginal clients with
Galambila Aboriginal Medical Service as part of their Coffs Aboriginal Mental Health Systems Improvement project
•
Collaboration with Warrina and Women’s Resource and Information Centre including a joint grant application to assist
families affected by DV, referrals to the StepUpMate men’s behaviour change program, and planned DV perpetrator
awareness training through the Engage2Change program
•
Active membership of IMHpact (Mid North Coast Mental Health Integrated Care Collaborative Core Coordination
Group). This integrated Mental Health Care collaborative seeks to better coordinate and integrate mental health
services and supports in the Mid North Coast Local Health District. Our Upper Mid North Coast and Lower Mid North
Coast regions are represented as NGO providers of early intervention mental health for children, youth and their
families through the Family Mental Health Support Service (FMHSS), the Royal Commission Community Based Support
Service, and counselling services for individuals, families and carers.
Other collaboration highlights included working with Lifeline in offering a localised training venue and shared
resources, headspace cooperation and shared resources, and active participation in local interagency activities/
events to support education and support for those affected by child protection and domestic violence.
Our services continue to grow and to assist with this we expanded our team this year with nine new staff
members and appointed two staff into management positions. In April we officially launched our Family
Mental Health Support Service (Connect) in Coffs Harbour and Nambucca Heads, and also opened a new
outreach centre in Nambucca Heads.
Our centre was given a new look this year, with repainting and rebranding of all internal walls and rooms and
new signage inside and out. A graffiti project on our rear lane wall has beautified the rear part of the building
and a new dedicated Children’s Room has been equipped and decorated for specific work with children and
families and has been appreciated greatly by children, families and staff alike.
We have continued to grow our staff and diversify our services this year, adding new positions, undertaking
staff training in identified needs, reinvigorating our group programs and delivering a trauma workshop for
external workers in the local area.
Some of the current staff (with previous Area Manager
Norma) at the 40th Birthday event in April
Our wonderful new child-friendly session room –
appreciated by all!
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