MEDIA COVERAGE FOR YOUTH DETOX AND REHAB CENTRE IN ROCKHAMPTON

The past couple of weeks has seen a deal of information in the local paper about the need for a youth detox and rehab centre.  Mrs Donna Kawane from CQAICCA received front page coverage in her calls for such a centre.  This was taken up and supported by the CEO of Darumbal and Mr John Anderson from Pi-CaTS.  The information was well researched by Ms Kathryn Greensill who is a  journalist at the Morning Bulletin and she followed up with government Ministers at both the Federal and State levels.  There will now be another strategy undertaken to follow up from the great coverage about the issue.

DARUMBAL RECEIVES FUNDING FOR AN AFTER-HOURS OUTREACH WORKER FOR YOUTH

Darumbal, Reconnect and CQID have all received $100,000 to coordinate the outreach work for young people who are experiencing homelessness and substance misuse after hours.  The funding is through the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs.  The 3 services will meet to develop a coordinated strategy around the funding.

LIONEL HARBIN PRESENTS AT NATIONAL HEALTH CONFERENCE IN MELBOURNE

The Physical Activity Officer at Darumbal, Lionel Harbin, has returned from presenting a paper on his Rabbitproof Fence Challenge at a national health conference in Melbourne.  The feedback to his presentation has been very positive and he has now been asked to present the same paper at a conference to be held in Darwin later this year.  Well done Lionel.

EAGLEHAWK WELCOMES NEW STAFF

The Eaglehawk Family Support Program welcomes a new team.  Mrs Debbie Robson is the Acting Team Leader and she brings many years of experience in working in the policy arena within the Indigenous Coordination Centres.  Ms Marie Kemp and Ms Lenore Blair are the Family Support Workers and both bring a number of years experience in teaching, aboriginal cultural heritage, community development and disability services work to their new roles.  Ms Kim Yarrow has joined the team in the Administrative and Family support area and she also has a background in working with youth and families.

REVIEWS UNDERWAY AT DARUMBAL

Mr Geoff Higgins from Performance People is conducting a review of Darumbals Constitution and has held a series of meetings with a range of different parties to gain feedback on the directions for Darumbals future.  If you have any comment or wish to provide feedback please contact Geoff  at:

Performance People Pty Ltd
Phone:               07 4926 2510
Mobile:              0417 424 063

Email:                 Geoff@performancepeople.com.au

Internet:            www.performancepeople.com.au

Ms Del Daley from Pi-CaTS has been working with Darumbal to upgrade the Human Resource procedures, position descriptions and the CEO Performance Review in readiness for the award modernisation and to improve and enhance internal procedures at Darumbal.

Pi-CaTS are a consultancy company based on the Capricorn Coast and they have provided a range of services for Darumbal over time including submission writing and performance review.  The contact details for Pi-CaTS are:

Pi-CaTS Pty Ltd

PO Box 2244

YEPPOON  QLD  4703

AUSTRALIA

ABN     70 681325467

ACN     116 837 417

Mobile (John Anderson) 0437 534 516

Email john@pi-cats.com.au

Mobile (Del Daly) 0417 758 500

Email del@pi-cats.com.au

NEW SECTION……………NEW SECTION…………………NEW SECTION

QUALITY SERVICE DELIVERY “TOOL KIT”

As a learning organisation, Darumbal has implemented a new section into its website.  This site will feature a variety of tools and resources that can assist in Quality Service Delivery.  The first of these is attached.

http://www.qldalliance.org.au/resources/items/2010/05/318632-upload-00001.pdf

This site will take you to a great resource developed by Sandy Paton called Qld Alliance-Regional Sector Development Handbook May 2010.

FAREWELL TO DEANN LAW-BOARD MEMBER

It is with a heavy heart that we say farewell to our Board member, Ms Deann Law.  Deann is moving onto other pursuits and we remember her for her support, participation and sense of humor.

Congratulations to both Lionel & Wade for a great day.

BRING ON NAIDOC TOUCH 2011!!

WINNERS OF THE WOODEN SPOON

Congratulations goes to all the winners, entrants & their partners for all their hard work leading up to the ball.

Darumbal’s entrant, Miss Skye Penola was announced Miss Photogenic.

Well Done Skye!

HISTORY OF PALM ISLAND

With the recent announcements into the Palm Island matters, I thought that this piece written in 2004 on the history of Palm Island will inform people on how hard life was on this community.
A history of Palm Island

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 – 11:00
Dave Riley
Palm Island is 70 kilometres north-west of Townsville. The Indigenous settlement was established in 1918 after a cyclone blew away the Hull River reserve near Tully.
While it was one of the last settlements to be created under the draconian Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act of 1897, Palm Island was established with a clear purpose in mind.
The location was seen as an ideal place to confine Aboriginal and Islander people who were regarded as “problem cases” and as uncontrollable on other reserves where the state’s Indigenous population had been herded. Others sent there were the single mothers of mixed-race children and criminals recently released from prison. Over the next two decades some 1600 people from 40 different Aboriginal groups across Queensland were removed by the state government and dumped on the island.
The residents of Palm Island were subject to strict supervision. No-one was allowed to leave without the superintendent’s permission and then only under supervision. Absconders were captured by the police and returned. Relatives and friends needed permission to visit. Mail was vetted and a nightly curfew imposed. Speaking Aboriginal languages was forbidden. Employment opportunities were limited and the wages earned by Indigenous workers were “managed” and misappropriated by the Aboriginal affairs department.
In 1957, the Palm Island workforce demonstrated and threatened strike action when their wages were cut. In response, the Queensland government dispatched 20 police and a patrol boat to put the rebellion down. Seven men and their families were shipped off the island in leg irons and transported to settlements on the mainland. In 1974, only one of the 1200 workers on the island received an award wage. A second strike that year erupted when the government sacked the local community council and threatened to turn control of the island over to Townsville city municipality. By 1980, there were 99 people for each wage earner on Palm Island with an average of almost 12 people in each house.
Formal state control over the island was relinguished in 1985 when title was passed to the community council in the form of a DOGIT (Deed of Grant in Trust). While the DOGIT reforms gave residents on all state reserves a greater say in their administration, on Palm Island the changes led to the removal of much of the government infrastructure. Houses, shops, a timber mill, a dock and farming equipment were disassembled and shipped to the mainland.
Most of the few businesses now on the island are owned by non-Indigenous people. Those with jobs either work for the Palm Island Council, the two schools or the hospital. The biggest money earners on the island are the supermarket, still under state government ownership, and the “canteen” selling alcohol, run by the council. As the council’s adviser Don Peachy has pointed out: ‘They left us with the pub, the biggest revenue raiser for the council, and the source of the community’s self-destruction.” The current Indigenous population of the island is around 2,000. Unemployment is 88%.
For most of its history, Palm Island has functioned as a place of secondary incarceration, employed by successive state governments as the final solution to ongoing Indigenous problems. The Palm Island community carries the burden of the island’s history and represents, as local Murri activist Les Malezer has stated, “the epitome of oppression of our people by the Queensland colonial and state governments”.
From Green Left Weekly, December 15, 2004.

QLD ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HUMAN SERVICES COALITION HOLDS INAUGURAL SYMPOSIUM IN ROCKHAMPTON 13-14TH MAY 2010.

The Symposium saw up to 70 people attending for both days.  The variety of speakers and their knowledge was stimulating and dynamic.  It certainly sees the future of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander affairs is in good hands with the new band of young leaders coming through.  It was an honour to have the Social Justice Commissioner, Mr Mick Gooda, to open and close the symposium.  His wisdom and humble honesty made us all stop and reflect on how to conduct our business.

There will be an outcomes paper of the symposium and this will be posted onto the website.

The Darumbal Dancers led by Dylan Mann entertained the crowd and closed the Symposium.

Margaret Hornagold, CEO, Darumbal Community Youth Service, Minister Karen Struthers & Wade Mann, Chairperson for Darumbal Community Youth Service Inc at the Symposium

Mitzi Jarvis speaking with Cleveland Fagan from Apunapima Medical Service

Karen Walsh, Chair of QCOSS Board & Mary Doctor from the Coalition catching up over lunch.

DARUMBAL HOLDS MEETING WITH TEAM LEADERS ON CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

Geoff Higgins from Performance People met with the Team Leaders from Darumbal on the 12th May to contribute towards the “Taking It Back to Community” Constitutional review.  Tony Jansen, Debbie Robson, Krystal Beazley, Rose Melton and Lionel Harbin assisted with their views and opinions.

The next staff gathering will be on the 26th May at the Fitzroy River Boat Club.

FORMER ORIGIN GREATS (FOGS) MAKE DONATION TO DARUMBAL COMMUNITY YOUTH SERVICE INC

Darumbal was pleased to receive a donation from Gene Miles from FOG’s on the 11th May 2010.  The work that the FOGs do is similar to that done by Darumbal.  Mr Wade Mann and Mr Barry Doyle from the Board attended along with Ms Nina Kemp from the community.  The story was featured on WIN News that night.  The funds will be utilised for the Carpe Diem gym program.

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

17/5/10:    Girlz 2 Woman workshop commences

18/5/10:    GenerationOne Roadshow @ Kershaw Gardens from 8am-10am.

18-19/5/10:  Tony Jansen & Lenore Blair in Biloela for the Housing & Homelessness Area Network Meeting (HHAN)

19/5/10:      Darumbal Finance Sub Committee meeting

20-21/5/10:   CEO, Margaret Hornagold, in Brisbane for the Workforce Innovation Conference-Keppel Community Care, Darumbal, Milbi & CEO have been shortlisted for an award during this conference.

If you would like a delivery of Hot Food and Salad Sandwiches/Rolls, please contact Emma Harbin at Darumbal on 49 226 180.

The picture posted last week was of Marissa Smith, the Office Manager, taken when she was going to school in Bluff.  I think that most of you guessed this by the ABBA songs in the description.

NAME THE PLAYERS AND THE COACH

NEW STAFF ……….NEW STAFF…………………

Its a big welcome to 2 new staff at Darumbal.  Ms Marie Kemp is the new Family Support Worker in the Eaglehawk program and Ms Rose Melton is the acting Youth Support Coordinator replacing Tony Jansen.  Both women bring a wealth of experience from their previous work and community roles.

STAFF DEPARTING

Ms Sharee Willie is farewelling Darumbal from the 12th May 2010.  Darumbal would like to wish Sharee all the best and thank her for her commitment to the staff, clients and Board of Darumbal in the time she has been here.

DARUMBAL BOARD MEETING

The Darumbal Board meeting was held on the 28th April.  One of the key items was a presentation by Ms Julie Tanner who is a consultant working with CQID on the CQ WellBeing Centre.  Ms Tanner outlined to the Board the progress of this project with land being acquired at CQU by CQID.

“Taking It Back to Community” DARUMBAL CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

A workshop was held for Board members with Mr Geoff Higgins from Performance People regarding the review of Darumbals Constitution.  A number of key ideas and points were put forward by the Chair, Mr Wade Mann and the Treasurer, Mr Jason Pfingst.   Community consultation meetings are being arranged with Darumbals Industry partners, staff and the general community.  A community BBQ will be held on Mt Archer on the 11 June commencing at 10.00am and all are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP to Chrissie at Darumbal if you are coming and if you require transport.

DARUMBAL CEO INVITED ONTO THE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH PARTNERSHIP

Margaret Hornagold was invited to be a member of the State-wide Community Mental Health Partnership Forum.  The forum gathers senior representatives of Disability and Community Care Services and a broad range of organisations representing the wider community mental health sector.  The forum members will focus on strategic and systemic issues arising from policy, programs and practice.  Members will engage collaboratively on the future direction of community mental health.  A 12 month work plan will be established.  The first meeting will be held on the 4th May 2010.

DARUMBAL MEMBER OF THE STOCKLANDS YOUTH ACTION WORKING GROUP

Ms Krystal Beazley, Ms Emma Harbin, Ms Laine Barclay and Mr John Harbin attended the meeting of the Stocklands Youth Action Group last week.  Darumbal is engaging an additional 4 VSM Youth Workers to link with youth at Stocklands on Thursday nights to address VSM and other behaviours.  The CEO of Darumbal, Margaret Hornagold along with Krystal Beazley and Emma Harbin conducted training for Stocklands Security staff on cultural awareness matters on the 6th May 2010.  Although the intent was to do a historical background on Murri issues, the main issues covered was the lack of activities for young people and the concerns that security staff had about the health and well-being of the young people who chrome around Stocklands.

CARPE DIEM………..CARPE DIEM……………..SEIZE THE DAY

We’re in the fight to help our youth

John Harbin, Brenton Doblo and Margaret Hornagold were all featured in an article in the Morning Bulletin on the 6th May following the successful launch of the Carpe Diem Gym program in Rockhampton.  The facility will cater for young people and assist them in getting back on track with discipline and hard work.  A number of local sporting identities along with government officials and the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Rose Swadling were present at the launch.  The item was also shown on the WIN news on the 6th May.  Hats off to John Harbin and Brenton Doblo for this exciting venture.

YOUTH TAKE MESSAGE TO MINISTER

As part of National Youth Week, two youth from the Edge of Dreaming Early Intervention program, Josh Doyle and Lorna Adams travelled to Brisbane along with Laine Barclay and Krystal Beazley to showcase a video made by the young people in the Early Intervention program.  They were fortunate to meet the Federal Minister for Housing whilst at the workshop.  The story was covered in the Morning Bulletin and the local news.

This is a NEW & EXCITING way to get outdoors and experiment with spray paint, brushes and graffiti LEGALLY.

Our program will run every Mondays, starting at 10am. Transport and lunch will be provided.

So if you think you are a deadly artist and would like to display your work within the local community, please contact Krystal Beazley or Emma Harbin on 49 226 180 to secure your placement.

It’s a free Operating System for your PC, laptop / netbook or server. It ’s a good alternative for upgrading from Windows XP or Vista.

What is Ubuntu?

Ubuntu is an operating system built by a worldwide team of expert developers. It contains all the applications you need: a web browser, office suite, media apps, instant messaging and much more.

Ubuntu is an open-source alternative to Windows and Office.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
Browse the web

Ubuntu includes Mozilla Firefox – for fast, safe web browsing. You can also choose alternative open-source browsers from the Ubuntu Software Centre.
Create professional documents and presentations

OpenOffice.org is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and has everything you need to create professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations. OpenOffice.org is easy to use, packed with the features you need and completely free.

Get free software

The Ubuntu Software Centre gives you instant access to thousands of free open-source applications. Browse software in categories including: education, games, sound and video, graphics, programming and office. Software is easy to find, easy to install and easy to remove.

Email and chat

Get chatting with Empathy. Quickly integrate your chat accounts from Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber, AOL, QQ and many more. Evolution Mail provides easy, intuitive email.

Social from the start

New in 10.04. Read and update your social networks instantly. Ubuntu’s new Me Menu lets you access your Facebook and Twitter accounts (and more) straight away. Connect to your chat channels and make updates through a single window. Being sociable has never been so easy.

Buy music while you listen

New in 10.04. Ubuntu’s new music player includes an integrated store, so you can buy and download new tracks with just a few clicks. And thanks to Ubuntu One’s file-sharing magic you can store your music online and listen to it from other computers and music players. Ubuntu works with most music and media players.
View, store and edit photos

Ubuntu is ready for all your gadgets. Connect your phones and cameras to download your pictures. You can organise your photos with F-Spot and use popular tools like Picasa, Facebook and Flickr. For advanced photo editing, find a free application from the Ubuntu Software Centre.

Mobilise your digital life!

All Ubuntu users get a free Ubuntu One account. Ubuntu One allows you to store all kinds of files online so you can access them anywhere. Store bookmarks, contacts, music and pictures. Take everything everywhere with Ubuntu One.

Make, play and edit video

Watch all your favourite content from YouTube, iPlayer, and MSN Player. Play your own videos with Movie Player or use Pitivi to edit your videos.

Start fast with Ubuntu

Ubuntu loads quickly on any computer, but it’s super-fast on newer machines. After loading, opening a browser takes seconds, unlike other operating systems that leave you staring at the screen, waiting to get online.

Choose from hundreds of free games

The Ubuntu Software Centre offers hundreds of games, including puzzles, adventures, tactical challenges and more. All free to choose and free to use.

Accessibility

At the core of the Ubuntu philosophy is the belief that computing is for everyone and access should be free and complete whatever your economic or physical circumstances. Ubuntu is one of the most accessible desktop operating systems around.

Modern Awards-QCSEA Workshop 19/4/10 in Gladstone.

Cely Baillie & Margaret Hornagold attended a workshop in Gladstone run by the QCSEA regarding the Modern Awards.  Darumbal has been to workshops run by QCOSS, ASU and now QCSEA as well as seeking advice from QCCI on what the award modernisation and transitions mean for staff at Darumbal.  Darumbal as a respondent to the old SAC’s award transitioned to the ‘new SAC’s’ award from the 1 January 2010.  We can start to make some changes from 1 July 2010 with the transition taking place over the next 12 months.  We are waiting for the regulations to be announced that go with the Fair Work Act 2009 that will determine pay rates etc.  A Heads of Agreement has been negotiated between the ASU & the Australian Government to protect those pay rates introduced through the State legislation.  A federal pay equity case is being run now.

I will endeavour to keep staff and Board up to date on the new awards and what it means for Darumbal.

AVSM Workshop in Townsville

Krystal Beazley attended the AVSM workshop in Townsville from the 19-21 April 2010.  A lot of information was gathered to assist the Darumbal VSM program and Krystal gave a presentation of what we do in Rocky.  Other services were very interested in the Pie Run project that Krystal set up and will be introducing this into their communities.  Good on you Krystal!

Its welcome to the new VSM Youth Worker, Emma Harbin.  Emma has hit the ground running literally as she has been working on the Touch with young people with Kylie ODonnell from PCYC.

Constitutional Review-Taking It Back to Community Project

Darumbal is currently reviewing its Constitution and Geoff Higgins from Performance People is assisting us with this.  Geoff met with 2 Board members on the 22nd April 2010 to go over some key questions and outline how the community, members, staff and industry partners will be involved in reshaping our Constitution.  It is called ‘Taking It Back to Community’ to reflect where it came from and the importance of  the communities views and ideas.

Tony Jansen is taking on a new role

Tony Jansen has been the YSC at Darumbal for the past 9 years.  He will be taking a 6 month secondment to be the Acting Team Leader at Budaroo House, our Homelessness Service.  He will work with Lenore Blair, Dereck Hornung and other staff to get ready for the new Action Plans and strategies rolling out from the White Paper on Homelessness.  Tony started at Budaroo on the 22 April 2010.

Ms Rose Melton will be starting in the YSC position from the 29th April 2010 for 6 months.  Those of you who have had dealings with Glenmore High School will know Rose from there.  We look forward to welcoming Rose to the team.

Staff Training and sharing information on programs and work plans for 2010.

A successful staff awareness and information sharing day was held at Darumbal on the 23rd April 2010.  Staff were asked to present their work plans for this year and the information presented has enabled staff especially those new to the service to learn more about what each program does and just where workers go to when they are not in the office.  The Administration, Finance and IT sections also presented their work charts for the year.

Staff Team Building Lunches

Marissa Smith & Chrissie Roder have been busy planning different venues with cultural themes for staff to get out of the office and debrief and clear out the cobwebs over lunch.  The venue last month was the Punjabi in East Street and today it was the Crooked Cactus at the Saleyards Hotel.  This is a delightful spot and the decor, service and meals were very enjoyable.

Hang onto your somberos, hombres

Staff Training in Certificates and Diplomas in Youth Work, Mental Health, Alcohol & Drugs, Community Services

All staff are involved in getting their evidence together for an RPL exercise as well as answering the questions for the different accreditation that they are doing.  It will be another successful training result when staff complete the training and are qualified in another range of skills.