2016Nundah

CommunitySupport

Group Inc

NundahNeighbourhood

Centre

NundahCommunity

LegalService

25 Years in Service

AnnualReport

In the past 3 years we have made small, but important changes to our business and service model; relationships and partnerships; and structure and capabilities to maintain a healthy and productive organisation. This means we can seize key opportunities that arise to support our community.

Nundah Community Support Group Inc (NCSGI) received recurrent funding from the Department of Communities for the Neighbourhood Centre Program and from the Department of Justice and Attorney General through Legal Aid Queensland for the Nundah Community Legal Service.

NCSGI also receives funding for other programs and activities from a range of diverse sources including the Brisbane City Council, other grant programs and private donations.

Our Statement of Goals

Our Vision Our Funding Bodies

2016Nundah

CommunitySupport

Group Inc

Our Goals

Deliver sought-after services and

continue to be part of the ‘big’ solution for our

community

Be strategic, accountable,

well-managed and deliver the results

for our funders and community

Do what we do best and effectively partner to

harness key opportunities

Ensure sustainability by increasing

our level of self-sufficiency through

diversifying the sources of funds

and resources

NCSGI is a thriving

sustainable organisation

living its values

Consciously maintain a strong

reputation, role and brand in both

the community and the sector

Satisfy, engage and value professional,

dynamic and competent staff,

volunteers, students and Management

Committee

Contents

Information & Referral ServiceCommunity Education ProgramsSocial InclusionFamily Support ProgramLegal ServiceCase Studies

NCSGI President’s Introduction

Looking Forward

Funding & FundraisingOur StaffOur VolunteersOur Management CommitteeOur Students & Interviews

The Art ShowOur Community PartnershipsOur Partnership to end Domestic ViolenceOur Multicultural Community

Why weMatter

6-7

Making aDifference

8-17How it Happens

18-29

Celebrating our Community

30-35

Our Future Focus

36-37

Why we matter Why we matter

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, our focus is on remaining vibrant and responsive. We are committed to delivering much needed services and contributing to the bigger picture solution for our community. We are committed to working and partnering with others to harness key

opportunities and ensuring that clients, volunteers and staff are engaged, valued and supported. This requires an innovative and proactive approach to how we do business and deliver services. Like all community and social services, we also feel the strain of increasingly stretched resources in the face of what often feels like increasing need. Despite this, the Committee and staff are committed to advocating to key decision makers, collaborating with business and government sectors, building on our strengths, leveraging our assets and engaging with our ever-evolving community to build a resource base from which we can remain a key community stakeholder.

The coming 12 months will see exciting changes to how we use our space and facilities and how we engage with our community. In doing so, we will not lose sight of our humble beginnings nor the people that we exist for as we continue to strive for a vision for our community that is safe, that celebrates our ‘Nundahness’, that values diversity and that supports and respects those that live, work and play in our Village.

For 25 years, the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre has provided a space that brings people together to connect, learn, engage with and contribute to the local community through a variety of social, legal, educational and support oriented programs. Over the past 25 years we have gained a deep

understanding of our community, the issues and opportunities for our residents and have been an active contributor to a community that is safe, welcoming, inclusive and dynamic.

Our role is to celebrate and strengthen our local community and the people that connect with it as well as to provide a base from which we can respond to local issues and maximise opportunities that arise with our local area. We aim to complement the delivery of other services within our community by facilitating referral pathways and targeting programs to address gaps in the delivery of services. We also regularly collaborate with key partners to work towards a united response to some of the more challenging issues that face not only our local community but the broader Brisbane region. Most importantly, we are passionate about understanding the issues and needs of some of our most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents and remain steadfastly committed to providing and enabling the delivery of services that ensure all members of our community are valued and respected.

Eleesa Johnstone, President2015-2016 Annual Report6 7

Making a Difference

Our Information and Referral Services are in high demand. Each day staff, volunteers and students respond to

requests for assistance from individuals or colleagues on a range of issues including legal advice, emergency relief, housing assistance, domestic and family violence support and assistance, family and parenting support as well as enquiries about the programs and activities run at the Centre. Our aim is to assist each person who seeks information and referral support by offering the time to listen to their story, offer them a cup of coffee and information and referral options.

Throughout the year, the service is regularly approached to provide community education to students, volunteers

and community members. These requests are an opportunity to raise the profile of the organisation, awareness of the services offered at the Centre, and educate our community. These topics include domestic and family violence, community engagement and social inclusion practices within the context of a Neighbourhood Centre and legal issues such as elder person’s rights, family law, neighbourhood issues and debt and consumer matters. Community Education is delivered through the Family Support Program, and the Community Legal Service.

NNC was also successful in receiving funding from the State Government to hold a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month (DFVPM) business breakfast in May 2016. The aim of the breakfast was to share information and knowledge with local businesses and employers on how to

effectively respond to domestic violence including supporting employees affected by domestic violence. For this event to come to fruition NNC partnered with women affected by domestic violence, a solicitor with expertise in family and domestic violence law, and the manager of CEO challenge. The three women who shared their experiences of domestic violence had accessed the NNC for support from the Family Support Program by participating in the Journeys program and receiving individual counselling. Each of these women spoke of their experience of domestic violence to highlight what support could be provided by employers.

Information & Referral Services

Community EducationProgram

Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Month Business Breakfast

Informing the CommunityInforming the Community8 9

Guest lectured to Social Work

students at Australian Catholic University on the

topic of Groupwork

Domestic & Family Violence

Prevention Month business

breakfast

Presented to Northside Christian

College students on Community

Engagement & Social Inclusion

Community Education

Presentations2015-2016

Presented to trainers at Careers

Australia Institute of Education & Training on Current working trends & practices

in the welfare & community sector

Info

rmat

io

n and Referral provided on:6354

Occasions

Educated newly arrived refugees

about how to access services and programs

at the Nundah Neighbourhood

Centre & Community Legal Service

Educated clients and workers at the INCH Housing AGM about how to access

services and programs at the Nundah

Neighbourhood Centre & Community Legal

Service

Making a Difference Making a Difference

Informing the Community Engaging the Community

The Legal Service continued our valuable general Community Legal Education work so vital in empowering clients and in early intervention and preventing escalation of conflict which can have greater impacts on the individual and community. These CLEs included talks and presentations at

schools, aged care centres; to university students, to the Metropolitan Schools Constitutional Convention and our State peak’s conference on risk management. The CLEs delivered by the Legal Service have consistently been positively received. In addition the NCLS took on a PLT student and she, with social work/human services students regularly placed with the NNC, made valuable contributions at client appointments.

A key priority of the Centre is to provide programs and activities that encourage community members, particularly those who are isolated and vulnerable, to engage with the Centre and their local community. We view a sense of belonging as a basic human right and provide activities that

both foster a sense of community and meet other basic needs.

Our volunteers help host our weekly Community Lunch that provides a healthy, hot, nutritious meal for around thirty people, many of whom experience homelessness, live with mental health issues and are socially isolated, come from refugee backgrounds, have a disability or who are long-term unemployed.

We also provide a Food Relief program that grew out of a demand for Emergency Relief. Currently there are no Emergency Relief services in the local area and with Centrelink, employment services, disability services, domestic violence services and housing support services all situated in the immediate vicinity, it became essential to find creative ways to meet this demand. This program complements our Community Lunch and we are able to provide fresh produce, fresh bread and other pantry items when available. This program relies entirely on donations from other not for profits like Second Bite and Foodbank as well as local businesses and community members.

We also provide a playgroup and a sewing group as part of our social inclusion and community connection focus and each year we celebrate these connections via our community Christmas party.

Over the year the number of attendees each week for these programs has grown significantly and this demand continues to rise. This reinforces the importance of such programs in providing a safe place for people to meet, share their stories, make friends and feel welcomed and accepted.

Other Community Education activities for the Centre included our English Language Program where students for whom English is a second language are able to attend conversational English language classes each week. This program also has an important social inclusion component with

students and teachers reporting that the friendships and social connections made are just as important as learning English.

The Nundah Community Legal Service

Social Inclusion Program

English Language Program

10 11

No.

of

Com

m

unity Education Worksh

ops

13

No.

of

stud

ents attended English classes:

130No.

of E

nglish Language Classes:384

No.

of

part

ic

ipants from the comm

unity:

387Students, Workers

& Community Members

Soci

al I

ncl

usio

n & Support Services off ered

22479Occasions

Making a Difference

Supporting the Community

This has been a very busy year for the Family Support Program (FSP) with consistently high numbers of referrals for access to generalist and specialist counselling, support, group programs and workshops. Referrals to these services come from a wide range of both government and non-

government organisations.

Historically the FSP has been instrumental in initiating networks and group work focusing on domestic and family violence on the north side of Brisbane. The continued experience and development of the FSP within the arena of domestic violence (DV) has generated a steady stream of increased DV referrals for both the counselling/support program and the Journeys group program for women who have experienced domestic violence. The Journeys group program has been operating twice a year at NNC for approximately 16 years and is facilitated by the FSP worker and currently co-facilitated by a worker from Uniting Care Community (UCC).

We are also an active member of the Northside Alliance Against Domestic Violence (NAADV) and the Northside Sexual Assault Action Network (NSAAN). Our involvement with these networks provide opportunities to stay current around domestic violence and sexual violence issues and up to date with services in these areas. The FSP has also been actively involved in developing and organising several projects, trainings and events of these networks throughout the 2015/16 year.

The Legal Service provides legal advice by appointment Tuesday to Friday from 9:30am until 3:00pm with the Principal Solicitor, Eugene White. The Legal Service has provided over 760 people with legal advice in varying areas of law this year.

Our Legal Service has been crucial in delivering legal advices to a number of individuals in our community who are either ineligible for legal aid or have experienced difficulties in accessing legal advice from other services. The responsiveness of the Legal Service to our community’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals has enabled the Legal Service to meet a growing demand and legal assistance in increasingly more complex cases during the past year.

The Legal Service continues to be co-located with the Neighbourhood Centre, the benefit of which enables a number of legal clients to access counselling, support and assistance during difficult and stressful times in their lives in one location without the cost and burden of sourcing additional services. We have seen an increase in the number of clients presenting with family law and domestic violence issues during 2015/2016. Our co-location has enabled clients of the Legal Service presenting with these issues to be linked with the Family Support Worker, Lisa Berlin, for counselling and workshops focusing on self-growth, empowerment and moving forward as a survivor of domestic violence. The Legal Service continues to be proud of the diverse assistance that can be provided to our clients and looks forward to continuing to develop opportunities for collaboration.

Family Support Program

Community Legal Service

Wednesday Evening Service

Supporting the Community

Making a Difference

The Principal Solicitor, Eugene White, and Jo Money coordinate the volunteer program which operates on a Wednesday evening to provide free legal advice from 6:00pm to 8:30pm for members of our community who are otherwise unable to attend day time appointments with the Legal

Service.

12 13

No.

of

tele

phone counselling clients:64

No. of t

otal d

irec

t co

ntact hours in counsellin

g & groupwork:

420No.

of

Journeys Program participan

ts:

37No.

of

face

to face counselling clients:53

During 2015-2016, the volunteer program has grown to include 59 volunteer solicitors and law students. We are grateful to our volunteers who enable us to continue to deliver free legal advices to a more individuals in our community seeing up to 10 to 15 clients each Wednesday evening.

With such an increase in the number of individuals accessing our evening service, our legal service administrator, Jo Money, has implemented a number of strategies during the past year to streamline the delivery of services. Jo and our law students welcome clients when they arrive and allocates their legal issue to the solicitor best qualified to provide them with legal advice. The linking of clients to expert lawyers in the relevant area of law achieves better outcomes for clients and contributes to the smooth running of the evening service.

We have observed an increase in the demand for family law and domestic violence advices and to respond to this need we have increased the number of family lawyers volunteering and available each Wednesday evening. The demand for our evening service and the high quality free legal advice available to clients continues to increase with each passing year. NCGSI is committed to meeting this demand and will continue to build and grow the volunteer program and evening service in the coming year.

Making a Difference

Supporting the Community

Legal Service

14 15

Tota

l number of Matters:

760Family 285 (37.5%)

Commercial, Contract & Property15 (1.97%)

Credit & Insolvency 37 (4.87%)

Employment 109 (14.34%)

Criminal60 (7.89%)

Personal Injury 12 (1.58%)

Neighbourhood41 (5.39%)

General Civil74 (9.74%)

Probate58 (7.63%)

Consumers35 (4.61%)

Discrimination3 (0.39%)

Tenancy17 (2.24%) Complaints against government

9 (1.18%)Child Protection3 (0.39%)

Defamation2 (0.26%)

Case Study 1

A Holistic Response to Domestic & Family Violence

Maria is one of the service users in the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre and Community Legal Service. She came to Australia a number of years ago from Ukraine after getting married to an Australian citizen. They have a child in

her teens, Zoe. During this time Maria didn’t work, was looking after the house and helping her husband with his business. Maria experienced psychological abuse during her marriage which ultimately led to the separation.. Following the separation, Maria’s husband continued his abusive and controlling behaviour towards Maria and Zoe, which negatively affected their emotional wellbeing. In addition, he was reluctant to provide financial support to Maria and Zoe. By the time Maria walked into the Neighbourhood Centre she had already tried to access a number of other services for practical and legal assistance. Although some of them were very helpful, they were targeted services meeting specific needs, such as counselling.

When Maria first accessed the Neighbourhood Centre she was looking for emotional and legal support. Maria was visibly distressed and was not clear on what her specific needs were at the time. Staff at the front reception immediately took time to talk through Maria’s needs with her and assess what steps could be taken to address her issues and needs. Given the high level of legal complexity of her situation, Maria was referred to a family lawyer, who volunteered with the Legal Service and undertook Legal Aid cases. The Neighbourhood Centre was able to facilitate the lawyer meeting with Maria at the Centre where she felt comfortable and safe to receive urgent legal advices. Maria was also introduced to a social work student on placement, who was from the same cultural background, who was best placed to provide Maria with emotional support in her preferred language.

Without the support of the Neighbourhood Centre and Legal Service, Maria would have continued to experience emotional turmoil, had limited understanding of her legal position and awareness of what steps she could take to best place herself and her child emotionally and legally. Maria continues to receive support from the Neighbourhood Centre and Legal Service.

Case Study 3

Facilitating Safety

Denise moved to Nundah in early 2016, a single mum of a young boy, having separated after years of emotional and psychological domestic violence. Denise was isolated from her immediate family and living in transitional government

housing. Denise walked in off the street into the Neighbourhood Centre seeking assistance for herself and her son. Denise reported that she immediately felt embraced by the staff at the Neighbourhood Centre and that she was in a supportive environment that offered her genuine assistance during such a difficult time in her life.

Denise was linked in with our Family Support Worker to engage in the Journeys program which is focused on supporting survivors of domestic violence. Denise spent the next 7 weeks working with the facilitators and participants through the various issues related to domestic violence. Denise reported to facilitators that she found the Journeys program to be a healing experience that allowed her to transition from a victim to a survivor of domestic violence. She found the content of the Journeys program to be relevant, detailed, supportive and essential to moving forward. Denise also reported that she would not be where she is now without the support of the Neighbourhood Centre, more specifically the individual staff whose commitment to front line services has been life changing for someone in her circumstances.

Case Study 2

Ahmed and Yasmin and their young son Ali came to Australia as refugees seeking asylum approximately 4 years ago. They were initially placed at the Immigrant Transit Accommodation Centre at Pinkenba and were later resettled in the

local Nundah community.

Soon after arriving in Brisbane they began attending English Language Classes at the Neighbourhood Centre and slowly started to make connections with other students, volunteers and staff at the Centre. On many occasions they came to staff and volunteers with questions and seeking assistance with completing forms, paying bills, understanding letters etc. The family were also regular attendees at many of the events and activities held at the Centre such as at the yearly Christmas Party and the Welcome Week Celebrations.

Following the birth of their second child, Yasmin started attending playgroup as a participant in the joint project the Centre was running with Multicultural Development Association to engage women from diverse cultural backgrounds in parenting programs. Through her participation in the playgroup, Yasmin disclosed to one of the workers that she was having difficulty coping following the birth of her child and felt very sad much of the time. The worker was able to assist Yasmin with information and referrals to services that provide support for post-natal depression.

Ahmed also recently accessed the Wednesday Evening Walk In Legal Service for legal advice and information on a legal matter regarding his employment. The Solicitor was able to provide advice and follow up with Ahmed that assisted him to make an informed decision regarding his legal matter. Ahmed, Yasmin and their children are now active members of the Neighbourhood Centre and have accessed many of the services during the past 4 years. Their story is a common one, with many newly arrived families coming to the Neighbourhood Centre for one purpose such as learning English but gaining support, friendship and a strong sense of belonging in their local community.

Building Connection through Community

16 17

NCSGI gains financial support from the Department of Communities in the amount of $250,970 until 30 June 2018 to operate and deliver various services and programs under the umbrella of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre. We have also received funding from the Department

of Justice and Attorney General in the amount of $134,350 until 30 June 2017 to operate the Nundah Community Legal Service. In addition to our recurrent funding, NCSGI has been successful in securing a number of grants to deliver programs including the Domestic Violence Prevention Month breakfast and Sexual Assault program. To ensure that all funds are used efficiently and effectively, we co-locate and cost-share the Neighbourhood Centre and Legal Service to minimise operational costs so that we can focus a greater portion of the funding and income on service delivery.

The NCSGI wishes to thank the following organisations for their financial support and generosity during the 2015/2016 Financial Year, as well as their support for the programs and community initiatives that we undertake to help those most vulnerable in our community.

FUNDRAISING: While State funding remains vital to our programs, it alone is not sufficient to enable us to meet the increasing need of our local community. The NCSGI has continued with the strategic plan of increasing income from fundraising activities and projects in addition to the

funding received from our Government funding bodies and non-recurrent grants. The NCSGI has been able to establish new corporate sponsors, donors and build on relationships with local businesses to raise awareness of the services offered and to provide additional income sources to facilitate the delivery of services to the community. The most clear examples of the advancement of the organisation’s strategic plan is the successful delivery of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre Art Show on 27 to 29 May 2016, the increase in room hire revenue and diversifying the businesses and organisations that provide corporate support and funding to NCSGI.

In the past two years, we have successfully organised and run a number of fundraising events, all of which are delivered on the tightest of budgets and are only possible with the assistance of our dedicated staff and volunteers. The NCSGI remains focused on building upon its fundraising efforts and income streams to provide revenue to the organisation in addition to government funding.

Funding & Fundraising Thank you

How it Happens How it Happens

Queensland Government Funding

Art Show

Loving Nundah Magazine

Community Lunch & Garden

Sponsors and Donors

Local Council & Members of Parliament

Department of Justice & Attorney GeneralDepartment of Communities, Disabilities & Child Safety

All In Brewing Co.As Quick ComputersBank of Queensland – NundahBest Wilson Buckley Family LawBrisbane Airport AustraliaEmperorGardner Vaugh GroupHillhouse Burrough McKeown LawyersKedron Wavell Services ClubMcFillin & PartnersMy Family Home ExpertsOfficeworksOxladesPanda PearlsParry Coates Family LawStratus Financial GroupThe Cumes-Rowell Family

Mozmo Creative - Advertising donation

Bunnings ToombulNundah FestivalCloud LegalColes ToombulK Mart ToombulNextra Newsagent Toombul Shopping TownSynergy Construction & Industrial Supply GroupTerry White Chemist

Brisbane City Council – Northgate Ward MP Nudgee – Leanne LinardMP Clayfield – Tim NichollsMP Lilley - Wayne Swan Lord Mayor Charitable Trust - Brisbane

18 19

Dept.

of

Com

munities Funding until 30 Jun

e 2018

Lega

l Aid

Qld

funding until 30 June 2017

$250970

$134350

Our Staff

How it Happens

Our Staff

How it Happens

The organisation boasts a staff and volunteer team with broad and substantial experience and skills which contribute to the high quality services provided to the community. Our multidisciplinary team currently consists of a Solicitor, a Coordinator, a Family Support Worker and a Finance

Officer. With highly skilled administrative staff and volunteers providing crucial support to the team, the organisation is one of the most highly regarded services on the north side of Brisbane.

The organisation would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our staff, all of whom are the critical ingredient to the success of the organisation and services delivered each year.

Sharon Gingell - Coordinator

Sharon Gingell has been the Coordinator of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre and Community Legal Service since March 2012. She has over 23 years’ experience

in the community sector and has experience working in homelessness, family support, domestic violence and mental health. The Coordinator is responsible for the day to day operation, management and development of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre and Community Legal Service.

Kellie Darben – Finance Officer

Commencing as Finance Officer in 2013, Kellie’s significant experience in financial management has been essential to the ongoing viability and

management of the organisation. The Finance Officer provides financial administration services to the NCSGI and Secretariat support to the Management Committee of NCSGI

Jancey Grefstad – Centre Administrator

Jancey has been in the role of Centre Administrator for over 8 years. Jancey has worked in the community sector for 19 years in the areas of domestic violence,

housing and homelessness. The Centre Administrator supports the NCSGI staff team through the provision of administrative duties and management of the front space and reception at the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre.

Jo Money – Legal Administrator

As the Legal Administrator, Jo provides administrative support to the legal service including coordination of the Wednesday Evening

Walk In Service.

Eugene White – Principal Solicitor

As Principal Solicitor Eugene oversees the provision of legal information, advice and referral to members of the community through the Nundah Community

Legal Service. Eugene has been in the role of Principal Solicitor since 2008, was admitted as a Solicitor in 1980 and has practiced primarily in Brisbane and in generalist private practice litigation with various periods interstate and in corporate, public and community practice.

Lisa Berlin – Family Support Worker

Lisa has enjoyed a long career with the Neighbourhood Centre, commencing employment with the organisation shortly after incorporation in 1990.

Lisa is highly regarded for her expertise in domestic and family violence and is responsible for the development and delivery of a number of domestic violence programs including the Journeys Program. The Family Support Worker provides individual and family support services through a centre based, counselling focused model of service delivery.

20 21

Jo started to volunteer at the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre in 2012 after having gone through a relationship breakdown. She was struggling to find a job that would support her and

her children.

Jo had been working part time since having children, but had never really worked in an office situation before. The part time work she was doing wasn’t enough of an income to sustain cost of their living, so Jo thought she would volunteer in an office to gain experience to get a job doing office duties. Jo then volunteered at the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre for a year working on the front reception. This enabled her to become more confident with working in an office and community environment. After a year of volunteering, there was an opening at the NNC for a receptionist to work one day a week. Jo applied for the position and was happy to get the job while also continuing to volunteer while working.

After being part of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre for two years the Legal Administrator position became available and Jo decided to apply for it. She got the job and has been the Legal Administrator for 2 years now. Being able to volunteer at the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre has given her the opportunity to find a career that she may not have been able to achieve without the support of the centre.

From Volunteer to Staff

How it Happens How it Happens

Our Volunteers

Volunteers continue to be the backbone of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre and Community Legal Service. With only 6 paid staff, volunteers are essential to the success of our programs and activities and we are extremely fortunate to have a team of very dedicated volunteers, many

who are highly skilled professionals. These volunteers provide support, education and assistance in a range of skill areas including administration, group facilitation, policy and procedure development, legal assistance, fundraising and event management. The staff are extremely grateful for the work and support of each and every one of the volunteers and greatly appreciate the time, dedication and knowledge and experience they give to the Centre.

In particular the organisation would like to acknowledge the contribution and support of the Management Committee. The Committee plays a crucial role in the overall function of the organisation and this year were faced with some particular challenges with urgent major repairs to the building

being carried out. These repairs caused major disruption to services and impacted on the income of the organisation due to reduced room hire and ability to fundraise. As always, the Committee very effectively and professionally handled this challenge along with all the other requirements of overseeing the financial, legal and governance requirements of a modern day not for profit organisation.

No. of Volunteers

N0.

of V

olunteer hours dedicated:

149

9000

22 23

Our Executive Other Committee Members

How it Happens

President - Eleesa Johnstone

Eleesa is a local resident of Nundah and has enjoyed living in the community for over 25 years. Eleesa has a background in social work and is passionate about

helping build communities as welcoming and safe places for all residents. She works for QUT in the School of Public Health and Social Work and has been involved with the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre since 2013.

Treasurer - Amy Sanders-Robbins

Amy Sanders-Robbins is an Associate with Hillhouse Burrough McKeown Lawyers practising in Family Law and Wills and Estates. Amy has been a

volunteer with NCSGI as a solicitor and most recently as Treasurer of the Management Committee since February 2007.  Amy is passionate about providing access to justice and services that assist some of our community’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals. Amy’s skills from her legal practice have placed her in good stead to actively participate in the management and financial governance of the NCSGI.

Patricia McArthur

Patricia retired after spending her career working for the Queensland Courts, Office of State Coroner, Department of Justice and Attorney General and Victim Assist Queensland. Patricia is an active volunteer with the Nundah Community Support Group Inc offering her assistance

with administrative support, event management and fundraising activities. Patricia has been on the Management Committee for 5 years.

Daniel Coates

Daniel Coates is a family lawyer with qualifications in law and psychology.  He runs his own law firm in partnership with Rebecca Parry.  Daniel has a strong community focus, having worked in policy and management at Legal Aid Queensland prior to his admission, and also practicing law

in-house at Legal Aid Queensland.  Daniel continues to represent clients both privately and under grants of Legal Aid.

Coralie Kingston

Coralie Kingston is semi-retired after has working in the community services sector, government and faith-based organisations for over thirty years - in areas of social justice, eco-justice and human rights. She loves all kinds of music and can often be sighted at music gigs especially when

Beethoven is being played! She is a twitcher (bird watcher) and loves star gazing. Being on the Management Committee of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre is a way to support the great work of the centre and its welcoming culture for everyone in the local community. Members of her family have lived in the area since the 1930’s so Nundah is a favourite place.

Peter Cossgrove

Peter Cossgrove is a pastor at the North East Baptist Church, which is situated in the heart of Nundah Village. Peter has been involved in pastoral oversight of all Youth & Young Adults Ministry and is an active member of the local Nundah community. Peter has been a member of the Management

Committee for the past two years.

Paul Bridgeman

Paul Bridgeman is raised and educated in Sydney and holds a bachelor degree in economics/accounting. Now retired, Paul spent 35 years as a career Federal public servant working in a number of industry related departments and authorities in Sydney and Canberra. He lived 13 years in Fiji and was

involved in a range of official volunteer activities in the local community. Paul has been a volunteer and member of the Management Committee for the past three years.

Wendy Cumes (resigned in February 2016)

The Nundah Community Support Group Management Committee for 2015 - 2016 includes:

How it Happens

24 25

Over the past few years, the Management team have focused on developing a student program that provides opportunities for students at a University level to gain key industry experience in the areas of Law, Social Work, Human Services and Creative Industries from QUT. This year we

had 38 Legal Students who gained experience and insight into working in a Community Legal Service, including one-on-one practical legal training. We also had 4 students in the areas of Social Work, Human Services and Creative Industries who undertook a semester of placement at the Neighbourhood Centre. These 4 students provided 1,550 student placement hours and were heavily involved in a number of projects at the Centre including:

• Family Support Project engaging families from diverse backgrounds in the Family Support Program

• The Journeys Program• Nundah Festival• The Community Art Show• The Domestic Violence Art Project

Students are now an integral part of the team and their contribution to the work undertaken at the Centre. As an organisation that provides professional services in the areas of law and Social and Welfare Work we feel very confident that the next generation of Solicitors and Social and Human

Services Workers are starting their careers with the skills, insight and understanding necessary for this often challenging work.

Our Students Our Students

How it Happens How it HappensNo. o

f Legal Students

N0. o

f So

cial

Work & Human Services students

N0.

of s

tudent placement hours:

38

4

1550

26 27

The Cumes Rowell Family

The Cumes Rowell Family have provided immense support to the organisation since becoming involved in early 2015. They are local to Nundah and passionate about supporting their local community particularly in the area of arts.

I’m an art specialist working out of several State Primary Schools across Brisbane’s Northside and have been involved with the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre for some time. Initially I assisted in the organisation of the inaugural 2015 Nundah

Art Show and most recently was a member of the Centre’s Management Committee. I am passionate about community engagement through visual arts and am extremely happy to be involved with the first WE Create workshop which has evolved from funds raised through the 2016 Nundah Art Show. It is a creative workshop for women on their journey of healing from domestic violence. I am very aware of the therapeutic benefits of such projects and sincerely thank the Centre for allowing me to undertake this journey with members of the local community. 

~ Wendy Cumes Rowell. 

My experience as a client, volunteer and supporter of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre has been very personal and allows me an intimate perspective on their daily function, dedicated staff and volunteers. I initially contacted the NNC

about 4 years ago, requiring legal advice during a particularly difficult time personally and financially. The Community Legal Service provided an invaluable resource where one can access highly competent & professional solicitors. Since then my sister, my niece and I have become committed supporters and contributors to events and programs run at the centre. These have included 2 major Art Shows & more over 2 years. My family will continue our involvement with the NNC as we recognise the need for the important services they provide to all members of the community. 

 ~ Barrie Cumes

Art and cultural experiences bring communities closer, and through my involvement with the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre I have had the privilege to contribute to the culture of Nundah. I have been associated with the Neighbourhood

Centre since the inaugural Nundah Art Show in 2015. I was so impressed by the positive response we received from the contributing artists during this and successive events. The artists and I greatly appreciated the sense of inclusivity the NNC provides as part of its day to day programs. Art is one of the most powerful ways to engage with people from all walks of life and has the ability to encourage a unified, more diverse community. The Neighbourhood Centre has shown itself to be a progressive and valuable support network for the local community, as they clearly recognise the important role that art has in order to heal, involve and empower.

~ Alicia Hollier

Q. What motivated you to volunteer at the Nundah Community Legal Service when you were a student?

A representative from QAILS  (now Community Legal Centres Qld) was a guest at one of my law lectures about access to justice. Through QAILS I found that the Nundah CLS needed volunteers and decided to get involved.

Q. Why you decided to come back to the Nundah Community Legal service once you became a solicitor?

I saw how many people cancelled initial consultations at private firms because of the cost involved and I regretted that I couldn’t do more to help them. Once I had established a better work/life balance after admission, I knew I wanted to get back

involved with the Nundah CLS so that I could help people who were priced out of the private firms, especially family law clients who are often going through one of the worst periods of their lives and trying to navigate a daunting and confusing legal system by themselves. 

Q. Your thoughts on the service we provide?

T he Nundah CLS has a great variety of solicitors from a variety of backgrounds and provides vulnerable members of the community with quality advice they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. It is also great because the service forms part

of the Nundah Neighbourhood Centre, so clients can find out about other helpful services such as the Family Support and Counselling Program and the Journeys Program.

Our Volunteer

How it Happens

Shannon Bownds, Volunteer Solicitor

How it Happens

28 29

On the last weekend in May 2016, the Centre held their Nundah Art Show for the second year running and this year exceeded expectations, with double the entries and attendance. As the Art Show is held in May, which is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in Qld, the

focus of the show was to raise awareness and funds to support women who have experienced domestic and family violence. Leading up to and during the Art Show a number of events and activities were held to support this cause and highlight the issues surrounding domestic violence.

As a special event, Hillhouse Burrough McKeown Lawyers hosted a charity luncheon on the Friday, to kick off the Art Show.  Guests were captivated by the three speakers: Mark Oberhardt from The Courier Mail, Trent Dalton from The Australian and Lee Town from the PhotoVoice “Focus on Domestic Violence” Project.  Each speaker provided insights about a different aspect of domestic violence, including Lee Town who bravely spoke about her own experience as a survivor of domestic violence, in order to raise awareness of this critical issue and the actions we can each take to respond to and address domestic violence.  

Another highlight of the Show was the opening night, which was an evening of great music, good food, drinks including locally brewed beer and an inspiring live art performance. Over 250 people including artists, their family and friends, supporters of the Centre and art community and local

Nundah community members coming together to celebrate the amazing talent and diversity of artwork on display. The evening was a culmination of many months of passion and hard work of not just our very talented artists but staff and volunteers of the Centre.

The Art Show was a huge success with significant support from businesses and individuals with all funds raised going towards delivering art therapy empowerment workshops for women who have experienced domestic and family violence. A special thank you to our Major sponsors: Hillhouse, Burrough and McKeown; Kedron Wavell Services Club; and Wendy and Barrie Cumes. After such a success the Art Show has become a key annual event on the Centre’s calendar and we look forward to next year and its continued growth.

Our Creative Community The Art Show

Celebrating our Community Celebrating our Community

30 31

We are fortunate to have the support of and work closely with many local businesses in our community. Many of the businesses we work

with acknowledge that the service meets a significant need in the local community and recognise how essential it is to be well resourced and supported to deliver vital services. We are an active member of the Nundah District Development Association, fulfilling roles on their Management Committee and supporting the Community Christmas party and Nundah Fest held in Nundah Village each year.

T he Nundah Festival is a community event held each September with many of the local businesses, community organisations, schools and local

members taking part. Each year we run a number of activities at the Centre aimed at connecting with the local community, raising awareness of the programs and activities available and fundraising to support delivery of our many programs. This year our focus was on Child Protection Week through the provision of family friendly activities. The Nundah Festival is not only an important way to promote our services and celebrate with our community but also to raise funds. All of these activities are only possible with the support of the local businesses and elected members.

Of special mention is our relationship with Mozmo Designs, who donated two pages of their magazine “Loving Nundah” to the Nundah Neighbourhood

Centre and Community Legal Service. This donation allows us promote our programs, activities, events and opportunities to get involved with the Centre.

Celebrating our Community

The Art Show

Celebrating our Community

Our Community Partnerships32 33

No. o

f pie

ces

of a

rtwork entered in a range of categories:

200No. o

f vol

un

teer

h

ours completed by 25 Volun

teers:

500

No.

o

f Art Show Attendees:

350

No.

of

arti

sts who entered the art sh

ow:

80

We celebrate our diverse community and work hard to maintain a strong focus on developing collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders providing services and supports in this area. The Multicultural Development Association (MDA), which has a profile in Nundah,

is one of those partners that we work with to meet the often complex needs of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. As a Welcome Hub for MDA, the Neighbourhood Centre has been identified as a local service which provides a welcoming and safe environment to refugees and asylum seekers living on the north side of Brisbane. This partnership has led to many collaborative activities throughout the year were individuals and families came together from all parts of the world to celebrate different cultures, rituals, food, music and way of life. These activities included:

• Welcome Week in June 2016 were we worked with MDA and Community Living Association to hold

a community dinner for the Nundah Community

• Tamil New Year which was a celebration of one of the many diverse communities which are a part of

the Neighbourhood Centre with over 70 people attending the event

• International Women’s Day celebration which gave women at the Centre an opportunity to learn a

new skill and share their own cultural experiences of dance and music

• Family Support Project aimed at engaging families with young children from diverse cultural

backgrounds in playgroup and child focused activities at the Centre

Our Family Support Worker is one of the founding members of the Northside Alliance Against Domestic Violence (NAADV). For over 16 years NAADV has been meeting regularly at NNC to work towards filling the gaps in DV services, build the capacity of workers and services in Brisbane

north and provide community awareness about domestic and family violence.

One of our major accomplishments of the year was with NSAAN where we auspiced the Building Northside Capacity for Sexual Assault Responses project. This was a 12 month project funded by Victim Assist Qld, Department of Justice & Attorney General. The aim of the project was to equip generalist workers in Brisbane north with the skills and knowledge to effectively respond to women and young women who disclose experiences of sexual violence. There was an overwhelming response with over 100 expressions of interest for 70 places. The training was highly successful providing a two-day workshop in two locations and 3 follow-up reflective practice workshops in 4 locations.

The entire project was a collaboration from beginning to end with NNC very involved every step of the way from the grant writing working party and auspicing body to the location where there project worker was housed. NNC worked in close partnerships with Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre (BRISSC) and Zig Zag throughout the entire process.

Additional funding for DV services in 2015/2016 saw Brisbane Domestic Violence Services (BDVS), part of Micah Projects, receive DV funding for much of the Brisbane north area. BDVS became the NAADV convenor thus strengthening the network with a funded DV service and worker. Through this partnership with BDVS we have been able to work closely with Uniting Care Community (UCC) to deliver five Journeys group programs for women recovering from Domestic Violence. Additionally, a number of projects and events were made possible where we took a lead role in the development, printing and distribution of 75,000 Safety Cards for women that provided the names and numbers of over 85 services relevant to women and children escaping domestic violence. We also delivered a Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Month activity in May 2016 called “Standing in Strength”. This was a group art therapy activity held at our Centre for women who have experienced domestic violence. Fourteen women participated in this event creating an art piece that was subsequently showcased at our Art Show in May.

Celebrating our Community

Our Multicultural CommunityOur Partnership to end Violence

Celebrating our Community

34 35

On a more serious note, we continue to advocate strongly against domestic and family violence in our community. We are currently undertaking research with the support of a Master of Social Work student from QUT. This important piece of research is helping increase our understanding

of how women who have experienced intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) are treated and responded to upon their disclosure of the violence to services including statutory, government, community and private. The research is also revealing the factors that encourage or discourage disclosure of intimate partner sexual violence. This research will be used to better inform service responses to women experiencing IPSV and is offering women the opportunity to help build our knowledge and expertise in this important area of practice.

Our biggest challenge this coming year will be to secure another three year’s worth of funds for the Community Legal Service as our current Service Agreement with the Department of Justice and Attorney General is due to expire on 30th June 2017.While challenging, we are using this

also as an opportunity to review how we currently deliver legal services to the Brisbane North region and how we may potentially better respond to the ever increasing demand. The Committee and staff are very committed to the future of this program and its long history of ensuring free and high quality legal assistance to some of the most vulnerable and at risk people in our community including women escaping domestic and family violence, older people, people with disabilities and mental health issues and people at risk of homelessness.

As we look to the future of the organisation there are many challenges and opportunities ahead. With an Organisational Planning Day held in June 2016, staff and the Management Committee reflected on these challenges and opportunities and developed a suite of creative and innovative responses that will ensure we continue to meet the increasing demands for services across all of our programs and activities.

One of our most exciting opportunities is a new partnership with the Norris Motor Group in Nundah. Commencing in September 2016, Norris Motor group committed to provide ongoing practical assistance that will boost resources for the community lunch, emergency relief and drop

in services. As a long standing and well respected business we feel very privileged to work with the staff at The Norris Motor Group to deliver these services. In particular, we would like to acknowledge Courtney Norris who has been the driving force behind the partnership and who brings her own experience and knowledge in working with vulnerable families and children. We are hopeful that this partnership will lead to many other opportunities for us to work closely with Norris Motor Group to delivery other activities and programs such as our Art Show and domestic and family violence service.

We are also planning ways to activate our community spaces for events, functions, live art and theatre to continue to engage our local community. With support from businesses and other commercial enterprises we have the potential to add an alternative community and social

venue to Nundah while supporting the most vulnerable members of the community.

Sponsorship

Strengthening our Resource Base

Research Domestic & Family Violence and IPSV

Securing Stable Funding

36 37

Our Future Focus Our Future Focus

38

This report, like much of the work undertaken by the Nundah Community Support Group Inc has been a collaborative effort. NCSGI likes to thank all staff and management committee members who collected important data, taken photos to

capture special professional experiences and composed written pieces to summarise the achievements from the past year.

NCSGI likes to especially thank Rosie for the beautiful photos she took of the very successful Art Show, and to Maike van Beest, who kindly compiled all content and photos in this beautiful design layout that captures the spirit of NCSGI.

Annual General Meeting21st November 2016