jan_march 2015 ppac newsletter

All work and walk together on one path of healing,

learning, caring and sharing,

creating a safer environment

and community

Pormpuraaw News was edited, written and designed by Liz Pearson & Christine Howes.

Photographs by Christine Howes, staff and community. Logo design

by Shaun Edwards..

www.pormpurpaanthu.com.au 22-23 Yalu St, Pormpuraaw, Q, 4892.

Phone (07) 4060 4105 Fax (07) 4060 4280

Pormpuraaw NEWS January–March 2015

Establishing a quality management system to ensure high-quality service delivery has been behind Pormpur Paanthu’s engagement of Accreditation and Quality Improvement Facilitator Barbara Schmidt, despite the organisation missing out on Prime Minister and Cabinet funds to support the move.

Ms Schmidt started working with staff and on systems within the organisation in October 2013 with a view towards gaining accreditation under a Commonwealth program called ‘Establishing Quality Health Systems’.

The accreditation will mean funding agencies can be assured Pormpur Paanthu will manage their resources well and customers using the service can be assured of good quality.

“The purpose of that first visit was to help Pormpur Paanthu to develop an implementation plan,” Ms Schmidt said.

“And that involved doing a gap analysis to see where they were then against the standards they needed, then I went in and worked with them to develop an action plan.”

She said she had visited the community three times to hold workshops and establish the new systems.

“Now they’re imbedded within the organisation and we’ve worked out who needs to do what,” she said.

“I’m going back for another visit in May which will really help automate these processes and bed them down, making sure everybody knows what their jobs are, and that PPAC has got the policies and procedures that sit behind that change in work practice.

“They’ve come a long way in that they have established the framework for their Quality Management System and they’re now starting to work with that system, and they are; I can see it.

“They are having management review committee meetings; they are doing internal audits; they are having their regular meetings and minuting things, so they’re really going very well and I’m very happy that they’re starting to get robust systems in place.” How it works...see pages 10-11...

Quality systems in place

Vacation Care January 2015 - more pics inside!

All work and walk together on one path of healing, learning, caring and sharing, creating a safer environment and community2

From the CEO’s desk...PPAC has undergone change management processes over the past few years that improve workplace practices and previous workplace cultures, including the implementation of a ‘no smoking policy’.

A series of workshops have been held to educate staff on the importance of adhering to the new guidelines, presently being introduced by both Governments.

Compliance reporting and data collection is an important part of the change if the Organisation is to continue being funded.

One of the contributing factors to change has been PPAC’s concerted efforts regarding compliance reporting and accreditation.

It is not easy leading change and bringing everyone to the realisation that this change supports greater community wellbeing by greater organisational efficiency.

PPAC maintains detailed client records and statistics to document results of assessments, treatment methods, and outcomes and issues.

The service will continue to map outcomes measures using the tools developed since 2009, including the Growth & Empowerment Measure (GEM) Tool and Family Wellbeing Program.

A highlight of the past three months has been the success of PPAC’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) submission, which has secured three years of recurrent funding compared to the previous year-by-year variations provided by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

This means PPAC’s Integrated Healing Service will have three more years to provide counselling, advocacy and personal support, group therapy, community education and health promotion, strength-based family support, family therapy, harm minimisation programs, and continue with its referral pathways to external services as required.

The Women’s Shelter has been enhancing quality and continuous improvements based on the introduction of the Human Services National Quality Framework and Standards; and minor renovations will be underway shortly contributing to improved work health and safety.

As a key stakeholder, PPAC is a member of the Interagency Working Group and works closely with stakeholders responsible for delivering services in Pormpuraaw.

PPAC has been involved in the development of the updated Community Safety Plan and Sports & Recreation Plan and has contributed to the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council Community Plan.

Renovations worth $81,500.00 to the Culture, Knowledge and Learning Centre have impacted positively on attendance to the Outside School Hours Care and Vacation Care Programs. Additional funding has been provided to PPAC for intensive family support.

The Long Day Care has now received an injection of funding from DETE and infrastructure including information technology, iPads, laptops and computers to the kindergarten children and staff.

The vision for PPAC is to work to increase capacity for generational change and to empower children to explore learning using innovative curriculum and tools that would contribute to igniting their passion and thirst for education and learning.

This year the children attending Long Day Care will have a uniform like the school children and they can’t wait to wear it with pride.

3 www. pormpurpaanthu.com.au

Pormpuraaw News January–March 2015

PPAC has also purchased money boxes for Pormpuraaw’s Long Day Care children with positive slogans about saving money for healthier choices and education.

A partnership with Bikes4Life and the enthusiasm of Founder/President Ebony Butler to deliver 200 bikes to PPAC and Pormpuraaw has been a work in progress for the past 15 months or more.

PPAC and Bikes4Life connected on Twitter; and let’s hope partnerships with Jobfind, the Pormpuraaw Primary State School and the Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council will continue to support community development projects such as a BMX track and other social enterprises with opportunities for more training and employment for young people.

PPAC has always supported the community with its localised events and over the past few months it was no different with the Christmas celebrations including carols by candlelight (pictured), a house and yard decorating competition; and the continued great work of the Youth Crew of PPAC.

This is evidenced by PPAC’s newsletters, Twitter, Facebook and the website which now boasts 16 videos and a photo gallery of the events undertaken since November 2013.

An injection of continued funding by Prime Minister and Cabinet for the Youth Development Unit will be a welcomed relief to PPAC so it can build on the work of the past 15 months; and with JobFind and the Ted Noffs Foundation Pormpur Paanthu may yet implement its vision for the Bush University Model – an interactive online learning environment that encourages youth development, education and employment.

The future for PPAC will depend on more funding to implement a purchase provider model.

To achieve greater efficiency and sustainability with clear results PPAC should be supported by Governments to procure services when it needs it, and for a length of time suitable to meet the complex needs of the community.

Community education and understanding can only improve when PPAC is able to reach the critical mass.

This needs to be driven internally not externally.As an NGO, PPAC has developed a socio-ecological model which

places the community as the central tenet, incorporating a long-term perspective to encourage sustainability and ongoing capacity development and increased wellbeing linked to ‘on country’ activities and family and community inclusion in decision making.

With continued hard work and determination PPAC’S path can only lead to continued success.

Liz PearsonCEO

Carols By CandlelightDecember 2014


Early Childhood Learning Services

CURRUCULUM(EARLY YEARS

LEARNING FRAMEWORK) Becoming

Being

Belonging

Partnershipwith families

Secure, respectful and

reciprocal relationships

PRINCIPLES

Responsivenessto children

PRACTICES

Children have a strong sense of

identity

Children are effective

communicators

Children are confident and

involved learners

LEARNING OUTCOMES

pormpur paanthu way

The

APPROACH TO RECOVERY MODEL

Holistic approaches

Learning through play

This model and the terms contained within are the copyright of PPAC 2014

High expectations

and equityRespect for

diversity

Ongoing learning and

reflective practice

Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Children have a strong sense of

wellbeing

Learning environments

Cultural competence

Asseement for learning

Intentional teaching

LONG DAY CARE

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Approvals for Pormpur Paanthu’s Long Day Care Centre are almost through, Early Childhood Learning Services Director Erin Kendall reports.

“Once we receive those approvals we’ll be able to be open as a Long Day Care Centre,” she said.

“PPAC has purchased $72,500 worth of IT equipment, including interactive smart boards, iPads and computers for children and staff attending and working at the Long Day Care Centre.

“PPAC staff members Nickalah and Sandra have completed their Certificate III in Children’s Services, which is fantastic.

“We have two local women half way through their studies and we’re looking to employ two more young people to study as well.

“To work in the Long Day Care Centre, which is a curriculum-based service, it’s compulsory for all staff to have these accreditations.

“In the meantime the Long Day Care model is currently being trialled within the Playgroup setting.

“Once the Long Day Care learning environment is open, this model will be in full effect.

“Educators already have a good understanding of how this model works and we will have information sessions with parents and carers to help understand what the model entails. It’s adapted from the Belonging, Being and Becoming Early Years Learning Framework for Australia.



pormpur paanthu way

TheOUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS AND VACATION CARE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Respect for diversity PRINCIPALS

High expectations

and equity

Ongoing learning and

relective practive

Partnerships with family

Secure, respectful &

reciprocal relationships

Holistic approaches

PRACTICES

Collarboration with

children

Learning through

play

Intentionality

Evaluation for wellbeing

& learning

Cultural competence

Continuity and

transitions

Environments

Effective comminicators

OUTCOMES

Connected with and

contribute to their world

Confident and involved

learners

Children have a sense of

identity

Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

“The Outside School Hours Care/Vacation Care held over the Christmas and New Year period ran very well.

“Technology is still a hit with the children.“The iPads and the computers definitely bring the kids

in, but we’ve also introduced a lot more in the way of science activities with the kids.

“The science experiments are very simple and the children just use household ingredients they can find themselves.

“At the moment, their favourite is making volcanos.“We’ve also continued with our ‘Cooking with Kids’

Program, which we do once a week.“We use our recipe book but we’ve also brought in some

new recipes for the kids to try out as well.“Philosophically the Centre promotes healthy lifestyle

and nutrition to reduce chronic disease in children, so therefore we continue to provide healthy and nutritious snacks.

“The service has actually had an increase in numbers this term. Between 30-50 children attend the Flexible Learning Centre daily.

“This is largely due to the introduction of the computer lab and the interactive software we have on the computers, as well as several outside activities where we have engaged with parents and children.

“This means putting more local staff on and more staff means we can plan for more engaging activities for children in the future.

“The introduction of the HitNet Kiosk within the Culture, Knowledge Learning Centre where the Outside School Hours Care is run has made a significant impact, and has been highlighted in a story run in The Australian newspaper.

“We have the videos uploaded from the September 2014 Youth Summit on the Kiosk and all of our children are in those videos, so that has brought more kids to the service because they’re telling each other about it, so they come in to have a look.

“PPAC also made a video last year with the Queensland Children Activities Network or QCAN, and that looked at the activities the service provides for children in an Indigenous setting in the Outside School Hours Care, which was a great hit.

“It’s up on PPAC website and also it’s been put up on to social media and has had some extremely positive comments.”


Outside School Hours & Vacation Care Activities include science projects

and learning about healthy eating



Getting children to school, helping with access to banking and government services using Pormpur Paanthu resources and generally being available to talk, support and assist is all in a day’s work for Targeting Parenting and Child and Family Support worker Donna Armstrong.

Ms Armstrong recently assisted a family to move to Cairns because they were having difficulty getting their teenager away to school. The parents wanted to ensure their child’s future came first.

“The family had slipped through the system when it came to getting their child away to school so I helped them by liaising with the school and the Department of Housing and Disability Services, and organised the move for the family from community to Cairns,” she said.

“I also help people bridge the technology gap between them and banking and government services by helping with general advice on how to access and use the resources at the Culture, Knowledge and Learning Centre.

“In my role I am able to remind parents what is happening up at the school, such as the ‘Reading with Children’ workshops held in March. I also partner with the youth group by brainstorming with them about what they want to achieve in the future.”


Vacation Care Activities, using PCYC’s Equipment with the

Youth Crew’s support included playing volleyball, washing

hands, going for a beach walk, eating lunch, hitting a pinata,

and making a fire...



School attendance rates have been on the rise again this year with the support of Student Attendance Supervisor Katie Holroyd and a strategy which may see a pool table purchased by way of a reward for parent’s and children’s hard work.

The Remote School Attendance Strategy Team brought numbers close to the required 90% in the first five weeks of 2015, and they wanted to commend parents who committed to sending their children to school every single day.

“We can close the gap if children are attending school every single day,” Principal Louise Jappe said.

“This is very good attendance and is leading against all other schools in the Cape region.

“We are reaching the 90% mark for individual days which is outstanding and the best attendance that I have seen here at this school during my time here.”

A successful tree planting day has also contributed.“In Term 1 students with attendance of 95% or greater

were chosen to take part in a tree planting day,” Ms Jappe said. “I would like to acknowledge RJCP – Job Find who donated the plants and assisted with the planting of the 10 new plants; and Liz Pearson who came up with the idea as an anti-bullying and unity project.

”It is hoped Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation’s Bikes4Life program (see page 20) will be donating up to 50 bikes to the school as an added incentive for children to reach the 100% attendance goal!

Attendance rising with new incentives on offer


CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK

PORMPUR PAANTHU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK

Management Review Committee

Support systems to manage quality Complaints Register Incident Register Continuous Quality Improvement Register Compliance Register Credentials Register Meeting action items registers Training Register Audit Register Risk register/risk management plan Document Register Grievance Register HR Register

THE REGISTERS PROVIDE A SUMMARY RECORD OF THE STATUS OF PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT QUALITY SERVICE OUTCOMES

Workplace Health and Safety Committee

• Incidents • WHS audits • Facility audits • Review of progress with WHS

corrective and service improvement as

Team meetings • Process audits • Incidents / Complaints • Review of progress against action plan and

KPI’s • Community feedback surveys • Review of progress with corrective actions

MRC CQI report – Method to communicate • Status of outcomes from QI actions

• Trend reports, audit reports, QMS status reports •

Foundation documents for quality management system Quality policy & Quality manual Compliance management policy and procedure Strategic plan, Business plan and Team plans with KPIs Internal Audit policy and Audit Schedule Policy on the production and control of policies, procedures and templates Critical Incident reporting policy and procedure Complaints management policy Service feedback policy and procedure Organisational meetings policy Mandatory training policy TOR Workplace Health and Safety Committee and Team meetings HR policies (Performance review, Grievance ) THESE DOCUMENTS DEFINE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE QMS AND NEED TO BE CONTROLLED TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE PPAC

Senior Management Team meeting • Review of Performance Indicators • Trend reports for QMS • Grievances • Incidents / Complaints • Staff feedback surveys • Corporate audit reports

CQI register-‐ record of: • Corrective and service improvement actions

•

CQI CYCLE AND STRUCTURES

“Starting at the bottom of the diagram, the Foundation documents are the foundation of the system and set what the expectations are,” Accreditation and Quality Improvement Facilitator Barbara Schmidt says.

“The next box up indicates the support systems for a quality management system where you need records to document what you’ve done.

“So we have a whole bunch of registers set up that document what’s been going on and where it fits into the developing overall picture.

“Then we have a process of working with those registers to report to the Management Review Committee, so that says ‘it’s okay, you’ve analysed your records information’.

“That tells us each report analysis should then go to one of three places, either Workplace Health and Safety Committee, your Team Meeting or your Senior Management team to work out what the results have been.

“This means we’ve got engagement of staff in continuous quality improvement because it’s important that this doesn’t just sit with one person.

“The benefit from the Continuous Quality Improvement Framework comes from when you engage with people and you get lots of people’s ideas on what to do but also can then share with people what needs to be done or what are we seeing that’s going well.”

It’s all about reflective practice allowing staff to take responsibility for change.“Workplace Health and Safety Committee, the Team meeting committee and the Senior

Management team are the places where points are around what are they going to do about it and what does it mean,” Ms Schmidt said.

“Finally the top box, which is Management Review Committee (MRC), is the job of the Management Review Committee to oversee and make sure all the audits have been done, what the outcomes have been and to see how is our system working.

“So that group doesn’t deal with the detail; it’s kind of the checking and monitoring process to make sure all audits staff said they were going to do were done, and to ensure staff know about PPAC systems and services.

“The arrows at the top, to the left and then down to the right and then out the other side, that’s to demonstrate the continuous Quality Improvement Cycle through feedback from the MRC.”

Why Accreditation?“The quality policy and the quality manual define how

quality will work in the organisation so that we’re clearly explaining that to people, especially funding bodies,” Ms Schmidt said. “All those policies and procedures in there are about defining how PPAC does certain things in a standard way that will then be the basis by which we check that things are working okay..

“So the PPAC Strategic Plan sets the direction for the organisation, the Business Plan implements the strategic plan and Team Plans operationalises.

“All Plans have to have key performance indicators in them because that’s how PPAC measures how the different service areas are going against Government Service Agreements and Contracts. The Establishing Quality Health Systems Program has been aimed at supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services funded by the Department of Health and Ageing.

“One of the questions that you always have to complete on any tender document is: ‘Do you have quality accreditation?’



CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK

PORMPUR PAANTHU ABORIGINAL CORPORATION CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FRAMEWORK

Management Review Committee

Support systems to manage quality Complaints Register Incident Register Continuous Quality Improvement Register Compliance Register Credentials Register Meeting action items registers Training Register Audit Register Risk register/risk management plan Document Register Grievance Register HR Register

THE REGISTERS PROVIDE A SUMMARY RECORD OF THE STATUS OF PROCESSES THAT SUPPORT QUALITY SERVICE OUTCOMES

Workplace Health and Safety Committee

• Incidents • WHS audits • Facility audits • Review of progress with WHS

corrective and service improvement as

Team meetings • Process audits • Incidents / Complaints • Review of progress against action plan and

KPI’s • Community feedback surveys • Review of progress with corrective actions

MRC CQI report – Method to communicate • Status of outcomes from QI actions

• Trend reports, audit reports, QMS status reports •

Foundation documents for quality management system Quality policy & Quality manual Compliance management policy and procedure Strategic plan, Business plan and Team plans with KPIs Internal Audit policy and Audit Schedule Policy on the production and control of policies, procedures and templates Critical Incident reporting policy and procedure Complaints management policy Service feedback policy and procedure Organisational meetings policy Mandatory training policy TOR Workplace Health and Safety Committee and Team meetings HR policies (Performance review, Grievance ) THESE DOCUMENTS DEFINE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE QMS AND NEED TO BE CONTROLLED TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY ACROSS THE PPAC

Senior Management Team meeting • Review of Performance Indicators • Trend reports for QMS • Grievances • Incidents / Complaints • Staff feedback surveys • Corporate audit reports

CQI register-‐ record of: • Corrective and service improvement actions

•

CQI CYCLE AND STRUCTURES

“So, if you have quality accreditation that’s telling the funding body you have good systems in place which ensure you can deliver on what you say you’re going to deliver on.

“It also says you have internal audit processes that can pick up any issues early; and that you have mechanisms for ensuring regular communication and contact with your service users as well as your funding bodies.

“In effect, it means everyone is accounted for.

“It’s really a kind of complete change in headset once you go into the realm of implementing quality management systems because you need to look much more widely at what your customer needs are and then make sure you have systems and processes in place to deliver on that.

“But then that makes you a much better service provider.“I think that from a Commonwealth point of view, it’s

pretty important that the service becomes accredited because it says: ‘we meet international standards and we have a good Quality Management System’.


Children & Young People ServicesIn 2013, PPAC undertook community consultation and the information collected was used to shape future strategic direction.

One of the key points raised by the community in this extensive consultation process using a PPAC survey, was young people need to have increased access to training and employment opportunities, social support services such as counselling and holistic health care, and youth-focussed activities.

The survey also asked the community to identify community issues where we found law and order and anti-social behaviour by young people was significant.

It was agreed at the time that JobFind would continue to take primary carriage of the employment pathways initiatives, provide numeracy and literacy and skills development programs which currently relate to the building industry.

PPAC would develop re-engagement strategies for youth to encourage training and education, and create future employment in the community.

The PPAC Youth Development Unit was established and consists of youth providing the direction.

The activities and strategies build on current organisations’ strengths; support the delivery of social services for young people and encourages participation in training and innovative mechanisms that increases opportunities for employment, leadership and social restoration.

The Youth Development Unit project was funded through the Community Development Fund (CDF).

The Unit employed 2.5 positions to coordinate community youth initiatives through partner service providers working directly with, and targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school leavers and job seekers aged between 16 and 25; disengaged youth; early school leavers and potential leaders.

PPAC has been using a combination of tools that engage youth that encompasses learning (life course), culture through the inclusion of Elders and connection to country - an opportunity to re-engage with education and/or employment.

At the Pormpuraaw Youth Summit coordinated and hosted by PPAC, it was cited by nearly 200 participants that activities important to their growth included fishing, swimming, camping and hunting. Sport was also cited as an important part of community life.

Over the life of the Youth Development Unit, managed by the CEO then Robert English, PPAC has worked and engaged with more than 50 local children and young people on a weekly basis through its links with Council, JobFind, the Pormpuraaw State School, PCYC, PPAC’s Outside School and Vacation Care Services; and intensive family/parent support services coordinated by Donna Armstrong and Erin Kendall.

The PPAC management team has worked hard with the Youth Development Unit using information in the Youth Summit’s Declaration Strategy to develop programs that are responsive to issues affecting the youth in Pormpuraaw.



Down came the rain but it didn’t spoil great work and cooking by the Pormpuraaw Youth Crew and support team for Pormpuraaw’s first formal Valentine’s Dinner.

Non-alcohol cocktails were served as the guests waited to have their taste buds tantalised with a Valentine extravaganza of chocolate; hearts galore and balloons and streamers.

The movie: The Notebook. The Music: a selection that all age groups

could relate to.The Youth Group served up toasted

Bruschetta with an unhealthy coating of chocolate and cooked bacon to set the taste buds dancing.

The main meal was carbonara pasta with lashings of cream, garlic, bacon and onion.

The Youth Group made sure no one went thirsty even as the rain poured down.

Smiles were free from everyone.Dessert was a homemade oreo truffle of

Philadelphia cream cheese coated in milk and white chocolate or a choice of choc dipped strawberries and a shot of cream.

It was a great night of comradeship and support even if the rain wanted to join in the Party!



The Pormpuraaw Youth Crew meets regularly on Thursday nights for ‘Minya Nights’ and to catch up for yarn and plan their social calendar Youth Development Manager Robert English says.

Their Valentines Dinner was a huge success with its inclusion of a romantic movie with dancing and a three course meal.

PPAC Youth Crew movie nights are also a regular event with support from PCYC’s Vivian Chan and PPAC Family Support and Domestic Violence Counsellors. Basketball and Touch events are supported by Tyrone and Stacey Conrad who have done a great job of getting things off the ground.

During the Christmas period the Youth Crew held a number of social activities from the Minya Nights themselves, where they learnt how to make sushi and pizzas, and movie nights, touch footy and even a Christmas lights competition.

The Youth Crew are also getting involved in Outside School Hours Care by reading and playing games with the younger children.

They have plans for the year so Pormpuraaw young people are encouraged to get in touch with Robert English, Stacey Conrad or Devon Tarpencha so they can join in.

Over the Easter holidays alone there was an Easter Egg Amazing race, several movie nights, glow in the dark youth games, a disco, a Deadly Choices program run by youth themselves and a job expo day, with a ‘Tough Mudder’ contest, a day disco, and a paint war.

Youth Development Manager Robert English said it was all part of the model they were working to.

“The way we’re following the engagement model is by having our weekly focus groups at the youth crew dinners where we discuss topics, issues and goals brought up from the report created at the Youth Summit,” he said.

“They are the main goals and everything we are doing is contributing towards reaching those goals.

“To achieve the desired outcomes the youth group engage with other service providers, including PCYC who support and provide mentoring and offer alternative activities for engaging with young people.

“This means there are plenty of opportunities for the youth group to engage and role model to younger kids.”

HOLISTIC HEALTHCross sectoral coordination and

better linkage between clinical and non-clinical services within the health

sector to ensure that young people are not ‘lost’ at critical transition points.

Complementary access to a range of creative, recreational and sports; adventure and cultural community services focused on employment,

IT and multi-media; income support, education, social and family support; motivational and

pro-active engagement; Leadership programs

LOCAL COORDINATION MANAGEMENT GROUP

(informed by Consultation Processes, and identified stakeholders – Pormpur Paanth,

Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council, Youth Development Unit)

ENGAGEMENT METHODOLOGIES

YOUNG PEOPLES FOCUS GROUP

CONSENTParticipation & sharing information

(Primarily supported by Youth Development Unit who coordinate other Services’ and agencies who have the capacity to engage and

work with young people)

NEEDS IDENTIFIED

PATHWAYS

CONTINUUM OF CARE reporting back period

ACTION PLANNING:Pormpuraaw Youth Group

Motivational planning promoting

self-management

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT UNIT

Senior Youth Development officer/sYouth Worker (traineeship)

Local Steering CommitteeJobfind, Pormpuraaw Aboriginal

Shire CouncilAnd Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal

Corporation

Consultation

EX

TER

NA

L R

EFE

RR

AL

Ref

erra

ls a

re a

ccep

ted

from

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pe

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who

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dis

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and

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ll th

roug

h th

e ga

p

SP

ON

SO

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: FUN

DIN

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OD

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Funding bodies and sponsors are involved in feedback mechanism

s

pormpur paanthu way

ThePORMPURAAW YOUNG PEOPLES MODEL OF ENGAGEMENT


Integrated Healing ServiceBased on extensive experience and an in-depth understanding of the issues impacting the Pormpuraaw community, PPAC has developed its model of care that embraces empowerment and is solely based on the individual or family needs.

EDUCATION& TRAINING

Alcohol, Other drugs and Mental

Health Service Networks

Health Promotion

(Collaborations and partners) Training and

employment Income security

Specialised Health

Services

Community and home care

support

Medical Services

PRIMARY HEALTH

CARE

Coping and strength based

skills

MOBILISATIONFamily

connections and support

Social, emotional, spiritual wellbeing

Recognising Consumer rights

and diginty

INCLUSION

Social Support

Accommodation support

Housing

ADVOCACY & REFERRAL PATHWAYS

pormpur paanthu way

The

APPROACH TO RECOVERY MODEL

Making choices

Action orientation

and problem solving

CULTURAL SECUR

ITY CULTURAL SAFETY

ME POWER

MODEL OF CARE



This model is inclusive and respects the rights of the consumer and encompasses a whole-of-life view.

It captures the WHO Ottawa Charter principles of mobilisation, education and advocacy and includes key principles instrumental in implementing change: Primary Health Care and recognising the need to include family, kinship and a deeper understanding of culture and Indigenous world view philosophies linked to wellbeing.

This commitment to wellbeing has also meant that PPAC evaluated the way it was responding to the community and therefore has built reflective practices into its services.

The ability to manage the quality improvement framework effectively will be the key to improved service delivery as is the integration of health and lifestyle education, social and emotional wellbeing and change behavioural programs like the Family Wellbeing Program and FASD.

In 2013, PPAC brought together all of its counselling and social emotional wellbeing programs and housed them together despite the funding arrangements.

The formation of the Integrated Healing Service is meant to create the ‘village’ case management model with all service providers supporting clients. The Social Health Team model is identified in the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Peoples’ Mental Health and SEWB 2004-2009, allowing individuals and families to access a range of wrap around services as they are needed and in most case identified by the consumer; and coordinated by the counsellor, case worker or a facilitator of the integrated domestic and family violence and alcohol and other drugs group therapy and education sessions.

We know that the cumulative effect of historical and inter-generational trauma severely limits the capacity of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to fully and positively participate in social and other activities most Australian’s take for granted like acquiring a basic education or joining the workforce.

Many Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people have struggled to manage this pain effectively in their lives with the result being the over use of pain-based behaviours such as alcohol and drug misuse, gambling and violence within families and in our communities.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities, understanding trauma and its impact in a holistic sense is important if there is to be any improvement to their life situation therefore PPAC will continue its commitment to working with and assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples affected by inter-generational trauma.

In 2011 the Australian Government announced the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) program which consolidated the Link Up and Bringing Them Home (BTH) programs under a single cohesive program.

PPAC is currently funded by the Australian Government to provide SEWB counselling services, which prioritises members of the Stolen Generations. PPAC employs one qualified Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing counsellor.

As at the 1st July 2014, the SEWB counsellor was case managing 98 clients in Pormpuraaw and had referred second generation stolen generation clients to Link Up to trace family history and find loved ones.

PPAC utilises the Oolong program, which is a holistic alcohol and other drug substance use program that endorses Aboriginal culture.


The Oolong Program has been reviewed and evaluated by Queensland University and is evidence-informed.

There is no single solution to the harms associated with alcohol misuse. What the available evidence does indicate however is that for interventions to be effective they should have the support of, and be controlled by local communities; be designed specifically for the needs of a particular community and sub-groups within the community; be culturally sensitive and appropriate; have adequate resourcing and support; provide aftercare; and, cater for complex presentations.

Most importantly, a single intervention should not be seen as a quick fix, and a combination of harm minimisation strategies is most effective.

The results of the analyses of Pormpuraaw needs showed that Family Well Being Program’s ability to encourage healthy choices and empower people to make behavioural change was a key element to PPAC’s work over the years. The program was developed by Indigenous Australians and focuses on Social and Emotional Well-Being and the development of life-skills.

Changes at a personal level also had impacts on other individuals and structural or management systems over time.

The Family Well Being Program aims to build communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and other necessary skills to enable the individual to take greater control and responsibility for family, work and community life and develop tools to be a good leader.

The program is conducted according to the principles of participatory action research.

Emphasis is first given to enhancing individual empowerment as a basis for people coming together to tackle broader structural and community issues.

It is also in this construct that educating community people of the harmful behaviours associated with complex issues will create a unified force who shares the beliefs and moral attitudes of community wellbeing.

In Pormpuraaw there is an urgent need to move away from the passive service delivery mentality to a more participatory and action orientated model that encompasses family, community and enterprise development initiatives.

By increasing participation, men and women will have greater ownership over solutions to improved health outcomes that impact on their lives and that of their children (family violence, self-harm, substance abuse, chronic disease, social emotional wellbeing, mental health); be better informed of resources, training and prevention education available to them; and, establish networks with appropriate support groups, build on their strengths and social capital (cultural knowledge and technologies) to better engage in decision making that affects their family and children.

To this end PPAC continues working through Men’s, Women and Youth Groups.

The Pormpuraaw Women’s Group provides a safe place for women to yarn as well as supporting activities across the community in partnership with other organisations.

Pormpur Paanthu hosted a Luncheon on International Women’s Day with community women and children where guests were welcomed from all local services and external service providers visiting Pormpuraaw on the day.

There were word games, art and craft, beading and jewellery making, and a little self care for our hard working hands!

Aunty Cathy Shortjoe blessed our food, our women, and the women who prepared a delicious luncheon.

The venue was the Pormpuraaw United Brothers Sports Club, supported by Anna Beni Catering and Kiosk.



Men’s Group numbers are swelling once more in Pormpuraaw as men commence the year with weekly meetings of attendees from the community, the Pormpuraaw Elders Justice Group, the PPAC Youth Crew, School Engagement Officer and workforce participants from JobFind, the Art Centre, Pormpuraaw Shire Council and the Clinic.

External Services such as the Indigenous Centrelink Support team also attend when they are in town, along with Queensland Health staff.

PPAC staff members from the Alcohol and Other Drugs Service and the Family Support and Domestic Violence Counselling Team yarn up with Elders, community workforce participants, Jobfind men and Traditional Owners who come along to discuss issues impacting on the community and to provide leadership.

Jobfind Manager Marty Chambers said he was always interested in developing activities over a 26-week period to engage youth and men.

PPAC men’s Alcohol and Other Drugs and Domestic Violence Counsellors make themselves available to yarn about Alcohol and Drugs and support positive activities to create greater community safety.

The numbers of men gathering at the Pormpuraaw Community Garden are becoming a force to be reckoned with, with more 40 men gathering to encourage one another and provide leadership against domestic and family violence.

The men feel comfortable yarning about the things that interest them as they toss tea leaf into the billy over the camp fire and relax.

Late in May Pormpur Paanthu expects to take delivery of more than 200 bicycles and a shipping container which will transform into a functioning workshop and training area, all donated to the community from an organisation called Bikes4Life.

Founder and President of Bikes4Life Ebony Butler (above) said she was excited for the community.

“After three big international projects our volunteer team at Bikes 4 Life are super excited to announce that our next project will be on Australian soil, in Pormpuraaw, Cape York,” she said.

“We really hope that the bikes can make a difference in Pormpuraaw, as they have for the beneficiaries of our other projects in Australia, and in Cambodia and Uganda.

“Both those countries have experienced a genocide in their recent history that has forced them to start from scratch.

“Our program is designed to aid and enhance the promotion of healthy lifestyles, community re-integration and rehabilitation, school attendance and performance and access to employment/education; social services, family etc.

“If the bikes can alone be an incentive for kids to perform well and attend school more often - then we will know the project has been a success.

“If there are increased levels of health and wellbeing, and an increased interest in fitness and cycling then the community is really progressing and should be proud of themselves!

“Bikes4Life volunteers in Brisbane have been working solidly for three months on the bikes out of the Nundah Activity Centre and as a part of a Men’s Shed collaboration led by retiree and avid cyclist Milos Miladonovic.

“Milos set up the latest Brisbane chapter of Bikes4Life in late 2014 and has focused his team of volunteers on the Pormpuraaw project.

“All the bikes have been donated by Queenslanders, and repaired at our workshop by Men’s Shed volunteers and also asylum seekers who have shown an interest in not only giving back, but taking part in the local community and getting involved with positive social action.”

Pormpur Paanthu CEO Liz Pearson said local youths would see the most benefit from the project.

“We have been in talks around this project for the past two years,” Ms Pearson said.

“Every recipient of a bike will receive basic training about bicycle maintenance and safety.

“Recipients will have a bike to be proud of and lessons on how to maintain and respect that bike.

“They will have sustainable transport to get them to places of employment or education easily, and keep them healthy at the same time - without costing a cent.

“This is a great opportunity to positively impact people’s lives by helping create individual, families, community and societal outcomes that contribute to the safer community model of care, pathways to education and training and increased community wellbeing.

“Together the community can develop sustainable solutions that strengthen social, emotional and physical health that will impact on long term community and family wellbeing, even future leadership.”

These are just some of the bikes which will soon be on their way to Pormpuraaw after they have been brought up to scratch by volunteers.

Pics thanks to Stefan Armbruster SBS.

jan_march 2015 ppac newsletter

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