Our Central Coast Family Centre

10/10 Pioneer AvenueTUGGERAH BUSINESS PARK NSW 2259P: (02) 4356 2600E: ccfc@catholiccaredbb.org.auwww.catholiccaredbb.org.au

SERVICES GUIDE

We are the social care and support agency of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Broken Bay.

We assist children, young people and adults to live more enriched lives. We provide quality services that are tailored to your needs, taking into account your social and cultural background.

We provide:

Belonging to the larger network of Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA), we provide services to 26,000+ children, young people, individuals and families on the NSW Central Coast, Northern Sydney and the Northern Beaches, and have been doing so since 1987. We deliver around $38 million of care annually and provide services to the entire community.

We provide services for the entire community.

About Us

CHILDREN’S SERVICES including early learning and long day care centres, out of school hours care, vacation care, family day care and in home care

DISABILITY SERVICES & NDIS SUPPORT

FAMILY CENTRES offering counselling, domestic and family violence support, family dispute resolution and mediation, parenting and relationship education and more

PERMANANCY SUPPORT PROGRAM (OUT OF HOME CARE)including foster care and residential care services

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY & PASTORAL CARE

EMERGENCY RELIEF... and much more.

Our Central Coast Family Centre is located in Tuggerah Business Park.

We provide the following services:

Child & Family GroupsIn Safe Hands

Deals with the impact of domestic and family violence on children. It helps parents understand what to look out for at different stages of a child’s growth and development. It also teaches parents how to assist their children and help them heal.

Inspire - Art Therapy

A fortnightly group for women who have experienced domestic and family violence. Inspire assists women to develop new personal networks, build confidence, better manage their emotions and understand what happened in a fun and supportive environment using art therapy and other techniques.

Seasons for Growth Kids

Helps children and young people deal with grief and loss. It uses the four seasons to explain the process people go through when they are grieving and helps make them stronger.

Our Central Coast Family Centre

I felt safe and not judged, I can’t wait to implement what I have learnt with

my child.

CounsellingWe offer a range of specialist counselling services. We listen and provide you with strategies and choices. Contact us to find out more about:

• Child and parental separation support• Children and youth counselling• Children’s trauma therapy• Domestic and family violence counselling• Family therapy• Individual counselling• Mediation counselling• Pregnancy counselling• Wellbeing support groups• Young parents groups.

Disability FuturesCatholicCare provides a range of supports for those with a disability. We offer both individual and group programs for children, young people and adults.

Domestic and family violence is any behaviour that is used to gain or maintain power and control over someone else. This could be psychological, emotional, physical and/or sexual abuse, financial, social or spiritual control, stalking or intimidation.

CatholicCare provides a range of services to assist women, men and children experiencing domestic and family violence including:

Staying Home Leaving Violence Program (SHLV)

Gives women wanting to escape domestic or family violence a choice – either to stay in their own homes or to leave safely.

For women wanting to stay in their home, we work with the police for exclusion orders and provide a safety audit of your home plus security upgrades. We make your home and family safer. If you want to leave, we help with safe leaving plans and emergency accommodation.

We support you through the separation and help with legal and police matters. We provide information on Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVO), court processes and family law procedures. We also help with Victim Services Applications, counselling and support groups - providing long term support in the community you live in.

Domestic & Family Violence Support

Safe Homes Integrated Domestic Family Violence

A service for all victims of domestic and family violence - males, females and children. This service also assists men who wish to change their behaviour and become better fathers.

Safe Homes runs groups, and provides education to help people who are violent toward their family to understand the impact of their behaviour and how to make changes. We also help children recover from the trauma of violence. We work with families and parents who have grown up with violence as children, and now live with violence in their homes as adults. We help children heal and learn positive ways to communicate and deal with conflict, so that domestic violence does not pass down through generations.

Multi-Systemic Therapy Care & Neglect (MST-CAN)

MST-CAN works with youth aged 6 – 17 years and their families who have come to the attention of Family & Community Services. MST-CAN’s mission is to keep families together, ensure child safety, prevent abuse and neglect, and reduce mental health issues.

Emergency ReliefWe help individuals and families by providing immediate financial and/or material support to people in financial crisis. We offer one-off assistance such as:

• Food and transport vouchers• Part-payment of utility accounts• Financial counselling referrals• Referrals to other services that help to address the

underlying causes of financial crisis.

Family Dispute Resolution/Mediation Our family dispute resolution service (FDR), also referred to as mediation, supports separating families, to discuss issues and generate options to reach agreements involving children, families, property and finances. It is an opportunity to resolve disputes outside of the court system. Our FDR practitioners are accredited and registered with the Attorney Generals Department. FDR practitioners do not take sides, or make decisions for you. Our practitioners support both parties to focus on the best interests of the children. We can assist with issues relating to children, parenting plans, spending time with grandparents, blended family issues, communication breakdowns, finance and property issues and many other issues that may cause concern for separating families. We also offer Parents 4 Life, a short online pre-mediation course that helps you get the most out of mediation. It provides information on what’s helpful and harmful for children as they try to deal with their parent’s separation.

Housing & Homelessness SupportWe help people at risk of becoming homeless to stay securely housed, and those who are homeless - to find and keep a home.

We work with you to prevent homelessness and intervene early with crisis support. Our specialist homelessness program works with housing and other service providers such as those delivering drug and alcohol, domestic violence and mental health support.

We provide the following services:

Young Parents Homelessness Services (KEYS)

Helps young parents aged 16 – 24 years who are homeless, or at risk of being homeless. We offer accommodation assistance and support.

Mary Mac’s Place

Mary Mac’s provides homeless or transient people with a meal and a place to shower and wash clothes. Mary Mac’s also provides social, community and friendship opportunities for men, women and families, young people, elderly people and anyone facing difficulties in their lives. This service is located at the Ethel Cox Centre, 100 Blackwall Road, Woy Woy.

Family Law Pathways NetworkAn initiative of the Australian Government Attorney General’s Department, this network brings solicitors and social workers together to create pathways for families and individuals navigating the Family Law system.

Men’s GroupsMany men face struggles in today’s world. Our groups are for men wanting to develop skills for life - how to develop positive relationships, shoulder responsibilities, communicate and support each other.

From a Men’s Group participant Sydney

We also run groups to help men learn how to live and interact safely with their children and families. We have a male worker who specialises in helping men make positive changes.

Often confronting, but always helpful, even playful,

I recommend all men take time to experience this group process and see the benefits

that are possible in your relationships with others and

with yourself.

Parenting ProgramsCaring Dads

Some men have attitudes and behaviours towards their partners and family members which harm their families and children. This is a group program for men who want to improve their parenting skills and be better fathers.

Circle of Security

This 8 week program is for parents of children 0 – 5 years. It will help you understand your child’s behaviour, help your child manage their emotions, develop more skills to build a positive relationship with your child and learn how to build their confidence and self-esteem.

Just for Dads

Looks at parenting issues confronting men in Australia. We explore the challenges of fathering with topics like child development, communication, dealing with strong emotions, discipline, self-esteem, healthy relationships and domestic and family violence.

All parents should do this program. They should teach it in hospitals when you have a baby.

Keeping Kids in Mind

Parents love their children and want the best for them. Following separation, parenting often gets much tougher. This is a 5 week course for separated parents who are experiencing ongoing conflict. It is designed to assist parents to see separation through their children’s eyes and provides tips on how to support children through separation.

Tuning into Kids

Children who develop emotional intelligence will do better emotionally and socially. They also have better health and more positive behaviours. Learn skills to assist your child to understand and manage their emotions. Explore new ways to deal with frustrating behaviours and conflict and help your child develop good social skills and positive behaviour.

Tuning into Teens

Understand how adolescents develop and how to more positively guide your teen’s increasing independence. Learn how to deal with peer pressure and how to create opportunities for connection.

Helped me recognise my child’s needs and assisted with creating a

calmer emotional environment for us all to live in.

PlaygroupsOur playgroups help children explore and learn, and provide a place for parents to socialise. Playgroups help children improve their social, motor and language skills in a safe, fun environment.

Support Groups for WomenRegaining Self

Looks at issues relating to the impacts of domestic and family violence. Topics include identifying violence, the law, the impact on children and on self-esteem, communication, anger and sadness, recognising healthy relationships, stages of change and how to move on.

Shark Cage

Assists women who have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence. Shark Cage teaches women their rights, improves awareness of abusive behaviours and how to identify and respond to such behaviour, and ways to decrease the likelihood of domestic/family violence happening again.

Supporting Young ParentsPreparation for Birth & Parenthood courses

Free courses for pregnant women 21 years and under and their partners or support people. Run in conjunction with Child & Family Health Services, topics include pregnancy, labour and birth, breastfeeding, caring for babies and parenting tips. We also tour a birthing suite and maternity ward.

Young Parents groups

Support for parents 21 years and under with children under 2 years of age. Groups are held in Gosford and Wyong. Come and reconnect with friends and their babies from your antenatal groups, meet new mums and share experiences.

Head Office

CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay

Caroline Chisholm CentreLevel 7, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills RoadPENNANT HILLS NSW 2120PO Box 966PENNANT HILLS NSW 1715P: (02) 9481 2600E: info@catholiccaredbb.org.auW: www.catholiccaredbb.org.au

© CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay, March 2018