In this issue

The below has been shared from an email sent from client to a referring officer based in Mackay. The referral was submitted under the Parenting Child/Youth; Difficult behaviour category with the family engaging with support services.

“I am definitely interested in services. Thank you so much for this, the police yesterday and now you offer me some hope that parents aren’t always the bad people when trying to teach children routine, rules and respect.”

With natural disasters, such as flood, fire and drought, as well as adverse life events we all experience at some point …

it is likely that you may know of women in the North Burnett who have experienced hardship or personal difficulties.

Please take 5-minutes or so to let those women know about our ‘Tag a Mate/ Take a Break’ wellness events for women …

in Mundubbera on 6 March or in Monto on 7 March 2021.

The event brochure and application form provides info on the interactive and fun activities on offer to nurture women’s wellness.

The events are FREE for participants and fully funded by Qld Health’s Tackling Regional Adversity in Communities (TRAIC) program.

Women who are interested in the March events need to apply by email (enquiries@bas.org.au) before 22nd February 2021.

Thanks for listening and spreading the word if you can. And thanks for helping your community.

This month we welcome on board ATSICHS Mackay – Social Emotional Wellbeing Unit.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Community Health Service Mackay Ltd (ATSICHS) commenced in 1978 from a community initiative and receives funding from the Department of Health.

The SEWBU – Social Emotional Wellbeing Unit was established to provide intensive support through early intervention services to ensure the wellbeing of children and families. This support is delivered through culturally appropriate programs, support groups and training. The team consists of:

• Social Emotional Wellbeing Social Worker
• Child and Maternal Mental Health Social Worker
• Suicide Prevention
• Mental Health
• Alcohol and Other Drugs Officer
• Community Support Worker

Steven Colbran is the Social Emotional Wellbeing Unit Manager in Mackay and has shared the below to highlight some of the good work being delivered across Mackay and surrounds;

“The Social Emotional Wellbeing Unit have had a fantastic second half to 2020 getting back out into our community and engaging with individuals and organisations to provide support.

 We have run wellbeing programs at schools, a men’s workshop at KMG and our AOD’s BBQ’s have extended to Sarina now as well as the Mackay weekly BBQ and they have become a great collaboration with various services.

Our Playgroups across Mackay and Sarina have been a hit too, as we engage with young Mums and Bubs, along with attending the Family Fun Day and running our own Children’s day as well.

 A job well done, and we look forward to working with everyone in 2021.”

GEEWHIZ 2020!.. despite all that you were, we still achieved so much!

It is with some sadness that I write this month’s article in the knowledge that it will be my last.  After having commenced in this position on 1 May 2017, I have decided to move on to a new challenge.  On reflecting on my time here I found my first Bulletin piece and note that we submitted 55 805 referrals for 44 447 individuals in the 12 months to 30 May 2017.  In 2020 we completed 116 626 referrals for 65 797 individuals.

Over this time we have seen significant changes through legislative changes around Domestic and Family Violence and Victims of Crime Assistance, policy changes around the way Child Safety referrals are processed, improved reporting processes and introduced a number of new referral categories.  Each and every change being driven by improving how we support our vulnerable Queenslanders.

It would also be remiss of me at this point not to acknowledge Declan McNamara who some of you may have had dealings with during the commencement of Police Referrals.  Declan commenced in what would become Police Referrals in 2014 and was instrumental in creating the structures we have today.  Unfortunately Declan’s contract was unable to be extended at the end of 2020 and after 6 years he too has moved on.

I believe Police Referrals is the best process we have available to connect vulnerable people with specialist services who can help start the process of making significant changes to that person’s life.  To stop and think about the number of people who have been supported to make those life changes over the years as a result of a Police Officer or staff member taking the 3 minutes to complete a Police Referral is what continues to motivate us to ensure Police Referrals continues to develop and stay as a key strategy of the Queensland Police Service in the prevention and disruption of criminal behaviours.

So, for one last time, I thank each and every one of you for the part you play in building safe, caring and connected communities.

A/Senior Sergeant Chris Stafford