SPARK - Capital Region Community Services · Issue 3 - 2016 September 2016 - January 2017 Bright...

BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e rAN INCLUSIVE CONNECTED COMMUNITY

Issue 3 - 2016September 2016 - January 2017

Bright SPARK in West Belconnen

In this issue: Belco50, P4 Belco Flicks is Back, P5 10/10 Turns Five, P6

493092 BCS_Newsletter_Issue 3.indd 1 19/09/16 4:35 PM

Message from the CEO 3Belco50 4Belco Flicks is Back 510/10 Turns Five 6Get Involved in Belconnen 7News from our neighbourhood 10social@bcs 12gallery@bcs 14transport@bcs 16Help When You’re out of Action 17Bright Spark in West Belconnen 18BCS Childcare Pre Employment Program 19Little Children Visit Big School 19School Aged Holiday Programs, BECC Smart and Sustainable 20Corner@bcs 21Community Calendar 22Youth Employment Pathways Hub – Abe’s Story 26West Belconnen Pre Employment 26A conversation with Felicity Spellman 27

CONTACTSBelconnen Community ServiceBelconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court, Belconnen.PO Box 679, Belconnen, ACT 2616.Tel: 6264 0200Fax: 6253 2901Email: [email protected]: www.bcsact.com.au www.facebook.com/BCSACT FOLLOW@BCSACTNewsletter Editor [email protected] 6264 0205BELCONNEN COMMUNITY SERVICE INC.ACKNOWLEDGES THE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE OF:The ACT Government

• The ACT Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate• The ACT Community Services Directorate• The ACT Environment and Sustainable Development

Directorate • The ACT Health Directorate

The Australian Commonwealth Government• The Department of Social Services• The Department of Health

Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary EducationAustralian Government


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bcsact.com.au/

http://www.facebook.com/BCSACT


BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e r

Issue 3 - September 2016 - January 2017

3

In this issue...

BelconnenCommunityBUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH

NEWSLETTER

TERM 3 – 2010 19th July – 24th September

Meet the new

President of the Board

•Calling Belconnen Festival Stallholders!

•Introducing The World History of Razzle Dazzle

•Upcoming Gallery Exhibitions

•Theatre in July School Holidays

A CONNECTED, ACTIVE & STRONG COMMUNITY

Message from the CEO Welcome to the final print edition of Belconnen Community Newsletter. Since our previous issue in May, we’ve published three, monthly e-newsletters. Our e-news is shorter and more regular than our print edition. The quick turnaround time allows us to provide timely information about what’s happening in the month ahead. If you haven’t signed up to receive it, I encourage you to go to join the growing number of people who now receive their Belconnen Community News online.

I hope you enjoy this final print edition. It’s packed with stories and information about activities, groups, programs and services in our area. We’ve changed the layout of our social pages to feature more pictures than ever. Can you recognise yourself or your friends at an opening in gallery@bcs; at an event or social group in the neighbourhood; or out and about on one of BCS’s popular bus trips?

In our last issue, we covered the launch of the Youth Employment Pathways Hub at the corner@bcs. On page 26 of this issue, you can read Abe’s story. With help from the Hub, he gained confidence and strategies to apply for jobs he really wanted. Now he has two part-time jobs that match his skills, qualifications and interests.

Employment and training for young people is a priority in Belconnen. The SPARK Employment and Training Initiative by Riverview Projects ACT is helping to address this need. SPARK is a partner with BCS in the Youth Employment Pathways Hub, the BCS Pre Employment Childcare Program (page 19), and the West Belconnen Pre Employment Construction Program (P26), You can read more about SPARK in our interview with Riverview Projects Training and Employment Manager Emma Sckrabei on page 18.

Over the past 18 months, many people who live with disability have transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It’s great to see many BCS regulars spending lots of time at Belconnen Community Centre, enjoying our expanded range of social and recreational programs. We’re also delighted to have many new participants joining our programs. The introduction of the NDIS has significantly changed the way that BCS’s programs, activities and services for people who live with disability are funded. I’d like to thank all of our employees who’ve been part of this transition. Their dedication, innovation and tireless work has helped many in our community to smoothly adapt to increased choice and control under the NDIS. BCS also provides a range of community care services under the NDIS including transport, domestic assistance, personal care and coordination of supports.

I’d also like to thank our communications team who have worked hard to develop our e-news and increase our social media presence as we transition from print to digital. Our Facebook page goes from strength to strength and we are also on Twitter as @BCSACT.

Now we’re heading into the busy Christmas period. Please consider helping a local family in need by donating to our Christmas Giving Tree (page 9). You could also join us on our popular Christmas Lights tours (page 7).

As always, we welcome your feedback. Please call 62640200, email [email protected] or simply drop into Belconnen Community Centre and talk to our friendly reception team.

Dira Horne

Belconnen Community Newsletter has had a few different looks over the years. Here’s a cover from 2010 showing dolls from BCS’s Bungee Program.

Signup to our new, monthly, electronic newsletter

Enter your details here: www.bcsact.com.au/sign-up

More ways to connect with BCS:• Find us on social media:

facebook.com/bcsact facebook.com/bcsyouthservices twitter.com/bcsact

• Check out our web site: www.bcsact.com.au

• Visit Belconnen Community Centre: Swanson Court Belconnen

• Call: 62640200



http://www.bcsact.com.au/sign-up

http://facebook.com/bcsact

http://facebook.com/bcsyouthservices

http://twitter.com/bcsact


2016 marks the 50th birthday of Belconnen (Belco50). Belconnen Community Council, Belconnen Arts Centre, Riverview Projects and BCS invite everyone in or from Belconnen to celebrate and innovate. Belco50 is an umbrella under which groups in our community can create a range of projects and events, rather like C100 branched across Canberra during our centenary year in 2013.

Share your memories, events and ideas for celebration via Facebook.com/belco50.

Belco50 Community Choir!

Come together through song in celebration of Belco’s 50th - join the Belco50 Community Choir!

The Belco50 choir is presented by the Young Music Society in collaboration with Belconnen Arts Centre. Renowned composer and conductor Stephen Leek is producing a new work especially for the occasion.

Workshops will be led by Stephen Leek and Joel Copeland.

Everyone’s invited to celebrate our community through song. It doesn’t matter what your age is or where you live. Join on your own, with friends or as a family.

There will be rehearsals 2:00 – 3:30pm every Sunday throughout October. On Saturday November 5, the choir will perform in the grand finale of BelcoNOW at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Registration is free. Go to belconnenartscentre.com.au u

BelcoNOWCome and celebrate Belco’s 50th at this free event for everyone. Families and friends can come together to make, munch and enjoy some community magic at Belconnen Arts Centre.

Make yourself a Belco Bird, print your own tea towels and badges, write a “Message from Belco” or join in the Community Choir and celebrate on the day.

The night will come together in the grand finale which will be a feast for the senses. Witness a floating, fire burning spectacular as the community choir performs an original work. This will be a treasured experience to remember!

BelcoNOW will be held on Saturday November 5 from 5-8pm at Belconnen Arts Centre. Free Entry

De Fence As part of the BelcoNOW celebrations, a large pop-up sculpture will be installed at the Belconnen Arts Centre. The innovative artwork comprises assorted timber panels that have been carved, burned and branded.

Known as De Fence, the collaborative project is being created by artists living with mental illness. The initiative is guided by professional artists Tony Steel, Tilley Davey and Tim Burke, who serve as mentors and instructors.

An inclusive connected community

Artists at Strathnairn with De Fence work in progress.


http://facebook.com/belco50

http://belconnenartscentre.com.au/

The portable outdoor installation is a visual depiction of the recovery journey for those living with mental illness. De Fence is produced by BCS, with funding support from the ACT Government.

Belco Flicks is BackBelconnen’s own local film festival is back! BCS seeks short films for screenings during the Belco50 celebrations for Belconnen’s 50th birthday. Deadline for submissions is Friday September 30 and selected films will be between 1 and 10 minutes long.

Selected films will be screened at two Belco50 events: Belco Now at the Belconnen Arts Centre on November 5, and Belco Flicks V – Belco50 in theatre@bcs, Belconnen Community Centre, on Tuesday November 8.

To be eligible for inclusion, the films and/or film makers will have some connection to Belconnen. The film makers and/or cast may live or work in Belconnen, the film may be set in Belconnen or some aspect of the film or its production may relate to Belconnen.

Belco Flicks is the brainchild of BCS’s Community Engagement and Public Relations manager Simone Penkethman who says:

“The Flicks began in 2009 as part of our Community Cultural Development program. I was aware that there were lots of keen film makers in Canberra and that many of their films were never shown on a big screen. I’d see great flurries of activity around competitions like Tropfest and Lights Canberra Action. Often a whole community of people would form around the making of one short film. It occurred to me that these films were assets in our community. We have a great little theatre in Belconnen Community Centre and I thought that, with a bit of time and resourcing, we could bring people together and experience a collective sense of pride in local achievement.”

Belco Flicks presented four programs between 2009 and 2012. The first program was self-titled; the second had the theme Tropfest Dropouts; the third coincided with National Youth Week and

had the theme, Offspring. The last Belco Flicks had the theme of Reconciliation and coincided with the launch of BCS’s inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan in March 2012. Groups in our community who have been historically absent or under-represented in mainstream film and TV, including people living with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and refugees have all featured in Belco Flicks.

Penkethman says, “It’s great to be able to bring Belco Flicks back to life for Belco50. Our theatre now has an updated sound system and a new screen. Technology has come so far since our first Belco Flicks. Youtube and online video streaming have really grown since 2009. People who have cute cats or amusing accidents can reach millions of viewers. But what hasn’t changed is that opportunities for a community to come together in one place and view locally made films on a big screen are few and far between.”

Expressions of Interest are due by Friday September 30. For further information and entry forms, please email [email protected], visit www.bcsact.com.au/latestnews/or visit Belconnen Community Centre reception, Swanson Court Belconnen.

5BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e r



Images: stills from films that have already been submitted for inclusion into Belco Flicks



http://com.au/latestnews/or

10/10 Turns Five! 10 Teams, 10 yards, 10 hours The 10/10 Project is a one-off, free garden and yard clean-up for up to ten households who currently access services from BCS or Housing ACT. Volunteers from BCS, Housing ACT, friends and family, and the community get together to help those who are in need of a garden make over. It’s been an annual project since 2012 and now it’s coming into its fifth spring. The 2016 10/10 project takes place Saturday October 22.

Volunteers undertake a range of tasks as part of different teams: weeding, pruning, removing green waste and rubbish, as well as preparing lunch and refreshments.

“There’s something for everyone and you don’t need to have a green thumb to be involved”, says Project Manager, Graham McKerchar.

The 10/10 project really brings people together with the joy of a job well done. A highlight of the day is when the volunteers and the residents of the properties being worked on all meet for lunch at Belconnen Community Centre.

One of the residents whose

home was part of the 2015 project wrote: Could you please pass on

our sincere thanks to: Joan, Jill, Ray, Troy and Ian for the wonderful work they performed on our front and back garden and front courtyard. Also to Ben [from BCS Community Transport] for picking me up and taking me home after the fantastic lunch catered for by Belconnen Community Service. The ten/ten team worked tirelessly which now makes it a lot safer for my wife and I to walk and feel comfortable in the garden again.

Registrations for eligible households are open now and close on September 30. Eligible households must be in the Belconnen area. Priority will be given to households that are experiencing any or all of the following circumstances:

• a risk of eviction or homelessness due to the current condition of the yard.

• a high fire risk as we move in to bush fire season due to the state of the yard.

• physical limitations that prevent the occupants from maintaining the yard.

• the current condition of the yard prevents the family from using the outside areas.

If you would like to volunteer your time or to nominate a yard or garden for this year’s 10/10 Project for consideration please go to www.bcsact.com.au to download a registration form or visit Belconnen Community Centre Reception.

Both forms can be returned via email to [email protected] or by post to BCS 10/10 Project PO Box 679 Belconnen ACT 2616. You can also give the completed registration form to a BCS worker or drop it in to our friendly reception team located in the Belconnen Community Centre.



http://com.au/

7Issue 3 - September 2016 - January 2017


Get Involved in Belconnen BCS Christmas Lights ToursChristmas Lights Tours 2016 promises to provide more fun filled evenings as we enjoy the sights of the Christmas lights of Canberra’s northern suburbs. With transport provided by the Belconnen Community Bus Service, we can collect you from home or you can arrange to meet the bus at the Belconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court Belconnen.

WHEN: Monday December 19th, Tuesday December 20th, Wednesday December 21st & Thursday December 22nd at 7:30pm. Cost $5 per person

Registration and bookings are essential to join the Christmas Lights Tours. Please contact transport@bcs on 6278 8124 for more information.

theatre@bcs: The Vicar of DibleyComing up from local company, Tempo Theatre is The Vicar of Dibley. The play is by Ian Gower and Paul Carpenter, adapted from the TV series by Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer.

The stage adaptation follows the first few seasons of the TV series, with all of the well-known characters.

The perfectly peculiar village of Dibley is in need of a new vicar after the Reverend Pottle (aged 102) dies quite unexpectedly. Instead of the standard replacement sporting a beard, a bible and bad breath they get the Reverend Geraldine Granger, “a babe with a bob cut and a magnificent bosom”.

Tempo is thrilled to be presenting the stage adaptation of the well-loved British comedy which opens in theatre@bcs on Friday October 28 (with a preview for charity on Thursday October 27).

Bookings through Canberra ticketing 6275 2700

INGITE: Alternative Arts Academy at Belconnen Arts Centre

IGNITE: Alternative Arts Academy is a series of programs at Belconnen Arts Centre (BAC) that encourage participation for people with mixed abilities. The Academy provides opportunities for all levels of experience, from entry level to those wishing to transition into the mainstream arts sector.

IGNITE: Makers is a weekly program for participants seeking to establish a sustainable creative arts practice in a variety of mediums. Makers aims to develop their repertoire of skills, and experience.

IGNITE: Connect is a hands on experience for people with disability who are seeking to establish an arts practice in visual arts, design, theatre, dance or music through a program of intensive art form specific courses.

IGNITE: Social is a program in which participants share new experiences and understanding of the arts sector through a curated program of social outings off site.

IGNITE: Open Studio provides access to studio space for artists to continue working on their projects.

IGNITE - Room to Move: is a series of monthly inclusive community dance and movement sessions with a focus on improvisation led by a variety of skilled and experienced facilitators, open to people living with and without disability.

IGINTE: Makers and IGNITE: Connect are currently at capacity, but anyone interested in these programs is encouraged to register for the waiting list. Contact www.belconnenartscentre.com.au 6173 3300.


http://www.belconnenartscentre.com.au/

Tiny Tumblers

Tiny Tumblers is a structured, self-paced Gym Program designed to allow 2-4 year olds to challenge themselves in a safe environment. Children develop their fine and gross motor skills, improve their coordination and confidence, and explore their independence while having a bunch of fun as they play with other children.

A parent or carer must remain in attendance for the duration of the session and younger siblings are welcome to join in. Enrolment forms must be completed prior to registration, and payment must be received in advance.

“Affordable, good times for kids”

“Staff relaxed, friendly and welcoming - not uptight!”

Session Times: Tuesdays: 9:30am - 10.15am and 10.30am - 11.15am Wednesdays: 9:30am - 10.15am Thursdays: 9:30am - 10.15am

Cost Casual Visit: $12, 10 Class Pass: $100

For more information or to receive an enrolment form, please contact 6264 0232 or email [email protected]. Tiny Tumblers will operate weekly until December 22, 2016 and will resume on January 10 2017

Yoga with Glenn Freestyle YOGA class focusing on strength, stability and flexibly while catering to the needs of the participants. Loosely based on Lyengar and Ashtanga Yoga, the class offers styles of yoga that help benefit the body and mind. This type of yoga can be physically demanding and is best suited for someone who is looking to push themselves to the best of their abilities. There will be the use of props/equipment in the class when required.

This class will not include inversion poses, such as the headstand or shoulder stand pose.

Classes are held every Sunday at 10:30 AM in the Belconnen Community Centre Gym. Cost: $15 per a session. Bookings are essential due to limited spaces. For more information and to book please contact Glenn on: 0414 188 661.

Free Seniors Concert Rotary, COTA, and Ding Australia have teamed up to present a free Christmas concert for seniors on Sunday November 20, 2016 from 2pm to 4 pm (seated by 1.50pm) at the Albert Hall, Commonwealth Avenue. The concert, this year entitled “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas”, is an annual event designed to address an underlying need in our community to recognise and support seniors. This is one afternoon when they are spoilt and made to feel extra special as they sing along with the Choir to favourite classics. It’s an afternoon of entertainment and fun which culminates in an afternoon tea designed especially for people in their later years.

Bookings through COTA on 6282 3777.

Children’s Week Celebration UnitingCare Kippax, Belconnen Community Service, West Belconnen Child and Family Centre, and Libraries ACT are teaming up again to bring you this annual free event for children five years and under and their families/carers, in celebration of Children’s Week 2016. There will be face-painting, ball pit, tumbling equipment, music, a reading corner, art and craft, morning tea, information for parents and much more!

Thursday October 27, 10am – 12pm Belconnen Community Centre Sports Hall. Enter through side door off Swanson Crt Belconnen. Contact Annette Jackson UnitingCare Kippax on 6254 1733.



http://bcsact.com.au/

BCS Christmas Giving Tree Christmas is a time for family, friends and giving. But for many, the Christmas season can be a difficult time. Some families, individuals and young people struggle to make ends meet. You can make Christmas a little brighter for someone by giving generously to the BCS Christmas Giving Tree.

Each year, with generous donations from our community, we prepare and distribute up to 200 hampers to households in Belconnen.

Christmas Giving Tree Suggestion List: • Store and movie vouchers for adults and young people• Children’s toys and clothing • Delicious, quality Christmas treats • Sports equipment: footballs, soccer balls, cricket set,

tennis racquet• Home wares: beach towels, salad bowls, photo frames,

candles• Books • CDs, DVDs, USBs, headphones • Stationery gift packs • Board games

To help us provide a dignified and respectful service during the Christmas period, we kindly ask you to adhere to the following: • All goods must not be wrapped. • All goods must be new. • Second-hand items cannot be accepted.

We cannot accept items that do not meet current safety standards or have been recalled or banned.

Gifts, cash, and cheque donations can be dropped off at Belconnen Community Centre Reception on or before Wednesday December 7. Credit card donations can be made by calling BCS reception on 62640200

For further information and corporate donations contact: Allison Sullings 6264 0200

Knit, Nibbles and Natter

The Knit, Nibbles and Natter group at Belconnen Community Centre has now been running for over a year. In the beginning, participants knitted for themselves and their friends and family. But it’s a productive group and they soon found that they needed to cast their net more widely to find good homes for their handmade wares.

Early this year, they knitted beanies which were donated to a local Primary School to be sold at their Mother’s Day stall. Their current project is knitting squares which are then stitched together to make blankets. They plan to donate these to a local women’s refuge.

All the participants agree that the best thing about the group is the friendly atmosphere and the camaraderie. They also greatly appreciate the humour and support of Adam and Masia from the community centre with one member saying, “They set the tone”, and another saying that a weekly highlight is, “making Adam blush”.

New members and donations of wool are always welcome. The group meets every Monday from 1-3pm and costs $5, which includes afternoon tea.

SAFIA – Local Heroes at UC Refectory Local band, SAFIA are a national success story. Boasting over 20 million online streams, landing high rotation with six singles at Triple J, and placing in Triple J’s Hottest 100 for three consecutive years, they’re about to release their first full album.

Their next tour of Australia and New Zealand kicks off in Belconnen at the University of Canberra Refectory on Friday September 23. This is an all-ages show. Tickets through oztix.


BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e r9


Dianne, Belinda, Maria, Wendy, Carol and Colleen snuggle under the blankets that they have knitted



News from our Neighbourhood

OneLink is a new service that opened its doors on July 1 2016. It connects Canberrans to a range of information, supports and services, including homelessness supports and child, youth and family services. Onelink offers assistance as quickly and simply as possible so that people can focus on dealing with the challenges in their lives and getting things back on track. This service is a partnership between, Woden Community Service (WCS) and BCS.

“Onelink facilitates a strength-based, person-centred and holistic approach that ensures that individuals and families are able to access the appropriate service response they need at the right time,” said CEO of WCS, Chris Redmond.

This integrated service replaces the Child, Youth and Family Services Gateway and First Point for Homelessness, both of which ceased operation on June 30, 2016. OneLink is a flagship initiative of the ACT Government’s Human Services Blueprint and uses an “any door is the right door” approach to ensure that people are linked with the right support at the right time and for the right duration.

OneLink’s service model ensures that the system is simple to understand, navigate and access. The model was developed in close consultation with community organisations to ensure that strong, healthy and inclusive communities are enabled and supported by a cohesive human services system.

The local sector is comprised of 28 community organisations that deliver 48 services to people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness in the Territory. They achieve some of the best results in the country for people accessing education and training and going on to housing independence.

Onelink can be accessed through its office at Nature Conservation House in Belconnen and over the phone at 1800 176 468. The service operates between 8am and

6pm Monday to Friday and more information is

available through its website, www.onelink.org.au

OneLink can also be accessed at the Early Morning Centre in Civic one morning a week, with other outreach locations on the south side currently being explored.

EasyRiders with Big Hearts By Simone Penkethman

Recently, a family that BCS supports needed some extra help. A single father with two children had undergone abdominal surgery. He was coming out of hospital but his bed was only a mattress on the floor. The hospital social worker said he wouldn’t be able to manage and that he needed a bed base.

Through community contacts, the family’s BCS support worker was put in touch with the EasyRiders. These big-hearted cyclists from the Melba Men’s shed have a simple and effective fundraising scheme that they use to help people in need. The next day, our worker met Paul McCarthy from the EasyRiders at Ikea where they purchased a new bed.

The EasyRiders meet for coffee at the Black Pepper Café by Lake Ginninderra every weekday morning. Hearing this story of their kindness, I arranged to meet them. It’s a jovial group who claim that they solve all the problems of the world in their coffee-fuelled discussions.

They purchase their morning coffee through a group treasury that’s kept in a plastic bag. Each member pays the treasury a little more than the coffee actually costs and the surplus accumulates. The Black Pepper also allows them to combine their coffee order on one loyalty card and the money saved by getting every 12th coffee free also remains in the treasury. With up to 24 cyclists buying coffee five days per week, the money soon adds up.

Their fundraising originally began to support the Melba Men’s Shed, but once the shed became solvent they

EasyRiders John, Bob, Roger, Paul, Phil, Amanda (Black Pepper), Barry, Peter, Greg, Terry


http://www.onelink.org.au/




decided to help local families and individuals. This year they’ve helped a primary school student to access the special instrumental band program, assisted two women at Karinya House for mothers and babies to purchase medication and clothing items, and assisted a low income household with urgent transport needs.

My one concern about the story of the Ikea bed was that someone would need to assemble it for the poor man recovering from surgery. Paul assured me that he offered to help but other assistance had already been arranged. For more information about the EasyRiders see www.melbashed.com/cycling.

Belconnen Tennis Club Reaches Out to the Community By Kim Huynh

Belconnen Tennis Club is working with BCS, providing lessons for a class of adults living with disabilities. The tennis sessions are part of BCS’s social and recreational groups, which incorporate art, cooking, dance, exercise and sport. Led by David Beniamini with assistance from a handful of club members, the lessons emphasise the three fundamentals of tennis, which so many experienced players often forget at their peril: a) watch the ball, b) move your feet and c) have a great time.

For the class, tennis served as means to connect with different people and try out new experiences. The same could be said for the Belconnen Tennis Club volunteers. The lesson for all was that sport is not just about improving fitness and skills, but also overcoming the nets and getting past the fences that we all encounter in developing healthy human relationships and self-awareness. To this end, the club is looking to extend and enrich its outreach activities for the benefit of the community and its members.

Get out of Town with BCS Bus Trips Everyone’s welcome to join BCS bus trips and visit attractions within a few hours’ drive of Canberra.

Cherry Picking at Young: Enjoy a great day in the country. Travel to Young and pick your own cherries straight off the tree. Cost covers: transport, morning tea and lunch. Cherries, afternoon tea and dinner will be at your expense. Wed November 30, 2016 $85.00. All bookings for this trip must be confirmed by November 16, 2016

Thredbo in the Summer: A day trip to enjoy the alpine landscape without the snow. Enjoy lunch and schnapps tasting at the Wild Brumby, ride the chairlift at Thredbo village and more. Cost covers: Chairlift ticket, transport, morning tea, lunch and schnapps tasting. Afternoon tea will be at your expense. Wednesday February 22, 2017, $130.00. All bookings for this trip must be confirmed by February 8, 2017.

A deposit of $50 per trip is required on booking and full payment must be made before the excursion commences. All bookings and payments are through: Belconnen Community Centre Reception

Ph 02 624 0200 [email protected]

The EasyRiders’ treasury

BCS bus trip to Dubbo July 2016


http://www.melbashed.com/cycling


social@bcsBelco50 Morning Tea, Aranda Playing fields, June 23

Some of Aranda’s earliest residents: Harrie Quince, Michael Frino, Katie Frino, Diane carter, Helen Digan

Julia Doyd and Daniel Ballantyne (Belconnen Arts centre) Tara Cheyne (candidate for Ginninderra) and Jenelle Tinham (Belconnen Community Service)

“Look!” Exhibition for Belco50 opening, gallery@bcs, August 31

Exhibiting artist, Dr Sherene Suchy with Andy Townsend

Phil Nizette, Jennifer Jones, Robyn Stanhope, Jon Stanhope

Arifa Arifah and Bernando Hendra

BCS day trip to the South Coast, April 6

Magdelena and Zacharia

Irene and Sue

Carol, Maria Pia and Coral

Dead Men Talking, theatre@bcs May 10

Actors, Max Cullen and Warren Fahey

Creation’s Evolution”, exhibition opening, gallery@bcs , June 8

Leanne McEwan, exhibiting artist, Margy Duke, Kaila Smith

Upeksha Wickranarunga and Jeska Marshall

Artists from the De Fence project, Redbrow Gardens, May 26


BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e r13


ACT Training Awards, Hotel Realm, September 1

Emma Sckrabei (Riverview Projects) Julie Gorrell, Allison Sullings and Simone Penkethman (BCS), Steve Harding (Riverview Projects), Michelle Armstrong (CIT) Tom Gordon (Land Development Agency) David McCooey (Ablaze), Lauren Kapper (BCS)

Aboriginal Pathways, Communities and Knowledge, exhibition opening for NAIDOC Week in gallery@bcs, July 6

Exhibiting artist, Lynette Talbot with Neville Talbot

Pauline Mager, Wendy Somerville, Andrea McMillan

Kath Wallace, Jenni Kemarre Martiniello Hannah Semler

“The Book of Waiting” exhibition opening, gallery@bcs, August 10

Exhibiting artist, Cat Freeman and Raquel Ormella

Positive Links at Flynn Community Hub and the National Arboretum

Betty, Irene and Joan

Leslie, Margaret and Bob

Penny, Chris and Dianne

Zachary, Oscar and Hassan

BCS Three day trip to Dubbo

Colleen, Caroline, Carol, Coral, Betty, Maria Pia, Lee

Colleen and Betty

Caroline and Masia

Tessa, Coral, Adam and Colleen


What’s on in gallery@bcsBelconnen Community Centre, Swanson Court, Belconnen

Open 9am-5pm Monday-Friday

Nature A photographic exhibition by Andrew Carley. September 13 – 23 Official Opening 5:30pm Wednesday September 14 This exhibition explores nature and all that it entails. Andrew Carley enjoys taking photographs of trees, lakes, rock formations, and landscapes and experimenting with the colours and textures that they create through the lens. He is particularly interested in documenting the minute by minute light shifts at sunset, and the challenges he faces in capturing them.

Children’s Week An exhibition of works by children from the Belconnen Community Service Children’s Programs October 18 – 28 Official Opening 6:30pm Wednesday October 26 BCS Children’s programs will celebrate Children’s Week with an exhibition displaying a variety of artwork relating to the theme “children have the right to reliable information from the media”, UN Convention on the Rights of the Child – Article 17 which states that a) children have the right to get information that is important to their health and well-being. b) Governments should encourage mass media – radio, television, newspapers and Internet content sources – to provide information that children can understand and to not promote materials that could harm children. c) Mass media should particularly be encouraged to supply information in languages that minority and indigenous children can understand. d) Children should also have access to children’s books.

Get off De Fence A mixed media exhibition documenting a large scale sculptural collaboration – in celebration of Mental Health Week September 28-October 14 Official Opening by Minister for the Arts Dr Chris Bourke MLA 5:30pm Wednesday October 5 Get off De Fence is an exhibition documenting the making of De Fence, a large scale timber sculpture that incorporates the voices and visions of a community of artists living with mental illness. De Fence is a visual expression of people’s recovery journey, incorporating their past, present and future. The exhibition will feature the sculpture itself as well as film footage, photos, tools and visual diaries from the creative process, and other works by BCS mental health art groups. De Fence is supported by the ACT Government through ArtsACT and produced by Belconnen Community Service.




15

gallery@bcs ‘Piece of Mind’ series presents: Surface Vitriolic An abstracted layering of responses to mental health by Selena Smith, Karen Silsby, and Robyn Twiss Fisher November 1 - 11 Official Opening 5:30pm Wednesday November 2 All three of the artists deal with mental health within in their immediate family on a day to day basis and the layering within their work reflects the good, the sad, the accomplishments and the pure retreatism that art can provide. This exhibition will allow the viewer into the realm of their headspace as they escape into layers of paint using texture, light, colour and surface tension. Beyond the vitriolic surface are many underlying stories: covers, unmasking and re-workings that reflect what is a daily reality in mental health. All are affected yet not all are privileged to be able to ease the responses onto canvas and spread the stories to others. Joy comes from unlocking, accepting and banding together for support. Their art gives them value, a sense of community, and the freedom to truly unleash the feelings within.

gallery@bcs ‘Piece of Mind’ series presents: The Art of Art A mixed media exhibition by participants of the BCS Art Programs in celebration of International Day for People with a Disability November 28 – December 9Official opening 12:30pm Tuesday December 6Creating Art begins with the right attitude, and this group of Artists has the right inclusive and expressive attitude towards their work. We meet every Tuesday morning to talk about Art, swap ideas and interact as a group. This entails sharing ideas, exploring different media, and giving advice with humour, creativity and respect. This process of interaction and creating, is as exciting as the end product; which is all part.

gallery@bcs ‘Piece of Mind’ series presents: Kiss the Joy as it Flies An exhibition of paintings by Vijaya Sen November 15 - 25Official Opening 5:30pm Wednesday November 16As an artist Vijaya’s intention is to mark, record and interpret these everyday sites, situations and rituals which are often unacknowledged or overlooked. This exhibition celebrates the familiar yet significant moments which shape the everyday experience of suburban life - which nevertheless govern and define our lives. These moments can encompass the natural forms around us, the friends we encounter, the locations we inhabit – whether private domestic space or the shared nature of public space - and of course our engagement with the events and activities around us. They are essentially transient moments yet as the William Blake quote implies it is critical that we recognize, enjoy, and even treasure them. Ultimately they are the moments which define us.



[email protected]://www.bcsact.com.au

/BCSACT @BCSACTContact BCS

For bookings and enquires

6278 8124

Community Cars Community Bus

Mondays to Fridays 9am - 5pm

Both services provide door to door service and transportation to:

OffersOffers

Initiative of the ACT Government

transport@bcs

Safe, reliable, flexible and friendly transport that is focused on supporting your complete community transport needs

• Medical appointments• Paramedical appointments• Visiting services• Go Social Saturday outings

• Monthly excursions• Monthly lunches• Community Group bookings

• Social activities• Shopping • Group activities

Eligibility criterea and some fees may apply, contact Belconnen Community Service for more information

Supported by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Social Services






Help when you’re out of actionAll lives have their ups and downs. We like to feel independent but sometimes a temporary illness or affliction makes it difficult to care for ourselves. BCS can help with activities of daily living when you have a temporary or episodic health condition such as:• a need for post-hospital care and support or assistance

with hospital outpatient visits;• episodic or temporary health requirements, including

mental health;• a disability that is not of a ‘significant and permanent’

nature, as is required for National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) eligibility

• any combination of any number of these characteristics

Support can also be provided for the unpaid carers and family members in any of the above circumstances. BCS can provide services such as: • Domestic Assistance (help with the housework)• Social Supports (help to get out and about)• Home Maintenance (minor repairs)• Social Groups (help with becoming well again

and to meet new people and get connected)• Medical Transport (to medical and

paramedical appointments)• Care Coordination (help to ensure that all your

supports work smoothly together)

BCS takes a person-centered approach to provide services that are tailored to individual needs. Each participant is involved in the planning and facilitation of services. This support is made possible by the ACT Government through its Community Assistance Support Program (CASP).

Eligibility requirements:• The CASP services are for individuals under

the age of 65 (or under age 50 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) who require home and community care supports due to difficulties with activities of daily living arising from a health condition.

• In order to receive services under the program, individuals cannot be currently receiving identical home and community care services from another government program.

• An NDIS client may be eligible for these services if they have an additional support need arising from a health issue that is short term, for example, recovering from surgery.

Co-Contributions apply to all of the above listed services and are discussed with the Program Coordinator before commencement.

For further information and referrals contact: 6278 8101 [email protected]


[email protected]://www.bcsact.com.au

/BCSACT @BCSACTContact BCS

For bookings and enquires

6278 8124

Community Cars Community Bus

Mondays to Fridays 9am - 5pm

Both services provide door to door service and transportation to:

OffersOffers

Initiative of the ACT Government

transport@bcs

Safe, reliable, flexible and friendly transport that is focused on supporting your complete community transport needs

• Medical appointments• Paramedical appointments• Visiting services• Go Social Saturday outings

• Monthly excursions• Monthly lunches• Community Group bookings

• Social activities• Shopping • Group activities

Eligibility criterea and some fees may apply, contact Belconnen Community Service for more information

Supported by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Social Services




Bright SPARK in West BelconnenIn conversation with Emma Sckrabei, Training and Employment Manager - Riverview Projects (ACT)

West Belconnen/Parkwood is changing. Over the next 30-40 years the district will spread over the edge of the ACT and into NSW. It’s a development of 1600 hectares of which approximately 600, will be reserved for a Conservation Corridor that includes Ginninderra Falls. The new development, a joint venture between the Land Development Agency and Riverview Developments (Riverview), is now known as Ginninderry, which is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning “throwing out rays of light” or simply “sparkling”.

Last October, Emma Sckrabei left her home in South Australia for the Bush Capital and the newly created position of Training and Employment Manager with Riverview. She says that Riverview is a developer with a difference - they want to bring the community on board for Ginninderry’s journey.

Emma arrived in Belconnen knowing no one. Now, her networks in local business, community and education organisations are formidable. She says, “Ginninderry is about more than bricks and mortar. We want to engage with the whole community and provide economic opportunities, where we can for local people.”

The SPARK Employment and Training Initiative that Emma is rolling out across Ginninderry is a testament to

that commitment. It’s a unique initiative that

will use infrastructure works and commercial land sales to generate economic

opportunities for local people. SPARK has already enabled new partnerships, and education and training opportunities to bloom.

BCS is a partner in three of these new initiatives: the Youth Employment Pathways Hub, the BCS Childcare Pre Employment Program and the West Belconnen Construction Pre Employment Program.

Along with providing training opportunities SPARK aims to create a new culture for contractors in the Ginninderry development. All Riverview procurement contracts will include a requirement for contractors to provide both paid employment and unpaid work experience to local people.

Emma not only finds training and employment opportunities and projects, but also sets them up and manages them. SPARK’s Pre Employment programs provide a mix of certified training and work experience. “The model is about creating new opportunities for people looking for work. But not everyone is work ready. So, in co-designing our Pre Employment Construction Programs at Strathnairn and West Belconnen, I decided to apply for funding for training so that people can have white cards, Personal Protection Equipment and Asbestos Awareness Tickets.”

Emma says, “The best way to more choices is to have a job. To get a job you often need education. Many people have had bad experiences of education and many more have other barriers like low literacy, family breakdown and mental illness. If we can change their trajectory, so they have a job, have money, have a chance to contribute we’ll know we’re on the right path.

SPARK is about the greater good. When we build the development, we’ll need childcare, aged care and other services so we’re starting to build local capacity now even before the first sod is turned.”

To find out more about the SPARK Training and Employment Initiative visit www.ginninderry.com

Emma with Steve Harding – Riverview Projects and Tom Gordon – Land Development Agency, at the 2016 ACT Training awards.


http://www.ginninderry.com/


19BELCONNEN COMMUNITYn e w s l e t t e r


SPARK Shines Brightly for new Childcare Program Participants

BCS, Canberra Institute of Technology and Riverview Projects’ SPARK Initiative worked in collaboration to deliver a new and innovative training-to-employment model, with industry work experience placements, within BCS Early Childhood Centres.

The future is looking positive for the thirteen participants, who began their training journey with the BCS Childcare Pre-Employment program in July 2016.

“Already it’s fantastic to see the personal growth and transformation with the group, which includes women and men, young and mature aged, all from culturally and linguistically diverse and Indigenous backgrounds” said Emma Sckrabei, SPARK Training and Employment Manager. “When they started, many participants presented with a few challenges in their life and we are working closely with them to ensure they are building their capacity to become work ready and successfully secure employment.”

Now they’re all well on the way to completing the six-month program and receiving their qualifications in Certificate III in Early Childhood Education & Care, along with a Senior First Aid Certificate.

The Belconnen Community Service Childcare Pre Employment Program was a finalist in the 2016 ACT Training Awards, under the Industry Collaboration category.Photos: Trainees in the BCS Childcare Pre Employment Program with their CIT trainer, SPARK Training and Employment Manager, BCS Children’s Programs Managers, and children in our care.

Little Children visit Big School By Lauren Kapper, Director, Belconnen Early Childhood CentreEach week four children from each of BCS’s three Early Childhood Centres (Belconnen, Bruce and Ginninderra) embark on a fun outdoor adventure.

Together we ride the BCS bus with joy and excitement, pointing out places or landmarks in our community and discussing them at great length. The bus takes us to Southern Cross School where we get to make friends with other children, and enjoy playing on the equipment in their outdoor playground.

During the very first visits it was hard to single out just one highlight of the morning; the bus ride and playground where both high on the excitement-meter for children and educators alike. Now we’ve stopped trying to pinpoint one highlight and just enjoy every minute in the fresh air.

Each week we climb, run, hop, skip, and crawl around the expansive environment, making new friends, digging in the sand, building sand castles, and enjoying the sunlight while lying in the grass looking at the clouds. We learn a lot along the way. We discovered that tan bark and tree stumps are a home for animals to protect and feed their young. We’re picking up road rules as we ride through the road safety/bike area. Our imagination is set free as we roll around in the barrels seeing spaceships fly through the sky.



School Aged Care @ BCSBCS School Aged Care (SAC) programs enable children to drive their own agenda, plan their own projects, and grow their connection to each other and our community. The children volunteer at a local op shop, bake cakes for the fire brigade, organise their own talent quests and assemblies, and visit the corner@bcs. Before School Care operates from 7.30am until 9.00am and After School Care (afters) operates from 3.00pm to 6.00pm. Charnwood Primary School, Bettington Circuit, Charnwood (afters only)Florey Primary School, Ratcliff Crescent, Florey (before and afters)St Johns Primary School, Pawsey Circuit, Florey (before and afters)St Matthews Primary School, Stutchbury Street, Page (before and afters)

Spring 2016 Holiday Programs BCS runs two school holiday programs. West Belconnen School Holiday Program is run from Cranleigh School in Holt. St Johns School Holiday Program operates from the school in Florey. Programs will run from September 27 – October 7, Tuesday to Friday (both Mondays are public holidays) from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Both School Holiday Programs are inclusive of children of all abilities from kindergarten to year six.

Activities include: the science of slime; teddy bears picnic; a visit from Reptiles Inc; jumping castle; excursions to the National Zoo and Aquarium, Flipout, CSIRO Discovery Centre, and more. Children are free to choose from the large variety of art and craft materials and toys that we have available every day. Educators also support spontaneous activities based on the children’s interests during the holidays.

Contact: 6264 0200, [email protected] or visit www.bcsact.com.au for more information

Belconnen Early Childhood Centre Smart and SustainableIn 2015, Belconnen Early Childhood Centre (BECC) became an Actsmart accredited business. Actsmart Business Recycling is a free ACT Government program that offers local businesses help to put efficient recycling and waste management into action. Since then, BECC has won two Actsmart awards and starred in a video to promote sustainability in business.

BECC won the Actsmart 2015 award for Excellence in Motivation and the 2016 Innovation Excellence Award. BECC Director, Lauren Kapper said, “The competition was amazing; there are so many small, medium and large businesses in the ACT who are doing their part to make our community more sustainable. I’d like to congratulate the educators for their passion, hard work, and effort, and the children and their families for joining us on our sustainability journey.”

BECC was the first of Belconnen Community Service’s three Early Childhood Centres to become an Actsmart accredited business. Now, Gininderra Early Childhood Centre in Belconnen Community Centre and Bruce Early Childhood Centre are also Actsmart accredited businesses.

You can see BECC’s Actsmart video on Youtube. Just search for “Belconnen Early Childhood Centre”

Children and educators at BECC play with repurposed items during an Actsmart film shoot on May 18, 2016.






21

An inclusive connected community A

The corner@bcs’s free Holiday Programs for Young PeopleThis spring school holidays, the corner@bcs has prepared a program that’s jam packed with different ways for young people to explore their artistic side. There’s Cartooning and Anime, Phone Photography, Drumming, Hip Hop and DJ classes, and Art using Nature, with a few pool comps on the side to balance things out.

The September October 2016 Youth School Holiday Program is a free, fun filled program that relieves some of the boredom and isolation that the school holidays can bring. It’s open to anyone aged 12-25 in the Canberra region.

The corner@bcs is on the corner of Chandler St and Swanson Crt Belconnen. The holiday program is staffed by experienced youth workers and also offers a range of social activities. Each school holiday timetable is different and offers a wide range of skill based, engaging activities. All School Holiday Program activities are free of charge with excursion activities including transport from the corner@bcs to and from the planned activity location. Permission forms are required for some activities and places on excursions are limited.

The corner will also run free holiday activities during January 2017. For a copy of the upcoming School Holiday Program or for additional information, please contact the Youth Engagement Team via BCS reception on 6264 0200.

Other programs at the corner@bcsThe corner@bcs, is a safe space for young people aged 12 to 25 years to hang out, staffed by experienced youth workers. A range of afternoon activities are offered including: pool table, table tennis, board games, books, X-Box, Wii, and craft. The BCS Youth Engagement team also offer a number of tailored services to meet young people’s needs.

Open Access occurs each Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm – 5pm, and on Fridays from 3pm – 7pm. Friday’s Open Access includes ‘Free feed Friday’ which is a chance for young people to suggest recipes, help cook and enjoy a hot meal together before the weekend. Young people can also access a washing machine, dryer and shower.

The Youth Employment Pathways Hub is open Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-4pm and offers one on one, tailored employment support to young people aged 18-24yrs living in or accessing the Belconnen area.

Short term Youth Case Work (up to 12 weeks) is offered by the Youth Engagement Team for at risk or vulnerable young people with medium to high needs who would like assistance in reaching their self-determined goals.

Bit Bent is an informal group where LGTBIQ young people come together in a safe and supported space to meet new friends, have a bite to eat, talk about their experiences, and share information about local events and services relevant to them.

The Youth Engagement team also facilitates a free Road Ready Training Course for young people aged 15-25 years who hold a current Centrelink Healthcare card and missed out on completing the course in high school (often offered in Year 10).

For more information call 62640200 or visit www.bcsact.com.au or facebook.com/bcsyouthservices


http://bcsact.com.au/

http://facebook.com/bcsyouthservices

Monday

Creative Arts Therapy9.30am - 12.00pm, Art Room 1Small group mental health program. Individual Art Therapy available by appointmentCost: $125 per 10 week term, $12.50 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Mothers’ Voice10.00am - 12.00pm, Belconnen Library Community RoomSinging group for mothers with babies and pre school aged childrenCost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Backs in Balance 10.00am-11.00am, Meeting Room 2Cost: $10 per classCall Judy on 6288 0768Cooking Together10.30am - 12.30pm, CornerLearn new cooking skills and new recipes for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Social Badminton10.30am - 12.15pm, Sports HallA social game for all levels of playersCost: $6 per session / $4 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200

Mature Fitness11.30am - 12.30pm, GymImprove your fitness using fit bands, swiss balls and light hand weightsCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Women’s Group12.00pm - 1.30pm, Meeting Room 2Mental Health Support and light lunchCost: $8Call John on 6264 0200Aerobics/Circuit Class12.30pm - 1.30pm, GymImprove your strength and cardiovascular fitnessCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Knit, Nibbles, & Natter1.00pm - 3.00pm, Tea RoomSocial group for knitting and yarnsCost: $5 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Youth Employment Pathways Hub1.00pm - 4.00pm, the corner@bcsThe Hub is a new youth service providing tailored employment pathways for young people aged 18-24 years.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Healthy Body, Healthy Mind1.30pm - 2.30pm, GymA women-only fitness class for mental health supportCost: $8.50 conc.Call John on 6264 0200GROW Meeting1.30pm - 3.30pm, Meeting Room 1Mutual support and self-help for people with anxiety or other mental health difficultiesCost: FreeCall Kristin on 6295 7791

Martial Arts 2.00pm - 3.30pm, Sports HallA Martial Arts class for people living with disability, taught by James from the Korean Martial Arts Academy CanberraCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Koori Kids3.30pm - 4.30pm, West Belconnen Child and Family CentreGroup for 8-16 year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Creative arts, music, physical education and cultural pride. Weeks 2-9Cost: FreeCall Nick White on 6264 0200Canberra Singapore Club4.30pm - 6.30pm, Sports HallSocial badmintonCall Linda on 0412 370 944Bit Bent Belconnen6.00pm - 8.00pm, the corner@bcsSocial support group for LGBTIQ young people aged 12-25 yearsCost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Weight Watchers6.30pm - 7.30pm, Meeting Room 2Weight Watchers’ unique, personalised approach to weight loss combines healthy eating, exercise and support. Call to join or for more information please call on 13 19 97ACT Shotokan Karate6.30pm - 8.30pm, Sports HallCost: $10 per class or $40 per monthCall Ryan on 0414 802 429 or on 6254 6593

Tuesday

Tiny Tumblers9.30am - 10.15am, Sports Hall10.30am - 11.15am, Sports HallEducational gym play for under-5sCost: $12 per class / $100 for 10 classesCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200

BCS Community Calendar September 2016 – January 2017




23

Fun Fitness with Judy10.00am - 11.00am, GymCost: $8 per classCall Judy on 6288 0768My Art 10.00am - 12.00pm, Art Room 1Inclusive mixed-media art class for people living with disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Adam on 6264 0200Cooking Together10.30am - 12.30pm, CornerLearn new cooking skills and new recipes for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall BCS Reception on 62640200Be Better Balanced10.30am - 11.30am, GymStrength Maintenance program for people living with multiple SclerosisCost: $7.50 per classCall BCS Reception on 62640200Best Club10.30am - 1.30pm, Kippax Raiders ClubSocial group for people over the age of 65 yearsCost: $7.00 per weekCall Adam on 62640200Board Games12.30pm - 2.30pm, Dickson LibraryScrabble and chess - beginners welcomeCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall John on 6264 0200Scribblers Writing Group12.45pm - 2.45pm, Meeting Room 1Creative writing through practice, projects, and critiqueContact on [email protected] in Balance12.45pm - 1.45pm, GymStrength and balance for falls prevention and healthCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200

Painting, Drawing and Printmaking1.00pm - 3.00pm, Art Room 1With art therapist, Tim BourkeCost: $150 per 10 week term, $15 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Let it Be You1.30pm - 3.30pm, Meeting Room 2Social and recreational program for people living with disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Yoga and Meditation1.30pm - 2.30pm, Tuggeranong Library Meeting RoomDay to Day Living Mental Health programCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall John on 6264 0200Youth Engagement - Open Access3.00pm - 5.00pm, the corner@bcsSafe place for young people aged 12-25 years to drop in and hang out.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Expressive Art - Bungee Program4.00pm - 5.00pm, Art Room 1Build resilience and self-confidence through expressive art; for children ages 7-11 yearsCost: FreeCall Natasha on 6264 0200Acting - Bungee Program4.00pm - 5.30pm, Meeting Room 2Drama group helping to build resilience and self-confidence; for children ages 8 – 13 yearsCost: FreeCall Natasha on 6264 0200Sculpture Class6.00pm - 8.00pm, Art Room 1A mixed media sculpture class. No experience necessary, all levels welcomeCost: $150 per 10 week term, $15 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200

Wednesday

Tiny Tumblers9.30am - 10.15am, Sports HallEducational gym play for under-5sCost: $12 per class / $100 for 10 classesCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Mature Strength10.00am - 11.00am, GymBuild strength through machine based exercisesCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Creative Writing10.00am - 12.00pm, Woden LibraryLearn how to write engaging stories and poems with a published authorCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall John on 6264 0200Cooking - Mental Health Support10.30am - 12.30pm, Woden Youth CentreCost: $5 per classCall John on 6293 3951Social Club 10.30am - 12.00pm, the corner@bcsSocial and recreational activities for people living with disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Mature Fitness11.30am - 12.30pm, GymIncludes the use of Swiss Ball and hand weights for better strengthCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Weight Watchers12.00pm - 1.00pm, Meeting Room 2Weight Watchers’ unique, personalised approach to weight loss combines healthy eating, exercise and support. Call to join or for more information on 13 19 97


Advanced Badminton12.15pm - 1.45pm, Sports HallA social game for advanced playersCall Clive on 0424 659 497Power Bar12.30pm - 1.30pm, GymBuild strength with free weight exercise routinesCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Interchange AA Group12.30pm - 1.30pm, Meeting Room 1The only requirement is a desire to stop drinking.Call Judy on 0408 051 203Youth Employment Pathways Hub1.00pm - 4.00pm, the corner@bcsThe Hub is a new youth service providing tailored employment pathways for young people aged 18-24 years.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Dance Club 1.30pm - 3.00pm, GymHip-Hop dance classes for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Try a Sport1.30pm - 3.30pm, Various placesTry a variey of new sports and skills for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall BCS Reception on 62640200Expressive Art - Bungee Program3.30pm - 4.30pm, Tuggeranong Child and Family CentreBuild resilience and self-confidence through expressive art; for children ages 7-11 yearsCost: FreeCall Natasha on 6264 0200Bruce Toastmasters6.00pm - 7.30pm, Meeting Room 2Develop public speaking and leadership skills in a supportive environment. FortnightlyCall Kevin on 0408 117 113

ACT Shotokan Karate6.30pm - 8.30pm, Sports HallCost: $10 per class or $40 per monthCall Ryan on 0414 802 429 or Wally on 6254 6593Canberra Tamil Badminton8.30pm - 9.30pm, Sports HallAlso play Sundays 9am-10amCall Sri on 6258 0633

Thursday

Messengers Program9.00am - 12.15pm, Art Room 1Arts-based early intervention and resilience program for young people aged 13-18 years. During school termsCost: FreeCall Messengers on 6293 2212Tiny Tumblers9.30am - 10.15am, Sports HallEducational gym play for under-5sCost: $12 per class / $100 for 10 classesCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Dunlop Playgroup in the Park9.45am - 11.00am, corner Lance Hill ave and Evelyn Owen cres, DunlopA playgroup for parents and their children, held during school term.Cost: FreeCall Kathy Abideen on 6264 0200Belconnen Women’s Group10.00am-12.00pm, Meeting Room 2Outings, guest speakers and fun for women aged 50+Cost: $4Call Judy or Sue on 6258 9910/6258 2861English Conversation Group10.00am - 12.00pm, Belconnen Library Community RoomSupported by BCS volunteers, morning tea provided.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Be Active Gym 10.00am - 11.00am, GymGentle exercise gym class for people living with disability.Cost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200

Koori Playgroup10.30am - 12.00pm, West Belconnen Child and Family centreA playgroup for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and their parents and carers. Weeks 2-9Cost: FreeCall Denise Small on 6205 2904Superhero Dance10.45am - 11.30am, Sports HallDance and movement class for children aged 3-4.Cost: $12 per class / $100 for 10 classesCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Power Bar11.30am - 12.30pm, GymBuild strength with free weight exercise routinesCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Lunchtime Volleyball12.30pm - 1.30pm, Sports HallCall Michael on 6252 5955Latham Early Links to Learning1.00pm - 3.00pm, Latham Primary SchoolA playgroup to support successful transitions in to preschool, for children under 5 and their parents/carersCost: FreeCall Tanya Black on 6142 0077Drumming Circle Club1.30pm - 3.00pm, TheatreDruming workshop for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall BCC Reception on 62640200Craft Club 1.30pm - 3.00pm, Art Room 2Creative crafts group for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Beginning Badminton2.00pm - 3.30pm, Sports HallMental health supportCost: $5.00 per sessionCall John on 6264 0200Backs in Balance2.00pm - 3.00pm, GymStrength and balance for falls prevention and health




25

Cost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Youth Engagement - Open Access3.00pm - 5.00pm, the corner@bcsSafe place for young people aged 12-25 years to drop in and hang out. Street dance activities from 4-5pm.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Koori Leaders3.30pm - 5.00pm, West Belconnen Child and Family CentreGroup for 13-16 year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Creative arts, music, physical education and cultural pride. Weeks 2-9. Cost: FreeCall Nick White on 6264 0200Youth Art - Bungee Program4.00pm - 5.30pm, Art Room 1Builds resilience and confidence through expressive art; for young people aged 12-18Cost: FreeCall Natasha on 6264 0200Social Outings5.00pm - 8.00pm, Various placesJoin us on a variety of outings each fortnight for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200

Friday

Florey Paint and Play9.30am - 10.45am, Florey Primary SchoolA playgroup for parents and their children, held during school termsCall Kathy Abideen on 6264 0200Pottery9.30am - 12.00pm, WatsonJoin artist Tony in creating pottery pieces and ceramic artworksCost: $150 per 10 week term $15 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Get Up - Young Parents Group10.00am - 11.30am, West Belconnen Child and Family Centre

A playgroup for parents aged 25 and under and their children. Weeks 2-9Call Emma Wood on 6264 0200Mature Strength10.00am - 11.00am, GymBuild strength through machine based exercisesCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 [email protected] - 11.30am, Smith Family BuildingPhilosophy from the past to the present - all welcome. Every 2 weeks starting April 15Cost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall John on 6264 0200Positive Links10.30am-13.30pm, Meeting Room 2Friendly social group for people who’ve experienced a stroke or other life-changing experienceCost: $7.00 per weekCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Social Badminton10.30am - 12.15pm, Sports HallA social game for all levels of playersCost: $6 per session / $4 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Mature Fitness11.30am - 12.30pm, GymImprove your fitness using fit bands, swiss balls and light hand weightsCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Advanced Badminton12.15pm - 1.45pm, Sports HallA social game for advanced playersCall Clive on 0424 659 497Power Bar12.30pm - 1.30pm, GymBuild strength with free weight exercise routinesCost: $10.50 per class / $8.50 conc.Call BCS Reception on 6264 0200Mosaics1.00pm - 3.00pm, Art Room 1Join artist Tony in creating mosaicsCost: $150 per 10 week term $15 per sessionCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200

Get Into Reading1.30pm - 3.00pm, Woden LibraryRead and discuss great stories and poems from the past and contemporary literatureCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall John on 6264 0200Craft Club 1.30pm - 3.00pm, Art Room 2Creative crafts group for people living with a disabilityCost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Healthy Body, Healthy Mind1.45pm - 2.45pm, GymFitness class, mental health supportCost: $8.50 conc.Call John on 6264 0200Be Active Gym 2.30pm - 3.30pm, GymGentle exercise gym class for people living with disability.Cost: Fees apply please enquire at receptionCall Kelly on 6264 0200Youth Engagement - Free Feed Friday3.00pm - 7.00pm, the corner@bcsSafe place for young people aged 12-25 years. Free Feed Fridays - free dinner provided in warm friendly space.Cost: FreeCall BCS Reception on 6264 0200Acting - Bungee Program3.30pm - 4.45pm, Tuggeranong Child and Family CentreDrama group helping to build resilience and self-confidence; for children ages 8 – 13 yearsCost: FreeCall Natasha on 6264 0200

All prices are correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change.



Youth Employment Pathways Hub Helps Abe Get Dream Jobs By Chanel ColeI work at the BCS Youth Employment Pathways Hub (the Hub) where we offer support to vulnerable 18-24 year olds to achieve their employment goals, whatever they may be. The Hub opened in mid-March 2016 and is open two afternoons a week at the corner@bcs. We’ve worked with amazing young people from all over Canberra. We’ve helped with resumes, job applications, interview preparation, work experience, literacy, and negotiating with job network agencies and Centrelink. We’ve also explored apprenticeships and vocational qualifications, right down to helping people figure out what kinds of work would suit their natural interests and talents.

It’s hard to explain what we do at the Hub because it depends on what each person wants to achieve. So I asked Abe if we could share his story (spoiler alert: he said yes). When Abe came to see us he’d been looking for work for over a year. He had two Cert III qualifications in Animal Technology, and Aged Care / Disability but he hadn’t been able to find work. He says, “I was just looking on the usual job search sites, and CIT and Uni job notice boards. It was pretty discouraging. By the time I came into the Hub, I was looking for any job in general instead of trying to go for work I’d actually enjoy and would suit me. Now I’m a lot more confident.”

After our first conversation, I knew he’d do well in his chosen fields; he just needed to get a foot in the door. Abe had to apply for a certain number of jobs each month anyway, so I encouraged him to use our time together to focus on what he’d really like to do. First we worked together to make his resume more targeted. Then we explored specialist recruitment sites and websites of places he’d like to work. We brainstormed responses to selection criteria, emailed friends and colleagues to see if they knew of anything through their networks, and made phone calls to see if he would be eligible to apply for advertised roles. We met less than a dozen times, and Abe ended up with two great job offers! He now works between 20 – 45 hours per week as an Animal Technician and Disability Support Worker.

Abe says, “At the Hub there was no pressure and we

had good communication about what we were each going to follow up on. I got good

information about technical stuff like formatting and editing, targeting my resume for specific roles. Mapping out selection criteria was good and gave me things to talk about in the interviews. I would recommend the Hub. It really did help me cos I’d probably still be looking for work. At least come in and give it a go. That’s what I did, and it worked out well for me.”

The Youth Employment Pathways Hub is supported by the ACT Government through its Adult Community Education Program and by Riverview Projects through the SPARK Employment and Training Initiative.

West Belconnen Pre-Employment Construction Program West Belconnen Pre-Employment Construction Program is a new accredited training program offering skills development, work experience and pathways to employment, including apprenticeships. Focusing on the specific skills of bricklaying, carpentry and general construction, the ten-week program will be a combination of theory, practical hands-on learning and work experience. Upon completion of the program, participants will have a Certificate II in Construction, have undertaken industry specific training, and work experience.

As a part of the program, participants will redevelop a courtyard in BCS’s Kippax premises that is currently overgrown and not utilised by the public. They will also build a community garden facility in Charnwood for Canberra City Care.

BCS, Senior Programs and Services Manager, Fiona MacGregor said, “The refurbished courtyard site will be used by community members for recreational programs, as a group meeting space and an outreach location for young people in West Belconnen.”





27

Danielle Bates, Operations Manager at Canberra City Care said, “The community garden will enable our organisation to provide the 300 families we help each week with affordable, fresh seasonal produce, to help promote a healthy and balanced diet.”

The program commences on Monday October 10, and will run for ten weeks (Mon-Fri, 35 hours per week.)

Information Session

Eligible participants will be selected at an information session from 10:00am-12:00pm Tuesday September 27 at Kippax Uniting Church, corner of Luke Street and Hardwick Crescent, Holt. The information session will be in two parts, including a presentation regarding the selection criteria, the program content, and the commitment that’s required, followed by a selection session for eligible candidates. To check your eligibility and register, please contact Ashleigh at Riverview Projects on 6255 1173 or [email protected].

West Belconnen Pre-Employment Construction Program is part of the SPARK Training and Employment Initiative by Riverview Projects. It is delivered in partnership with Belconnen Community Service, Canberra City Care, Bricklayer Training Australia, Construction Industry Training Council, Better Services and OZHelp Foundation.

A conversation with Felicity Spellman Felicity is a familiar face to many at BCS. She’s worked here for 12 years in a variety of different roles.

Can you describe your current role: I work in Reception at Belconnen Community Centre. We deal with a very diverse range of people, which is one thing I really enjoy. We’re the first point of call for a lot of people, answering enquiries and providing information about BCS activities and programs. We do all of the bookings for the centre’s facilities, and process all of the payments for programs and activities we run here at BCS.

What is the best thing about your role? The best thing about my role would have to be seeing all the happy faces of the participants. I’ve always felt like I just want to help people. It’s great to see the satisfaction on their faces when they have achieved something they thought they couldn’t.

What has been your greatest achievement working with BCS (in your current role or previous ones)? One of my most memorable achievements while working here at BCS would have to be while I was working within the

Bungee Program, an arts-based resilience program for 5-18 year olds who may have had some difficulties in their lives, or had trouble fitting in with others. As an Assistant Tutor, I taught the participants how to make origami butterflies, and we talked about what a butterfly represents, and the changes they go through, comparing this to freedom and change within our own lives. Each participant made a string of butterflies to be displayed here in the gallery for the Youth Week exhibition. Seeing the look on their faces when they came into the community centre to see their work in the gallery was unforgettable.

What do you do in your spare time? In my spare time I like to read, get crafty, I really like making scarves and beanies. I enjoy making birthday presents for people. I make lolly bouquets. I collect keys, and quotes about life. My favourite quote would have to be by Oscar Wilde “Stars can’t shine without darkness”. I enjoy connecting to my spiritual side, through meditation and yoga. I like reading about crystals and their different properties, and making scented candles.

If you were an astral body, what would you be? If I was an astral body I would be The Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights, the colours are absolutely amazing. Life is a bit like The Aurora Borealis, we collide with so many different energies in this life time, and we are all beautiful in our own way.


http://com.au/

SPARK - Capital Region Community Services · Issue 3 - 2016 September 2016 - January 2017 Bright...

Documents

Transcript of SPARK - Capital Region Community Services · Issue 3 - 2016 September 2016 - January 2017 Bright...