Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre
Newsletter

                       FACILITIES & RESOURCES        CUBBY HOUSE       NICNAK SHED-VOLUNTEERS        COUNSELLING         WEEKLY EVENTS AT THE CENTRE

 NEWSLETTER
See below for details on the following upcoming and ongoing events.
 TEEN TRIPLE P SEMINARS - starting 20 August 2008
and Triple P for infants 5 September 2008
 FREE LEGAL ADVICE
NEW GIRLS ONLY SOCIAL GROUP
Family Support Program
'Welcome to the Shire' Pack - Finding your feet.
 Good Beginnings Australia Program - Congratulations to the first 8 local mums who have completed the Course.
 Money Minded - Workshop
 Groups & Activities update
 FREE MOBILE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICE starting 12th May 2008
After School Care & Vacation Care in Mossman
Do you have an upcoming event and looking for a venue?  Check out our facilities for hire at very reasonable rates.

 

MEETING ROOMS FOR HIRE

Indoor and outdoor meeting spaces and kitchen facilities at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre are available to hire for a modest fee. Please contact Mandy or Tanya on 4099 5518

 

Vegetable and herb gardens at the Centre

At the Neighbourhood Centre we are working towards the installation of vegie and herb gardens. We hope that children from our playgroups will learn about growing things you can eat. We also hope that volunteers and clients will be able to come in and take home some freshly grown tomatoes or basil. We are only limited by what stock we have.
If you have a green thumb and are interested in gardening and would like spend some time helping us we would love to meet you. Donations of seeds or seedlings are always welcome.

Groups & activities update.

Bits & Bobs-  Our new craft group meets every Thursday from 1.00pm to 3.00pm.  So far participants have painted lampshades, made cards, decoupaged boxes, made paper flowers, had coffees, laughed and had a great time.
For the next couple of months the group will be making handmade clay pots, plaster cast wall freezes, mosaic place mats and assisting to decorate our float for carnivale, focusing on the reef theme, lots of fish and mermaids.

Art Group The art group meets every Monday from 1pm participants are creating some beautiful paintings and will be exhibiting their artwork at our AGM in September this year.

Why not come along and meet Janet our wonderful teacher, and settle down and create a beautiful watercolour that you can take home and put on your wall and have the satisfaction of telling your friends, “ I made that”.

 

Book Club-We are presently awaiting our first books from the State Library and this should be up & running soon.

Meditation-If anyone is interested please let me know I have a teacher standing by. Mandy on 4099 5518

WRITERS' GROUP
Fancy yourself as a budding author?  Come along and meet likeminded locals.

Starting in February 2008 the group will meet once a month on a Thursday, starting at 7pm at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre.

For more information and to lodge your interest please phone Mandy or Tanya on 4099 5518.

 

MOBILE WOMEN'S HEALTH SERVICE

Will be starting a monthly service at the Neighbourhood Centre. Starting Monday 12 May 2008.
The women’s health service provides a specially trained women’s health nurses who provide a free and confidential service to women.
They provide a range of preventive health services for women, including clinical gynaecological services, education, information, counselling and support on a range of woman’s health issues such as

Cervical screening Pap Smears
Breast care
Info about menopause and hormone replacements
Osteoporosis
Bladder problems
Family planning and contraception
Period concerns
Sexuality concerns
Sexual health screening
Puberty
Lifestyle issues
Sexual assault/domestic violence support & referral.
Please phone 40 995518 for appointment

Money Minded - Workshop
Money Minded is a financial education program that provides you with the resources and tools you need to manage your money. The course covers.
Setting financial goals.
Developing a budget
Understanding bills and statements
Comparing credit providers,
Coping with debt,
Accessing your credit file.
Money minded is and adult financial education program, developed to help people build their financial skills, knowledge and confidence
It aims to improve people’s capacity to successfully manage their day to day and long term financial matters.
The program is provided in two formats- face to face and an online educational tool is available.
Mission Australia are providing this program and will come to Port Douglas to conduct this workshop so please contact Tanya on 4099 5518 if you are interested.
 

After School Care & Vacation Care in Mossman
Are you looking for after school care for your school age child?
Mandee’s Family Day Care Specializes in school age children.
What we offer families:
Personalised and flexible after school and vacation care in a safe and secure home environment.

Family Day Care is place where children can:
Enjoy the natural outdoor play space
Develop close relationships with 1 carer
Enjoy the experience of participating in day-to-day activities
Access support with homework  

Douglas Shire Family Day Care is:
Nationally accredited for its quality care
Governed by State Regulations and Child Care Act
Child Care Benefit approved for eligible families.

For more information Phone: 4098 1831 or email dougfdc@bigpond.net.au
 
 

TEEN TRIPLE P SEMINARS
Information evenings for parents of teenagers.
Seminar Topics
5.30pm to 7pm
Topic 1 - Raising Responsible Teenagers 20 August 2008
Topic 2 - Raising Competent Teenagers 3 September 2008
Topic 3 - Getting Teenagers Connected 15 September 2008
at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre
6-10 Mowbray Street, Port Douglas
Sessions are run independently you do not have to attend all three.
Seminar for parents of infants,
 Browyn Hussey, Qld Health Child Nurse
is conducting Triple P for Infants on 5 September 2008
10am to 12.30pm - babysitting provided.
Places filling fast for these free seminars.
 for information and registration
phone: 4099 5518

FREE LEGAL ADVICE
 The Neighbourhood Centre offers free legal advice on the last Wednesday of each month.  This service is provided by the North Qld Women's Legal Service, solicitor Lyndel Burke.
Advice topics include family law, defacto property, family violence, discrimination and sexual assault.
To make an appointment with Ms Burke phone the Neighbourhood Centre on 4099 5518

GIRLS ONLY SOCIAL GROUP
Wanna have fun?  Local?  Time on your hands?  New to the area? Want some adventure?  Make new friends?  Have fun?  Lots of laughs?  Enjoy movies, coffee, lunches, wine tasting, walks, shopping, bbq's...any suggestions?

If so, contact our new Social Group to discuss on 4099 5518
first meeting Wednesday July 16th 2008 at 10am at the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre, Mowbray Street, Port Douglas.


 Family Support Program
The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre Family Support Program funds a Family Support Worker available Monday to Wednesday and a Family Counsellor available free on Wednesdays at the Neighbourhood Centre.

The Program aims to support all families in the Douglas Shire with opportunities to gain skills and social connections to strengthen and support their important work in parenting and sustaining family and partner relationships.

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre Family Support Program is setting up a new Volunteer program where trained Community Parents provide family support by visiting families in the home to provide encouragement, information and support for parents.  This program has operated around Australia for the past 10 years and we have entered into partnership with Good Beginnings Australia to bring it to our area.

 

'Welcome to the Shire' Pack - Finding Your Feet: an information booklet specifically targeting new families to our community, and families with children under 8 years old.
This is a very useful book with information on how to build connections with other families, know who to ask for information and support and to find low cost fun things to do together as a family.
The guide contains 140 entries including, emergency Numbers, Local Health Services, Health and Parenting Information Services, It lists local Kindergartens, Childcare Services., Playgroups, Activities for under 5s and Local Playgroups.

Download "Finding your Feet" booklet click here>>

Congratulations to eight local mums on completing the Course
 on Good Beginnings - 7.08.2008
"What is Good Beginnings Australia Volunteer Family Support Program"?

Good Beginnings Volunteer Family Support provides an opportunity for families in the area to meet regularly with a trained volunteer known as a Community Parent for one-on-one positive support for a period of up to 12 months.

The aim of Volunteer Family Support is to assist parents to gain more confidence in their parenting role and to be provided with local information to support the building of their own support networks and friendships. 

Good Beginnings Family Volunteer Program is free of charge.   It is available to all families in the local area with children under 8 years old, according to availability of volunteers. 

The Program is coordinated by the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre Family Support Worker.  It is developed in partnership with Good Beginnings Australia.

Is Volunteer Family Support for me?

Having a baby in your world means making changes to your life.  These can be wonderful and rewarding, but they may also involve making some difficult choices.  As a parent, you tend to be spending more time at home with your baby and less with your  friends. Financially there are adjustments too.  This may be tough and so it’s important to work through any concerns and get support for yourself and your baby. 

Having a Community Parent visit you and listen to you is about sharing your parenting experience with someone who cares. The Community Parent will really  listen to you and will value the good work you are doing as a parent.  Not only that but it can break up your week!

If you are interested in having a Community Parent visit you please contact the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre Family Support worker on 4099 5518.

Who are the  Community Parents?

Volunteer Community Parents are people in the community who want to extend support to others.
 Community parents are or have been in a parenting role.
Community parents undergo a working with children check and are issued with a Blue Card.
Community parents participate in the Good Beginnings Training Program and commit  to the program for 6 months.
Community parents are supervised and supported by the program coordinator. 
 

Would you like to be a Community Parent?

If you are interested in becoming a Community Parent please contact the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre for an Information Pack and Application Form. Training commences in May 2008. Contact Jo at the Neighbourhood Centre on 4099 5518.


 

 

HOME