Alcohol & Drugs

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The NIDS Strengthening Families measure was an early intervention and family-focused component of the wider National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS) that was planned to provide support, advice, information, referral and counselling services to families with members coping with, or at risk of, illicit drug use and substance abuse. It was specifically directed towards family support rather than the health, education or criminal aspects of the strategy.

The emotional, social and economic impact of drug and substance abuse on families (including children, siblings, parents, grandparents and kinship carers) is minimised and family capacity is strengthened.

Decreased drug use through early intervention and prevention; reduced psychological and physical harm caused to drug users’ family members; enhanced or improved family relationships through increased awareness of, and capacity to, access family support and other relevant services; improved capacity of families to cope with difficulties arising from the misuse and abuse of drugs; and Improved linkages to education, employment and the community.

· Provision of practical assistance to families including counselling, advocacy and personal support and referral;

· Increased awareness amongst clients and stakeholders of other NIDS initiatives and capacity to access appropriate family support and AOD sector services;

· Increased collaboration and partnerships within the family support, child welfare and AOD sectors; and

· Increased clients and stakeholders’ knowledge and understanding about illicit drugs and their effects, as well as an increased capacity to apply new understanding and skills.

The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project delivered these services on behalf of the Australian Government, observing responsibilities to act honestly, fairly and ethically; deliver services fairly, effectively, impartially and courteously; be responsive , open , transparent and accountably in relation to any government or public enquires relating to the use of the funding; comply with Australian Government policy relating government contractors; be responsive and transparent in all areas of privacy and confidentiality, data collection, storage and in transit documentation; be sensitive to the needs and diversity of the community to which it provides services; work within the policies and guidelines of Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc. and Government Legislation; understand and work within the protocols and procedures of Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc.

The following Evaluation Report concerns a 1- year extension to the action Research project, based on reflection and continual improvement, originally conducted by the Yeaca Dhargo Group within Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc. between July 2005 and June 2009 and professionally evaluated in a Report submitted 30June 2009.

In the absence of any feedback concerning the above-mentioned report, the format used has been continued.

The Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc. (KYDAI) is a not-for-profit organization managed by an administrative team of committed Indigenous community members who voluntarily support the strategic development of the organization aims to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in the outer northern suburbs of Brisbane.

KYDAI is an holistic agency with a multi-agency focus and demonstrates a sound knowledge and understanding of Brisbane’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community communicating effectively and in a culturally appropriate manner with indigenous people in a broad range of activities, including employment and training programs, cultural and lifestyle projects and AOD and family violence programs. They employ and encourage a small effective and productive team of project workers and strive to further the professional development and job satisfaction of these employees.

KYDAI activities primarily target indigenous families, including children aged from 12years, with complex family issues in outer and inner North Brisbane. the geographic location. Secondarily they interact with non-Indigenous organisations to facilitate improved referral and engagement with the Indigenous population, and with schools, school students, teachers and parents within this location. Kurbingui, meaning ‘the transition from boy to man’, came from the Turrabul language and demonstrates the group’s original purpose of providing healthy and positive lifestyle pathways and opportunities for young people and their families.

It is officially recognised that Indigenous Australians are disadvantaged in the area of employment for historical and social reasons and are far less likely to have access to meaningful career opportunities. Since incorporation in 2001 KYDAII has conducted employment and training activities that provide entry level opportunities for Indigenous job seekers with a history of welfare dependence in the family, poor work history, poor literacy and limited skills. Our everyday experience of working in this Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community demonstrates that when someone has a job they have the capacity to feed themselves and their families, pay their rent and the self-esteem to encourage their kids to go to school.

The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project (YDFP) commenced in July 2005 in response to a perceived need for complementary services to support existing community needs such as mental health, social skills, parenting skills, and to encourage family unity in the group’s geographical location. The main project continued until December 2009 under the Federal Strengthening Families measure, an early intervention and family-focused component of the National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS) and then continued under an extension arrangement for another twelve months till June 2010. The name Yeaca Dhargo means ‘working together’.

YDFP is an AOD service delivered within the multi-service environment of KYDAI. It adopted an holistic approach as the issues encountered can be complex and extend into many areas of family life. During the life of the project, as well as the provision of counselling, guidance, support and referrals to other agencies, a number of culturally sensitive and significant programs and workshops were designed and conducted both internally and in the broader community.

The Prime Objective of the YDFP Program was to build safer Indigenous families and communities by providing

· establishment of a steering group to help direct, inform and support the community on areas of Domestic and Family Violence.

Glossary of Terms
Family – for the purposes of the NIDS Program a family relates to any group of two or more who perceive themselves as a family.

Outcome – the impact or effect on families, children and young people of client/group activities delivered (is anyone better off – what changed for clients as a result of what was provided?)

Outputs – the goods or services delivered to clients or groups (what did we provide?)

Performance Indicators – measure achievement and assess how well or successfully a function is being done. When completing performance indicators consider what would be an appropriate, easy to collect and informative indicator of how well strategies to achieve outcome areas are working.

Program – all the services nationally that make up the National Illicit Drug Strategy Strengthening Families Program

Program Logic Model – provides a framework for showing how all components of a program link together and lead to the achievement of program goals/outcomes.

Qualitative Information – data collection, reporting and monitoring pertaining to the quality of service to clients

Quantitative Information – data collection and reporting pertaining to the numerical measures, for example, the number of families accessing the program.

Reflective Practice – service providers should take a reflective and improvement oriented approach to service delivery, and actively encourage participants and relevant services to participate in the planning and review of service delivery (some services may choose to use an action research approach in this context).

Stakeholders – all the relevant participants involved such as clients, service providers, peak bodies, funding bodies, research organisations

FaHCSIA Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

and, as well as those linked to YDFP(NIDS), as part of the Family Violence Project , with

Having received an extension in funding under the National Illicit Drug Strategy to continue with the Alcohol and Drug Program until 30 April 2010 the Yeaca Dhargo Family Project (YDFP) continued to meet the needs of clients and community in relation to drugs, alcohol and family violence through family support and by ensuring culturally appropriate, supported referral pathways to mainstream services during the extension period. Clients continued to be supported by referrals to specialist counsellors while ensuring any other issues were addressed. It was hoped that future funding sources could be obtained to further continue the program past this date, but due to changes in government policies and emphases, this was not to be. The dedicated staff continued their activities and resolutely sought possible avenues for financial support to sustain their valuable work in the local community and, of course, to retain employment in the difficult financial climate.

During this time, for financial and staffing reasons, the structure of YDFP was changed, merging the Alcohol & Drug Program with the Family Violence Program. This proved effective in operational terms as well as in successful outcomes. For the purposes of this evaluation the Family Violence component, which is to be reported and evaluated separately, has generally been excised from observation and discussion.

Following the decision to restructure the program during the extension period, staffing roles were reallotted with Nicky Evans being appointed Team Leader of YDFP (NIDS and FVP) with Cindy and Milli as Support Workers. Interviews were held and in August Jessica was hired to assist Nicky while Cindy and Milli continued as the support workers. A training plan was developed so that Jessica would fully understand the model of YDFP and her role. Cindy and Milli were encouraged to take part in this training so that their understanding improved as well. Each role was clearly defined, a monthly work plan format designed, and weekly meetings established to organise tasks for each week and to check progress continuously.

.Between 1 July and 30 April there were 52 referrals in to the Alcohol & Drug Program. These included referrals from other agencies, self-referrals or “walk-ins” and YDFP continued to provide support and assistance through educational workshops and positive family activities. These included:

• Living Strong – an eight-week healthy eating and weight loss program delivered collaboratively with Qld Health.

• Participants of Living Strong were also encouraged to attend Kurbingui Boxing Club for community fitness classes.

• Two Family Fun Nights – BBQ and outdoor movie for families as an alternative to Friday night drinking.

• Nicky and Tyron were invited to lead a yarning circle at the Indigenous Domestic Violence Forum in Mackay. The yarning was about the relationship between drugs, alcohol & family violence and also about the model of Yeaca Dhargo and Engagement Blackfella Way Forum.

• The first cultural program for young people “Hidden Secrets, Forgotten Cultures” was delivered through YDFP. It was then moved to the auspices of the new Cultural Program that currently operates independently of YDFP.

• Nicky and Tyron presented at a Child Support Agency (CSA) Forum about Indigenous families not accessing child support.

• Two female clients joined with other clients from the Family Violence Program and attended a four-day Cultural & Spiritual Healing Camp with Aunty Jenny Thompson at Murgon called “Gin Muran Gari”.

• Supported CRYPAR Touch Football Competition, Murri Village at Multicultural Festival and NAIDOC.

• Coordinated the Engagement Blackfella Way Forum which once again was delivered successfully by all Kurbingui staff. Responsibility for the delivery of this regular activity has now also been passed to the new Cultural Program while still remaining embedded into the model of Yeaca Dhargo.

• Through networking, a relationship was built with the Northern Suburbs Pony Club. The Pony Club hosted a family day of horse riding in the Australian bush for Yeaca Dhargo clients and community. This was made possible through a Harmony Day Grant and the Department of Immigration. The event was so successful that the Pony Club would like to make this an annual event.

• Networking again played an important part in building, maintaining and creating working partnerships with other services.

The following table illustrates referrals for assistance during the Project’s extension period.

Staff Training and Professional Development
· All staff completed a series of workshops in Facilitation .

· Nicky and Tyron were invited to lead a yarning circle at the Indigenous Domestic Violence Forum in Mackay. The yarning was about the relationship between drugs, alcohol & family violence and also about the model of Yeaca Dhargo and Engagement Blackfella Way Forum.

· Attended a Family Intervention Strategy Research Project Working Group with CRYPAR (Police). KYDAI is unsure in what capacity they could be involved as the programs that would assist the families involved in this strategy are finishing and funds are not available to continue in any other form. It is also unlikely that many Indigenous people will be willing to give consent to be a part of the research project due to trust issues between Indigenous people and the police.

· Nicky and Milli have begun Cert 4 in Frontline Management, and Cindy in Business.

· Nicky completed 3 days training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention with Mercy family Services.

Family Fun Nights ... BBQ and Outdoor Movie
Four Family Outdoor Movie nights were planned for 2009-10 as part of YDFP’s ongoing activities. The purpose of these nights was to promote positive family activities as an alternative to aimless individual outings and Friday night drinking. It is essential that parents attend with their children to enjoy the activity together and to help in supervising their children rather than just dropping them off, which creates some safety issues and more risk management strategies need to be put in place.

The first flyer did not actually state that family nights required parents of younger children needed to stay and assist in their supervision. In debriefing after the first night this was noted and altered for remaining Family Fun Nights.

Two successful nights were held in the latter months of 2009 with three staff attending and an average of around thirty community members attending. Ratio of adults to children ran around 2:5. Community members prepared the barbecue and all attendees helped with the clean-up at the end of the evenings.. Movies watched included “Aliens in the Attic” and “Ice Age 3”. Unfortunately as budget constraints bit hard and the cost of holding these nights outweighed the small income received from a voluntary gold coin donation, it was felt the benefits of the evenings could be sacrificed for greater good elsewhere in the program for less financial outlay.

In-School activities
Early intervention with young people in areas such as substance abuse and domestic violence began with the ‘Healthy Lifestyles’ program conducted in a number of the local schools, and after-school dance and cultural activities also extended this contact through casual on-call workshops and events. In 2010 with the general restructuring of activities and responsibilities, these topics were also transferred to the area of the cultural worker.

School Holiday Activities
During school holiday periods free creative, physical and recreational activities known as the Berzerk Holiday Program for young people aged between 12 and 25 were organised in cooperation with ZYON and KYDAI also arranged many other activities to entice young people into healthy, active pursuits and to serve as diversionary practices. They included activities in local parks, skateboarding tuition, music and dance, crafts, games and barbecues. The fun also included a crabbing workshop and a Sunfish Fishing Clinic, a Street Party and an exploration of Bribie Island’s traditional walking tracks. Young people were also given opportunities to participate in activities run by other agencies such as the PCYC, local BCC Libraries, VizInk, YACCA, RESpec and Artrageous.

Camps
Young people were again encouraged to attend KYDAI’s annual adventure-based Black Diamonds education camps at Emu Gully. Young people have an improved personal capacity to make positive choices by participating in adventure-based learning experiences that challenge personal barriers and concepts. Their participation also enabled YDFP staff to build and maintain relationships with these young people through the enjoyable experience.

Report of YDFP Womens’ Retreat at “The Outlook”, Boonah
The Outlook Boonah Women’s Retreat was a positive project designed specifically for self- awareness, self confidence and team building activities with 3 staff and 6 clients conducted on the week-end of 21– 22 November, 2009.

After arriving at the retreat, a huge house accommodating all 9 women, participants gathered as a group to hear the standard house- keeping rules and to formulate their own group rules for the weekend. Sessions included a low ropes course, with each participant achieving personal goals, empowerment and self satisfaction from their own efforts; and a creative activity where participants selected a random recipient for a hand-made gift or memento of the weekend away. This activity proved very enjoyable, and a wonderful display of meaningful artwork culminated in their presentation at dinner that evening. This dinner was catered by Yonna from “The Outlook” and held at a secret destination. Asked to dress-up, do face painting or to attend in a style out their personal usual comfort zone, the participants needed to develop trust and self-confidence in attending the “Magic Dinner”. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals and mementos.

The following morning brought a wildlife discovery tour around the retreat site and an enjoyable group participation in a Junk band, where the women played a variety of home-made instruments. After lunch and a clean-up, the group returned home. Every participant asked for another camp in the cooler months of next year, as the women all bonded well, and left feeling they had all achieved personal growth through their accomplishments and the shared experience.

YDFP Family Outing with Northern Suburbs Pony Club and KYDAI ... Saturday 29.08.2009
Through networking within the community, YDFP built a relationship with the Northern Suburbs Pony Club. As a result of this and a Pony Club “Harmony Day” grant a family afternoon for Kurbingui clients and community was conducted to promote a positive family activity and to show children and young people they can have fun without drugs and alcohol. 20 participants arrived to a BBQ lunch followed by a horse ride through the bush. All equipment, boots and safety gear was supplied by the Pony Club. This was followed by games and awards of Pony Club Sashes, photos and participation certificates. The afternoon was very successful and put big smiles all faces. It is hoped to conduct a longer outing with an overnight camp-out in the near future.

Impacts of Reorganisation to Programs due to changes in funding and staffing

With the finalisation of the original grant for YDFP under the NIDS Program, in July 2009 and because of inter-relationship between aims and objectives, a decision was made to restructure YDFP, bringing both the NIDS Drug and Alcohol activities and the Family Violence Program together under one management team. Nicky Evans was designated Team Leader of YDFP (FV &NIDS) with Cindy Macklin and Milli Nuga as the support workers. As mentioned previously, interviews were held and Jessica, was hired to assist Nicky while Cindy and Milli continued as support workers. A training plan was developed so that Jessica would fully understand the model of YDFP and her role while Cindy and Milli encouraged to take part in this training so that their understanding was improved as well. Roles were clearly established and workplans and supervision designed and implemented. Jessica began duties on 10 August ‘09.but left in a matter of weeks following a car accident. It was decided not to fill her role and it was permanently absorbed by the existing staff.

It is appropriate here to make mention of the activities during the extension period of the Family Violence Program as KYDAI works with families under an holistic approach and many activities were accessed by both YDFP and FVP clients.

The Reference Group was formed to provide professional and strategic direction to YDFP and to provide avenues for information sharing, support networks and resources to YDFP. It was connected to two of the YDFP Programs, the Family Violence Program and the YDFP (NIDS) Drug and Alcohol program. As the drug and alcohol program will cease in April 2010 a Reference Group meeting was held on 3 March 2010 to reorganise the group, review the Terms of Reference and encourage participation of new members.

A large part of the Family Violence program is case management. Clients are assisted through a family focused holistic approach. YDFP assists families who have issues relating to domestic and family violence. These issues can be complex and extend into many areas of a family’s life. YDFP workers deliver educational workshops and counselling internally, or refer out to other services in order to meet these complex issues.

During the extension period YDFP received 51 referrals in for Domestic and Family Violence assistance. These clients were assisted through culturally appropriate, supported referral pathways to specialist counselling. A major increase in referrals was seen due to effective networking undertaken in order to build relationships and to promote the service.

The Fax Back Program is a partnership and referral process with the Queensland Police Service and a number of other services working with Domestic and Family Violence. Referrals here were slow for a number of reasons, the main being:

· Family Violence Program and Jumbunna Women’s Group hosted the launch of Jumbunna and International Women’s Day at a luncheon in Zillmere.

· Strong Women Building Strong Families – 8 week life skills educational group

· Domestic Violence Month – Launch of women’s safety card, peaceful walk to raise awareness, candle lighting service

· Sister’s Against Domestic Violence – 8 week anger management course for women. “A Man’s Perspective”

· DVD Project – Collaborative project with YDFP, Kurbingui Star Participants and QUT to produce an

Indigenous domestic and family violence documentary to be used as an educational tool for other interested groups and communities. . Positive feedback from viewers indicate this short film has a powerful message on the stages of Domestic Family Violence, the physical, emotional abuse, police, court cases and support. Kurbingui is proud of this production which, along with an accompanying educational booklet, is now being widely distributed and was nominated for a DFV Award.

· Women’s Retreat – 2 day retreat at “The Outlook, Boonah” for women recovering from domestic violence. The women were empowered with problem solving and challenging activities.

§ assertiveness training, craft activities, self awareness activities coping with grief and loss,, a Yarning

· a committed involvement within the community for social activities and networking.

YDFP continues to support the Jumbunna Women’s Group on a fortnightly basis. The Family Violence Program has worked collaboratively with many other services to deliver multiple educational support groups for women addressing issues such as Domestic Family Violence, grief and loss, assertiveness training, craft activities, self awareness activities, a Yarning Circle with the inclusion of women Elders, and a committed involvement within the community for social activities and networking.

Currently Jumbunna is particularly paying attention to barriers for women who want to attend the group with a focus on broadening membership.

Clients are afforded the opportunity for culturally appropriate services with referral pathways for counselling and other service agencies, in order to assist families with issues dealing with Domestic Family Violence. Some Indigenous clients from the Queensland Indigenous Mental Health Unit were participants within the Domestic Family Violence Programs run throughout the year. Clients are constantly supported throughout their counselling or service providers’ dealings with transport and support by staff of Kurbingui and YDFP. Client feedback forms are regularly returned by most clients with very positive feedback from the services provided by Kurbingui. Several women have noticeably regained their dignity and self worth and have become stronger, protective mothers, with skills and strength to stop the abuse and violence.

YDFP established a weekly Women’s Peer Support Group to run weekly in February 2010. The active group designed their own guidelines and objectives and set a program of activities involving yarning, activities, outings and educational workshops to allow participants to build a support network and to empower them to take a stand against domestic and Family Violence. Promoting the group has begun by sending out flyers and invitations to past and present clients, community members and networks.

A new online model for the community newspaper has been developed with stories and information from all programs being contributed on a monthly basis to raise awareness and provide indirect education about Drug and Alcohol matters, Domestic and Family Violence issues and other activities within the KYDAI framework.

A program “Happy Minds, Happy Women”, a six week program on Depression, is planned in collaboration with a team from Queensland Indigenous Mental Health. It is believed that this program will provide an Indigenous perspective to this debilitating illness while assisting clients themselves, or family members, with not only Domestic and Family Violence but lifestyles within the community.

YDFP aims also to develop a relationship and referral pathway with the local Indigenous Children’s Program (ICP) to be inclusive of young parenting women.

Domestic Family Violence continues to attend meetings with Northside Alliance Against Domestic Violence Nundah (NAADV), and network with previously listed specific agencies as well as those linked to YDFP.

Drug and Alcohol is often a significant factor of Domestic Family Violence and the Yeaca Dhargo Family Drug and Alcohol Project (NIDS) is ceasing in April.

The Domestic and Family Violence Program is seeking to maintain the relationships of specialist counsellors to assist in appropriate programs for specific clients with these issues.

The Domestic Family Violence Program is aiming to continue with high levels of support to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with the community and surrounds who have experienced violence or who still experiencing the violence today, these women are treated with dignity, respect and support from staff of Kurbingui,

YDFP has assisted families who have issues relating to alcohol and other drugs. Using an holistic approach, YDFP workers have delivered educational workshops to clients and external agencies, as well as referring clients to other specialised services in order to surmount the complex issues encountered by families influenced by AOD.YDFP has worked extremely hard at building strong and respectful two-way relationships with these agencies, especially by employing several highly effective and widely appreciated cultural engagement forums and workshops to mainstream organisations in order to inculcate culturally supported referral pathways to services for their Indigenous clients .

On 11 February 2010, YDFP reported that at the beginning of the year, Yeaca Dhargo’s Alcohol and Drug Program received an extension to funding under the “National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS)” to continue delivering early intervention family focused support to families affected by alcohol and drug use. They also reported that as of 30 April 2010, Department of FaHCSIA would replace their innovative five-year program with one single service across Queensland called “Kids in Focus”. This program will focus more on children rather than families and will have mandatory reporting requirements for children considered “at risk”.

Yeaca Dhargo has been successful in helping children through a family focused approach, not just by focusing on the children.

Kurbingui does not have the capacity to deliver the Kids in Focus model nor do they want to be a part of removing more Aboriginal children from their homes.

After more than five years of building an efficient and effective Indigenous Family Support Service, Kurbingui has a strong reputation for accountability in terms of clients, community and funding bodies. Due to the end of the National Illicit Drug Strategy, the increase in focus on rural and remote Indigenous communities, and the shift in funding from community controlled organisations to government services and non-Indigenous organisations, YDFP now has to deconstruct this good work.

Family Focused Support has been at the core of YDFP’s work and it has been proved to be very successful. Now YDFP will no longer be able to provide this support to families with the change in focus from families to children. There will be a huge gap in service provision for Indigenous people affected by alcohol and other drugs in the north side of Brisbane.

KYDAI aims to address the disadvantages and poverty experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of the area. The issues most commonly addressed include family conflict, relationship problems, substance abuse, domestic violence, health issues, antisocial behaviour, mental health and accommodation/homelessness.

The YDFP (NIDS) had the potential to address many of these needs across the entire range of family members – men, women and children. It had the opportunity to deliver a focus on achieving rites of passage to a safe and secure position in the community. It strengthened links for young people with their schools; for their families with social networks. It encouraged connections to positive and healthy recreation and lifestyles. Through the provision of programs and services designed to alleviate isolation, poverty, discrimination and unemployment it identified, supported, encouraged and mentored Indigenous people at risk to learn cope with, and surmount their complex needs.

The YDFP/KYDAI operated using a brokerage model which enabled payment for specialized counselling that was culturally appropriate, working in partnership with other agencies to provide safe and supported referral pathways for their clients. They continually provided cultural engagement workshops to mainstream agencies to strengthen and improve relationships and sensitivity to client needs. As YDFP worked with families who primarily had issues relating to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs they had to implement an holistic approach since these issues often extended into many diverse aspects of clients’ lives.

The Project evolved and strengthened over the funding period and that necessitated a flexible approach which allowed for change – of activities, of staff, of services where time and labour constraints or the level of demand for services caused project ‘overload’, or where other needs became more clearly identifiable. A very effective strategy was the fostering of cross agency initiatives and collaborations, as was the connection with KYDAI’s Sport and Recreation programs where young people can be reached through fun and activity. YDFP also implements a flexible form of service delivery, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, accommodating client sensitivity regarding drug and alcohol concerns, and responding to the wishes of clients when appropriate.

The YDFP saw target groups changing also over the course of the project, and moved in a collaborative manner to embrace the changes. This was especially evident with the extension of the scope of the project to include the Family Violence Program, as so many of that program’s original clients were affected by violent behaviours in connection with issues of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. YDFP was responsive to client needs and staffs were able and willing to take advantage of suitable opportunities for the benefit of their clients when they arose. YDFP received referrals from both government and non-government agencies in addition to community and self-referrals and the project workers worked extremely hard to build relationships and culturally appropriate pathways to outside agencies for the greatest benefit for their clients.

Programs offered and facilitated by YDFP included ‘Supporting Our Mob’, an education and support program for Indigenous families and young people which involved the assistance of community elders and guest speakers. The ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ Forum has proved to be an extremely effective tool in reaching out to other agencies to enhance and improve working relationships between services and clients, specifically developing empathy with the sensitive issues concerning the Indigenous community.

Early intervention with young people in areas such as substance abuse and domestic violence was made possible with the ‘Healthy Relationships’ program conducted in a number of the local schools. As there has been found to be a close link between substance abuse and family violence, this program was designed to put in place the foundations for healthier and better functioning families through increased knowledge and understanding and skills. Young people were encouraged to attend KYDAI’s annual Adventure-Based Black Diamonds Camp at Emu Gully where young people have an opportunity to improve personal capacity to make positive choices by participating in adventure-based learning experiences that challenge personal barriers and concepts. Their participation also enabled YDFP staff to build and maintain relationships with these young people through an enjoyable shared experience.

Referrals within the KYDAI aegis to the ‘Anger and Compassion’ course, ‘Triple P’ parenting program, special men’s and women’s groups, the KSAI, and to work and Lifestyles programs played a significant role in the activities of YDFP. All aspects of the project were supported by the cultural background so essential to activities involving Indigenous people, especially those in need of assistance. The newly developed ‘Hidden Cultures – Forgotten Secrets’ project became a powerful tool to be utilised in this area.

As mentioned in the previous report, staffing is an area which needs care and attention. YDFP staff, along with KYDAI personnel, has been extremely mindful of this fact. Indigenous staff are carefully selected, encouraged to undertake as much training as possible to enhance both their role within the organisation and to promote their career paths. Staff harmony is an essential ingredient in their workplace and all activities are conducted in a respectful and professional manner. They choose to dress in neat, attractive corporate uniforms and take pride in their workplace, where staff, clients and members of other agencies feel comfortable and secure. Sound work ethics and confidentiality are expected and achieved in non-threatening and culturally appropriate ways. YDFP staff levels have recently remained relatively stable with only minor internal reorganisations of roles. This degree of stability of personnel has been responsible for the development of satisfying long-term relationships, trust and a feeling of comfort for clients in dealing with someone they come to know and understand quite well. When staff has moved to greener pastures that may be perceived to offer better prospects for wages and advancement, the move was handled in a congratulatory manner with pleasure for the individual’s progress in their career. Refilling the position is accomplished after staff discussions and accompanied by full training and assistance to promote a sound understanding of the role and project expectations.

All KYDAI staff members accessed a range of training opportunities, invested a great deal of personal time and effort in achieving recognised qualifications and hold a solid commitment to continued improvement. ALL staff gained CERT IV Workplace Trainer and Assessment qualifications; five qualified as volunteer tutors; two hold CERT III in Administration; two achieved a Diploma in Community Services and CERT III in Youth Work and three are currently working towards Cert IV in Business and Frontline Management. This demonstrates the dedication of all staff members and this ongoing training enabled them to better provide for their clients who need them desperately. Through no fault of their own, with the finalisation of the YDFP (NIDS) Program and its attendant funding, it would be a great shame if they were to now join the ranks of the unemployed.

YDFP had the capacity to address a wide range of issues related to substance abuse and misuse. The programs and processes utilised within the project were well placed to deal with the related issues (including the problematic area of dual diagnosis) including family violence, anger management, mental health, relationships, personal pride and capabilities, social skills and cultural identity.

The effects of changes in Government policies (both Federal and State) have been disastrous for the Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander population of our district which, according to ABS and Brisbane City Council community profiles, has among the highest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in South East Queensland and there will now be no culturally appropriate early intervention approaches for Indigenous families in North Brisbane.

The Nationwide Review of Investment into Intravenous Drug and Alcohol Programs, an important report identifying the areas of greatest need to address harmful Indigenous drug and alcohol use, and reviewing the actual levels of expenditure across the country, commissioned and released by the National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee (NIDAC) of the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) with funding from the Department of Health & Ageing, was launched by the Hon. Warren Snowdon, Federal Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery at the Aboriginal Medical Service in Redfern.

The report highlights the fact that there are real disparities between the size of Indigenous populations and the levels of funding and services they receive. Indigenous populations in Sydney and Brisbane metropolitan regions are probably the largest in the nation yet they were receiving far less per capita than other regions. Professor Ted Wilkes, NIDAC Chair says “the government’s focus on improving Indigenous health, particularly since 2007 has been welcomed. The focus on rural and remote Indigenous communities for many years now is also welcomed. However, we must recognize that the sizable majority of Indigenous people actually live in metropolitan and regional areas and they need and deserve similar levels of attention and investment to address drug and alcohol problems.” Professor Dennis Gray of the National Drug Research Institute and an author of the report stated “what we saw when we looked at the service mix was that there were too few community-based projects addressing the special needs of women, families, young people, and those suffering from co-morbid mental health problems.

In reviewing and evaluating the Yeaca Dhargo Family Project these statements cannot but be completely endorsed.

Complex family issues such as anger, family relationships, child behaviours, and family violence are closely related to the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, a position supported in long-term research and reported by Bath University’s Professor of Mental health Research, Richard Velleman in Perth in May 2009. He reports that ‘individuals who develop a serious problem with their use of alcohol or drugs can and often do behave in ways that have a significantly negative impact on family life in general, and on other individual members of the family’. Substance misuse can impact negatively on a range of family systems and processes, including family rituals, roles within the family, family routines, communication structures and systems, family social life, and family finances, domestic and other types of violence, child abuse, public or criminal offences. From details reported and experience gained while working with clients and project activity participants, it is evident that YDFP strongly supports these statements.

A ‘generational chain’ of abuse is often seen, with adolescent offspring being at increased risk of becoming ‘early starters’ in their use of alcohol, tobacco or other illicit or prescribed drugs, unless those involved reach a level of resilience that aids them in coping with the stresses and strains of the situation. Gaining assistance to develop methods of coping and the level and quality of social support made available to them – factors that can produce attachment and security as opposed to unpredictability, insecurity, exclusion and isolation - are building blocks to resilience. Adding to this a sense of cultural identity and belonging in the case of Indigenous people, Yeaca Dhargo Family Project has focussed on developing these resilience factors through the promotion of positive family functioning, cohesion and harmony, while including planned and purposeful support external to the family, along with stable adult figures and role models.

These resultant issues, as well as the root problem, involve significant financial costs alongside the physical and emotional outflows. YDFP is successfully implementing a prevention and intervention strategy. The abuses themselves cost YDFP nothing financially. It’s the damage to individuals and families that carry a high price, and the necessary intervention and prevention services that must be called upon compound the effect on society in general.

· The YDFP provides culturally appropriate referral pathways to existing services rather than attempting to duplicate them.

· YDFP has achieved strong commitment from many appropriate external agencies as well as from Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc. and all its internal sub-groups.

· YDFP helps grow self worth and self esteem for individuals. As well as counselling and supporting individuals and families affected by substance abuse YDFP assists in providing pathways to employment, education alternatives and sports and recreational activities, demonstrating the value of a lifestyle where alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and their attendant negative effects have no place.

· YDFP demonstrates, and helps clients to implement, strategies to cope with or avoid situations involving abuse, violence or harm.

· The ‘Supporting Our Mob’ program, ‘Healthy Relationships’, ‘Indigenous Triple P’, and ‘Hidden Cultures – Forgotten Secrets’ are extremely successful tools used effectively by YDFP, with ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ forums bringing crucial benefits to relationships with other agencies.

· KYDAI provides a wide range of training, employment and support groups and facilities to which YDFP clients can be referred should they need this type of assistance and support.

· The expansion of the project and its successes are due largely to the dedication and professionalism

of the workers involved with the project. A particularly worrying finding from the NIDAC report was the shift in funding from community controlled organisations to government services and non-Indigenous organisations and the lack of investment in staff, with only 2% of total funding expended on workforce development.

· Dual Diagnosis presents as a real issue needing careful and insightful negotiation. The Mental Health system is sometimes supportive of the needs of clients and the work and efforts of YDFP. However clients are more often returned to YDFP to be ‘handled’. These clients are extremely needy and require specialised treatment by highly trained and qualified people. For a project such as YDFP they prove to be major ‘time and resource consumers’ who need and deserve more than workers can successfully give. Agreements (Service Delivery Protocols) must be achieved in order to handle this problematic area more effectively.

Current workers are performing at such a high level that it would be detrimental should they be placed under much more pressure. According to NIDAC funding program guidelines and contractual arrangements for the provision of alcohol and other drug services to Indigenous Australians should be sufficiently broad to allow service providers to meet community needs within their particular regions.

· Ideally funding to allow better remuneration for Project Workers would be of great assistance. It would be of great benefit if Project Workers were also able to achieve a systematically planned and progressive career path leading to increased recognised training, greater professionalism and retention of staff … a real career path.

· YDFP believes the best way to assist clients achieve positive outcomes is to build trust and rapport. Indigenous workers help make this process work even better. They do this well!

· The evidence suggests that about one fifth of ABS Indigenous Regions do not have adequate coverage of aod services and Brisbane metropolitan regions such at that covered by YDFP are particularly under-serviced. It seems illogical and lacking in foresight that this Program cease at a time of well-evidenced need, and the clients cast adrift.

YDFP endorses the findings of NIDAC who believes that Indigenous targeted programs and services run by Indigenous communities provide a much better opportunity for real change. Understanding the cultural norms and views of a community makes the success of drug and alcohol interventions far more likely. Investing in Indigenous organizations and people must be an important component of any successful strategy in the future. The report’s finding that in the interest of providing more appropriate services, better client outcomes, and building capacity, all levels of government should re-commit themselves to the principle of Indigenous community-control of service provision was strongly endorsed by NIDAC and YDFP.

Given the generally high turnover of staff within Indigenous community organisations (as a consequence of heavy workloads, poor remuneration vis-à-vis the government sector, and lack of career paths), staffing benchmarks — including remuneration and conditions of employment — should be should be raised and recognised accordingly.

It is believed that this organisation provides a cost-effective, efficient and culturally sensitive service to a segment of this country’s population which is currently being neglected in favour of larger and more politically visible ventures. It also seems that larger state or national organisations have the advantage over the smaller local ‘grass-roots’ workers in tapping current funding at government levels.

It is believed that this organisation has proved to be fiscally responsible and practically effective, with every funded project they have undertaken passing every audit and formal professional evaluation with flying colours.

YDFP says, “We need a family support program so that we don’t have to cast adrift our current clients who are benefiting from our support and activities, and other people in need who will seek us out in the months to come”.

In the first instance, YDFP should aim to build on the results of their newly-completed project activities and to meet the needs of the families, individuals and particularly the young people of the demographic area served by the project to this date.

Application should be made for further funding for as long a period as possible with the aim of improving child safety and development, and family functioning, through the provision of support services to help build stronger, more resilient families and communities, and to provide more aligned and culturally aware/sensitive service structures across the broader community.

In an ideal world YDFP would like to retain all of their current staff and expand their work to cover demand as it arises. But the reality is that unless further funding should be able to be sourced, the parent organisation (KYDAI) would face extreme financial difficulties conducting undertakings, activities and support for such programs as YDFP and FVP which are so desperately needed by community members.

YDFP should continue to encourage and appreciate appropriate and advantageous staff training in order to continue and improve effective service provision. Currently YDFP’s fully trained and qualified staff, through absolute necessity, carries out tasks and duties across several areas of operation.

Staff should continue to meet the clearly proven needs of their clientele – the Indigenous and Torres Strait Island community in the district - in the areas of greatest demand – substance abuse and its attendant effects, family violence, youth support and cultural matters. It is essential that the current level of staffing be retained as an absolute minimum.

Secondly, from the review conducted of outcomes achieved through YDFP activities against stated Project Objectives, the following recommendations are made:

- Continue to provide the community with information on assistance and resources available.

- Continue supporting clients in meeting their obligations and keeping appointments etc.

- Continue to support specific men’s and women’s groups which provide peer support, appropriate social networks, mentoring, direction and cultural learning.

- Encourage the growth and development of these sub-groups to enable them to achieve independence and eventually incorporation.

2. Provide evidence-based approach to family support through implementing an action research model

- As family violence is inextricably entwined with the problems associated with substance abuse, maintain the YDFP Steering Group which now includes the Family Violence Program and formally recognise the cross-connections in areas of activities, referrals and worker employments. Establish formally recognised links with the Family Violence Program as the links are inescapable and support from one program to the other can only benefit families, individuals and young people affected by substance abuse in any way.

- Encourage employment within the Project as a career path, especially for male workers. To this end, where appropriate, professional development should be supported and funded, at least in part. Achievements of workers should be celebrated and encouraged, with effort being recognised whenever possible. Staff retention continues to be difficult as workers move to other positions in other organisations in search of higher wages and more chances for advancement. This is hard to match with projects that are dependent on funding and great personal input by employees.

- Continue to make the collection and collation of statistical data routine and present it in forms that are easy to both formulate and to interpret.

3. Provide education and information workshops to families, individuals and young people

- Continue to support the ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ Forum in order to ensure that all contact and activity conducted with other agencies is as culturally sensitive as possible.

- Continue to provide coping strategies and positive participation opportunities for families and individuals affected directly or by association with Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs through Supporting Our Mob, Jumbunna women’s group and Bud Ja Djan men’s support groups, programs such as Anger and Compassion, Indigenous Triple P and Healthy Relationships, and other programs that may be designed and conducted as needs arise.

- Continue to work closely with young people, especially through the Cultural Program and the Healthy Relationships Program in local school, After School Care groups and the wider community with voluntary participants.

- Continue maintaining a presence at NAIDOC celebrations and local festivals. Every opportunity should be taken to gain broad public exposure for the project – celebrations, festivals, demonstrations and displays, openings, video production and media articles.

- Assist in the production, extension and expansion of the KYDAI newspaper/magazine, the STAR.

- Maintain and consolidate working relationships with mainstream organisations. Ensure that all necessary MOUs and Service Delivery Protocol Agreements are drawn up and observed to assist in project workers performance and amenity.

- Continue ensuring that all activities and contact undertaken within YDFP and by supporting agencies are done within culturally sensitive guidelines.

- Continue regular information sharing between both mainstream organisations and in-house groups.

- Encourage participation in planning activities and their appraisal with service providers where possible.

- Continue collecting, collating, recording and disseminating statistical and factual data as well as the anecdotal forms, and continue promoting staff acquisition and sharing of skills such as the use of databases and interpretation of data.

- Continue regular reviews of activities, plans and achievements and try to regularly involve the Steering Committee. Publish performance successes and disappointments in-house and use these results as springboards for inspirations aimed at advancing or altering these results. Continue to draw the focus of activities back to the aims, objectives and guidelines to avoid moving off on tangents, and to avoid worker burn-out when their efforts are spread too thin.

5. Build community capacity to manage Alcohol and other Drugs that impact on family and community relationships

- Continue the cultural program ‘Hidden Cultures – Forgotten Secrets’ to ensure cultural heritage and knowledge is available to larger groups of young people. The earlier the intervention to raise confidence, self esteem and pride, the better and stronger are the coping strategies in overcoming difficulties associated with contact with substance abuse and its attendant problems.

- Continue the extremely valuable programs ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ and ‘Supporting Our Mob’. Consideration should be given to extending these programs to broader selections of participants if the need arises.

- Continue creating and maintaining relationships with ATSI community and the demonstration of an understanding of clients’ specific needs.

- Continue to provide and reinforce strategies to manage addictive behaviours within family groups.

- Assist in keeping the KYDAI website current and promoting YDFP activities there and in the STAR.

- Continue to refer clients to KYDAI employment and training programs and support activities where appropriate.

- Encourage workers to continue professional development activities, leading to a well-qualified staff that is best able to satisfy the needs of all YDFP clients.

On Friday 21 May 2010, KYDAI’s YDFP and FVP were informed that a further 12 month’s funding had been granted to the combined Project in order to continue the work currently being undertaken.

Current staff were delighted as were their clients and associated outside agencies.

Following this news, Recommendations in this report were aligned to reflect this ongoing commitment rather than the finalisation and closure that had appeared inevitable.

Please join us for a morning of Yarning, Activities and Educational Workshop. Morning tea will be provided,

OUR WEB PAGE $mhtml:file://C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Jean%20%20Adams\My%20Documents\Alcohol%20&%20Drugs.mht!http://www.kurbingui.org.au/_borders/KurbinguiBANNER1.jpg$
www.kurbingui.org.au

Drug and Alcohol Support Program

NIDS—National Illicit Drug Strategy

NIDS aims to build the capacity of families, individuals and young people to deal with issues relating to the misuse of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit Drugs, and to provide early intervention for families with issues that may lead to the misuse of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD). Clients seeking support can self refer or be referred to the program by external services.

Our program has partnerships with counsellors and case workers from other services and organisations to address issues such as; alcohol and drug, mental health, relationships, anger management, conflict resolution, and cultural and spiritual healing. This enables the services to work with Indigenous clients at our premises where the client feels more comfortable. Kurbingui provides ongoing support to our clients throughout their involvement with the service they have been referred to.

The Drug & Alcohol program works collaboratively with all other services delivered by Kurbingui Youth Development.

Funded by Department of Immigration
Horse Riding
With a BBQ Lunch provided
Date: Saturday 29 August 2009
Time: 12.30pm to 5.00pm
(Must be at Kurbingui by 12.00)
Transport: Bus
Participants are to meet at Kurbingui ½ hour prior departure.
What to bring?: Please bring your hat,sunscreen,shoes, sunnies and a bottle of water.
LIMITED SPACES ONLY
MPj04285020000[1]

All participants to lodge their permission forms 5 days prior to the day.
No form No go!
So please get your forms in today! As you might miss out on your spot!
Contact: Nicky or Jess Phone: 3265 3260

started in July 2005, originally scheduled to conclude in June 2008,extended to June 2009

• Counselling appointments took place and the Living Strong Program with Qld Health has been completed

• The performance & appraisal report was completed and submitted to FaHCSIA along with the final copy of the

• Nicky and Ty attended a video conference at the FaHCSIA Brisbane office about the future of NIDS. They were asking

• Sue and Nicky attended a consultation forum with FaHCSIA to discuss the Family Support Programs with FaHCSIA. Not

• Attended court with a client to support her through a very complex case against her x-partner and other court cases

• Continue to encourage client & community participation in boxing and fitness at Kurbingui Sporting Association

• Forgotten Cultures, Hidden Secrets has now finished with the project now becoming a part of Kurbingui’s Cultural

program. It will still be a collaborated effort between all Kurbingui programs however

• Amanda (admin) did a huge mail out of information kits to other orgs and services for promotion

• Planning and organising for EBFW continues and everything will be ready for 29 July 09

• In the future I will write up a plan & tasks & model for EBFW so other staff can deliver it as EBFW will also become a part

• Registrations have been so many and very time consuming. People have had to be put on a waiting list for the next

• Information about the women’s camp that 2 clients attended earlier in the year (Gin Muran Gari) was sent to Ra for the

Star and Rachel for the web. Info about Forgotten Cultures, Hidden Secrets was also provided

• YDFP received another 10 months extension to NIDS. It will then finish. Kurbingui will be required to go through a tender

process later this year for funding from May 2010 to be able to continue delivering programs

• During July there have been 6 new referrals in. 4 were for AOD and 2 were for FV.

• Counselling continues for some clients while others attend women’s group or educational groups at other services

• Agency visit was conducted with Mission Australia Chermside (Dimity) re their new Indigenous Employment Support

• Attended a NAIDOC morning tea at Evolve (Youth Therapeutic Service,Qld Health)

• Have begun transporting a young boy to Junjarina on a fortnightly basis for counselling with Aunty Jenny

• Completed a series of workshops in Facilitation with all staff. The teacher was Craig Ackland

• Engagement Blackfella Way Forum was successfully delivered with 86 people attending. They gave positive feedback

• A decision was made to restructure YDFP. Both the FV and NIDS have been brought together into one program. Nicky is

now the Team Leader of YDFP (FV &NIDS) with Cindy and Milli as the support workers. Interviews were held and

Jessica was hired to share the work with Nicky while Cindy and Milli continue being the support workers. This actually took place in August 09. Jessica begins on 10 August 09. A training plan has been developed so that Jessica will fully understand the model of YDFP and her role. Cindy and Milli will be encouraged to take part in this training so that their understanding is improved as well.

• Each of our roles will have to be clearly worked out with weekly meetings and tasks for the week. This is to be put

• The Northern Suburbs Pony Club has acquired funding through Harmony Day and Department of Immigration and would

like to put on an afternoon for 20 of our Indigenous young people and their parents. This will involve a horse ride,

grooming & feeding the horses and a BBQ. They will also provide a bus for transport to the club and back to Kurbingui. We have agreed and plans are underway. A report will be written after the day which will be approximately 29 August 09.

• In the last few months the referrals have been very slow and some new clients have not even engaged

• Due to networking, Jess’s introductory letters to clients and walk ins, the referrals have picked up this month

• Cindy took 3 weeks holiday while Nicky, Jess & Milli developed a good working routine with weekly team meetings

• Both Jess and Nicky have clients to work with while Milli and Cindy support with transport etc.

• Cody Skinner is a TAFE student doing his work placement at Kurbingui. Cody, Ty and Nicky attended an agency visit at

• Soleil Poynton from Strathpine Family Relationship Centre attended Kurbingui for agency visit

• Jess and Cody attending ZYON meetings and working collaboratively with ZYON for school holiday activities

• Continue to transport clients to Junjarina for counselling on a fortnightly basis

• Attended FGM with another client at Pine Rivers Child Safety-telephone conference with Kingaroy

• Organised for Emma from the Hot House to talk with staff from Mercy Family Services about young people and sniffing

• Through a Harmony Grant, Northern Suburbs Pony Club hosted a family afternoon for Kurbingui clients and community.

• During September there were 21 new referrals in to YDFP. 9 were for FV and 12 were for AOD. There have been 17 old

• Referrals from BNYJ and CRYPAR have increased with majority being referred out to Drug Arm, Centacare & Jenwakka.

• Cody the student has been working very closely with YDFP and assisting any way he can

• Cody and Jess were involved with ZYON activities over the school holidays. This was for the purpose of networking,

building and maintaining relationships with other youth services and engagement with community.

• YDFP still supporting a number of Child safety clients to address issues, get legal support and attend family group

• Working with CYMHS to get psychiatric assessment done on a young boy that YDFP are supporting

• Received a referral from PRNC to case manage a family that they will be counselling

• We had a number of network visits and meetings to attend but were unable to attend some due to other work

commitments. Nicky, Jess and Cody attended YPP for AGM Open Day, Jess and Cindy attended Child Protection

Forum, Jess and Cody attended Murri Network Meeting and Nicky attended PRNC. YDFP were unable to attend Youth AOD Network Meeting, PCB and Child Safety Consultative Committee Meeting. We will attend the next ones.

• Sent an appreciation certificate, photo and boomerang to Northern Suburbs Pony Club. Pony Club and YDFP

• Began meeting and planning Women’s Camp at The Outlook at Boona to take place on 21 & 22 November 2009. Both

women from Jumbunna and clients of YDFP will be attending. If there is space, some women from community may

• Held the first Family Fun Night (outdoor movie & bbq) for summer 09/10 on 25 Sept 09. Aliens in the Attic was the movie

• Jess the new worker for YDFP has been away for nearly 2 weeks due to a car accident.

• Cindy working on some educational groups to put together eg: depression, back on track, self esteem.

• During October, there have been 6 new referrals in. 2 were for FV and 4 were for NIDS

• Jess the new YDFP worker has left due to a car accident. A decision was made not to employ someone else as the

program and funding finishes in April 2010 for NIDS and June 2010 for FV. Nicky, Cindy and Milli will run things till then.

• Information about funding for the “Kids in Focus” program which replaces the NIDS program will be advertised in

• Jenwakka, Drug Arm and Centacare continue to provide counselling to clients at Kurbingui premises on a regular basis

• Held another Family Fun Night (BBQ & outdoor movie). The movie screened was “Ice Age 3”. This time we asked that

children be accompanied by a parent but this still didn’t happen with everyone so for this reason there will be no more

movie nights. Maybe just 1 or 2 a year. The unsupervised children play up too much and it is causing a safety and legal issue. Unfortunately this has spoiled it for the families that attend and do the right thing.

• We are planning a Women’s Retreat at “The Outlook at Boona” for 21 & 22 Nov 09. I am having trouble however getting

in contact with Corey Walker to discuss the retreat. So far there are 4 women registered to attend as well as myself and

• Attended ATSILS with young person to help facilitate a discussion between young person and solicitor

• During November 2009, there have been 6 new referrals in. 3 was for FV and 3 were for NIDS.

• Drug Arm and Centacare continue to see clients at Kurbingui on a regular basis.

• All staff supported and participated in EBFW. It was a success as usual. (See Ty from Cultural Program for report)

• Participated in a 2 day Women’s Retreat at The Outlook at Boonah with YDFP clients and Jumbunna Women’s group.

• Had a successful outcome where YDFP have been supporting a young person long term. YDFP assisted with charges

being thrown out of court and YP being placed with her Sister after being removed from her family 15 years ago. Child

• Various agencies and TAFE students have visited for networking and help with assignments.

• Supported and participated in the production of a DV DVD with Kurbingui Star CJP group, QUT and YDFP FV program.

• Attended to usual day to day stuff like phone calls, emails, walk ins and staff meetings.

The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project (YDFP) has successfully continued to meet the needs of clients and community in relation to drugs, alcohol and family violence through family support and by ensuring culturally appropriate, supported referral pathways to mainstream services. Clients have also been supported by referrals to specialist counsellors while ensuring any other issues are addressed. During 2009 there have been 60 referrals in to the Alcohol & Drug Program and 30 referrals in to the Family Violence Program. Approximately half of these referrals are self referred or walk ins and half are referred from other agencies.

This year the structure of YDFP was changed which meant merging the Alcohol & Drug Program with the Family Violence Program. This has proved to work well.

The Family Violence Program continues to support the Jumbunna Women’s Group on a fortnightly basis. The Family Violence Program has worked collaboratively with many other services to deliver multiple educational support groups for women.

• Family Violence Program and Jumbunna Women’s Group hosted the launch of Jumbunna and International Women’s

• Strong Women Building Strong Families – 8 week life skills educational group

• Domestic Violence Month – Launch of women’s safety card, peaceful walk to raise awareness, candle lighting service

• Sister’s Against Domestic Violence – 8 week anger management course for women. “A Man’s Perspective”

• DVD Project – Collaborative project with YDFP, Kurbingui Star Participants and QUT to produce an Indigenous domestic

& family violence documentary to be used as an educational tool for other interested groups and communities.

• Women’s Retreat – 2 day retreat at “The Outlook, Boonah” for women recovering from domestic violence. The women

The Alcohol & Drug Program has continued to support clients and community through educational workshops and positive family activities.

• Living Strong – 8 week healthy eating and weight loss program delivered collaboratively with QLD Health.

• Participants of Living Strong were also encouraged to attend Kurbingui Boxing Club for community fitness classes.

• 4 x Family Fun Nights – BBQ and outdoor movie for families as an alternative to Friday night drinking. These nights have

been cancelled for the time being as parents were dropping children off and leaving. It was meant to be a family night,

• Nicky and Tyron were invited to lead a yarning circle at the Indigenous Domestic Violence Forum in Mackay. The yarning

was about the relationship between drugs, alcohol & family violence and also about the model of Yeaca Dhargo and

• The first cultural program for young people “Hidden Secrets, Forgotten Cultures” was delivered through YDFP. It has

• Nicky and Tyron presented at a Child Support Agency (CSA) Forum about Indigenous families not accessing child

• 2 female clients attended a 4 day Cultural & Spiritual Healing Camp with Aunty Jenny Thompson at Murgon called “Gin

• Supported CRYPAR Touch Football Competition, Murri Village at Multicultural Festival and NAIDOC.

• Coordinated the Engagement Blackfella Way Forum which once again was delivered successfully by all Kurbingui staff.

This has now moved to the new Cultural Program while still embedded into the model of Yeaca Dhargo.

• Through networking, a relationship was built with the Northern Suburbs Pony Club. The Pony Club hosted a family day

of horse riding in the Australian bush for Yeaca Dhargo clients and community. This was made possible through a

Harmony Day Grant and the Department of Immigration. The Pony Club would like to make this an annual event.

• Networking has played an important part this year in order to build, maintain and create working partnerships with other

• At the beginning of the year, Yeaca Dhargo received an extension to funding under the National Illicit Drug Strategy to

continue with the Alcohol & Drug Program. Unfortunately this funding is no longer available from April 2010.

This year the structure of YDFP was changed which meant merging the Alcohol & Drug Program with the Family Violence Program. This has proved to work well.

• Family Violence Program and Jumbunna Women’s Group hosted the launch of Jumbunna and International Women’s Day at a luncheon in Zillmere.

• Strong Women Building Strong Families – 8 week life skills educational group

• Domestic Violence Month – Launch of women’s safety card, peaceful walk to raise awareness, candle lighting service

• Sister’s Against Domestic Violence – 8 week anger management course for women. “A Man’s Perspective”

• DVD Project – Collaborative project with YDFP, Kurbingui Star Participants and QUT to produce an Indigenous domestic & family violence documentary to be used as an educational tool for other interested groups and communities.

• Women’s Retreat – 2 day retreat at “The Outlook, Boonah” for women recovering from domestic violence. The women were empowered with problem solving and challenging activities.

The Alcohol & Drug Program has continued to provide family support to clients and community through educational/early intervention workshops and positive family activities as well as the referrals to counselling as mentioned above. The highlights for the year would have to be the Family Fun Nights which was a bbq and outdoor movie, Engagement Blackfella Way Forum and Horse Riding in the Australian Bush which was hosted by Northern Suburbs Pony Club.

At the beginning of the year, Yeaca Dhargo’s Alcohol & Drug Program received an extension to funding under the “National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS)” to continue delivering early intervention family focused support to families affected by alcohol & drug use. As of 30 April 2010, Department of FaHCSIA will replace our innovative 5 year program with one single service across Queensland called “Kids in Focus”. This program will focus more on children rather than families and will have mandatory reporting requirements for children considered “at risk”. Yeaca Dhargo has been successful in helping children through a family focused approach, not just by focusing on the children. Kurbingui does not have the capacity to deliver the Kids in Focus model nor do we want to be a part of removing more Aboriginal children from their homes.

I would like to thank all those who have been involved with and supported Yeaca Dhargo’s Alcohol & Drug Program including past and present staff, clients, community and other stakeholders.

• During Jan/Feb 10 there have been 21 new referrals in to the family violence program and 15 new referrals in to the

• Counselling appointments continue at Kurbingui on a Friday and at the services premises on other days

• Meet with Layla from Biala about working with some AOD clients once NIDS program ends

• Met with Jean Adams about what I still need to supply for the FV evaluation and requested a 12 month extension for

• Continue on occasion to transport clients to Junjarina at Tingalpa for cultural counselling with Aunty Jenny Thompson

• Attended Fax Back meeting. It was mentioned that Indigenous referrals are very few as they don’t often give consent for

a referral to be made. I was asked about strategies to overcome this. I also realised that most of the counselling services

that YDFP would refer to are already on the Fax Back program and can be referred straight to rather than going through

• Continue to support clients with Child safety issues by attending family group meetings at Child Safety, court cases and

• Continue to support mental health clients with communication, appointments etc

• Under my Duty of Care I assisted with an involuntary admission into the RBH Psychiatric Ward. Client is now doing well.

• Met with Julie Morris (FaHCSIA) about the Family Violence Program and DVD. Provided Julie with info about

• Attended a Family Intervention Strategy Research Project Working Group with CRYPAR (Police). Kurbingui not sure

what capacity our involvement will be as we are loosing the programs that would assist the families involved in this

strategy. We also don’t think that many Indigenous people will give consent to be a part of the research project

• Held first Women’s Peer Support Group on Friday 26/2. 5 women attended and we came up with guidelines, objectives

• YDFP has provided some intense support to a client under the mental health act.

• YDFP providing intense support and advocacy for a client with Child Safety and Legal Aid

• There were 10 new participants engage with YDFP through the Friday Women’s group

• The Friday Morning Women’s Group began about 4 weeks ago. The majority of participants have come from Chermside

Mental Health and are supported to attend the group by Mental Health Worker Sylvia Jenkins. Day 1 was yarning and

setting goals, day 2 was painting, day 3 was knitting, day 4 was an outing to Beenleigh Health Expo. The group will be

• Referrals to counselling continue with some counsellors coming to Kurbingui on a Friday to work with clients.

• Majority of the referrals come from Probation and Parole, Child Safety, Court Ordered and the client themselves.

• Majority of our referrals out go to Drug Arm, Centacare and Jenwakka Indigenous Counselling Service and Gallang

• Met with Julian from Indigenous Children’s Programs (ICP) to discuss referral pathways for parents from ICP to YDFP.

• Held final NIDS Steering Group meeting and presented members with a thank you gift. Some members will stay on to be

• Nicky & Milli has begun Cert 4 in Frontline Management and Cindy in Business.

• Nicky completed 3 days training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention with Mercy family Services.

• Jumbunna Women’s group have changed from every 2nd Thursday to every 2nd Tuesday.

• Kurbingui received some funding from FaHCSIA for a Respectful Relationships Program to compliment the FV program.

Respectful Relationships is aimed at young people’s relationships. It will consist of Healthy Relationship programs in

• Nicky has been asked by Centre for Domestic Violence to write a story about Respectful Relationships in the magazine

• The brochure that will accompany the domestic violence DVD is complete. See attached

• The DVD was a collaborative project between Kurbingui’s Yeaca Dhargo Family Violence program and QUT. It will be

distributed to schools and other communities and will be launched at DV week and the National Indigenous Family

(FaHCSIA)
A three year project from July 2005 to June 2008
(with an extension to June 2009)

          Compiled by             Jean Adams, BA (Dist.) - Consultant
          on behalf of               Kurbingui Youth Development Association Incorporated
       of           34 Handford Road, Zillmere, Q 4034

The NIDS Strengthening Families measure is an early intervention and family-focused component of the wider National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS) that provides support, advice, information, referral and counselling services to families with members coping with, or at risk of, illicit drug use and substance abuse. It is specifically directed towards family support rather than the health, education or criminal aspects of the strategy.

The long-term outcome that the Strengthening Families program aims to achieve is:

· Reduced psychological and physical harm caused to drug users’ family members;

· Enhanced or improved family relationships through increased awareness of, and capacity to, access family support and other relevant services;

· Improved capacity of families to cope with difficulties arising from the misuse and abuse of drugs; and

· Provision of practical assistance to families including counselling, advocacy and personal support and referral;

· Increased awareness amongst clients and stakeholders of other NIDS initiatives and capacity to access appropriate family support and AOD sector services;

· Increased collaboration and partnerships within the family support, child welfare and AOD sectors; and

· Increased clients and stakeholders’ knowledge and understanding about illicit drugs and their effects, as well as an increased capacity to apply new understanding and skills.

Obligations
The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project operates through the National Illicit Drugs Strategy “Strengthening Families” Program, delivers services on behalf of the Australian Government which has a responsibility to:

The following Evaluation Report concerns a 3 year action Research project, conducted by the Yeaca Dhargo Group within Kurbingui Youth Development Inc, based on reflection and continual improvement.

The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project operates within the umbrella of Kurbingui Youth Development Association Inc in outer and inner North Brisbane, including the suburbs of Zillmere, Sandgate, Bracken Ridge, Aspley, Nundah and Banyo. Their activities primarily target all Indigenous families, including children aged from 12years with complex family issues in the geographic location. Secondarily they interact with non-Indigenous organisations to facilitate improved referral and engagement with the Indigenous population, and with schools, school students, teachers and parents within this location. Kurbingui comes from the Turrabul language and means ‘the transition from boy to man’.

To address the disadvantages and poverty experienced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in achieving their rites of passage to a safe and secure future in the community, through the provision of programs and services designed to alleviate isolation, poverty, discrimination and unemployment.

· Yeaca Dhargo Family Project works collaboratively with mainstream organisations

· Yeaca Dhargo Family Project provides organisations with some cultural training

· Establishment of a steering group to help direct, inform and support the community in these

The outer northern suburbs of Brisbane where Zillmere is located, according to ABS and Brisbane City Council community profiles, has the highest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in South East Queensland. It was recognised that there was a need to establish complementary services to address existing community needs such as mental health, social skills, parenting skills and to encourage family unity.

The Yeaca Dhargo Family Project (henceforth the YDFP), is a 3 year Action Research project which commenced in July 2005 and was originally scheduled to conclude in June 2008, under the Strengthening Families measure, an early intervention and family-focused component of the

National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS). The name Yeaca Dhargo means ‘working together’.

Family – for the purposes of the NIDS Program a family relates to any group of two or more who perceive themselves as a family.

Outcome – the impact or effect on families, children and young people of client/group activities delivered (is anyone better off – what changed for clients as a result of what was provided?)

Outputs – the goods or services delivered to clients or groups (what did we provide?)

Program – all the services nationally that make up the National Illicit Drug Strategy Strengthening Families Program

Program Logic Model – provides a framework for showing how all components of a program link together and lead to the achievement of program goals/outcomes.

Qualitative Information – data collection, reporting and monitoring pertaining to the quality of service to clients

Quantitative Information – data collection and reporting pertaining to the numerical measures, for example, the number of families accessing the program.

Stakeholders – all the relevant participants involved such as clients, service providers, peak bodies, funding bodies, research organisations

In May/June 2005, networking commenced with the aim of setting up a project in Zillmere and the surrounding northern Brisbane suburbs under the auspices of KYD and within the framework of the NIDS Strategy – Strengthening Families. July 2005 saw the first annual Work Plan approved by FaCSIA and the first steps taken by the Yeaca Dhargo Project, coordinated by Thomas Jia.

2. The development of partnerships and resource agreements between relevant organisations

4. The development of a series of educational Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs workshops.

Over the next four months these Objectives and associated Outcomes were largely attained through the following tasks, activities and strategies:

· the first six-monthly performance and appraisal report for FaCSIA was completed and submitted

The first six months of 2006 saw the Yeaca Dhargo Project’s four Key Performance Indicators addressed through a variety of strategies and with varying outcomes. Reporting of this phase was completed and submitted in July 2006.

appropriate courses of five sessions each entitled ‘Supporting our Mob’ were conducted with BIALA Indigenous community team with fourteen participants from the community, consisting of carers, grandparents and young people

In addressing the four Key Performance Indicators:

· Decrease drug use through early intervention and prevention

· Enhance or improve family relationships through increased awareness of, and capacity to, access family support and other relevant services

· Improve the capacity of families to cope with difficulties arising from the misuse and abuse of drugs

· Reduce psychological and physical harm caused to drug users’ family members

YDFP increased awareness amongst clients and stake holders of other National Illicit Drugs Strategy initiatives and improved the capacity of families, individuals and young people awareness of early intervention and prevention through the distribution of KYD’s ‘STAR’ Newspaper, a regularly produced and widely distributed community publication which was born from a 2003Community Jobs Plan activity. Connections with the Queensland Police Service through CRYPAR led to the inception of a bi-annual Touch Football game between KYD/YDFP and CRYPAR and did a great deal of good, both in relationships with the Police and engendering cohesiveness and a ‘team’ feeling among clients and their families.

Practical strategies included the provision of counselling, advocacy and personal support, referrals to appropriate rehabilitation centres and culturally appropriate referral pathways and appropriate relationships between clients and mainstream alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs services. YDFP worked with Drug Arm and Hot House (an alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs resource agency to young people) to establish these trusting stable relationships, and confidence in sharing information and resources. YDFP also worked with young community members in partnership with Kooemba Jdarra to deliver a performance at the 2006 Multi-Cultural Festival with the primary message of what Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs are destroying our culture by relating to our rich environment. As a result of the success of this initiative, the community encouraged further participation in the International Dreaming Festival at Woodford June 2006 despite some inconsistencies in parental/carer support and financial constraints.

The YDFP operational manual was completed, agreements with agencies, both referral and support, operated effectively due to the established memorandum of agreements, and staff attended the 5^th International Conference on Drugs and Young People held in Sydney, May 2006.

Couples support, not only with alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs use but with related issues including violence, financial, abuse and health needs, emerged as a community necessity. YDFP in collaboration with case managers felt that, while addressing personal issues and building self-esteem and confidence, barriers to sustainability of employment and education were identified. To address this need they encouraged clients’ participation in KYD’s employment, education and training programs including Community Jobs Program (CJP), Certificate 2 in Business, and Get Set for Work (GSFWP) which targets young people aged between 15-17 yrs who are disengaged from school with positive referrals to further education and employment. YDFP worked with coordinators of these projects to ensure continued emotional support and transition for YDFP participants towards practical and professional development. Participants reported feeling a sense of comfort being moved internally where they still retained the benefits of YDFP’s support. To further progress this facet of their work YDFP established important relationships with employment network agencies - Centacare, Mission Australia and the Salvation Army and encouraged a reciprocal flow of referrals and assistance.

The project developed further during the next six-month period, and by the close of 2006 eleven families and six individuals were being assisted through case management collaborative meetings. Many of the referrals created new issues, including family and child safety. In response to changing needs YDFP developed new individual case plans, a new family support network and improved initiatives. A number of contacts were made with the Department of Child Safety, and it was resolved that YDFP

would monitor levels of family violence and abuse in participants/families. Referrals continued to existing community programs Drug Arm and BIALA and issues such as parenting, ADHD, disabilities and substance abuse were addressed. Behavioural strategies, workshops and sessions to address dependencies were conducted.

As the project evolved, YDFP service delivery underwent modification as part of a continuous commitment to the community needs. Complex family needs not wholly related to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs strongly emerged. Cases presented necessitating work in relation to support and respite with two entire family units where children had issues with ADHD and inappropriate behaviours. Links and follow-up with Disability services became essential, and intensive activity was required with a person who is on life parole with Community Corrections in areas of relationships, coping with community living, and conflict resolution. This case is regarded as a real success story as, though this person has trust issues with everybody, he has continued to meet his commitment to YDFP and regards contact here as a lifeline and a caring supportive environment. The Project has experienced significant expansion and growth during this period, and staff have coped well, working closely with other agencies (particularly Centacare) with continuous learning and professional development.

Referrals fluctuated during this period as workers faced the struggles of balancing administration work with service delivery. So YDFP sought the services of a Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) administration worker for fourteen hours per week and a volunteer for another two days a week. Space, comfort and confidentiality emerged as an issue when working with sensitive areas and needed to be addressed on an urgent basis. All stake holders, particularly those involved with the Steering Committee hold YDFP in high regard for their persistence in delivering a successful service under trying conditions. NIDS showed support and understanding also for the growth and evolution of the Project and further encouraged collaboration across community agencies and community capacity building.

Because referrals often involve working with other agencies, in particular other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, YDFP negotiated a new relationship with Gallang Place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Counselling Service and support the counsellors at Gallang with related issues such as employment and legal or financial matters. YDFP also received many referrals from the Department of Child Safety to work with clients on issues of child safety, family planning and support.

During this period YDFP worked with KYD’s ‘Star’ and the Inspire Foundation to develop a DVD named “Kiama’s Tracks”. This short film demonstrated what the lack of cultural and spiritual identity is doing to Indigenous people, issues of lack of confidence, and loss of direction which leads to self

issues and available resources dealing with alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs for use at local displays and festivals. Because of the rapid expansion of the Project and the pressure on staff, there were difficulties scheduling and delivering regular family intervention workshops, ‘Supporting Our Mob’. The acquisition of another worker for the 2007 year was essential to enable the focus to return to this and other proposed workshops as well as intervention.

Strengths evidenced particularly in this phase of the Project include sound planning, personal rapport and the involvement of families in contacting the necessary and suitable resources. This imparts to them a feeling of control and ownership of the plans to deal with their complex issues. After YDFP assessment there is no time wasted in providing the family with the necessary direction and support.

When working with families, YDFP also assist with prioritising issues and addressing them in a logical and balanced sequence. Thus many families are learning that complex issues cannot be alleviated immediately, and the value of working things through, one step at a time.

It is believed that YDFP has served to enhance the understanding of young people regarding substance use/abuse while increasing self esteem, awareness and confidence. Time spent improving parenting strategies has also helped to improve personal development, communication, understanding, through developing and implementing alternative parenting strategies. YDFP activities have strengthened community links and improved community participation through a series of skills workshops directed to parents/ carers regarding Young People and substance use; the delivery of the ‘Life Changing’ Project which is aimed at building community capacity; and by engaging community members in interactive sessions eg role playing.

Clients have stated that they are happy and contented with the Project’s processes and they feel that their issues are being addressed on a range of identified levels of support and nurture be it high, medium levels or low. Case workers have clear and concise roles with the project. Recreational ‘rewards’ for commitment and hard work such as bowling, pizza and movie night, visit to the circus and outings to go swimming were introduced and proved highly successful in providing peer support and moving the focus from individual issues. Having fun together gave attention to personal strengths and confidence.

2007 proved to be an even busier year for YDFP. With the evolution of the project, the key performance indicators for this period were:

· Support individuals who seek assistance with their dependencies

· Provide education and information workshops to families, individuals and young people

· Monitor and support existing support programs that clients are referred to

In supporting individuals, a Women’s Support Group was formed, providing them with peer support to assist them with their families, but as the year progressed and in response to strong requests from group members, it changed from a support group to a popular and well-attended activities group.

An extremely active Men’s Group – Bud-Ja Djan – was established. The name means ‘strong Aboriginal man’. The group adopted the aim of demonstrating leadership by encouraging respect, and nurturing the quality of Culture, and mentored young men experimenting with or participating in using alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.

Other young people were supported in positive, active and healthy ways through the Sport and Recreation program and an after-school ‘Recreational Buffet’. The Police v Kurbingui Touch Footy Competition begun in 2006 became a bi-annual event with almost 100 mixed players, supporters and family members present to see a close win for KYD’s team. With extra support from the Brisbane City Council the YDFP Dance Troupe was formed and a dance performance was developed and performed at the annual Multi-cultural Festival, Mountains to Mangroves Festival and Visible Ink’s Youth Space Launch.

These activities

- established feelings of pride and confidence to our young people;

- improved family relationships and support;

- provided main stream agencies with cultural engagement with our community.

- provided Families, individuals and young people with tools dealing with AOD.

- provided community with documentation and facts relating to YDFP and AOD

and - showed there were better alternatives to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs.

YDFP continued to provide education and information workshops to families, individuals and young people with the delivery of the ‘Supporting Our Mob’ Program on a regular basis, and the ‘Engagement Blackfella Way Forum’ which is conducted annually in recognition of, and to further assist, agencies and individuals who are making every effort to understand and acknowledge the difficulties Indigenous people have when accessing mainstream organisations. This forum regularly gives participants the opportunity

· to gain knowledge on how to engage with the Indigenous community;

· for Indigenous people to share and inform organisations of their concerns about the impact of complex issues both culturally and spiritually;

· for community people to present and speak from the heart to considerate and supportive representatives of organisations about personal issues and barriers that exist for them in today’s society;

· for experienced professional Indigenous people to speak on successful engagement and the importance of cultural and spiritual issues.

This was an interactive forum that encouraged two-way communication and sharing of knowledge and information. The forum in 2007 was held with 40 participants and 8 speakers, and included

~ Engaging with our people on sensitive issues

~ Young people’s issues

~ Men’s issues

~ Women’s issues

~ Cultural and spiritual issues

Further details and post-evaluation comments by participants at this forum are to be found in Appendices (ii) and (iii).

Other workshops delivered by the YDFP included two Drug Awareness and information workshops to Brisbane Youth Service and KYD Get Set for Work program; two Parent Matters Program workshops – one for Strathpine Child Safety group and one for clients of the YDFP Project; two presentations were organised for Mission Australia’s Project Circuit Breaker and at The Parks Mental Health Facility; and a Money Minded workshop for KYD Get Set for Work program.; Close relationships with Drug Arm saw many valuable exchanges of information and discussions regarding working with the Indigenous community.

During the year the YDFP Project Worker, Nicky Evans actively engaged in her own professional development and gained knowledge to be used in the YDFP Project by undertaking the following activities:

· Train the Trainer for ‘Supporting Our Mob’ drug information and support program.

· Child Protection Training in Brisbane with YDFP Resource worker/Trainee, Lisa Calcutt.

· Annual Good Practice Forum and NIDS Evaluation Workshop in Canberra with KYD Manager, Sue Perel on 25 - 26 June 07.

· Completed training at Biala (Department of Health) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Family Therapy with Resource worker, Lisa Calcutt.

· Completed training through The Smith Family to deliver Money Minded Workshops.

During the year YDFP fielded 51 individual requests for assistance and dealt with another four by telephone. Seven new families were referred. All of these brought complex family issues such as violence, abuse, child protection issues and parental issues to the table. YDFP had established an intervention model of practice which they implemented. By the end of the year work continued with four of these families.

The need for another component of the YDFP had been earlier identified, and in July ’07, following a full project review, the proposal for the employment of a separate Domestic and Family Violence Program within the YDFP and employment of a designated program worker was submitted and approved. The position of Women’s Family Violence Worker was advertised and filled by Barbara Van Der Meulen on 3 December 2007 for 35hrs a week and YDFP Steering Group’s Terms of Reference was amended to include the Family Violence Project. The employment of a third Resource worker also provided the project with better opportunities and options to obtain resources to build better service delivery.

Stakeholder collaboration also progressed well, strengthened by the consistent contact and visits by YDFP. But, with the increase of complex family issues, increased and improved collaboration with existing and new services YDFP further identified the need for better resourcing in dealing with issues outside of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, and the need to source, through other agencies, added resources such as disability, housing, financial, employment and legal matters.

Because of the commitment and ongoing professional development of the workers and the establishment of appropriate and effective management, referral and service delivery strategies it is believed that in 2007 YDFP was successful in:

· increasing participation in existing positive parenting programs

· employing smooth transitions to appropriate existing community services. Referral pathways enhance relationships between communities. YDFP enlisted several other services, all of whom agreed with proposed work agreements, to enhance better and service delivery.

· demonstrating improved coping mechanisms for individuals

· providing an accessible and culturally appropriate healing service

· recording a decrease in the need for intervention from the child safety department

· observing a noticeable reduction in reported family violence and abuse within community.

A very positive report was presented by YDFP at the well-attended Annual General Meeting of Kurbingui Youth Development where productive social contact was made with an even wider cross-section of the community. But this progress and these achievements came at a cost!

Limited funding for staff and a dedication to achieving goals they have set and needs they perceive puts a great deal of pressure on project workers. There also does not seem to be an obviously clear and rewarding career path, especially for trained staff or for male workers. Higher-paid positions and government bodies or professional agencies provide an attractive drawcard for those with ambition. For a variety of reasons there was a major and rapid turnover of staff in the latter half of 2007. YDFP coped well with these changes, but this was mainly due to the dedication and involvement of the staff that remained and the dedicated support of KYD, the parent organization. Changes included:

· Nathan Goss commenced as YDFP Family Violence Resource Worker on 3 September 2007 for 30hrs a week;

· Thomas Jia finished work with YDFP and Kurbingui on 26 September 2007 returning to Cairns;

· Nicky Evans took over the role of YDFP Project Worker;

· Lisa Calcutt completed her traineeship and finished work with YDFP on 30 November 2007;

· Jon Morris began six month position as YDFP NIDS Resource Worker for 32 hrs a week

At the close of 2007 a positive meeting of the YDFP Steering Group was held where the members met Barbara, the new Family Violence worker and heard her initial plans for the beginning of

the next year. She was very happy to receive, in return, thoughts, ideas and contacts to help formulate what promises to be an effective and cohesive project. A performance and appraisal report was submitted to FaHCSIA on 15 December 2007 and the project moved seamlessly into 2008.

2008 had hardly begun when the turnover of staff struck again, with the departures to other agencies of YDFP NIDS Resource Worker Jon Morris and YDFP Family Violence Resource Worker Nathan Goss one week later. The end of January saw the position of one Resource Worker to float between YDFP NIDS and YDFP Family Violence Projects for 30hrs a week advertised for urgent placement. The YDFP Project Worker, Nicky Evans and other KYD staff completed online training in suicide prevention offered by the Salvation Army during this period. The Counselling area (a renovated and self-contained caravan purchased in August 2007 that enabled privacy and a more comfortable client environment) was commissioned ready for use. The ‘Blackfella Way’ Forum is attended voluntarily by Agencies and individuals following circulation of invitations and advertisements, and the 2008 process to conduct this forum began in January.

By the end of the month YDFP had attended a Dual Diagnosis Reference Group Meeting with Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) and Mental Health, Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs (MHATODS) for the launch of Indigenous brochures. They had attended four Family Group Meetings with the Department of Child Safety in support of clients, received four new referrals and closed six cases, leaving ten active cases on the books, five of which were individuals and five families.

Over a period of the next three months YDFP received 11 new referrals and 6 were closed. A new data collection protocol; was developed for client referrals and all available personnel supported the effective and professional commencement of the YDFP Family Violence Women’s Group.

YDFP supported KYD’s special celebration for the Prime Minister’s Apology at the local PCYC. [See Report in Appendix (iii)].

Tyron Day started as YDFP Resource Worker on 3 March 08 to work 30hrs between the NIDS and Family Violence programs, and resources were purchased from Lighthouse Resources – strength cards and other group work cards. YDFP conducted agency presentations - Project Circuit Breaker at Mission Australia; for staff of two Young Parents Programs; to staff at Brisbane Youth Service; and presented information in stalls at Brisbane Youth Service’s 30^th Birthday and at the Anti-Discrimination Stand at Bracken Ridge TAFE for National Youth Week.

YDFP workers attended a Reference Group meeting for a pilot project for recently released prisoners, ‘Passports to Advantage’; completed facilitator training with Redcliffe Community

Association to deliver a Healthy Relationships Course to primary school students as an early intervention to alcohol and drug misuse and domestic and family violence; Ty attended one week‘s training in Leadership and Program Development at The Outlook at Boonah; Nicky and Ty completed Indigenous Mental Health First Aid Training with Queensland Health; and attended Strength Based training at Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre. Two NIDS clients attended a Family Violence Anger and Compassion Course. Having acquired the Volunteer Marine Rescue facility at Shorncliffe as the venue for the 2008 ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ Forum, registration forms were sent to respondents to the invitation.

In May NIDS granted YDFP another year’s funding from FaHCSIA for the year 2008-09.

During the last two months of this reporting period YDFP received 5 new referrals. The current case load is 18, with 4 being families and 14 individuals. 3 cases have been closed. Nicky and Ty completed Mental Health Risk Assessment Training with Queensland Health. Delivery began of the Health Relationships Course to Year 4 and 5 students at Zillmere Primary School in collaboration with the Family Violence Program, and a series of legal education workshops with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) were conducted. YDFP, with the support of KYD staff, held an extremely successful 2008 ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ Forum.

There were 11 speakers and 89 participants and the agenda included a traditional welcome with an accompanying dance performance. Speakers and topics were as follow:

· Sam Leone – Kurbingui Sport and Recreation – ‘His story and the Australian Institute of Sport’

· Lorna Mickelo – community member – ‘Grandparents’

· Eddie Monaei – Kurbingui Lifestyles/Activities Coordinator – ‘The difference between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures; The Australian Federal Police’

· Nicole Alexander – NWAICA Sport and Recreation – ‘Her Story’

· Southside Education – ‘Young Women’s Issues and Education’

· Aunty Jenny Thompson – Jenwakka Indigenous Counselling Service – ‘Cultural & Spiritual Healing’

· Katrina Hodson – Prince Charles Hospital - ‘Indigenous Mental Health’

· Pastor Rodney Minniecon, Duncan Johnson, Richard Young – Bud Ja Djan Men’s Group – ‘Men’s Issues’

· Aaron Young – Kurbingui Cultural Worker - ‘Difference in Protocols; Indigenous Culture in Schools’

Participants represented Care, Respec, United Synergies, YFS Services, Department of Communities, Health/ Qual and Complaints Team, Mercy Families, Zig Zag, Misa, Australian Youth Services, Redcliffe Community Association, Project Circuit Breaker, National Seniors Australia, Bayside Community Options, Queensland Ombudsman, QYS, Qld Police Services, Zillmere Community Centre, Disability Services Queensland, Centacare, Drug Arm Australia, Bremer TAFE and Richmond Fellowship Queensland. All participants completed Pre- and Post-Forum Questionnaires and some of their responses are represented below with more anecdotal comments to be found in Appendix (iv).

The following graphs represent the responses of participants to questions posed before and after the Forum, especially those concerning the participants’ understanding of issues faced by Indigenous people and their underlying causes, and the climate of their workplace when it came to employment of Indigenous workers.

YDFP manned an information stand at the Health Expo for North Lakes Community Centre. With KYD, they jointly presented an information display at the Health and Wellbeing Expo at Bracken Ridge High School, and they conducted an agency presentation to clients at Redcliffe Child Safety. YDFP supported the bi-annual Touch Football competition between Kurbingui and the CRYPAR (Police) team. They also supported Murri Village at the Zillmere Multi-Cultural Festival.

After participating in Kurbingui’s strategic planning workshops and attending a final meeting prior to the independent evaluation of the Yeaca Dhargo Family Project, Nicky took two weeks’ well-earned leave.

During the last 6 months (January ’08 to June ’08) YDFP had 27 referrals in, carried out 13 assessments, and referred 11 clients to external agencies and 11 internally within the KYD system. Of these, 16 were adult females, 8 adult males, 22 male young people, 3 female young people and 14 families were served. With funding now extended for a further twelve month period the great work can continue.

Further information is to be added here, including:

· Service Reports - January to June 2008 and beyond

· Satisfaction Surveys - Referral Agencies

- Participants

- Steering Group

· Comments on recent increases in clientele and referrals, and possible reasons for same

Discussion

The YDFP/KYD operates using a brokerage model which enables payment for specialized counselling that is culturally appropriate, working in partnership with other agencies to provide safe and supported referral pathways for their clients. They continually provide cultural engagement workshops to mainstream agencies to strengthen and improve relationships and sensitivity to client needs. As YDFP works with families who primarily have issues relating to alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs they must implement an holistic approach since these issues may extend into many diverse aspects of clients’ lives.

The Project has evolved and strengthened over the funding period and this haas necessitated a flexible approach which allows for change – of activities, of management of services where time and labour constraints or the level of demand for services cause project ‘overload’, or where other needs become more clearly identifiable. A very effective strategy has been the fostering of cross agency initiatives and collaborations, as has the connection with KYD’s Sport and Recreation programs where young people can be reached through fun and activity. YDFP also implement a flexible form of service delivery, ensuring privacy and confidentiality, accommodating client sensitivity regarding drug and alcohol concerns, and responding to the wishes of clients when appropriate.

The YDFP has seen the target group changing also over the course of the project, and has moved in a collaborative manner to embrace the changes. This is especially evident with the extension of the scope of the project to include the Family Violence Program, as so many of the original clients were affected by violent behaviours in connection with issues of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. YDFP are responsive to client needs and are able and willing to take advantage of suitable opportunities for the benefit of their clients when they arise.

There has been significant staff turn-over as discussed previously and this has affected the gender balance among workers. Men do not seem to see this type of work as a career, and are generally not willing to settle for short –term contracts and a lower level of remuneration. It is also difficult to find suitable Indigenous workers, and when they are found, by the time they have been sufficiently trained in the necessary skills of the position, greener pastures beckon and they take their hard-won expertise to an outside agency that can offer better prospects for wages and advancement . In spite of this, YDFP have weathered the changes with few difficulties, due in great part to the hard work and dedication of the staff who have remained with the organization. This stability of personnel has been responsible for the development of satisfying long-term relationships, trust and a feeling of comfort for clients in dealing with someone thay come to know and understand.

Conclusions

Complex family issues such as anger, family relationships, child behaviours, and family violence are closely related to the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. These resultant issues as well as the root problem involve significant financial costs as well as the physical and emotional outflows. YDFP is successfully implementing a prevention and intervention strategy. The abuses themselves cost YDFP nothing financially. It’s the damage to individuals and families that carry a high price, and the necessary intervention and prevention services that must be called upon compound the effect on society in general.

· The YDFP provides culturally appropriate referral pathways to existing services rather than duplicating them.

· YDFP has strong commitment from many external agencies as well as from Kurbingui Youth Development and all its internal sub-groups.

· YDFP helps grow self worth and self esteem for individuals. The Project helps provide pathways to employment, education alternatives and sports and recreational activities, showing the value of a lifestyle where alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs have no place.

· YDFP demonstrates, and helps clients to implement, strategies to cope with or avoid situations involving abuse, violence or harm.

· The expansion of the project and its successes are due largely to the dedication and professionalism of the workers involved with the project.

· There is a difficulty and an inequity in employing, training and retaining quality male staff, particularly Indigenous workers.

· Early intervention measures with families referred to YDFP because of complex issues have had to be restricted because of a serious drain on resources. To perform a large number of duties well is better than trying to perform a massive amount with less effectiveness.

· The ‘Supporting Our Mob’ program and ‘Engagement Blackfella Way’ forums are extremely successful tools used effectively by YDFP.

· The YDFP believes the best way to assist clients achieve positive outcomes is to build trust and rapport. Indigenous workers help make this process work even better. They do this well!

Recommendations

APPENDICES

APPENDIX (i)

Timeline

for the

Yeaca Dhargo Family Project (YDFP),

a 3 year Action Research project

which started in July 2005 and originally scheduled to conclude in June 2008,

under the Strengthening Families measure,

an early intervention and family-focused component of the

National Illicit Drug Strategy (NIDS)

May/June ‘05

· Thomas Jia networking to set up YDFP

July ‘05

· Commencement of YDFP

· Thomas Jia began as Coordinator

· First year work plan approved by FaCSIA

August’ 05

· 22 August 05, Jason Law began employment as YDFP Project Worker

· Confirmed members of YDFP Steering Group (already supplied names and contacts)

· Purchase of computer, projector, 2 office chairs, one mobile phone and stationery

September ‘05

· Thomas Jia delivered presentation at Child Protection Forum

· Commenced lease of vehicle

· Thomas chaired first YDFP steering group meeting

· Thomas facilitated Zillmere Drug Action Group meeting

· Purchased new hard drive for Project Worker

December ‘05

· Completed six month performance and appraisal report for FaCSIA

· Final YDFP steering group meeting for 2005

· Completed 3 Life Changing Workshops – Cultural dance theatre project

January/ February ‘06

· Thomas Jia and Jason Law participated in train the trainer for Supporting Our Mob Program – Drug education and support program for families

· Received additional funding from BCC for Life Changing Project

· Sue Perel and Jason Law attended Canberra for annual NIDS Good Practice Forum

February/March ‘06

· YDFP delivered first Alcohol, Tobacco and Illicit Drugs information workshop

· Began promoting Life Changing Performance for 20 May 2006

April ‘06

· Jason moved from YDFP to Community Development

· Nicky Evans began as YDFP Project Worker on 18 April 06 for 24 hrs a week

· Thomas completed delivering 1^st Supporting Our Mob program

May ‘06

· Began delivering 2^nd Supporting Our Mob program to Kurbingui’s Community Jobs Project participants (CJP)

· Participants performed Life Changing Project at 2006 Zillmere Multicultural Festival

· Thomas and Nicky attended Young people and Drugs Conference in Sydney

June/July ‘06

· Completed delivering 2^nd Supporting Our Mob to CJP

· Dancers from Life Changing Project invited to perform at 2006 Dreaming Festival at Woodford

· Attended 2006 NAIDOC

· Completed compiling an information package and promotional poster about YDFP and Kurbingui for networking purposes

· Nicky’s hours increased from 24 to 30hrs a week

· Submitted quarterly performance and appraisal report to FaCSIA

· YDFP delivered workshop to dual diagnosis working group on working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug issues

· Request to FaCSIA for variation to 2006/2007 funding

· Submitted an expression of interest to Department of Health and Ageing to further compliment structure of YDFP

· Developed YDFP Yarning Circles

· Delivered drug awareness workshop to Get Set For Work participants – 27 July 06

August/September ‘06

· YDFP steering group developed operational manual

· Thomas and Nicky attended workshop (In My Life) by Department of Health and Ageing in Brisbane

· YDFP delivered agency presentation to Griffith University students

· YDFP worked collaboratively with Griffith Uni students to design a new promotional poster for YDFP

· Nicky attended Gin Muran Gari Aboriginal Women’s camp

September/October ‘06

· Janie Lawson from FaCSIA visited Kurbingui to discuss gaps and barriers for YDFP

· Gained a temporary administration worker from Community Development Employment Program (CDEP)

· Nicky attended 2 day workshop on young people and substance abuse by the Hot House

October/November ‘06

· Nicky and Thomas attended APSAD Conference in Cairns

December ‘06

· YDFP was granted funding by FaCSIA to employ a trainee for Resource Worker position

January/March ‘07

· Received funding from BCC for another dance project

· Began 2007 dance project (YDFP Dance Troupe)

· Lisa Calcutt began traineeship as Resource Worker on 1 March 07 for 30hrs a week

· Nicky completed train the trainer for Supporting Our Mob Program – Drug information and support program

· Nicky and Lisa attended Child Protection Training in Brisbane

April ‘07

· Nicky delivered 3^rd Supporting Our Mob Program to Kurbingui’s Community Jobs Project participants (CJP)

May ‘07

· Participants performed 2007 dance project (YDFP Dance Troupe) at Zillmere Multicultural Festival – 17 May 2007

· YDFP involved in bi-annual, Police vs Kurbingui touch football competition

· YDFP Dance Troupe performed at Mountains to Mangroves Festival

· Engagement Blackfella Way Forum conducted at Chermside Library – 40 participants – 8 speakers

June ‘07

· YDFP Dance Troupe performed at Visible Ink’s Youth Space Launch

· Trial development of YDFP women’s group began

· YDFP supporting development of men’s group

· Sue and Nicky attended Canberra for annual Good Practice Forum and NIDS Evaluation Workshop – 25 and 26 June 07

July ‘07

· Visible Ink and PCYC funded YDFP to take YDFP Dance Troupe, Get Set For Work participants and their families to Dreamworld as a reward for their hard work – 20 July 2007

· Family Violence Project approved and position description for Women’s Family Violence Worker drawn up

· YDFP attended 2007 NAIDOC

August ‘07

· Advertised YDFP Family Violence position

· YDFP conducted project review

· Women’s group changed from support group to activities group

· Caravan purchased to serve as confidential and private interview room when refurbished and equipped

September ‘07

· Nathan Goss commenced as YDFP Family Violence Resource Worker on 3 September 2007 for 30hrs a week

· Nicky delivered drug information workshop to some young people from Brisbane Youth Service

· YDFP delivered presentation to Strathpine Child Safety about Parent Matters Program

· Thomas finished work with YDFP and Kurbingui on 26 September 2007

· Nicky took over Thomas’s role

October ‘07

· Nicky and Lisa completed training at Biala (Department of Health) in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Family Therapy

· Nicky completed training through The Smith Family to deliver Money Minded Workshops

· Began advertising for Women’s Family Violence Worker

November ‘07

· Lisa completed traineeship and finished work with YDFP on 30 November 2007

· Jon Morris began six month position as YDFP NIDS Resource Worker for 32 hrs a week

· Nicky conducted presentation at Mission Australia- Project Circuit Breaker

· Nicky conducted presentation at The Parks Mental Health Facility

· Final YDFP steering group meeting for 2007

· YDFP steering group Terms of Reference amended to include family violence project

December ‘07

· Barbara Van Der Meulen employed as senior worker for YDFP Women’s Family Violence Worker on 3 December 2007 for 35hrs a week

· YDFP completed delivering 1^st Parent Matters Course to YDFP clients

· Completed delivery of Parent Matters Course to YDFP participants on 14 December 2008.

· Submitted performance and Appraisal report to FaHCSIA on 15 December 2008.

· Developed simpler filing system.

· Employed Jon Morris as YDFP (NIDS) resource worker.

· YDFP attended Kurbingui’s AGM.

· Submitted performance and appraisal report to FaCSIA on 15 December 2007

January ‘08

· Counselling caravan has been renovated and is ready for use Nicky and other Kurbingui staff completed online training in suicide prevention

· Advertised for one Resource Worker to float between YDFP NIDS and YDFP Family Violence Projects for 30hrs a week

· YDFP attended Dual Diagnosis Reference Group Meeting with Child & Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) and Mental Health, Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs (MHATODS) for launch of Indigenous brochures.

· Began advertising Engagement Blackfella Way Forum in January 07.

· YDFP attended 4 Family Group Meetings with Department of Child Safety in support of clients.

· Nicky completed on line suicide prevention course with Salvation Army.

· Jon Morris – YDFP (NIDS) resource worker moved on to another organisation on 23 January 2008.

· Nathan Goss – YDFP (Family Violence) resource worker moved on to another organisation on 30 January 2008.

· Through December 07 and January 08 YDFP received 4 new referrals and closed 6 cases.

· There are currently 10 active cases, 5 are individuals and 5 are families.

February 2008

· During February 2008 YDFP received 6 new referrals.

· There are currently 14 active cases and 3 have been closed.

· Attended Reference Group meeting for a pilot project for recently released prisoners (Passports to Advantage)

· Completed facilitator training with Redcliffe Community Association to deliver a Healthy Relationships Course to primary school students as an early intervention to alcohol and drug misuse and domestic and family violence.

· YDFP supported Kurbingui’s celebration for the Priministers Apology at local PCYC.

· Began supporting the YDFP Family Violence Women’s Group.

· Conducted agency presentation at Project Circuit Breaker, Mission Australia.

· Began sending out registration forms for Engagement Blackfella Way Forum.

March 2008

· Tyron Day started as YDFP resource worker on 3 March 08 to work 30hrs between the NIDS and Family Violence programs

· During March 08 YDFP received 5 new referrals and closed 3 cases.

· Have acquired the Volunteer Marine Rescue at Shornecliffe for the Engagement Blackfella Way Venue.

· YDFP conducted an agency presentation for staff at Young Parents Program.

· Nicky and Ty completed Indigenous Mental Health First Aid Training with Qld Health.

· YDFP held info stall at Brisbane Youth Service’s 30^th Birthday.

· Developed new data collection for client referrals.

· Ty attended 1 week training in Leadership and Program Development at The Outlook at Boona.

April 2008

· YDFP held info stall at Anti Discrimination Stand at Bracken Ridge TAFE for National Youth Week.

· Conducted agency presentation to clients of Young Parents Program.

· Purchased resources from Lighthouse Resources – strength cards and other group work cards.

· 2 NIDS clients attending Family Violence Anger and Compassion Course.

· Nicky and Ty attended Strength Based training at Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre.

· Conducted agency presentation to staff at Brisbane Youth Service.

May 2008

· YDFP (NIDS) granted another years funding from FaHCSIA - $135 888.85.

· YDFP supported Kurbingui/CRYPAR (Police) Touch Football competition.

· Nicky and Ty completed Mental Health Risk Assessment Training with Qld Health.

· Began delivering Health Relationships Course to year 4 & 5 at Zillmere Primary School in collaboration with the Family Violence Program.

· YDFP supported Murri Village at Zillmere Multi Cultural Festival.

· YDFP with support of Kurbingui staff held the Engagement Blackfella Way Forum. There were 89 participants and 11 speakers.

· Began a series of legal education workshops with Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service (ATSILS).

· Nicky took 2 weeks leave.

· During May YDFP received 3 new referrals. The current case load is 18. 4 are families and 14 are individuals. 2 cases have been closed.

June 2008

· YDFP and Kurbingui held info stall at Health and Wellbeing Expo at Bracken Ridge High School.

· YDFP conducted agency presentation to clients at Redcliffe Child Safety.

· YDFP participated in Kurbingui’s strategic planning workshops.

· YDFP held info stall at Health Expo for Nth Lakes Community Centre

· Final meeting for draft of YDFP independent evaluation.

· During June YDFP received 2 new referrals and closed 1 case. There are currently 18 active cases. 4 are families and 14 are individuals.

Appendix (ii)

Sample of Client data rec

client data
ID	gender	suburb	medcon	accom	legal	interests	issues	recom
1	f	morayfield	Lw on iron,astm	with parents	n/a	art,boxing,dvd	grief and loss	aut jen thomp
2	f	zillmere					r'ships anger	aut jen thomp
3	m	zillmere			drg posession			centacare
4	m	morayfield	mental health	boarding	public drinking	boxing,b'ball and music	alcohol, anger	drug arm
5	m	burpengary		family	Motor veh offences	rugby league	alcohol	hothouse
6	f	stf hts	asthma	boarding	comm conf		chroming	hothouse
7	f	zillmere		boardind	comm cof		anger,aod	hothouse
8	f	kedron	depression	transient	n/a	swimming, travel	thts of self harm	hothouse
9	m and fam	taigum	n/a	public housing	concerned	rby league	truency and behaviour	ydfp
10	m	chermside	n/a	boardind with mum	yth just orders	watching league	chroming	hothouse
11	m	stf hts		c'van pk	yth just orders		chroming,aod r'ships	hothouse
12	m and fam	nundah	n/a	boarding	violence,stealing tresspassing	rby lgue, art	alcohol, anger	hothouse
13	f and fam	brighton	mental health, depression	t-tree housing	n/a	open	violence,family,aod	nundah house, supporting our mob
14	m				yth and fam supp			fail to show
15	f						self referred	fail to show
16	m						yth justice	fail to show
17	m	enoggera	n/a	boarding	break and enter	gym,rugby league	alcohol and yarndi	develop work plan
18	m	woody pt	n/a	renting	alc re crime	failed to show	alc and drugs	men issues and drug arm
19	m	morayfield	not yet assessed	renting	not yet assessed	not yet assessed	alcanddrugs violence	aut jen thomp
20	f	inner city	not assessed	renting	not yet assessed	not yet assessed	women issues	aut jen thomp
21	m	homeless	depression	homeless	drinkinganddisorder	painting and music	aod,family andcommunication skills	centacare
22	f	bracken ridge	dental work	rental	n/a	reading,teachers aid	low confidence	ydfp
23	m	kallangur	bronchitis	public housingboarding with mum	assult court 12/09/06	fishing and bmx	truency, aod, cultural	hothouse
24	f	wooloowin	asma, hbp and stress	private rental	family court	writing and drawing	family and r'ships	TBA
25	m	wooloowin	asthma, heart andback	private rental	alcohol related crimes	fishing and camping	drinks reg	TBA
26	m	wooloowin	n/a	private rental	family court	gardening, building	alc and family	centacare
27	m	wooloowin	n/a	living with mum and dad	n/a	computer games and football	identity and truancy	cyhms
28	m	boondall	collapsed lung	public housing	obstructing police	bull riding and football	aod and employment	drug arm
29	f and fam	stafford	n/a	rental scheme	motor vehicle offence	netball and walking	anger, parenting alc women issues	aunt jenny thompson
30	m (yp)	stafford	emotional	rental scheme	n/a	rugby league	being physical abused	male counsellor
31	f and fam	auchenflower	asthma, kidney	private rental	dvo	walking	housing, parental	aunt jenny thompson
32	f and Young People	zillmere	thyroid	private rental	n/a	social groups	family conflicts	aunt jenny thompson
33	f and young person	lawnton	odd and adhd	private rental	jj offence	bike riding	odd and adhd	support group
34	f	8 mile plains	n/a	joyce wilding	child safety orders	walking arts and crafts	accom, drugs and women issues	drug arm, aunt jenny thompson
35	m	zillmere	back injury	transient	life parole	football, fishing v8 cars	accom, conflict, r'ships	centacare
36	f and fam	lawton	n/a	black housing	n/a

Yeaca Dhargo Families Support Program The Yeaca Dhargo Families project

Drug and Alcohol Support Program

NIDS—National Illicit Drug Strategy

Yeaca Dhargo Families Support Program
The Yeaca Dhargo Families project