Category: Burdekin Life Article

In our fast-paced lives, time seems to rush by, and before we know it, Christmas is just around the corner. As we become increasingly busy, we often overlook the important task of taking care of ourselves.

When we extend support to someone going through tough times, we tend to prioritise their needs over our own. However, this approach can be detrimental to both parties, especially if we are struggling ourselves. To provide effective support, it’s essential for us to be in a good state of mental and emotional wellbeing.

To achieve this, it’s important to first recognise our limitations and acknowledge when we are not feeling our best. Secondly, we must be willing to say “No” or provide only partial support if that’s all we can manage. Lastly, knowing how to replenish our energy and take care of our mental wellbeing is crucial to being able to offer support to others.

The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre and CORES Queensland have been collaborating since the start of the year to offer free workshops to the community focusing on “Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing”, and “Suicide Intervention Training”. These workshops aim to provide attendees with the skills and information to create a self-care and mental wellbeing plan, as well as to recognise and support individuals who may be at risk of suicide.

BNC and CORES are offering the following courses:

• Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing       Monday 19/08/24       17:30 to 19:30
• Suicide Intervention Training              Friday 23/08/24           09:00 to 16:00
• Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing       Thursday 12/09/24    10:00 to 12:00
• Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing       Monday 14/10/24       17:30 to 19:30
• Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing       Tuesday 12/11/24      10:00 to 12:00
• Self-Care and Mental Wellbeing       Thursday 12/11/24    17:30 to 19:30

All Self-Care workshops will be held at the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale Street, Ayr, and the Suicide Intervention Training will be held at PCYC, 164 MacMillan Street, Ayr. For further information, please phone CORES on 0448 894 525 or email adminqld@kentishrc.com.au.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

This coming week is Loneliness Awareness Week in Australia. Social Isolation and Loneliness are growing epidemics worldwide.

How does Loneliness Awareness Week define lonely and alone (socially isolated)?

 ‘Lonely’

Loneliness is a distressing feeling that arises when your current relationships do not meet your social needs.  You can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.

‘Alone’

Being alone (or socially isolated) is a physical state where you have fewer interactions with others.  Some people may enjoy being alone, but for others it can be distressing and lead to loneliness.  

We can start to create a culture of connection at work, in our community spaces, and start all this in our own homes.  Here are some tips:

• Digital free dining
• Play a game or do a puzzle together
• Encourage conversations
• Say hi to your neighbours
• Weekly online chats to loved one in other towns and abroad.

How about in ourselves?  How do we start creating meaningful connections?  We can start by:

• Recognising that loneliness is a sign to connect
• Building on small talk
• Nurturing current relationships 
• Joining an interest group
• Trying volunteering

Wanting connection is part of being human.  We are social creatures that thrive when we feel heard, seen and understood.   Take time this coming week to reflect on your own connections, become aware of loneliness and social isolation and if you see a need in your life to implement some changes, reach out to the Centre to help you find connection in our great Burdekin community.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

Every community has the potential to meet its residents’ needs to foster well-being, growth, and resilience. Access to resources such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and social services can significantly impact the quality of life for individuals and families. Advocating for these resources requires a collective effort to address gaps, promote equity, and build a supportive environment for everyone to thrive.

Understanding a community’s specific needs is the first step in advocating for appropriate resources and services. This process involves gathering data through surveys, community meetings, and consultations with local leaders and organisations. Identifying areas such as healthcare, education, housing, transportation, and employment allows advocates to prioritise and effectively address the most pressing issues.

The community’s voice must guide the direction of the consultation. If we, as community members, along with government agencies and services, businesses, and community organisations are to meet community needs, it is essential we speak up and maximise our opportunity to be heard. Sometimes, only the loudest voices are heard, and they may not be the community’s consensus.

So, what can you do if you don’t feel heard, don’t feel confident enough to speak up, or feel that your opinion does not matter? The simple answer is to join forces with someone or a group or organisation to help your opinion to be heard.

Advocacy is strengthened through partnerships with various stakeholders, including state and local government officials, non-profit organisations, businesses, and community members. Talk to your local councillors, community organisations, local businesses you frequent – pharmacy, coffee shop, etc.- and join forces with like-minded community members.

Working together through these partnerships allows us to combine different viewpoints, knowledge, and resources to create effective solutions. By working together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families within our community.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

In our busy lives, it’s easy to overlook the importance of getting to know the people around us. Whether it’s our colleagues, neighbours, or community members, each person has a unique story and set of experiences that can add depth and meaning to our lives if we take the time to connect.

One of the most important reasons to get to know the people around you is to build a sense of community and belonging. When we take the time to learn about our neighbours and coworkers, we’re creating a bond that can make everyone feel more at home.  By understanding each other’s backgrounds, interests, and challenges, we can find common ground and work together to create a more inclusive and supportive environment.

Learning about others also broadens our perspective and empathy. When we hear about someone else’s experiences and challenges, it helps us see the world from different angles and appreciate the diversity of human experiences. This can lead to increased empathy and understanding, reducing misunderstandings and conflicts while fostering a more harmonious community.

Furthermore, taking the time to learn about the people around us can uncover opportunities for collaboration and support. Whether it’s helping a neighbour in need, finding a mentor in the workplace, or simply making new friends, the connections we build through understanding and empathy can lead to mutually beneficial relationships.

So, in a nutshell, it’s really important to take the time to learn about the people around us. When we do, we create a warmer, friendlier, and more connected community where everyone feels valued and appreciated. Let’s all make an effort to reach out, listen, and learn from those around us.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

When you think of taxes, neighbourhood centres may not immediately come to mind. However, the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre has assisted community members with their tax responsibilities for over 20 years.

We have been doing this in partnership with the ATO and the Tax Help Program. When we could not source a volunteer for this program, we explored other options. Fortunately, we discovered the JCU Tax Clinic and have been collaborating with them for the past four years to offer free help and assistance to the community.

“The JCU Tax Clinic offers support and assistance from JCU taxation students supervised by experienced tax practitioners to individuals, small businesses, and non-profit organisations with their tax affairs.”

We are looking forward to being able to collaborate with the JCU Tax Clinic team again this year.  If you would like more information about how to access their help – please give us a call at the Centre on
47 83 4243.

At the Neighbourhood Centre, we aim to encourage study in various sectors at a local level and help to provide placement opportunities for local students.  We have enjoyed having students from Social Work, Guidance and Counselling, Mental Health, Education and, of course, indirectly, the students from the JCU Tax Clinic.  Our higher goal is to have future local place-based workers from our community – working with our community.  We also provide a space and supervision for local external students to conduct exams, if required. 

We aim to enable local community members to achieve their educational goals without being disadvantaged by their location.

“It takes a village to raise a child” and a community to provide the opportunities!

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

We thought we would do a recap of the programs and activities that are available from the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre. 

Our regular programs and activities are:

• Crochet Club -Monday’s 1pm – 5pm
• Free Community Legal Advice – First Tuesday of the Month (depending on rostered solicitor)
• Dementia Support Group – First Tuesday of the month 10am – 12pm
• Burdekin Seniors Computer Club – 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays 9.30am – 11am
• Be Connected – by appointment
• My Time Program – Monthly activity for families with children with a disability
• Emergency Relief Program – by appointment
• Parkinsons Support Group – 4^th Friday of the month (Feb – Nov) 9.30am – 11.30am

The newest star on the block will be our S.H.IN.E Program (Seniors’ Health and Interactive Exercise Program).  Starting Monday 8^th July running for 8 weeks.

We are also home to a number of local community groups that offer opportunities to learn, be social and support each other:

• Burdekin Mahjong Players
• Burdekin 4WD Club
• Burdekin Games Society – Dungeons and Dragons / Warhammer
• Aglow

The Neighbourhood Centre works closely with other services in our region to provide a space so that our community can access local based support.

Al-Anon

Australian Hearing

54 Reasons Playgroup

Feros Care

My Pathway

Women’s Centre

APM

DYNAH (Counselling)

The Centre always looks forward to talking with community and discovering where we can help fill gaps.  We don’t have all the answers, however, we know that by working together with fellow community members we can make the Burdekin a better place to live. 

Pop in for a cuppa – you bring the ideas – we bring the ears!   

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

Back for another year of festivity and fundraising, the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre held their 23^rd Biggest Morning Tea earlier this month and they were once again thrilled with the turnout.

An impressive $2500 was raised on the day and organisers would like to say a massive thank you to everyone in the community. “Our most sincere thanks to every single community member that supported our fundraising efforts – whether by attending or donating,” they said.

“To all of our local business houses donating to our massive raffle, our delicious morning tea or making our mounting just that little bit special – very big thank you!”

All funds received are on their way to the Cancer Council to help win the fight against Cancer.

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

While brainstorming ideas for this week’s column, a casual remark sparked a discussion about the assumption that everyone is always in the loop. Our hectic schedules make it rare to be in the office simultaneously.

This week, we want to emphasise the value of personal connections. It is important to touch base with each other and reconnect with people you haven’t spoken with in a while, as these connections truly enrich our lives. Losing touch with others can affect our health and wellbeing and make us feel isolated, lonely and worthless.

How often have you thought, “I haven’t heard from … for a long time,” and then just gone about your business? We are all guilty of this. Next time you have that thought or speak those words, make the time to reconnect, as it may be the highlight of the other person’s day. When we make someone happy, it also makes us happy and improves our well-being.

When we experience these thoughts, it’s a sign that our lives may be out of balance. It’s important to pay attention to this feeling and make time to reconnect and restore harmony. As social and emotional beings, we naturally seek to build interpersonal connections. Our well-being thrives when we are surrounded by others. When these connections weaken, it can impede our ability to learn and understand, as our social and emotional bonds drive these capabilities.

So next time someone pops into your thoughts, pick up the phone and make time to catch up. It may well be the start of a wonderful journey of discovery for you both.

Until next week

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

This week, the team has been reflecting on how we can often take on the negative thoughts and behaviours of others, causing us to question ourselves, our abilities, and our self-worth. We can lose confidence in our judgement and start down a path towards poor mental health and well-being.

Imagine a situation in which you’re bombarded with negative thoughts and emotions, like a snowball rolling towards you, gaining momentum, and engulfing everything in its path. How would you handle it?

• Try and outrun it?
• Jump sideways to avoid it?
• Close your eyes and hope for the best?
• Ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist?

These are just some of the actions people take when faced with confrontation, and often, they delay the inevitable outcome. 

Remember, you hold the reins of your life. You can choose how others’ actions and words affect you. If you feel down around certain individuals, prioritising your well-being is within your control. Sometimes, people’s actions can affect us deeply and unintentionally. But it’s crucial to understand that you are the guardian of your emotional well-being. You have the strength to meet your own needs and manage your emotions.

If you would like to learn more about Self-Care and Wellbeing, Ross Romeo is offering Burdekin community members the free CoRES Self-Care & Wellbeing Workshop in partnership with the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre. 

Keep an eye out for the next workshop, which will be organised after Ross gets back into the country!

Please contact the team at the Centre on (07) 4783 4243 if you would like to register your interest and we can let you know the details once organised.

Surprisingly, we feel that we alone have these thoughts, and it is only by coming together at workshops, such as this, that we discover other community members are in the same situation. We can learn from each other and develop tools that assist us in navigating to safer waters.

If you’re not ready to attend a workshop just yet, please stop by the Centre for a coffee and a chat and see what we’re all about.

Until next week

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

It’s common for many of us to plan for our physical assets after we’re gone, but we often overlook our digital footprint. While some have prepared a list of online accounts and passwords for their loved ones, it’s crucial to consider the broader impact of our digital presence. Should we vanish from the online world completely, or could our social media accounts serve as a platform for our friends and family to navigate their grief? These are important questions worth discussing.

Nowadays, many people of all ages use online platforms to live their lives. It makes sense that they might want to keep communicating even after they die. Some companies offer services for people who want to plan their online afterlives. Although it may seem farfetched and like they are taking advantage of people, giving closure to family and friends can be very comforting.

When someone passes away without organising their Digital Identity, it can cause problems for their family. It can be very difficult for loved ones to regain control of the person’s online accounts with some companies. This can create a lot of stress for the family. After someone has passed, their Facebook and Twitter accounts can become targets for hackers, causing additional stress for friends and family or resulting in the family losing control of the account.

If you would like to know more about how to safeguard your Digital Identity, come along to our workshop:

               Workshop:                      Digital Legacy

               Guest Speaker:            Carly Crompton – nbn Australia

               When:                               Thursday, 6^th June, 2024

               Time:                                 11:30 am to 12:30 pm

               Where:                             Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, 40 Chippendale St, Ayr

               Cost:                                 Free

Please contact the team on 07 4783 4243 to reserve a spot at the workshop as soon as possible.

Until next week

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre