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We often get asked what happens at the Neighbourhood Centre.  The answer is a lot of everything, and more often than not, the programs and activities are born out of our conversations with community members and what they want to see happen at the Centre. 

Do you or a group of people you know have concerns or ideas that you would like help raising? We can help! Are you from a local service or group that would like to collaborate on different community projects? We can help!

At the Neighbourhood Centre, we don’t work for people; we work with people.  We firmly believe that when we come together as a community, we can achieve amazing things.    

Some community-led activities are coming up at the Neighbourhood Centre.  As you are reading this, we would love if you could share your knowledge with your family and friends that could benefit from coming along.

Self Care and Mental Wellbeing Workshop

Join Ross Romeo (CORES) on Thursday, 12^th September from 10am – 12pm

Explore the concept of self-care and mental wellbeing, identify personal signs of stress and simple strategies that can be used to manage individual stress levels on an everyday basis.   There are workshops available until the end of the year – both during the day and in the evening.

SHInE (Seniors’ Health and Interactive Exercise Program)

Join Andrea Piotto for the next SHIne program starting September 30^th and running for 8 weeks – Monday and Wednesdays.  11.15am – 12.00pm.  You can choose to come once or twice a week.  Cost is an upfront payment of $80 for 1 day a week or $160 for 2.  We ask that interested people register and pay by 13^th September.  Lot’s of different ways to exercise – learn new skills, make new friends.  Great fun!

Our support and social groups have all been initiated by locals who have lived experience or find joy in helping others to live their best lives.  If this sounds something you would like to be involved in as well – don’t hesitate to call in and chat to us!

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

If you’ve driven by or visited us recently, you might have seen the temporary fencing and skip bin out front of the Centre. The Neighbourhood Centre is currently undergoing construction and renovations.

Phase one has been completed, and we now have a new storage building at the back of the centre. This has allowed us to move our filing archives and storage from the garage to the new building.

Phase two has just commenced, and we are currently converting the garage into a multi-purpose training/meeting/office space for the Centre staff.

We also have new, very stylish office furniture along with the renovations. It has been over twenty years since the furniture was last replaced, which has created quite a bit of excitement in the office.

The new furniture has allowed for more much-needed workstations, as the old layout meant staff and volunteers sometimes had to share desks. The new layout also creates a better flow for moving around the office, allowing us to centralise resources more efficiently.

The only thing that has not changed is the friendly faces who work at the Neighbourhood Centre: Susan, Marisa, Jenny, Kim, and Natalie. Thank you to all the staff for their perseverance in working in less-than-ideal conditions while these changes occur.

We would also like to thank our visitors and regular program participants who have supported us during this time and adapted to the many changes and interruptions.

BellMarc Constructions was awarded the construction tender through the Department of Communities/QBuild. We thank Marc, Sam, Ryan, and their team for the hard work they’ve put in and for being accommodating and easy to work with. The guys always have happy smiles and fit the vibe of the Neighbourhood Centre perfectly.

Please drop in and see us at the Neighbourhood Centre. We would be pleased to show you the progress being made and love to have a conversation with the community – this is where we get our best ideas. Are you looking for a social outing or group to join? We can help you find one. See us at the Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre at 40 Chippendale Street, Ayr or contact us at (07) 4783 4243.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

When driving in the fog, we reduce our speed and turn on our headlights to increase visibility, using the demister and windshield wipers as necessary. We maintain a safe following distance and are cautious at intersections. If visibility becomes extremely poor, we pull over to a safe location and wait for the fog to clear.

When our brains become foggy and don’t function as we want, they can make everyday tasks challenging and cause us to lose our train of thought during a conversation. This condition, known as brain fog, is often temporary and can occur after an illness, as a sign of stress, as a side effect of medication, or as a symptom of an underlying condition.

Brain fog can persist for varying lengths of time, ranging from a few days to several weeks, months, or even years. If you find that brain fog significantly affects your daily life, seeking advice from a healthcare provider is important. They can offer guidance on treatments to help manage its impact.

There is no specific treatment for brain fog; however, there are things we can do to improve our immune system that may lessen its effect on us:

• Improving sleep habits for a good night’s rest,
• Eating healthy and nutritious meals,
• Getting 30 minutes of physical activity in each day,
• Writing down important information so you don’t forget it,
• Taking short breaks (30 minutes) throughout the day to reduce overloading your brain,
• Participating in mindfulness and other therapies that help you to identify, discuss, and reframe emotional concerns, grief, stress and depression.

Social isolation can also contribute to brain fog. The Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre has social groups that meet regularly and can help you escape from your shell and get back to mixing with other people.

Contact the friendly staff at the Neighbourhood Centre at (07) 4783 4243 and find out what activities you can participate in.

Until next time,

The Team – Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre

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