Brighton Alive Network Meeting
Minutes
Venue: / Brighton Civic Centre
Date: / 17 November 2015
Time: / 10:00am – 11:30am
Attendance: / Marinda Trembath (Workskills); Dennis Crispin (Community Blitz); Sheryl Rainbird (Centacare Evolve Housing); Tim Matton-Johnston (Uniting Church); Stacey Milbourne and Maree Fudge (Communities for Children); Nicki Robins (Red Cross); Cathy Harper (Brighton Council), Jordyan Coombes (LINC), Melinda Davis (Discovery Early Learning Centre), Sharynn Ross (DHS), Richard Leaman (DHS), Penni Neve (DHS), Kay Stevens (RMIT), Chelsea Barnes (JRS), Jen Dundon (United Care Tas), Toni (PREP), Nita O’Callaghan (Impact Communities), Cheynee Pullen (JRS – Gagebrook), Rebekah Benz (Salvation Army), Stacey Milbourne (Salvation Army), Maree Fudge (CFC, RDS Partners), Mark Boonstra (Impact Communities).
Apologies: / Andrea Garland (The Smith Family), Kelly Woodward (Southern Midlands Council), Craig Farrell (MLC), Gwen Harper (Waterbridge), Simone Johns (Good Beginnings), Jess Tyler (Australian Hearing), Margie Nolan (tagari lia), Melissa Green (The Smith Family), Jen Butler, Kate Jenkins (YOTS), Marie Bennett (Red Cross), Sonya Williams (Red Cross), Kim Bomford (Centacare Evolve).
Chair: / Stacey Milbourne
Minutes: / Cathy Harper
1tem
/
Notes
1Standing Items:
1.1Nomination for chair and minute taker next meeting. / Chair – Cheynee Pullen
Minutes – Nita O’Callaghan
1.2Previous Actions: /
  1. Deb to investigate running a competition for BA Facebook page – carried forward to next meeting.
  2. Events Calendar – Sheryl spoke to the group regarding setting up a calendar of events and asked for those interested in forming a working group. Calendar to be progressed into the new year. To also be listed as an ongoing agenda item.

1.3Guest Speakers /
  1. Kaye Stevens & Penni Neve
Reported on project they are in the process of wrapping up. Have undertaken lots of research. Found that there are literacy issues etc. Training package was developed for Centrelink staff, referral process with LINC developed, a partnership with Centrelink and LINC formed. Work from their research will impact around the state and potentially nationally.
Early years providers were assisted with research and assistance to get more families with young children to engage with them. Issues were identified as to why they didn’t want to engage. Found that web pages and utube videos were very useful.
Had identified 4 priority areas, Literacy; Early Years; Young people disengaged from school; Centrelink forms and letters, assessment and referral process.
They were not able to progress as far as they would have liked. There is a possibility of themed data being provided to Brighton Alive. Also maybe Workskills and Centacare Evolve to access information to assist them working with customers.
ACTION: Summaries will be distributed.
  1. FAST (Families and Schools Together), Mark Boonstra
Mark spoke of the program that has been organised with support of Communities for Children to run the FAST program in the 3 government primary schools.
It is a long term program, encouraging parents to be the primary influence in a child’s life, partnering with schools. Training of local teams which have school representation, paid parents and community representatives. The program will commence at East Derwent Primary, will bring families together with multiple families for 1 evening/week. It brings hierarchy back into families, and has demonstrated a reduction in issues within families which in turn decreases stress. It has consistently had 85% retention of families of the period. It is a non-judgemental program and families have fun.
1.4General Round. / YPCN:6 -13 project progressing well.
Early Years Group:Email from Margie read out.
Community Blitz:Dennis reported that they now have 5 regular participants who were gelling well as a WFD team. All have been inducted. They have introduced a scheme for participants to record their learnings and activities. Have been working across the community at various sites. The trailer now has its artwork attached which was completed by artist “The Glimar Man” Robi Adams, and several students from the senior school. 10 veggie gardens have been given away and most delivered.
1.3 Events and Promotion / 1. Linc – Jordyan, Skills Courses (Work and Life) sessions have been completed by 14 participants. Plans for further training next year, including garden – plate in March and Cert 1 Hort in Feb. Funded under 26/10 grants.
  1. RMIT/DHS – Penni, advised that there will public BBQ’s held. Further details to be advised.
  2. Red Cross Evaluation – have entered into an agreement with RDS to undertake an evaluation. Marie Fudge distributed the plan and asked if the group approved for consultation be added to the Brighton Alive agenda to provide feedback. RDS would also like opportunity to obtain feedback from community members. Would appreciate feedback on the plan and the methodology to be used.
  3. PREP – Toni, Now in 2 Albion Hall, (cnr Scott and Albion Rds), Wednesday’s 11 – 12.30 for parents under 25 years of age. Thursday’s are pop up workshops in different areas.
  4. Centacare Welcome Pack. Sheryl advised the group that they give out a welcome pack to new tenants, which contained general information and some “goodies” Offered for services to pass on info to her if they would like it to be supplied in the pack.
  5. JRS, Christmas Party will be held on 12 December. Also giving tree will be in both community centres. Need gifts to be unwrapped and suitable for U16’s.
  6. General query re emergency relief over the Christmas/New Year period. Most services are closed over the time.
  7. School Holiday program guide, Rebecca Benz. Rebecca advised that she has only received minimal response to her request for information of events. LINC and tagari lia will not be holding school activities these holidays. C4C have some funding if organisations would like assistance to run activities.

2 Actions arising: /
  1. BA Facebook competition – Deb Leek
  2. Circulation of information from DHS/RMIT research.

Next Meeting / 16 February 2016