Anglicare Southern Queensland

Rees is our Youth Homelessness Service Manager. He started working for St Bartholomew's Mt Gravatt (an Anglican parish organisation) before it became part of Anglicare Southern Queensland in 2015. As we raise funds to build our new Youth Homelessness Accommodation Project in Logan, Rees and his team will be key stakeholders in advocating for young people and this project so that we can continue to support more young people who fall into homelessness each year. We spoke to Rees about his role and the project, and here's what he had to say: Q: What is your background and what led to you wanting to work with young people? I enjoy being a part of the transformation of young people. When I started youth work in 1995, it gave me the opportunity to do that. I did that for four years before becoming a Service Coordinator in 1999. Q: How many young people does your team service each year? Currently, we assist more than 50 young people a year with accommodation and over 60 young people that are at risk of homelessness. Q: Why is it important for the community to get behind this project? Young people are the future of our communities. If we assist them with safe housing and support, then they have the best chance of growing into individuals who will reach their goals and be positive contributors in the community. Q: How many young people will benefit from this accommodation project, each year? This new build will provide 24 studio units and six one-bedroom units, adding up to 42 beds for crisis accommodation for individuals, couples and families aged 16 to 25. This new service should triple the number of young people we assist in crisis accommodation and help couples and young families. Q: Can you tell us a bit about the types of success you've seen in young people who've used our services? Over the years, we've supported young people with high and complex needs. They've struggled with their mental health and wellbeing. We've also supported those who've had family breakdowns and required supported housing and help to become independent. One young man who left home at 16, due to family conflict, has worked in some of the best tech companies in the world and is now a CEO and enjoying life with his own young family. Thank you, Rees for everything that you and your team do to help young people feel safe and supported. To learn more about our Youth Homelessness Project, please visit: https://bit.ly/3JhBAOu.

This week is National Families Week. Anglicare Southern Queensland supports families through a range of wellbeing programs and our Foster and Kinship Care program. In this blog, we explore the importance of celebrating the diverse types of families within our communities and the various supports that we offer to enrich the lives of families. Find out more: https://bit.ly/4aquwKP

We welcome the Federal Government’s budget commitments in supporting our ageing population. Including funding to deliver an additional 24,100 home care packages as well as a further pay increase for aged care workers. We look forward to implementing these changes to ensure we continue to deliver the highest quality of care to older Australians and support people to age in their home for as long as they can. Whilst we recognise some commitments to reduce cost of living pressures, the rate of income support has not been adjusted – keeping over two million people (including 840,000 children) living under the poverty line. We will continue to apply pressure and advocate for the Government to raise the rate of income support, and help those most vulnerable to escape poverty.

Nearly a quarter of Australians experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24. Anglicare Southern Queensland has committed to raising $13 million to build a youth homelessness service in Logan, that aims to address this escalating housing crisis. In addition to accommodation, the service will provide the wrap around support and connection to services these young people need to achieve long-term housing outcomes and make sustainable life choices for a fulfilling future. This tax-time, we're asking for your support to help young people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Your donation will allow us to build them a better future. Find out more and donate here: https://bit.ly/3JhBAOu

💐 👩👩👧 We are celebrating three generations of motherhood in aged care this Mother's Day. Kerrie Godden, Operations Support Coordinator, has been with Anglicare for 38 years, and now she gets to work alongside her daughter, Cassandra, who also shares a passion for helping senior members of our community. "It's surreal being here. I remember saying that I wanted to do what my mum does when I grow up, and now I'm here and it's really special." Joy who is a resident at Symes Grove, cherishes the opportunity to see her daughter and granddaughter regularly. Happy Mother's Day! Read the heartwarming article here: https://bit.ly/3JRxf4Y

⭐ Team appreciation post incoming! The Brisbane South Home and Community Scheduling Team plays a vital role, making sure our aged care clients receive timely and essential care. Their recent contributions to implementing new systems across our Home and Community services, including the Anglicare Southern Queensland app have been instrumental. We commend their open-mindedness and innovative spirit in continuously seeking ways to improve scheduling methods for efficient, high-quality service delivery. Thank you HAC South Team, for your commitment to excellence! 👏

In honour of International Nurses Day on Sunday May 12, we'd like to shine a spotlight on Billy, a dedicated Home and Community Clinical Nurse with Anglicare in Toowoomba. Billy embodies the incredible work nurses do every day, especially those caring for older Queenslanders in their homes. We've interviewed many incredible nurses over the years; Billy's is just one of the exceptional nurses who dedicate themselves to providing essential care to others. Today and every day we celebrate their compassion, skill, and dedication. Happy International Nurses Day! View the video here: https://lnkd.in/gGvg6s8m

Nearly a quarter of Australians experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24. Anglicare Southern Queensland has committed to raising $13 million to build a youth homelessness service in Logan, that aims to address this escalating housing crisis. In addition to accommodation, the service will provide the wrap around support and connection to services these young people need to achieve long-term housing outcomes and make sustainable life choices for a fulfilling future. This tax-time, we're asking for your support to help young people in our community who are experiencing homelessness. Your donation will allow us to build them a better future. Find out more and donate here: https://bit.ly/3JhBAOu

Our Family and Relationship Counselling Services include a range of programs to support individuals, couples, families and children, over the age of four, through a range of life's challenges. These programs include: • individual counselling; • couple counselling; • pre-marriage counselling; • family counselling; • family law counselling; and a • post-separation parenting course. We support those who want to learn new skills for building more respectful relationships and we target critical family transition points. Staff work with respect and compassion to help clients achieve their unique goals. Our Family and Relationship Counselling Services are located in Cleveland, Clontarf, Riverview, Inala, Caboolture, Strathpine, Stafford, Booval and Eight Mile Plains. To learn more about these services, head to: https://bit.ly/3Wz02D6

May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month. With reports of family violence increasing at problematic rates, across Australia, this month of recognition is important for us to raise awareness of this issue and promote a zero tolerance policy of violence in our communities. If you, or someone you know, might be experiencing domestic and family violence, there is always support available. 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) provides free and confidential 24/7 support for people who are impacted by domestic and family violence. Anglicare Southern Queensland are dedicated to creating safe communities and supporting those in need. To learn more about this issue and the support that we are providing to prevent domestic and family violence, check out: https://bit.ly/3UPheCL