| Operation Kinder Community (OKC) Riverview Social Services |
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OKC provides therapeutic services in the Ipswich and West Moreton region, serving the broader geographic area from Gailes to Laidley. OKC offers an innovative and holistic range of services to children, young people and families, which includes: counselling, support and educational information on positive thinking, relationships and lifestyle.
We work alongside young people and their families and are committed to empowering them while harnessing and enhancing their strengths and resilience. Working within an ecological framework, we recognize the importance of working the individual, their family and their social environment. This means that we regularly liaise with schools, health professionals and other agencies and work collaboratively with others to meet the needs of our clients.
Our primary goal is to prevent or reduce child abuse and neglect, and family breakdown and distress. We want to do this by providing therapeutic intervention to families to strengthen family relationships and help families care for, value and protect their children.
Our holistic approach means that we also want to enhance the connectedness of families to their local community and reduce the risk if anti-social behaviour, crime recidivism and homelessness. This is assisted through secure working relationships with schools, Government Departments and community agencies. Since starting in 1992 with a dedicated group of community volunteers, Spiritus OKC has built a reputation for providing high quality professional counselling and support in the communities we service.
The organisation was established in response to the observations of The Reverend Dell Foreman who at that time was engaged in chaplaincy work at Borallon Correctional Centre. Dell noted that many of the inmates reported a deprived family background and recognised the need for the prevention of crime and recidivism to commence at an early age. Her vision for addressing these problems involved the establishment of community based agencies to assist underprivileged children, young people and families.
It was this ideology which led to OKC being located in the Ipswich suburb of Riverview/Dinmore.
The organisation was committed to the ideal of serving the community with specific strategies for:
• prevention of family breakdown and family distress
• prevention of homelessness
• prevention of child abuse and neglect
• prevention of crime and recidivism
Given the demonstrated high needs of the target area, OKC was established as a pilot scheme to assess the benefits of providing practical and emotional support to at-risk communities. The services provided by OKC fell into four broad categories: family support services, crisis assistance, support and rehabilitation for offenders and their families, and activities and support for youth aged 3 to 15 years.
Dell worked tirelessly for vulnerable children and families and for those who are marginalised until her retirement on 30 August 2002.
The Family Support Program
The family support team is targeted towards low income families and assists children and young people 5 years and older. We provide:
Individual and family counselling and support
The free counselling service provided by OKC assists individuals and families with a range of issues.
These include:
Individuals can refer themselves or can be referred through a service provider. The family support program operated from 8.30am -5pm Monday to Friday with Thursday night appointments available as required up until 7pm.
Other programs currently offered by the Family Support Program include:
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The play/attachment group. This is a 10 week program aimed at helping parents and their children play and bond together.
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Protective behaviours group. Each year OKC attends local schools to teach children about how to stay safe in their home, neighbourhood, schools and on the internet. This is an eight week program usually targeted towards year 3 students.
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Kids Club is offered on the first Friday of the month at OKC from 2.30-4.30pm for children aged between 5 and 12. After afternoon tea, a range of games and activities are enjoyed. This often includes drawing or painting, craft work, board games, treasure hunts, outdoor games and more!
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Special holiday events and kids fun days will occur on the school holidays.
Reconnect
If you are aged between 12 and 18 and having hassles at home or if things are not working out in your life - we can help.
Sometimes young people can experience a tough time within their families and it is important to have some someone to talk to about how you are feeling and think about where to from here. Reconnect helps young people deal with:
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Family and personal problems
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Conflict and fighting in families
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Leaving home or thinking about it
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Difficulties at school or work
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Finding practical support
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Other organizations including Centrelink.
Reconnect can also help you engage with other young people, develop new skills and have some fun. Reconnect workers can help young people and their parents or guardians work things out so the young person can reach their goals. We work with you at school, at out office at home, or wherever you feel safe and comfortable in the community.
Reconnect operates between 8.30am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
Reconnect accepts referrals from young people, their parents, community agencies, health professionals, the police and schools. Referrals are accepted by phone or you can email us.
To find out more call us: 3810 2900 or email: reconnect@spiritus.org.au
Creating Resilient Children Project
The creating resilient children’s project is a school-based program aimed at reducing the incidence of harm to children to build their resilience and self protection skills.
Primary school aged children in the Ipswich area participate in:
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protective behaviours education,
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social skills and friendship groups, and
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anger management groups.
Information sessions for parents provide skills to help their children regarding these issues. The group facilitators/counsellors work closely with schools to tailor the groups to meet the needs each school community.
Boonah Outreach – Children’s Counselling Service
OKC Boonah is a specialized counselling service for children providing psychology services through the ‘Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative’. The service will provide up to 12 sessions fully funded through Medicare in one calendar year, with a further 6 sessions in exceptional circumstances.
The service operates one day a week in Boonah from the Fassifern Community Centre and is suitable for children aged between 5 and 17 years. It is accessible through referral by GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician after an appropriate mental health care assessment has been made. The Boonah service is appropriate for children experiencing mental health issues such as:
A local psychologist will provide a range of treatment for children focusing on Psycho education, Cognitive behavioural therapy, Relaxation strategies, Skills training and Interpersonal therapy.
To make a referral, a child or young person’s parents need to arrange a Mental Health Care Plan assessment with their GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. Then contact Spiritus OKC on 3810 2900 for an appointment at Fassifern Community Centre, 4 Little High Street, Boonah.
OKC: Phone: 3810 2900 or email: okc@spiritus.org.au
Reconnect: Phone: 3810 2900 or email: reconnect@spiritus.org.au
For more information please contact us or call 3810 2900