MacKillop Family Services

We've joined the 30 Days to Wellbeing in the workplace initiative by Bendigo Community Health services. On the first week, our local team has had walks during lunch, been enthusiastically greeting each other to start and end the day and done check-ins. There have also been fruit platters created and birthday celebrations, creating an exciting and happy vibe.

Today we mark the beginning of Mental Health Week. Let’s take this week to raise awareness, break the stigma, and prioritize mental well-being. Mental health matters just as much as physical health, and it’s important to support ourselves and others on this journey. Whether it’s through self-care, reaching out for help, or simply starting a conversation, every step counts. You are never alone in this—let’s stand together for a world where mental health is understood, supported, and valued. Take time to check in on yourself and those around you.

This week, we held our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Forum at the Aborigines Advancement League in Thornbury, the oldest Aboriginal organisation in Australia, where people from across MacKillop in Victoria participated in deep listening and discussion to help inform the deliverables in our next RAP, which will be an uplift from our current Innovate RAP to a Stretch RAP. We were so lucky to have the event facilitated by Yolanda Finette, a proud Yorta Yorta woman and successful busineswoman. It was also fantastic to have Kutcha Edwards Mutti Mutti man, as our special guest who joined us to share his powerful stories and truth telling, talking about the removal from family of himself and siblings into care. He has been prolifically combining songwriting and activism since 1991.

At MacKillop Family Services, we are passionate about working with communities so children can thrive. Our MacKillop Education Schools aim to provide a safe and supportive school environment that caters for children and young people who are disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from education.  We are thrilled to give an update on our Waranara school in Sydney. Read more below. https://lnkd.in/gupgjkCP

Congratulations to the MacKillop Seasons team, whose programs supporting communities following natural disasters in NSW and VIC were selected to progress to the finals of the National Resilience Awards, after being successful in their respective state and territory categories. In late 2019 and 2020, fires devastated the East Gippsland region of Victoria, inflicting a lasting and devastating impact on local communities. In mid-2022, MacKillop Seasons implemented a Community Resilience Officer in the region to deliver change and loss education programs and support through community sessions. In NSW, following a devastating series of floods and fires in Lismore, staff and students at Lismore South Public School were supported to build knowledge and understanding of the impact of disasters, using MacKillop Seasons’ Stormbirds program as a practical way to support the mental health and wellbeing of their students. Find out more about the award-winning work of our evidence-based change, loss and grief programs at https://lnkd.in/gnnzbUYy

The Foster Care Association of Victoria held a carer celebration event at The Hotel Windsor on September 13. Carers and agencies joined to celebrate foster carers and their enormous contribution at a sit-down lunch. The Carer Celebration was held in conjunction with the Annual General Meeting of the Foster Care Association of Victoria. It was fantastic to attend with many of our carers, with one of our carers, Natasha, featured here with MacKillop Coordinator, Tori and Case Manager, Kym. The Foster Care Week theme for 2024 was ‘Today’s carers, Tomorrow’s future’ highlighting the invaluable role foster carers play in setting the foundation for positive futures for children and young people in care.

You may remember Renee and Mike. They’ve been foster carers for over five years now and they want you to give it a go. All kinds of people can be foster carers. You can: 🏡 Be single or have a partner 🏡 Have children of their own or not 🏡 Own or rent their home 🏡 Be from any culture or religion or sexual orientation. Most of all our carers share the desire to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children and young people in need. To find out more about being a foster carer, follow the link below to hear the beautiful stories of from our foster carers themselves, as well as a remarkable young woman who grew up in Mike and Renee’s home. Watch their story. https://lnkd.in/gyENZ-Yc

Meet the Bucks family. They’ve opened their home to make a haven for children who are not able to live safely with their own families. With a background in education and teaching, Rachael and Matthew saw children in their home town experience disadvantage and trauma. They felt they had so much more to offer both at school and at home. Now the Coach of the Carlton Football Club AFLW team, Matt Buck shares why he loves foster care. You can watch the Buck’s story by following the link below. https://lnkd.in/gyENZ-Yc

Eveline and Joseph Fombason have been foster carers with MacKillop for 12 years. Though it can be challenging at times, they have found it to be incredibly rewarding. Approaching foster care with the notion that it takes a village to raise a child, they see fostering not just as an opportunity to help children but also the community. Follow the link to watch their story and hear from more carers about what you can do this Foster Care Week. https://lnkd.in/gyENZ-Yc

Meet Dave. Dave knew he wanted to be a foster carer but didn’t know if it was right for him. When MacKillop Family Services assured him that it was, it helped him start one of the most rewarding journeys of his life. If you’re considering becoming a foster carer or simply want to know more, follow the link for more information. https://lnkd.in/gUeyt_7d