YOU TH HUB - Highlands Community Centres

Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
Highlands Community Centres
Stafford Cottage & Highlands Youth Centre
YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
YOUTH HUB NEARS COMPLETION
YOUTH HUB
Refurbishment of the Youth Centre
is now underway and we expect to
move into the building in late September. Wall and floor colours for
the interior have been chosen by
the Youth Hub Advisory Group and
painters have started work. The
YHAG decided on a neutral palette
for the recreational space so that
this provides a backdrop for youth
both buildings and landscaping is
expected to be completed in
October 2013. An Opening Day will
be held in October or November.
Members of YHAG confer over colour scheme
art work. The editing suite will be a
funky orange and purple with contrasting mural. The commercial
kitchen for the café will be installed.
The glass front doors and other windows have really opened up this
area.
Work has also started on the prefabricated “Kitome”; things are
moving along at a rapid pace with
the concrete slab laid, the frame
erected and external cladding completed. The roof is now on and the
Kitome is at lock up stage. The
Kitome will house the main group
room and the consulting rooms.
All work on the Youth Hub, including
In August we had a visit by Angry
Anderson , the National Party Candidate for Throsby. “Angry” was accompanied by Clr. Gary Turland
from Wingecarribee Shire Council.
Both are very interested in what the
Hub has to offer young people in our
Shire. The Hub has received both
local and state funding, but no funding from Federal Government.
Log on to our Facebook page to get
regular updates.
.
Nationals' federal candidate for Throsby
visits Youth Hub Construction site
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
We are pleased to welcome our new Community Development Facilitator to the Highlands Community Centre team,
to assist and support the residents of Renwick in building
their community. Emma-Jayne Gardiner is an experienced
community trainer and facilitator with extensive experience writing, developing and facilitating community programs throughout NSW, working in partnerships with non-profit organisations, government
agencies and large corporations. As we have been delivering community development programs throughout the Southern Highlands for almost 30 years we are excited that the new
Renwick Community Development Program fits in perfectly with our core business of
strengthening and connecting communities. Working in partnership with Urban Growth to
develop and implement a Welcome Program for the residents, we are preparing for Renwick’s first ‘Welcome Meeting’ which will be a fantastic social occasion for residents to meet
up and will be an opportunity to discuss the setting up of the Renwick Residents Association.
With 120 Lots now sold and over 55 families already living at Renwick, the estate is growing
fast so we feel it is important to connect with residents and ensure the community is growing positively as the residential numbers increase and especially to support those families
moving in from areas outside of the Southern Highlands.
EMERGENCY RELIEF 2012
2012--2013
Emergency Relief is funded from the Financial Management Program and aims to assist people in financial crisis to deal with their immediate crisis situation in a way that maintains the
dignity of the individual and encourages self reliance.
2012 – 13 Total assistance in 2012-13
Type of assistance
Food vouchers
Medicine
Petrol
Meals
Other
Amount
$75,020
$1,565
$3,710
$681
$5,452
Hear Ye! Hear Ye!
Let it be known that the Annual General Meeting of Highlands
Community Centres will be held on Thursday 17th October,
2013.
PUT THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARIES NOW!
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
The Ulysses Motorcycle Club is a social club for motorcyclists over the age of 40 and
Wollondilly Wanderers is a branch of that organisation.
Wollondilly Wanderers have selected us as their beneficiary for a Christmas
Community Run. They have undertaken other runs in the past but mainly in the Campbelltown area and this year they want to support local families. The run will take place
on Sunday 8th December and will finish in the car park of the Mittagong RSL Club with a
Barbeque. Along the run they plan to collect some toys but have also be approached local businesses for donations and gift vouchers. Vouchers can make great gifts, especially for older children.
At Highlands Community Centre each year we collect toys and vouchers to distribute to
families that struggle each year to provide gifts for their children. We also try to give a
small gift to the parents. This Community run will be a great boost to our collection.
THANK YOU,!
THANK YOU ! THANK YOU!......
activities to raise funds for Joining
IN.
We wish to acknowledge the following
We think this is such a worthwhile proorganisations who have made valuable
gram and we are grateful to be able to
contributions to this Program.
continue helping families for whom the
cost of sports fees or equipment can
Joining IN is a program that provides
children in our community the opportuni- stop a child participating.
ty to participate in sport or recreational
THE YOUTH HUB
activities. So far we have assisted 71
The Youth Hub is currently under conchildren in various activities including
struction and due to open later this year.
swimming lessons, gymnastics, scouts,
It will be a centre for the youth of the
dance, theatre and martial arts to the
shire,
featuring an editing suite and
total of $9,971.09!
many youth orientated facilities including
The Rotary Club of BowralMittagong a café.
donated $2,000.
The Berrima District Rotary Club
has contributed $ 1,500 towards this
The Bowral Lions Club are running
sausage sizzles, a raffle and ongoing project.
JOINING IN!
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
WOULD
YOU LIKE
COFFEE
WITH
THAT?
be used in
the shot,
tamping it
down with
the goal of
obtaining a
‘perfect’ coffee. Each
course involves a total
of 3 hours of
theory and
practical
ARISTA—an Italian word skills that also included the frothfor “bartender”, who
ing of the milk.
typically works behind a With so many coffee shops, rescounter, serving both
taurants and function centres in
hot drinks (such as espresso) and the Highlands, having some praccold alcoholic and non alcoholic
tical experience in these skills will
beverages, not a coffee-maker
be invaluable to the young peospecifically.
ple who have taken part.
Coffee shops in Australia use the
title to describe the preparer of
One mother’s feedback following
coffee and operator of an espres- the course “ My kids came home
so machine.
so excited about what they had
Over the last three months our
learnt at the course and were
desperately keen to make me a
Youth worker, Tamara, has
organised three barista courses, coffee!”
facilitated by Ebony Hope. These
courses teach the skills of how to Another mother stated that her
make a good coffee including
daughter’s new catch phrase is
preparing the grinding of the
“Would you like coffee with
beans, the amount of coffee to
that?”
B
WORKING WITH THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS
REINING IN
THE RAGE!
MANAGING
THE BULL
This 5 week course is
currently running at Bowral
High School with 10 young girls
who were seeking skills to deal
with their anger.
At Moss Vale High School
we have up to 16 students
participating in a 6 week
course that addresses the
issues to do with bullying.
Topics that have been covered are: Introduc- It is designed so that participants will develtion to Anger, Coping with anger and its trig- op resilience, and gain self awareness and
gers, and Using self talk.
life skills along the way.
Our youth Worker is
running this program
With the assistance of Donna Jensen, Larry
with Rebecca Vella the
Mullan and Rebecca Vella we cover:
Family & Adolescent
Profiling the bully; Strengths and self esteem; Communication skills; and Building
Counsellor from St.
Vincent de Paul.
support networks.
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
The Dealing with Emotions program will provide participants with the opportunity to understand and come to terms with the various emotions that have impacted their lives. It
will give them the opportunity to develop strategies and techniques to deal with these
emotions in a positive way.
The program will take place over a 6 week period starting 5th September. Participants will
meet on a Thursday morning from 9:30am – 12:30pm. The program will cover modules in
anger management, phobias, family relationships, stress management, grief, fear, desire
and humour as well as a creative/expressive photography component. The sessions will be
presented by facilitators who will provide information and promote services available in
the Highlands.
DATES
Thursday 5th September
Thursday 12th September
Thursday 19th September
Thursday 26th September
Thursday 3rd October
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING — CALL ROB UHL 4862 1122
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
Nils—No Interest Loans
Spring is in the Air
Summer is around the Corner!
INCREASING UTILITY PRICES PUTTING MORE PRESSURE
ON FAMILIES
Energy costs have risen by over 50% in the past five years, and further rises are expected
with a projected increase of approximately 30% nationally by 2013/14.
Increased water costs have also impacted on people on lower incomes - household water
prices have risen 17% in the last year.
Energy use is a large contributor to household bills. Reducing energy consumption can assist in lowering overall household costs.
Low income households spend a higher proportion of their household expenditure on electricity, gas and fuel than higher income households.


Households earning income in the top 20% pay approx. 2.5% of income
Households earning income in the bottom 20% pay approx. 4% of income
GREAT NEWS!
The Commonwealth Government has committed $20 million to a subsidy program (HESS)
that will help people on low incomes afford more energy-efficient appliances and, as a result
reduce their ongoing energy costs.
WHAT IS THE HESS SCHEME?
Home Energy Saver Scheme is a subsidy program available to NILS loan recipients Generous subsidies will apply to essential appliances that are potentially large users of energy and will also cover the delivery and installation of new products, and the removal of old
inefficient products, where applicable.
Subsidies have been designed to help purchase the following products that meet a minimum
energy efficiency level (energy star rating).

Refrigerators and freezers

Dishwashers

Washing machines

Clothes Dryers

Solar and instantaneous gas hot water systems

Installed heaters/air-conditioners
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013

Clothes Dryers

Solar and instantaneous gas hot water systems

Installed heaters/air-conditioners

Gas ducted central heating
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USEAGE
Hot Water
Heating/Cooling
Refridgeration
Laundry
Lighting
Kitchen
Standby use
Buying new and more
efficient appliances to
replace old helps reduce
running costs and lowers
greenhouse
gas
emissions.
Entertainment
Other
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Call Highlands Community Centre’s NILS Program 4862 1122
MORE EXCITING NEWS FROM THE NILS PROGRAM
The NILS program will be trialling loans for car registration
BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE!
We have broadened our lending to include LOW INCOME EARNERS including Self-Funded
Retirees and those working!
This means you will no longer need to be receiving a Centrelink Benefit or hold a Health
Care Card to be eligible to apply for a NILS loan.
Enquiries for NILS loans within the Wingecarribee can be made at Highlands
Community Centres - call 4862 1122 for further information.
1st September - 7th September 2013
On Tuesday 3rd September, the NILS team will have an information booth located at the
Highlands Marketplace. We will have information available regarding NILS, HESS, Saver
Plus, Adds Up and Financial Counselling.
FEEL FREE TO STOP AND SAY HELLO!
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Highlands Community Centres
Centres—
— SPRING 2013
Our service is funded by
Highlands Community Centres Inc. is
an independent, non political, non
denominational organisation that
Provides:

Information, referrals, advocacy

Emergency Relief

Community Development

Youth Services

Tax Help

No Interest Loans.
Governance is by a voluntary Management
Committee that meets monthly.
We are supported by
WEB:
www.highlandscommunity.org.au
www.youthhub.org.au
Facebook: facebook.com/
highlands.yc/
highlandsCommunityCentres/
HighlandsYouth Hub/
HOW
TO
FIND
US...
If you require a Justice of the
Peace they can now be located at
the following venues at these
times:
Wednesday: Springett’s Arcade
10 a.m.—1 p.m.
Thursday: IGA—Moss Vale
10 a.m.—1 p.m.
Stafford Cottage
22 Bendooley Street, Bowral
PHONE: 02 4862 1122
Fax: 02 4862 2858
Highlands Youth Centre
Currently at
Old Town Hall,
Bendooley Street, Bowral
Ph: 4801 0856
Friday: Mittagong Market Place
&
10 a.m.—1 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.—1 p.m.
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