Transform - southlandhelp.nz

APRIL 2012
Transform
R.A.A.S.C. Rape and Abuse Support Centre Southland Inc. Newsletter
Kia ora, Talofa, Shalom, and Greetings from the
Staff and Volunteers of RAASC!
We are pleased to welcome you to the second edition of
Transform - RAASC's quarterly newsletter. January to
March has been a busy time of getting to know each
other, developing and delivering our services, and
getting to know the community.
As mentioned previously, RAASC relies on the voluntary
community service of many, including our Governance
Board. We are pleased to have the generous time, and
expertise of the following Board members:
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Roger Ngahooro, Board Chair
Dr Haley Clark, Board Secretary
Viv Grindlay, Board member
Denise Lormans, Board member
Rochelle Nebbs is currently on leave for 3
months, to provide counselling services for
children and families.
We are very grateful to the Board for their ongoing
support, without whom we could exist. We also have a
number of society members, and would be interested in
anyone who may be interested in supporting the work of
our service. Please contact Susana if you are interested
in becoming a member of RAASC's Incorporated Society.
Susana Lepoamo, Centre Manager
MNZASW
RAAASC Drop-in Centre 26 Nelson Street, Invercargill.
Open from Mon-Fri 10am-4pm.
Education Service
A variety of workshops will be facilitated within the
community throughout the year. Sometimes this will be in a
school or at a local community organization interested in
hosting an education session around the topic of sexual
violence and its impact. Please contact Natalie on
(03)2162079 if you would like to arrange a presentation.
In this upcoming quarter RAASC will be delivering:
ImagIne. This is a 5 days course for teenage girls aged
Natalie Bennie, Education Facilitator,
BA in Community and Family Studies
Photo here.
The Justice and Sexual Violence workshop was held
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on the 9 March attended by 135 people. It was a
fascinating day with expert speakers who
captivated the audience with their knowledge and
personal experiences. Participants’ feedback was
positive and we hope to hold more specialised
workshops like this one in the future.
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RAASC held a Self- defense course on the 15 -16
March facilitated by Ana Pereira from Proactive
Safety. 12 clients including staff attended this
training and all agreed that it was an empowering
experience.
14-18 years in collaboration with Image Shifters. The course
will explore self Image, self esteem and self care exploring
ecological factors including sexual/domestic violence.
HOST
RESPONSBILITY
RAASC is
Responsibility training to ILT staff in May.
delivering
Host
Continued work on Breaking the Silence, engaging with
schools to participate in the program.
Counselling Service
RAASC continues to provide specialist counselling services:
Rochelle Nebbs, Registered Child Psychotherapist will be
providing services to children and families.
Jocelyn Johnstone, NZAC Counsellor is contracted to provide
counselling services to Gore - Hokonui.
We are pleased to announce the return of Sonia Pera,
Counsellor who is contracted to provide counselling services
to Tangata whenua with an emphasis on kaupapa Maori.
Enhancing Potential
Penny Bray, Counsellor, MNZAC, DAPAANZ.
There has been a steady increase in demand for
counselling services. RAASC counselling services
provide up to 10 free sessions, transitioning those
who require more sessions to make or re-open an ACC
Claim. It has been identified that transitioning is
complicated by the lack of ACC registered counsellors
who are available to take on clients. There have been
some initial discussions with ACC about this service
gap - and there may need to be further discussion.
Anyone interested in working collaboratively to
address this community need is welcome to contact
Penny on [email protected]
Enhancing potential was held in the month of February over
4 sessions with 4 participants. The training had good learning
tools for implementing goals and changes in behaviour.
We are delivering this group programme on Wednesday, 2nd
May. The focus will be on ‘enhancing potential’ by
addressing motivation and readiness for change. As part of
the introductory process, clients are invited to make a
commitment to a behaviour or attitude they are willing to
work on and report to the group about over the course of
the 4-sessions.
Enquiries and enrolments welcomed.
Support Services
We offer a free, confidential support service for children,
young people, women and men who have experienced
sexual violence. Support includes advocacy, emotional
support, information and advice, referrals to other services,
and a Drop-in service open from 10am-4pm Monday to
Friday.
Coffee Mornings: We host fortnightly coffee mornings
throughout the year, focused on supporting each other,
providing access for information and follow up care,
providing new opportunities for socializing, as well as
bringing in a speaker or workshop provider. Coffee
mornings start at 10.30am. Here is a look at what's coming
up in the next quarter:
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Thursday 5th April: Restyle with Maria Kerr
Thursday 26th April: Relaxation with Julie Anderson
Thursday 17th May: Relaxation with Julie Anderson
Thursday 31 May: Art Class with Karen Pringle
Thursday 14th June: Art Class with Karen Pringle
Thursday 28th June: Cooking on a budget with
Shelley Armistead
Sharleen Carran, Support Worker,
DipBSTheol
The launch of the new look coffee morning was
successfully attended, with positive reports from
those attending. Thank you to all of our
presenters, including Simon Tierney, Yvette
Hodges, Kaye Francis, Rose and Lomia.
Transport is available by arrangement. Please
call Sharleen if you need transport to access our
support or drop-in services on (03) 2162079.
Whanau Support Services
We are continuing to develop our whanau services. The
opportunity to promote our services at the recent
workshop, as well as continue to network with agencies
working with whanau, has seen a steady increase in
referrals for both individuals and whanau. Development of
our in-house services, and programmes, has meant that
RAASC is able to provide more wrap around services, and
work collaboratively with counsellors, social/support
workers and the educational facilitator.
A component of the whanau work being developed is
exploring the impact of sexual and domestic violence on the
family. We are offering a wrap around service, including
counselling, social/support work and psycho-education.
Initial sessions will be guided by a Certified
Psychodramatist, who specializes in family therapy. It is
intended that this will follow on with a noho marae
programme, and then follow up work within the
family/whanau home.
Aroha Mitchell, Whanau Support Worker,
Cert. SocS
Photo
Both support workers have been working steadily
in providing a professional and responsive service.
Over the last quarter we have had 40
intakes/referrals for services. Service provision has
included advocacy support, counselling referrals,
emotional support, and brokering services under
individual/whanau plans.
APRIL 2012
ISSUE #2
Accessing Our Services
RAASC receives self referrals via phone, email,
website, or by dropping in to the centre.
Organisations are able to complete an agency referral
form, with the persons consent. Referral forms are
available on request from RAASC (03)2162079 or
emailing [email protected]
All initial enquiries will be treated with confidentiality
and referrers will be advised of the outcome by the
intake support worker.
Picture Louise Nicholas speaking at Justice and Sexual
Violence Workshop, courtesy of Southland Times.
Acknowledgement
RAASC would also like acknowledge the tremendous work from volunteers, and generosity of goods and services
from the following people:
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Rotary Club of Invercargill for their generous contribution towards our IT upgrade.
Patricia France Charitable Trust for their generous contribution towards our ongoing operational costs
Rose and Lomia for presenting a wellbeing workshop at the coffee morning and donating beauty products
Otautau Supervalue for donating beauty products for the hair care presentation
Edith Ryan for donating toys, and care products for coffee morning clients
We would also like to acknowledge the following people who contribute to the ongoing operation of our service, by
volunteering or donating goods and services: Mark Bain, Rick and Nicky Hambrook, Ian Riddle
www.rapeandabuse.co.nz