ac.care in Compton, South Australia, Australia | Social service

ac.care

Locality: Compton, South Australia, Australia

Phone: +61 1300 222 273

Address: Head Office 70-72 White Avenue 5291 Compton, SA, Australia

Website: http://www.accare.org.au/

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25.01.2022 COVID-19 may have stalled the Mount Gambier Family Truck Show for 2020, but it did not stop the dedicated committee behind the unique event continuing to deliver significant support to ac.care in time for Christmas. Faced with the cancellation of the 2020 event, the committee continued various initiatives to maintain its valued contribution to ac.care, collecting over $2000 and more than 125 toys from businesses and the broader Mount Gambier community. The truck show committe...e also facilitated donation of $1200 worth of cinema tickets from the Oatmill Cinema, matched with free 10-pin bowling for 60 children at Kaboom Family Entertainment with the support of OG Roberts & Co. ac.care Limestone Coast homelessness services program manager Jill Pulleine said these donations and others from across the community helped the organisation spread festive support to those who needed it most at Christmas and into 2021. The truck show committee also facilitated a large donation of surplus used computers to ac.care from the Scott Group of Companies in collaboration with service technicians TDRS to provide to people in the Limestone Coast with limited access to technology. Read the full story here: www.accare.org.au/truck-show/ #accare #christmasappeal #mountgambier #LimestoneCoast #donation #communityspirit

25.01.2022 CARER FAQ #1 CAN I choose the type of foster care I offer? Yes! There are many aspects of foster care that you have a say in. You can discuss your particular area of interest and what type of care you think may be suited to your family with ac.care. There are four different types of care you may be interested in.... Respite care involves having a child in care for short stays. This could be regular weekends, school holidays or one-off overnight stays. Emergency/immediate foster care may involve an overnight stay or last for up to two weeks. Short-term care can last from two weeks to two years. The aim is to give the birth family some time to manage a difficult issue. The child may then return to their birth family if appropriate or be placed in long-term care. Long-term care is provided until the child turns 18. This is the case for some children when returning to reside with their birth family is not possible. Contact us on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) to find out more or visit our website: www.accare.org.au/services/foster-care/ #carerfaq #carewithaccare #fostercare #accare #fostercaresa #childprotection #childsafety #strongsafesupported

24.01.2022 A COMMUNITY forum in Murray Bridge will highlight the need for more people to open their hearts and homes to children and young people as foster carers. ac.care will host the Supporting Vulnerable Children in Our Community forum on March 16. Bookings: www.mlfostercareforum.eventbrite.com.au There are sadly not enough foster carers in the Murraylands, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula to provide safe homes and positive relationships for the growing number of young people ...who are unable to live with their biological parents due to no fault of their own, ac.care foster care manager Dani Atkinson said. This is a significant social issue for our community and we hope this forum allows people to learn more about the local situation and the inspiring difference foster carers can make in young lives. A key element of the event will be the premiere of a short film featuring two foster carers a dedicated mother and daughter duo from the Adelaide Hills sharing their emotional caring journey. The two inspiring women will also answer questions from the audience. The evening will also feature a guest presentation by SA Guardian for Children and Young People Penny Wright. Ms Atkinson urged people to attend the forum at the ac.care Murraylands Centre at 29 Bridge Street in Murray Bridge at 6pm on March 16 to learn more about the needs of young people in the region. More info: www.accare.org.au/murraylands-foster-care-forum-to-focus-o/

24.01.2022 We are back open on Monday.

23.01.2022 ac.care will host a community forum in Murray Bridge to highlight the need for more people to open their hearts and homes to children and young people as foster carers. Speakers will focus on the issues of child protection within the Murraylands, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula and how the wider community can support vulnerable young people. The event features a lineup of interesting guests and content including:... - Premiere viewing of a short film specially produced featuring two foster carers a dedicated mother and daughter duo from the Adelaide Hills sharing their emotional caring journey. - Guest presentation by SA Guardian for Children and Young People Penny Wright, who has dedicated decades of public life to social justice issues and supporting vulnerable South Australians. - Question and answer session with foster carers and other foster care professionals. Bookings are required for COVID-19 tracing purposes. Register and find out more at accare.org.au or mlfostercareforum.eventbrite.com.au

23.01.2022 We have vacancies available at our nationally-recognised Minya Porlar Creche in Murray Bridge for 2021. The facility has a focus on connecting children with Aboriginal culture and land, teaching respect and language, sharing resources and using medicinal and edible plants in play. Supportive, qualified staff engage with small groups, offering various activities in natural play spaces, including children's gardens, featuring fruit trees and a mud kitchen. The team is passionat...e about encouraging environmental sustainability. We operate within the early years learning framework of Becoming, Belonging and Being, meeting national quality expectations. The service supports Aboriginal and vulnerable families to find respite, study and return to work and promotes healthy lifestyles, through nutritionally balanced meals, a focus on health and wellbeing and physical activity. Fees and child care subsidies apply. Contact Sherryn on 8531 4400 to discuss your eligibility and requirements. More information: www.accare.org.au/services/aboriginal/ See more

22.01.2022 ac.care representatives met with City of Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM recently to discuss the lack of availability of social and community housing in the Limestone Coast. We are working with stakeholders, including Local Government, to seek solutions to growing concerns around rent stress and housing affordability in regional areas. Find out more about the Everybody's Home campaign and what you can do to support the development of social housing at everybodyshome.com.au/

21.01.2022 OUR public sites will be closed for the next six days as South Australia pauses in the hope of creating a circuit breaker to stop the spread of COVID-19. We urge you all to remain calm, kind and safe during these challenging times for all South Australians. Many of our staff will continue working from home to continue delivering our important services for country people where possible. If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness during our closure period, please call the 24/7 Homeless Connect SA service on 1800 003 308. Please call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) to be connected to a staff member in your region if you need assistance, visit www.accare.org.au for more information about our services or email [email protected]

21.01.2022 HIPPY involves free activities for parents and their children to provide the best start for school learning. It’s fun for your 4-5 year old right here in Murray Bridge. ac.care also facilitates the program in the Riverland. Find out more by contacting ac.care on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) or visiting our website.... The Brotherhood of St Laurence holds the licence to operate HIPPY in Australia. HIPPY is funded by the Australian Government. #HIPPY #HIPPYprogram #HIPPYAU #HIPPYSA #earlychildeducation #children #childdevelopment #earlyeducation #family #families #inhomelearning #learning

19.01.2022 ac.care's Aaron McArthur encourages other Aboriginal men to seek support if they face challenges in their life that they struggle to cope with alone, explaining there is strength in working together with others. He once faced the threat of being homeless with his sons, but sought support from ac.care in the Riverland, where he now works supporting other people in the community. He shared his story at Berri in South Australia, along with his passion for maintaining and sharing... connection with his culture, in the lead-up to NAIDOC Week 2020. To learn more about ac.care, the Opening Doors program and our other services in country South Australia, call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) or visit accare.org.au Thank you Blake Allan Media for your fantastic work on shooting and editing this powerful video to share Aaron's message. National NAIDOC Reconciliation South Australia Reconciliation Australia Naidoc South Australia #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC See more

19.01.2022 Fantastic news for the region and Foodbank SA, which is a significant partner in our work to support country people in the Limestone Coast and beyond. Wonderful to see the ongoing legacy of Barry Maney OAM also continue with diverse support to community services. Barry, his wife Shirley and the Barry Maney Group have long been major contributors to the work of ac.care, increasing the impact of our work to ensure country people have safe homes, enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships. www.accare.org.au/

17.01.2022 WE are glad to be able to reinstate all our support programs for regional communities on Monday after maintaining essential services to vulnerable people in challenging conditions this week. However, we recognise a lot of businesses, employment and other activities continue to be impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions. If you are struggling to pay rent or bills, ac.care can support you with emergency relief and financial counselling. Our emergency relief packages can also cove...r the costs of diverse essential items, including clothes and groceries. New clients are always welcome across our regions, in the Riverland, Limestone Coast and Murraylands and we understand circumstances have rapidly changed for many people throughout 2020. ac.care can provide a respectful, confidential and free service tailored to your individual needs to help you avoid or navigate through a crisis and ensure your financial position is sustainable as quickly as possible. Visit www.accare.org.au for more information. Email [email protected] or call us on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) to arrange an appointment. See more

16.01.2022 OUR Christmas appeal at the Mount Gambier Community Centre to spread festive cheer for some of the Limestone Coast’s most vulnerable people has received a boost through our partnership with Good360 Australia. However, we need more donations from the community to ensure we can meet the growing needs of people registering for our support this Christmas. Good360 repurposes surplus goods from retailers, directing them to Australians who need them most. We are grateful for Good360...s delivery of boxes of toys and other goods at no cost to support Limestone Coast families at what is a challenging time for many people. Meanwhile, our appeal continues and we are seeking donations of new toys, along with non-perishable food items that are within use-by-date for accompanying hampers, especially Christmas foods such as puddings, confectionery or other treats. These will be included in our packages provided to people in your community who have registered for support from ac.care this Christmas. Donations can be delivered between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, at: * Mount Gambier Community Centre, 22-24 Ferrers Street * ac.care Berri, 5 Kealley Street * ac.care Murraylands Centre, 29 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge General one-off or ongoing financial donations to support the work of ac.care can also be made any time online at www.givenow.com.au/accareruralpeople and help increase our impact in country areas. Here’s our video illustrating the impact of last year’s Christmas appeal: https://fb.watch/1AEGKdPVtW/ See more

16.01.2022 Seeking a rewarding job working with children in Murray Bridge? Here's your chance to join our service focused on culturally-appropriate care. We are seeking an early childhood educator to join the Minya Porlar Creche team. Full details at https://www.accare.org.au/jobs/early-childhood-educator2/

15.01.2022 Alongside the communities we work with across eastern regional South Australia, we urge you all to reflect today on the service of Australia's defence personnel in all conflicts. Lest we forget.

15.01.2022 Please take care

14.01.2022 STAFF will be available at our emergency relief, homelessness and financial support sites tomorrow after these elements of our work have been deemed essential services. Services and site access will be limited and we are encouraging people to call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) to speak to our team if they need support, with staff across various program areas and regions working from home and taking calls. However, if this is not an option and you need emergency assistance or are... in a crisis, the following ac.care sites will have staff available: ac.care Berri 5 Kealley Street Mount Gambier Community Centre 22-24 Ferrers Street Millicent Community Centre 57-59 George Street ac.care Murraylands Centre 29 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge Visitors to these sites will not be admitted and instead be required to communicate via phone if they have recently been in direct contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, have symptoms or are required to quarantine due to attending a current hotspot. Out of hours homelessness enquiries can be directed to Homelessness Connect SA on 1800 003 308. Meanwhile, our residential care staff continue to provide care for young people and regional foster care teams are working from home, but continue to support our network of foster carers. Our Murray Bridge crèche also continues to operate to care for vulnerable youngsters and children of essential workers. ac.care’s Mount Gambier White Avenue office remains closed, along with the Mount Gambier Family Relationship Centre, while restrictions are in place. We urge you all to be patient, kind and take care during these challenging times. We are here for all country South Australians and if you need help to avoid a crisis, do not hesitate to call or visit our website at www.accare.org.au for more details about our services.

13.01.2022 SADLY, hundreds of families in regional South Australia will be spending this Christmas in crisis. However, we are working in the Limestone Coast, Murraylands and Riverland to spread festive cheer to those who need it most. This week, we were thrilled to receive a delivery of 100 Santa sacks created and donated by the Pine Tree Quilters to assist with our distribution of toys at the Mount Gambier Community Centre. Thanks Kaye Dalgarno and Ohna Green (pictured) along with all ...members of the quilting group for your kind donation. It’s an innovative and welcome contribution to ensure we can maximise use of donated funds for gifts. We continue to seek donations of new toys to help fill the sacks, along with non-perishable food items that are within use-by-date for accompanying hampers, especially Christmas foods such as puddings, confectionery or other treats. These will be included in our packages provided to people in your community who have registered for support from ac.care this Christmas. We thank all the businesses and organisations, along with individuals, in our communities who work together to deliver goods and funds to our organisation to support our Christmas appeals and other work. Donations can be delivered between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, at: * Mount Gambier Community Centre, 22-24 Ferrers Street * ac.care Berri, 5 Kealley Street * ac.care Murraylands Centre, 29 Bridge Street, Murray Bridge General financial donations to support the work of ac.care can also be made any time online at www.givenow.com.au/accareruralpeople https://fb.watch/1AEGKdPVtW/

13.01.2022 WE are glad to be able to continue to keep our sites open across country South Australia and deliver services to people who need our support within current COVID-19 restrictions. However, we also acknowledge the challenges faced by businesses in our regions affected by the latest round of COVID-19 measures and urge everyone to comply in the hope the spread can be reduced and we can all return to lower restrictions soon. If your finances have been affected by COVID-19, don’t h...esitate to make contact to speak with our team about financial counselling, emergency assistance and financial support. Our emergency relief packages can help pay bills or cover the costs of diverse essential items, including clothes and groceries. ac.care can provide a respectful, confidential and free service tailored to your individual needs to help you avoid or navigate through a crisis and ensure your financial position is sustainable as quickly as possible. Visit accare.org.au for more information or contact us on 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) to speak to our staff in the Riverland, Murraylands, Limestone Coast and Adelaide Hills. We have offices and community centres in Murray Bridge, Berri, Mount Gambier and Millicent. See more

12.01.2022 Thank you to the team at Eden Way for the generous donation of premium milk powder produced at Tantanoola in the Limestone Coast to support our diverse services. Contributions like this help extend our impact and allow ac.care to provide greater support to country people.

09.01.2022 Our participation in NAIDOC Week has continued over recent days, including inviting our friends from Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation to ac.care's Mount Gambier Family Relationship Centre as part of our ongoing collaboration aimed at closing the gap in health measures between Aboriginal people and other Australians. We hope you have seen other content posted by ac.care this week, including our video featuring staff member Aaron sharing his story of strength and conne...ction to culture. www.facebook.com/accarecommunity/videos/2241206682690255 LIKE and FOLLOW us on Facebook to stay up to date with our work in country South Australian communities and visit accare.org.au for more information. National NAIDOC Reconciliation South Australia Reconciliation Australia Naidoc South Australia Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation Limestone Coast Community News The SE Voice #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC See more

08.01.2022 A GENEROUS supply of more than 150 face masks crafted by members of the Pine Tree Quilters proved invaluable over recent days for our frontline staff, reducing the potential for spread of COVID-19, while allowing us to continue to support vulnerable country people. This vital resource ensured delivery of our essential services, including homelessness and financial support, residential care, emergency relief and other programs, could continue during heightened restrictions an...d challenging times for many people. Thank you to the Pine Tree Quilters in Mount Gambier for this donation, which was delivered in August at a time when it was not known whether they would be needed. The group regularly donated personalised quilts for ac.care to provide to young people in care, before members put their sewing machines to work for this special project to produce colourful, reusable face masks. We are part of the community in the Limestone Coast, Riverland, Murraylands and throughout eastern regional South Australia and welcome support to increase our impact, such as the generous contributions by the Pine Tree Quilters. Visit www.accare.org.au for more information about our diverse services or www.accare.org.au/donate to make a donation online to support our work. See more

07.01.2022 A LIFELONG passion for child protection continues to drive Dani Atkinson’s work as ac.care’s foster care manager. I have the opportunity to positively contribute to the lives of children and young people who have experienced adversity and I get to meet some of the most amazing people in our regional communities our foster carers. After six years with ac.care, she continues to find her role exciting and challenging.... There is something different to focus on each day and my job provides me with opportunities to work towards improving the way in which foster carers are supported in their caring role, developing practices around the protection of children in care and spending time with the team to support them to do their best. It’s very rewarding and I have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of many. My hope is that this will have a positive effect on those relying on our services. I loved my job from the day I first started. Navigating the foster care system can be challenging, but I’m passionate about protecting children and supporting foster carers to fulfil their role. It’s very rewarding and provides me with a great deal of satisfaction and I’m fortunate to work with a team of people that, like me, are passionate about the work we do. Our ultimate goal is to see children in care be happy, feel safe and have a sense of stability and we want the same for our foster carers. #HereForSA #CommunityServices #OutofHomeCare #FosterCare #accare #workwithaccare #accarestaff #SACOSS

07.01.2022 Food that has been donated by local businesses and provided by FoodbankSA is available at our public sites. This is made available to help people ease their living costs, especially if they are on a tight home budget. Drop by our welcoming spaces between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday at: Murray Bridge - 29 Bridge Street Mount Gambier - 22-24 Ferrers Street Millicent - 57-59 George Street... Berri - 5 Kealley Street Visitors dropping in to collect food are also welcome to talk to our staff about arranging an appointment for financial counselling or other services to help secure a more sustainable future. Call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) for details. See more

07.01.2022 HEARING life stories direct from clients remains a rewarding part of Michelle Storry’s role as ac.care’s Riverland homelessness services program manager. After 10 years with ac.care, she said she continued to enjoy being part of a supportive organisation, where staff are proud to deliver local support to local people. I enjoy listening to clients telling their life stories and watching them move through different stages of their journey, knowing and understanding that we can... play a part in a client’s life and make an incredible difference if we give them an opportunity. #HereForSA #CommunityServices #OutofHomeCare #FosterCare #accare #workwithaccare #accarestaff #SACOSS

02.01.2022 Minister for Child Protection Rachel Sanderson visited our Berri site today to learn more about our work supporting foster carers in the Riverland, who choose to open their hearts and homes to vulnerable young people. Our community services general manager Kirsty Barnett and Riverland foster care manager Mandy Pearce welcomed the opportunity to speak to the minister about our work and the needs of carers and young people. We are lucky to support a network of wonderful foster ...carers across the Riverland, Murraylands, Limestone Coast and other areas of regional South Australia. However, we always need more carers, for short or long-term arrangements, to provide safe homes and positive relationships for the growing number of young people in state care. Visit www.accare.org.au/services/foster-care/ to find out more today. #applytocare #carewithaccare #accare #fostercare #strongsafesupported #walkingtogether #fostercaresa #childsafety #childprotection See more

01.01.2022 THE Federal Government’s commitment to a $25 per week long-term rise to the JobSeeker rate is not enough, according to ac.care chief executive officer Shane Maddocks. He said the $50 per fortnight increase, equating to $3.57 per day, when the $150 coronavirus supplement expires at the end of March, would lock job seekers back into poverty. We are already seeing rent stress and the lack of affordable housing pushing people to the brink of homelessness in regional areas, Mr Maddocks said. The government must go further to ensure we have a true safety net for unemployed people that allows them to afford basic necessities to sustain a tenancy and appropriate lifestyle. Full statement: www.accare.org.au/jobseeker-increase-not-enough-to-lift-pe/

01.01.2022 A RIVERLAND child proudly contributed to creation of a new logo for an ac.care support service for Aboriginal youths. The STAY (Service To Aboriginal Youth) program provides opportunities for young people aged 12 to 18. Participants put forward submissions for the new logo, with 12-year-old Jocelyn welcoming the creative outlet. She said she was inspired by the colours of the Aboriginal flag and being an Aboriginal person.... The STAY program involves youths working individually and in groups with ac.care staff to strengthen cultural identity and sense of self, work towards goals and learn health and wellbeing life skills. Clients are also supported with case management and advocacy to ensure their needs are met through existing services. ac.care also delivers the HIPPY and Opening Doors initiatives as part of its Aboriginal services program. HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters) is a two-year, home-based, early learning and parenting program to help Riverland and Murray Bridge families prepare young children to achieve at school. The Opening Doors program is for Aboriginal people aged 15 to 25 living in the Riverland in need of support. Opening Doors provides support with health care management, motivation, behaviour, communication, self-esteem, daily living skills and community activities. The program also focuses on nurturing family and personal relationships and social networks, along with support to undertake educational and vocational activities. ac.care also operates the Minya Porlar Crèche in Murray Bridge, which models best-practice in Aboriginal specific childcare, including opportunities for children to experience local language, a nutrition program, natural play environments, links with other community-based programs and connection to broader family networks, including visits by elders. Read more: www.accare.org.au/services/aboriginal/ www.accare.org.au/child-designs-logo-for-ac-care-support-s/ National NAIDOC Reconciliation South Australia Reconciliation Australia Naidoc South Australia #NAIDOC2020 #NAIDOCWeek #NAIDOC