Nillumbik Family and Children Services - Latest News

Interesting in volunteering?

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:46 GMT

Are you a local Nillumbik parent who has some time to spare each week to support mothers and fathers in the community who are experiencing some challenges in their parental role?

We are looking for parents of children of all ages to assist with the In Home Family Mentoring Program and provide extra support to families in the local area who have identified they are finding things a bit hard at the moment and could do with some extra help. Support required will range from lending a listening ear over a cuppa to assisting with some of the practicalities around the home such as occupying baby while Mum gets some food cooked up for dinner and even to put some in the freezer too!

The volunteer role is supported by the In Home Family Mentoring Resource Officer who will provide you with the necessary training to fulfil the position as well as provide ongoing support.

If you are interested or have any questions (no question is too small so don't hesitate to get in touch) please email Pia Cerveri or phone 9433 3165 on Mondays or Wednesdays.

Page modified on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:46 GMT

Nominate for Australia Day

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:42 GMT

Nillumbik Shire Council is seeking nominations for the 2013 Nillumbik Australia Day Awards. You are invited to nominate people who have made an extraordinary effort or achieved something outstanding this year in the following categories:

Nillumbik Young Citizen of the Year
Nillumbik Citizen of the Year
Nillumbik Senior Citizen of the Year
Nillumbik Community Group of the Year
Nillumbik Volunteer of the Year.

Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Council website or collected from Council information stands or at the Council Offices in Civic Drive, Greensborough. Nominations close 5pm, Monday 10 December 2012 and winners will be announced on Australia Day, Saturday 26 January 2013 at the Nillumbik Australia Day festivities and Citizenship Ceremony at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre, Eltham.

For more information, contact Tracey Classon, Governance Officer on 9433 3271, or go to Council's website from the link below.

Page modified on Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:42 GMT

Family News

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:44 GMT

Have you heard about the new National Quality Framework (NQF)?

Quality children's education and care is where children are happy, engaged and learning with qualified educators who are nurturing and caring. The National Quality Framework introduces improved child to educator ratios, new qualification requirements for educators and a focus on learning outcomes. It covers most long day care, preschool, outside school hours and family day care services in Australia.

The Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) oversees these changes nationally for the benefit of families to ensure the best possible start in life for children in approved services. They have just developed a newsletter in relation to the new quality framework and standards specifically for families, called Family News. You can access a copy or sign up to receive regular updates from the website link below.

Page modified on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:44 GMT

New support for bushfire survivors

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:16 GMT

The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund has developed a state-wide program to support the medium to long term recovery of adults who are still experiencing high-intensity psychological trauma as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. The program will deliver services across the state until November 2013 and include outreach services, individual counselling, and support to three targeted groups: adults, children and young people. All services are free of charge and will complement the existing psychological supports available for bushfire survivors, which must be accessed prior to 31 December 2012.

For more information, phone the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213 or go to the Department of Human Services website from the link below.

Page modified on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 14:16 GMT

Cafe Eden now open!

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:06 GMT

Next time you visit Edendale you will now have the opportunity to not only take in the surrounds but also enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Cafe Eden is a new food premise run by Hazel Fox and Glenda Clark. It is situated behind the homestead near the food production area (on your way to the nursery) and will sell direct trade coffee, homemade cakes, muffins and lemonade and other healthy food options using fresh, seasonal and unprocessed produce which is sourced locally and where available, organic produce will be used. The cafe will be open for breakfast, morning tea, lunch and coffee. Permanent opening hours and days will be finalised after a month of trading but for the first month they will open from 8.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 3pm Saturday and Sunday.

For more information you can email Cafe Eden or go to the Edendale website from the link below.

Page modified on Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:06 GMT

Victorian Seniors Festival

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:48 GMT

Victorian Seniors Festival is a week-long celebration for older Victorians that is held during October each year, across the state. Events and activities take place across all Victorian Councils to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution of Victoria's older people. This year it is celebrating its 30th Birthday! In partnership with Nillumbik Shire Council and Victorian Seniors Festival Department of Health, Nillumbik is offering a range of activities and events for seniors to attend during the month of October (9 - 25 October). So if you have an older person living at home or in the local area, please make this information available to them.

The program of events in Nillumbik can be downloaded from the link below and for more information and to access the events being held across the state, follow the link below for the Seniors Victoria Online website.

Page modified on Fri, 21 Sep 2012 12:48 GMT

Trial for smoke-free playgrounds

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:06 GMT

Encouraging a healthy environment for residents is part of the portfolio of Council's Environmental Health team. To minimise the potential impacts of second-hand smoke on children and non-smoking adults, Council has approved the implementation of a six month project to trial smoke-free outdoor areas within Nillumbik, with a focus on Council owned children's playgrounds. During the trial, smoking will not be allowed within 10 metres of the play equipment. The project will start in September.

The following playgrounds are designated to participate in the trial:

Alistair Knox Park, Eltham
Eltham North Adventure Park, Eltham
Alan Marshall Reserve, Eltham
Nillumbik Reserve, Diamond Creek
Cooks/Weerona Reserve, North Warrandyte

Signs and cigarette butt bins will be installed in the nominated playgrounds informing park users of the smoke-free trial. Any feedback or comments on this trial are greatly appreciated, so please contact the Environmental Health Unit on 9433 3340 or via email.

Page modified on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:06 GMT

Fitness for All Abilities Program

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:55 GMT

Council's Access for All Abilities Officer has recently partnered with the Community Bank Stadium to develop an after school fitness program for primary school aged children with a disability. Fitness For All Abilities is a 10 week physical activity program, which has been developed as a result of Council's recent sport and leisure needs analysis survey, which highlighted a strong community need for an after school fitness program for children with disabilities. This program will introduce children to a range of different physical activities each week including ball skills, dance, fit ball fitness and much more! The classes are suitable for all fitness abilities, and aim to improve both physical fitness and social interaction in a fun and supported environment. The cost will be $6 per class per child or $60 per term, per child.

Expressions of interest from parents who would like their child to be involved in this program, beginning in term four, are being sought. For more information or to place an expression of interest (closing date is 5pm Friday 24 August) please Hanna Phillips on 9433 3136 or email Hanna.

Page modified on Fri, 17 Aug 2012 10:55 GMT

Hurstbridge Family Centre � media release

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:11 GMT

Thursday 26 July 2012

Design architect chosen for Hurstbridge Family Centre

The new Hurstbridge Family Centre will be designed by Perkins Architects, after Council awarded them the design contract last week.

The Hurstbridge Family Centre will provide a full range of flexible early years services for Hurstbridge and surrounding rural areas. Childcare will be integrated with maternal and child health, family support programs and other specialist services.

The building will also accommodate community meeting and activities spaces for a wide variety of active community groups in Hurstbridge, such as the U3A and exercise and fitness classes for over 50s.

The project will extend and upgrade the existing community centre building located on the former Hurstbridge Secondary College site on Graysharps Road.

Councillor Lewis Brock, Bunjil Ward Councillor and Chairperson of Hurstbridge Family Centre Advisory Group, said the appointment of the project's Lead Design Architect is a positive step forward for the project.

'By appointing the Lead Design Architect for the Hurstbridge Family Centre redevelopment, we are one step closer to seeing this project become a reality. Perkins Architects has a lot of recent and relevant experience delivering similar projects.

'The Hurstbridge Family Centre is an important project for the community - it will give families more options for childcare in the local area, and will allow a wide range of services and community activities to be delivered under the one roof.

Funding for the $4.1 million project has come from the Commonwealth Government ($1.6 million), the Victorian Government ($500,000) and Nillumbik Shire Council ($2 million).

The Centre is expected to be operating by March 2014.

Ends

for more information about the project, go to our Hurstbridge Family Centre page.

Page modified on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:11 GMT

BookCrossing

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:44 GMT

BookCrossing is a social networking site that allows owners and users of books to share and track books with people across the world. Instead of letting your books gather dust on the shelf, pass them on to other readers and follow its progress online. Each book is given a unique BookCrossing identity number that can be registered online, allowing you to track the journey of your book. There are currently over 1.2 million BookCrossers registered with over 9.2 million books travelling throughout 132 countries!

So if you have a good quality new or used book that you'd like to share with the world, please take it along to the Nillumbik Family Literacy Festival on 25 August at Hurstbridge and visit the BookCrossing station. There will also be a number of registered books available so you can take one home with you!

For more information on BookCrossing, go the website from the link below.

Page modified on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:44 GMT