COMMUNITY EVENTS

Children's Week
During Children’s Week 2019, we held two successful Children’s Week events. One of these events was held at North St Marys Children’s Centre and the other at Colyton Neighbourhood Centre. Both were great events and were enjoyed by workers, caregivers and children most of all. Rooby Roo made an appearance on both days, there was plenty of activities for everyone and the food grazing tables were a hit. Mission Australia and Ability Links also helped at these events providing activities and helping hands. A big thank you to our services and St Marys Band Club for providing us funding for these events. It was a great two days and we hope to do it again in 2020.

Carers Week 

“This Day is My Pamper Day” was held at Autumnleaf Neighbourhood Centre in St.Clair, with over  25 people attending. It provided opportunities for participant to meet with other carers from the local area, develop friendships and start to build strong bonds with each other which will help reduce isolation and not feel alone as a carer. The event empowered participants to improve health and self-care in a supportive and fun environment. The event had self- care guest speakers, health check stations, pamper stations and a stretch class demonstration workshop. Their was a lot of chatting, laughter, a few tears as well as support amongst all the carers who attended. The atmosphere this created was one full of love and joy making participants feel that they were in a comfortable environment to be themselves and breakaway from there carers role.

NSW CARER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Carers provide unpaid care and support to family members or friends who have a disability, mental illness, drug/alcohol dependency, chronic condition terminal illness or those who are frail. National Carers Week was held between the 17^th October 2016, and 21^st of October 2016. To Launch Carers Week the Carers Awards Ceremony was held on the 17^th of October to kick of the week’s Events. The NSW Carers Annual Award is hosted yearly by Minister Hon John Ajaka, Minister for Aging, Disability, Multiculturalism and Volunteering and our very own Community Junction Team Member Sadie Arida was awarded the 2016 NSW Carer of the Year Award. Well Done Sadie.

 

NATIONAL CARER'S WEEK EVENT

"Carers Day Off"

 

With the rollercoaster of life around us, anyone at any time can ricocheted into the role of an unpaid carer. Unpaid carers contribute an estimated $60.3 billion per year in unpaid work and caring responsibilities. However, the hard work carried out by Australian carers is often forgotten and as a group, they often experience social isolation, find it hard to enter and maintain employment or participate in education.

As such, to celebrate and raise awareness of the valuable work carried out in caring roles, Community Junction and Ability Links held “Carers Day Off” – a pamper day for anyone in a caring role at home. Participants received a facial, manicure and pedicure for a bit of indulgence, and had the opportunity to participate in a Pilates class.   One attendee became emotional that she broke down in tears, thanking us for organising the event because “I often sit at home thinking, why me, why can’t I just die. But today I feel good”.

 

Our thanks go to Hogs Breath St Marys who catered lunch for the participants and Coles Cambridge Park provided a gift card which we were able to purchase salads, drinks and sweets for morning tea. 

 

 

 

 

 

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