Child, Youth & Family Support

WRAPPED IN ANGELS 
Helps children and adults who have experienced trauma and abuse. The
group is a unique journey of rediscovery and recovery that explores our lives.
It involves creating a blanket – a representation of love, protection, warmth
and safety.

For more information contact our:

Naremburn Family Centre
P: (02) 8425 8700
E: nfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Northern Beaches Family Centre
P: (02) 8043 2600
E: nbfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400
E: wfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

SEASONS FOR GROWTH KIDS
Helps children and young people deal with grief and loss. It uses the four
seasons to explain the process people go through when they are grieving.

For more information contact our:

Central Coast Family Centre
P: (02) 4356 2600
E: ccfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400
E: wfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Targeted Early Intervention Programs

Parenting can be a tough gig, and we all need a little support from time to time.

Our Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) program aims to strengthen families through their relationships, living circumstances and safety. This is done through home visits, community visits, online and phone sessions and appointments at our centres.

TEI is split into two program streams and once families are assessed they will be offered support in one of these streams in order to meet their needs:

• Intensive Support – for families experiencing multiple current complexities and require multiple visits and support by caseworkers per week. Clients can engage in support for up to 12 months.
• Early Intervention – for families with low to moderate needs. Caseworkers engage with families once a week or fortnightly depending on their needs. Clients can engage in support or up to 6 months.

Caseworkers can support families in areas such as child development or behaviour issues, family breakdown, social isolation, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, gambling, housing issues, childcare or other support issues.

Families can refer themselves or be referred through other agencies (Government or Non-Government). Our service covers the whole of the Northern Sydney region and supports families with children aged between 0 -18 years.

This is a free service funded through the Department of Communities and Justice.

TEI also delivers various group based intervention such as supported playgroups, specialised support groups and parenting courses such as Circle of Security, Infant Massage, Tuning into Kids, Tuning into Teens, Triple P Parenting, 123 Magic, Bringing Up Great Kids and more.

For more information about our upcoming programs you can visit Resourcing Parents website. To make a referral or enquire about our services please contact our intake worker via email on intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au.

For more information contact our:

Naremburn & Northern Beaches Family Centre
P: (02) 8425 8700

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400

Intensive Family Preservation 

This program is for families with children aged 0 – 18 years who have been
identified as being at high risk of harm by the NSW Family & Community
Services.

Families referred to this program receive intensive support from a specialist
caseworker for 6 months. Caseworkers and families work together to develop
safety action plans and work to reduce risks to children so that Family &
Community Services can be assured children are safe and can remain at home.

This program operates a 24/7 telephone support for families to assist them to
implement change. Referrals to this program are received through Pennant Hills or Chatswood Community Service Centres.

For more information contact our:

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400
E: wfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Family Connect and Support is a free service which helps children, young people and families in NSW with:

• Parenting challenges
• Financial stress
• Substance use
• Family breakdown
• Housing issues
• Mental health
• Domestic and family violence .. and more.

Through an initial consultation, we get to know you and your individual circumstances. Understanding your needs, and building on your strengths, we identify the support your family needs to make positive change in your lives. We’ll give you information and advice and help you connect to the services in your area so you don’t have to retell your story. We stay connected with you until you’re matched to the right services or support.

We welcome families from all cultures and backgrounds, lands and communities.

To access this service please call 1800 066 757. The intake line is open Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 5.30pm.

We offer numerous programs specifically for parents across all of our Family Centres. For more information visit our Parenting Programs page here.

We also offer:

Waitara Parent’s Wellbeing Drop-In
Being a parent is tough, and we all need a little support from time to time. Our Parent’s Wellbeing Drop In offer parents a safe space to enjoy a cuppa, relax and chat to staff and others about their experiences. Come along and find out about your local family centre and the various parent groups you can enrol in.

For more information contact our:

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400
E: wfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Men’s Groups
Many men face struggles in today’s world. Our groups are for men wanting to develop skills for life – how to develop positive relationships, shoulder responsibilities, communicate and support each other.

We also run groups to help men learn how to live and interact safely with their children and families. We have a male worker who specialises in helping men make positive changes.

“Often confronting, but always helpful, even playful, I recommend all men take time to experience this group process and see the benefits that are possible in your relationships with others and with yourself.”
From a Men’s Group participant Sydney

For more information contact our:
|
Central Coast Family Centre
P: (02) 4356 2600
E: ccfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Our Supported Playgroups help children to explore and learn and provide a place for parents/carers to socialise and discuss their children’s development with a qualified worker.

Assisted by our Family Caseworkers these groups provide additional support to individual families who might be facing various life challenges. Throughout the year our groups will have visitors from early childhood nurses, child dentists, road safety speakers and more. Families are welcome to stay engaged in our playgroup for 12 months with individual support needs considered.

Please note Supported Playgroup is referral based only.

For more information please contact:

Central Coast Family Centre
P: (02) 4356 2600
E: ccfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Naremburn Family Centre
P: (02) 8425 8700
E: intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Funded by both Department of Communities and Justice and Department of Education

Waitara Family Centre
P: (02) 9488 2400
E: wfc@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Funded by Department of Social Services

Drug & Alcohol Youth Support Services (DAYSS)

Funded by NSW Health

A free and confidential service for 12-24 years olds and their parents/guardians in the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore area. Through a harm minimisation approach our service aims to empower young people to create positive change in their own lives and communities.

DAYSS is funded to complement clinical services by offering an outreach model where our staff and services can come directly to young people (via visits at home, at school, in public places or at our Centres).

DAYSS staff are qualified in areas such as welfare, psychology, social work, criminology and counselling. We support young people with low to moderate drug and alcohol impacts (and their families). We can also help young people with high problematic use to access the clinical services. We are also here for young people who are not consuming themselves but are impacted by someone else’s misuse such as a parent, sibling, or a close friendship group.

We offer the following services:

• Casework
  Caseworkers support young people and families by assessing and identifying challenges and working together to develop goals to work towards. Goals are focused around areas either directly involving drug and alcohol use or surrounding the use (eg. housing, finances, family relationships, criminal behaviour etc.)
• Counselling and mentoring
  We offer short-term counselling and mentoring in order to support the goals of young people and families around drug and alcohol impacts.

To refer please contact our intake worker on intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au

DAYSS also provides drug and alcohol education and therapeutic groups for young people and parents at schools and in the community. These groups include:

• Drug and alcohol interactive education workshops
  Our DAYSS team deliver interactive workshops that encourage young people to participate in thought provoking activities and discussions. Topics we cover include alcohol and drug misuse and effects, looking after yourself and/or a mate, where to get help, safe partying and prepping for schoolies. Some of our activities include beer goggles, interactive lungs, Family Feud and quizzes, physical relays and topical discussions. Programs can be catered specifically to any high school year group.
• DRUMBEAT
  DRUMBEAT is a powerful and effective program that incorporates hand drumming, behavioural therapeutic principles and cognitive and dialectical elements. Our trained DAYSS team cater the DRUMBEAT program to young people experiencing alcohol and/or drug misuse or for those dabbling in the AOD space and could benefit from some early intervention.
• Art Therapy
  Our art program is a 6 week course for young people experiencing alcohol and/or drug misuse or within the beginning stages of pressures within this space. The DAYSS team use art as a way of expression and exploring various discussions such as pressures from self and pressures from others, impacts of alcohol and/or drugs on ourthoughts, feelings and physical impacts, dependency and seeking support.
• Boxing Program
  This program aims to develop self-control emotional regulation, mindfulness and empowerment through physical exercise. This is a non-contact program with a strong emphasis on self-control, avoidance of violence in challenging situations and the development of trust with training partners. This program is also designed to be an entry level program to give young people the confidence to learn new skills to help cope with life day-to-day.
• SANDBAR Project
  Our SANDBAR Project was developed and is delivered by young people, for young people. Our Youth Advisory Group, now called the SANDBAR Crew, work with our DAYSS staff to attend and support local youth events such as music festivals, sporting events and community functions by setting up a free space for young people to get water, help with opal cards to get home and support to keep them safe. If you are aged between 16-24 years and would like to join the SANDBAR Crew please contact us at dayss@catholiccaredbb.org.au.

For more information about our DAYSS program please contact our:

Naremburn & Northern Beaches Family Centre
P: (02) 8425 8700
M: 0481 602 057
E: dayss@catholiccaredbb.org.au
Facebook/Instagram/TikTok: ‘dayssnb’

Youth Rent Choice Program

Funded by Department of Communities & Justice

Are you aged between 16-24 years in Northern Sydney and need help finding and paying for a rental property to live in?

Rent Choice Youth is a program that helps young people to:

• Find a place to live (in a private rental unit, flat or home)
• Get approved for a lease
• Pay a percentage of the rent for up to 3 years
• Stay in a current rental if it’s affordable and help is needed to pay the rent.

You will also be linked with a support worker who will help you work towards study or job goals. This will eventually help you to afford the rent on your own.

To find out more about the program please click here. Flyer here.

For more information about the Youth Rent Choice program please contact our:

Naremburn & Northern Beaches Family Centre
M: 0481 602 057
E: intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au

Changing Cycles For Youth (CC4YOUTH)

A program to support young people aged 12 – 24 years within Northern Sydney impacted by domestic and family violence as well as providing education and prevention programs within schools and the community. Flyer here.

CC4YOUTH offers the following:

• Support for young victims of domestic and family violence through case management, safety planning and access to brokerage
• Support for young perpetrators of domestic and family violence through case management and access to brokerage
• Information, advice and referrals
• Therapeutic groups for young people
• Education and prevention programs in schools and the community.

Specialised caseworkers can meet with young people at home, school, work or in the community and will conduct thorough safety plans to ensure every visit is safe. Anyone can refer into the program and can contact our intake worker via email at intakefs@catholiccaredbb.org.au

For more information about the this program please contact our:

Naremburn & Northern Beaches Family Centre
P: (02) 8425 8700