Strengthening Communities – Empowering People - Lifeline Darling ...

The diversity of the CSDU programs and the staff has continued to be innovative, collaborative and the
commitment to share learnings, resources, connections and knowledge has strengthened the unique synergy
ensuring responsive and appropriate service delivery to the communities throughout Toowoomba, Darling Downs
and South West Queensland.
The highlights include as a team joined by family, friends and colleagues, CSDU participated with the local
community to mark the Prime Minister’s national “Apology” to the Indigenous stolen generation. This significant
event has led to conversations by a group of indigenous and non indigenous staff to establish a Reconciliation
Working Party to enhance Indigenous awareness across all areas of Lifeline Darling Downs that will ensure that the
organisation is respectful of Indigenous culture and of current and future Indigenous staff members.
Nyadier Pac completed her Certificate III in Children’s Services Traineeship and was awarded the Trainee of the
Year in Children’s Services at SQIT. Nyadier has attained a permanent position in a local ABC Child Care service in
Toowoomba and we congratulate her on her achievement.
Also Mr Ted Long was awarded a “Pride of Australia” medal followed by the “Premiers Award for Community Service
with Seniors”. At eighty-two years old Mr Ted continues to be inspirational and a most remarkable community volunteer.
Collaboratively CSDU programs also participated in Toowoomba’s Language & Cultural Festival in August 2007 and at
USQ’s Harmony Day celebrations that coincide with the International Day of the Elimination of Racism holding a Lifeline
Information stall and providing activities such as Indigenous games, playdough activity and musical performances.
All CSDU programs are located at 17 Long St Toowoomba with the St George office an outreach office with
Garndoo Jarowair ISA. The Long St facilities remain a challenge to balance staff and program needs however
Jocelyn Dover coordinates all Long St bookings efficiently and has improved many aspects of the venue, meeting
the needs of the organisation, community groups, agencies and government departments that utilise the Long St
training/ meeting space.
Community Development: The community development program continued to be involved in a diverse
range of activities working with many agencies and linking people from various target groups (People from
CALD – Culturally Linguistically & Diverse backgrounds, Young people, Seniors, LGBT- Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual
Transgendered communities, Indigenous communities, Students, Women & Men’s groups) to opportunities that
enhances collaboration, capacity building and empowerment. Some activities include: Facilitating monthly Dinner
Discussions & initial support to quarterly Women’s Dinners, support to refugee & migrant networks to assist with
ongoing review, support to The Shed project and the Toowoomba North project regarding funding, membership of
SWAN-South West Agency Network, SDN-Skills Development network & the state-wide Cross Cultural trainer’s
network, training provided to Disability, Community & Child Care sectors regarding Cross Cultural Awareness,
Using Interpreters & Self Esteem was provided. Also participation with LLDD & SWQ strategic planning sub
committees focussing on –
Recruitment & Retention and Space issues and recommendations.
Two highlights were the launch of the “Building Resilience in Rural Communities -Toolkit” project that Lifeline
participated and contributed to since the projects beginnings in 2004 and the International Womens Conference
- Education, Employment and Everything... the triple layers of a woman‘s life. A number of local women were
supported to attend the conference predominately from CALD backgrounds, women who are Lesbian, Bi-Sexual
or Transgendered and some women who financially were not in a position to afford registration to an international
conference. Sharyn McCarthy & Nyadier Pac also presented a paper “Travelling through child care as a mother,
student & worker from Sudan to Australia”
Living Works: Again Lifeline DD & SWQ received generous donations from Toowoomba Christmas Wonderland
and ANZ Toowoomba. This money and our partnership with Toowoomba Older Men’s Network have enabled us to
provide suicide prevention training to 418 participants at a nominal cost.
Across the South West Region 276 people were trained in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills (ASIST) – a 2 day
suicide first-aid intervention workshop. Workshops were held in Toowoomba, Kingaroy, Oakey, Roma, Dalby,
Charleville and St George. The feedback shows that at the completion of the workshop 100% of the group felt
either well prepared or mostly prepared to help a person at risk of suicide increase their safety.
A further 146 people attended SafeTALK suicide alertness presentations in Toowoomba, Oakey, Kingaroy, Murgon,
Nanango. The feedback collected shows that as a result of the presentation 98% of participants felt more prepared
to help a person at risk of suicide.
One of the highlights of this program has been the passion and commitment of key local people in promoting and
hosting the workshops. In some centres the Living Works training has been a catalyst for the development of a
community response to suicide prevention. In other centres the training has been an important addition to their
ongoing effort to reduce suicide.
In September 2007 two additional Lifeline DD&SWQ staff were trained to present ASIST and in October six local
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