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Proud Single Mother Turns Dream into Reality

Katherine is a single mother from Eden who has always wanted to pursue a career in aged care. Unfortunately, like so many other single mothers, she had been through many trials and tribulations throughout her life which had stopped her from reaching her goals.

Katherine first came to Campbell Page in 2013 because her daughter was struggling to stay in school. Together, Katherine and her teenage daughter began receiving support through the Campbell Page Reconnect Program, which helps young Australians at risk of leaving home or school.

At this time Katherine mentioned her desire to work within the aged care industry, however, she knew that finding and affording childcare as a single mother studying would be a huge feat. Her dream was tabled for several years while she focused on raising her children and ensuring her daughter stayed on the right path.

It was three years later when Katherine revisited her dream and signed up to become an NCAP customer. The NCAP Program is specifically designed to help Indigenous Australians over the age of 16 into training and eventually a job.

single mother of 5, Katherine, is proud to have finally reached her goals!

Three years later and we finally got closer to helping Katherine achieve her dream and the first step was getting her qualified. – Maryanne Griffiths, Campbell Page Indigenous and Youth Programs Manager

Before Katherine was enrolled in a Certificate III in Individual Support, she had already begun to build her skill set by gaining her First Aid and CPR qualifications, so once she started the course she already had some knowledge behind her to build her confidence.

While she was completing the course, Katherine faced a number of challenges, but she was able to work her way through it all, and even ended up inspiring her daughter to join her in completing the course while figuring out what she wanted to do after school.

Being a single mother on Centerlink, I didn’t have much money for child care, internet or even a computer so I would handwrite all of my assessments.  – Katherine

Together with her Cert III and other related qualifications, Katherine successfully landed a work placement at Bupa Aged Care Homes. Following her work placement, Katherine applied for a job with Bupa Aged Care Homes and got it!

Getting the job has been amazing for me and my family! See my success has even inspired my daughter to complete Year 10 at school while completing a school-based traineeship in aged care. I couldn’t be prouder! – Katherine

Katherine’s daughter only has 2 modules left to complete in her school-based traineeship and has been working six days per week in the school holidays as a cleaner. Katherine’s other daughter has also been motivated by her mother and older sister and has started an after-school job.

I am incredibly proud of Katherine and her girls! I can’t wait to see what is next for the whole family! – Maryanne

It has been a long road for Katherine, but after four years with Campbell Page, this single mother has now reached her goals and inspired her family to do so too. Congratulations Katherine!

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit dedicated to making a difference in our communities. Throughout the South Coast of NSW, we run programs to help Indigenous Australians and young people find the right path in life. If you would like to find out more, please click here, or contact us directly.

Youth Services

Indigenous Services

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

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100 Trees to Mark 100 Years

2018 marks 100 years since Palm Island was first inhabited by the Bwgcolman people. While the Centenary is cause for celebration, it is also a solemn reminder of the past.

We must never forget the past and always remember those who we left behind. The Centenary celebrations this year on Palm Island are a great opportunity to show other communities and the rest of Australia how far we have come.  Campbell Page and our Community Development Programme will be working closely with the local community to continue to help build a beautiful and thriving community throughout 2018. – Nathan Vinson, Palm Island Community Development Programme Manager

To mark this significant milestone for the community, Campbell Page donated 100 trees to Palm Island on National Tree Day 2017.

These trees were planted by the Palm Island Community Development Programme Horticultural Team which is one of the many activities run on the Island.

Palm Island Community Development Programme

Peter Turner from Palm Island Community Development Programme, who photographed the newest additions to Palm Island’s flora, had this to say about the donation:

It’s with great pride that CDP team has added to the natural beauty of Palm Island our paradise in blue water.

Further Centenary celebrations have been held on Palm Island this week including The Queen’s Baton visiting for the first time.

The Palm Island Community Development Programme (CDP) is a remote employment and community development service. Palm Island CDP aims to help people find work, while allowing them to contribute to their communities and gain skills at the same time. To find out more visit our CDP page or Contact us.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au

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Launching the Palm Island Community Development Programme Icon

This year has been a big one for our Palm Island Community Development team, as reflected in their amazing achievements in our Annual Report, the success of the Lost Artists of Palm Island Exhibition, along with the team winning Campbell Page Business of the Year at this year’s Best Awards.

The Palm Island Community Development Programme has always been led by members of the Palm Island Community, with the support of Campbell Page backing them along the way. That’s why we are excited to be able to launch the Palm Island Community Development Programme sunset icon, symbolic of the beauty of the island and the community itself.

This sunset icon was produced together with Ian Palmer from the team and the Palm Island Community. That’s right, the talented artist behind the Campbell Page Acknowledgement of Country was also commissioned to produce this important icon to represent his community.

Ian Palmer, Artist, receiving thank you certificate
Ian pictured with Nathan Vinson (CDP Program Manager), being presented with a Thank you certificate for his amazing contribution to both projects!

When I was eleven years old my grandmother used to take me fishing early mornings before the sun came up. I always wondered why we went so early to go fishing. My grandmother was a short but fit old lady, she was able to row myself and my younger brother out to her favourite fishing spot.

On the horizon, the sun began to rise and I saw the beauty of it all… the stars began to fade and amazing colours appeared in the shadow of Palm Island. I wanted to share this with everyone in my painting. -Ian Palmer, Artist

The Night Sky, as painted by Ian Palmer
The Nigh Sky, as painted by Ian Palmer

Ian’s artistic vision depicted in the painting has now been transformed into a symbolic image to represent the community. Together with Ian, the elements of the painting have been used to represent the sunset thumb print identity mark pictured on the icon, symbolising the people of Palm Island.

The Background: Shows how the star fades in the sky as the sun rises.
The Shadow: My Island Home Palm Island.
The Water and Shadowing: The journey we go through life ups and downs.
The painting is also in the memory of my loving Grandmother Veronica James.
-Ian Palmer, Artist

The Island is the centre piece of the icon, demonstrating how the program is run by it’s people. Finally, the water is reflected in the Campbell Page blue of the icon, demonstrating how we are there to support the community through ups and downs along the way.

The Palm Island Community Development Programme (CDP) is a remote employment and community development service. Palm Island CDP aims to help people find work, while allowing them to contribute to their communities and gain skills at the same time. To find out more visit our CDP page or Contact us.

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Spotlight on our Palm Island Artists: Robert Nugent

Robert Nugent was born on Palm Island and has lived there his entire life.

When he was younger he found going to school to be very difficult. He was very withdrawn and shy, so the social aspect of it became increasingly difficult for Robert to handle.

As he grew into a teenager, these feelings morphed into disrespect for authority.

 I became wild and acted dangerously. I had no respect for the law, and that is when I landed myself in jail.

While in jail, Robert said he was angry, stressed about his future and felt like a lost soul looking for answers. It was at this point in his life when Robert picked up a paintbrush for the first time.

It was like a bolt out the blue when I picked up a paintbrush and began creating art.  I felt uplifted – I felt at peace finally.

Robert is now 36 and living on the Island with his mother who he is very close with. He loves to paint the animals that live on Palm Island, bush tucker and experiment with traditional Indigenous Australian art techniques.

Campbell Page is a not for profit organisation, dedicated to making a difference in our communities. To find out more about our Community programs and Indigenous Support services, Contact us or email hello@campbellpage.org.au

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

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Landing a Job in Customer Service – Ghada’s Inspiring Story

Landing a job was a priority for Ghada when came to the Campbell Page Epping Hub after moving from Perth. She was determined, but she lacked the confidence to achieve her goals.

Ghada was going through a lot in her personal life, from homelessness and depression to family issues. Ghada was struggling but her Employment Consultant, Con, believed in her.

Ghada could not see all the potential she had, however, I could and I wanted to do anything I could to help her achieve her goals. – Con Petropoulos, Campbell Page Employment Consultant

Unsure of how she was going to go about landing a job,  Ghada and Con started by reflecting on the tough times she was going through and discussing the potential positive qualities Ghada had gained from her experiences. Determination, empathy and perseverance were two qualities that Con continued to see in Ghada.

Together, they began working on Ghada’s self-esteem by highlighting the skills that she already possessed and identifying what roles she would be perfect for. This journey towards building Ghada’s confidence was not something that happened overnight, but instead of letting it hold her back, Ghada pushed herself to start using the skills she had identified with Con and start applying for jobs.

Con never gave up on me. He knew I was determined to get my life back on track and made sure he was available to help me through my journey. I’m now the most confident I have ever been in my life. – Ghada

After 12 months with Con at the Campbell Page, Ghada’s hard work paid off when she landed a job as a National Customer Service Manager.

Ghada still struggles with her confidence occasionally but she now feels stronger and more focused on where her life is headed.

 I am now employed full time as the National Customer Service Manager! The future for me looks bright and stable and I give most of the credit to Con for not letting me give up. – Ghada

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making a difference in our communities.Our Disability Employment Services team work with people who have a disability, illness, injury or mental health condition to help them find great jobs and a brighter future. To find out more about our Disability Employment Services, please visit the DES page on our website. To find out more about Campbell Page please click here, or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

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Campbell Page attend the Findon Spring Fair for Anti-Poverty Week

In October, our Community Partnerships Team attended the Findon Spring Fair in South Australia. The community event is aimed at raising awareness about poverty levels in Australia. The event is held annually during Anti-Poverty Week, which ran from 15th-21st of October 2017.

With the support of Uniting Care Wesley Bowden and the City of Charles Sturt, Findon Community Centre brought together a range of local support services to provide food and information for the neighborhood. In addition to Campbell Page attending,  Uniting SA, The Salvation Army Corps Arndale and Anglicare SA also attended to raise awareness during Anti-Poverty Week.

On the day, Chloe Span pictured above with Danielle, a Campbell Page Community Partnership Coordinator,  met a woman who was seeking extra assistance to get back into the cleaning industry after her mental health left her unable to work for a period of time. At the Fair, she was able to register with Campbell Page on the spot.

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to assist members of the community to better understand how they can chose to engage in a local service aimed at reversing poverty.  We thank Findon Community Centre for putting on such an excellent range of activities to draw attention to this issue and look forward to attending next year. – Chloe Span

Findon Community Centre provide a wide range of recreational activities and support services for the community including, rock and roll dance classes, walking groups, playgroups for under 5-year-olds, English language literacy classes and much more. They service all ages in the community to explore their creativity and intellect by getting involved in hobbies and workshops.

Campbell Page is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to making a difference in our communities. If you would like to find out more about Campbell Page, please view the About Us page on our website, or contact us directly.

Words by: Tiarne Pattison

tiarne.pattison@campbellpage.org.au 

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Our Acknowledgement of Country

This is my dreaming and how I see our people moving toward a better future with the help of Campbell Page. -Ian Palmer, CDP Palm Island

At Campbell Page our ambition is to help people find great jobs and a brighter future, by placing our communities at the heart of what we do. This means embracing the various communities we work with and our Acknowledgement of Country is a dedication to the traditional Elders of all the lands we work and meet on.

Our Acknowledgement of Country is also our way of symbolising our respect to our Indigenous team mates, participants and communities. We commissioned our very own Ian Palmer, a resident from the Palm Island Community and an Activity Supervisor for our Community Development Programme, to produce the art work representing our acknowledgement.

"Our Hands" Acknowledgement of Country artwork
“Our Hands” Acknowledgement of Country artwork

Ian produced the painting “Our Hands” with the following inspiring message in mind:

‘As the Artist of this Painting I would like to put my interpretation forward on how Campbell Page is helping our community. “The Hands“ represent how Campbell Page is supporting and helping our community to branch out and connect with others. “The Dots“ represent our communities and how we are all connected. “The Background” is the Night sky. This is my dreaming and how I see our people moving toward a better future with the help of Campbell Page.’ -Ian Palmer.

Click to view our Acknowledgement of Country

Find our more about why reconciliation in Australia is so important by visiting www.reconciliation.org.au

Campbell Page is a not for profit organisation, dedicated to making a difference in our communities. To find our more about our Community programs and Indigenous Support services, Contact us or email hello@campbellpage.org.au