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Integreat Queensland Newsletter: March 2023

Welcome to Integreat Queensland’s March Newsletter

We’re excited to announce a number of events during Harmony Week which runs from March 20 to 26. From a special Culture Cafe event to an Art Workshop with Irene Sparks, we have many ways for you to celebrate diversity in central Queensland. Our main event during Harmony Week is a special Pop-up Restaurant on Friday, March 24, at ARTmatters with special guest speakers Ale Nunn, Director of High Risk Solutions and Wendy Hannan, Regional Manager at Jobs in Central Queensland. Along with our special guests, be transported around the culinary tastes and flavours of the world as our pop-up restaurant engages chefs from around the region to not only create international fast-casual fusion dishes to high-end gourmet meals, but to also tell their story and their love of creating good food.

Harmony week is close to our hearts here at Integreat Queensland as it is a celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone. We hope to see you at our events this month.

The Integreat Queensland team.

Inspired to stay strong and keep moving forward.

When Jacqueline came to Integreat Queensland, she had just come out of a broken marriage and was at a real crossroads in her life. Not only was she facing some real-life challenges she needed to overcome, but she also felt quite lost and overwhelmed with the world.

“It was a really difficult time,” Jacqueline said. “I had no extended family living in the region for support and I felt quite broken at the time.”

After hearing about Integreat Queensland, Jacqueline decided to get assistance and joined a couple of the organisations support programs for women including SisterLife Circle, a program where women support each other to grow and develop in all aspects of their lives.

“I wanted to feel valued for who I am but most of all I think I really needed some support from women who would understand what I was experiencing,” she said.

SisterLife Circle is a unique program that encourages women to achieve things they might not have thought possible. Its aim is to strengthen the bond between women by encouraging them to support each other through listening, talking, and by taking part in activities together and becoming part of a community.

Jacqueline said at first, she felt a little overwhelmed but by the end of the first session and after listening to a couple of the women’s stories, she realised she was not alone.

“The world is not easy place to navigate and can be quite difficult but after being around other women, and even though we all had different journey’s, I listened to their stories and felt connection and for the first time in a long time, I felt valued and respected for who I was and for my own experience.

“The SisterLife Circle program gave me connection and inspired me to keep strong and move forward by giving me a feeling of belonging and by helping me learn and build resilience within myself.”

Integreat Queensland Program Coordinator Esther Arzolay-Martinez said Jacqueline’s story although unique to her, is often experienced by many women in the community and it’s by sharing their stories and by offering encouragement and support, that helps them move forward in their lives.

“The SisterLife Circle program is about supporting women who are or have experienced domestic violence or are at risk of experiencing domestic violence,” Esther said.

“Many women just want to be listened to and be heard and we have found when we bring women together, they can learn from each other’s experiences and build resilience with each other’s stories.

“Sometimes we talk and sometimes we do activities like crafts and even watching topical videos. What we find is these women are not victims but survivors. The program is about healing and celebrating their lives though discussions and celebrations which helps with their healing and most of all, their wellbeing.”

Next Rockhampton SisterLife Circle: March 16.
When: 1pm to 2.30pm.
Where: 223 Campbell St.

To register for SisterLife Circle in Rockhampton, connect here NOW.

Next Gladstone SisterLife Circle: March 29.
When: 10.30am to 12pm.
Where: 1a Manning Street, South Gladstone.

To register for SisterLife Circle in Gladstone, connect here NOW.

Held fortnightly in Gladstone and Rockhampton, SisterLife Circle is a safe and supportive environment for women to meet, share and connect. To register or for more information about SisterLife Circle, please contact Integreat Queensland on 07 4903 1931 or email contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Picture: Intergreat Queensland program coordinators Jaclyn Iwasaka and Esther Arzolay-Martinez with some of the ladies who attended the SisterLife Circle program.

FREE Employer breakfast about Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) paid leave.

From 1 August 2023, employees including part time and casual of small businesses with less than 15 employees can access 10 days of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) paid leave. So, what does this mean to you as an employer? What is best practice, how do you recognise DFV, and how do you support your employees?

Many people still hold the belief DFV is a private matter and are hesitant to become involved even though the effects of DFV extend outside the home. Increasingly, workplaces are recognising personal problems can affect their employees’ job performance and the organisation’s bottom line.

Perpetrators may use tactics to undermine the confidence, employment, and financial security of the victim/survivor, where they can become more dependent on the perpetrator. Such harassment and threats, or perceived threats, can be enough for a victim/survivor to leave their employment through fear or embarrassment as to how their employer and colleagues will react to the situation.

Some victims/survivors are forced to resign from their jobs for personal safety reasons or because they were forced to stop working by the perpetrator. Loss of job security, and therefore loss of financial independence, compounds the problems victims/survivors must overcome when dealing with DFV.

Being aware of potential signs and risk factors of DFV can assist workplaces to take appropriate measures to prevent it from escalating at work. As with other wellbeing concerns, early identification of an employee experiencing difficulties will more likely lead to appropriate help being offered. This in turn could mean that the employee is able to deal with the situation more effectively; also minimising the impact on the workplace.

Having an effective policy and practice response to DFV in the workplace that provides support for victims/survivors can mean the difference between staying in an abusive situation and taking action to address it. However, it is important to ensure that the right support is in place before launching any policy that informs employees it is safe to disclose. Good Policies and Procedures are developed with the involvement of all stakeholders or their representatives.

To assist employers in how to recognise and help employees that maybe experiencing DFV as well as understanding the new employer legislation for Domestic and Family Violence paid leave coming into effect on August 1, Integreat Queensland are holding a FREE Employer breakfast about Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) paid leave and the new legislation in Rockhampton and Gladstone.

Funded through the Safer Pathways program by the Department of Social Services and held appropriately during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May, with guest speakers from Community Services Industry Association, the Services Union, and local Domestic and Family Violence support organisations, the breakfast will give employers real solutions and tools to help you navigate this important topic.

Dates:
• Gladstone Friday 12 May 2023: Venue to be confirmed.
• Rockhampton Wednesday 31 May 2023: CocoBrew Rockhampton

For more information or to register by phone, please call 07 4900 1617 or email contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Harmony Week jammed pack full of events to celebrate.

Integreat Queensland has a fantastic line-up of events during Harmony Week which runs from March 20 to March 26. Harmony week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for everyone.

This year, Integreat Queensland are planning multiple ways for the Gladstone community to get involved in Harmony Week. Come along to one or all our events and let’s celebrate diversity and have meaningful conversations around inclusion, diversity, and mutual respect.

It’s a week where people across Australia bring traditional dishes to share at school or work while wearing colourful clothes or draped in orange.

But what is Harmony Week?

March 20 is known as Harmony Day in Australia, kicking off Harmony Week, where individuals are encouraged to share and celebrate their cultural identities. But the United Nations marks the day as The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

On March 21st, 1960, police in South Africa opened fire on black protesters, killing 69 people and injuring hundreds. Since then, the UN has been using the day to facilitate discussion and take action against racism and racial discrimination.

So why has the backdrop of the Sharpeville massacre been turned into a joyous and colourful week-long celebration promoting harmony in Australia? Because not everyone is comfortable talking about racism.

The Diversity Council of Australia says racism is “when an individual or organisation discriminates, excludes, or disadvantages someone because of their race, colour, descent, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and/or immigrant status.

Integreat Queensland opens up opportunities for everyone from everywhere to get involved, feel welcome, learn new things, and contribute to a strong, thriving local community and during Harmony Week, we’re going to do our small part in celebrating our diversity as a community.

Integreat Queensland will be holding three events during Harmony Week: A special edition of Culture Cafe, a Pop-up restaurant event, and an Art Workshop. To find more details about each of these events and to register, please click the links below:

Culture Café: Wednesday, March 22 @ Gladstone Library from 9.30am. For more info and to RSVP, please email contactus@integreatqld.org.au or call 07 4903 1931.
Harmony Week Pop-up Restaurant: Friday March 24 at ARTmatters 6-9pm. Register by clicking here.
Art Workshop with Irene Sparks: Saturday 25 and Sunday March 26 @ 1a Manning St, South Gladstone: Register by clicking here.

For more information and/or to register your attendance or even get involved, please phone 07 4903 1931 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Thanks to our supporters: Gladstone Regional Libraries, ARTmatters at Creative Gladstone Region Inc., Croque en bouche, and Shell QGC.

Feeling safe and secure in your home.

“It wasn’t until the police knocked on my door that I realised I was experiencing domestic and family violence and I needed a safe pathway to get out.” Those are the comments of a women who was experiencing violence in the home but had no idea that there was a way to leave the situation safely and with the support of the community.

The last thing women and children impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV) need is to find themselves homeless through no fault of their own. However, many women find homelessness is the reality when they decide to leave which is why it is so important for programs, like Integreat Queensland’s Safer Pathways Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women’s program, acts as a conduit of information and resources about services available to them.

Integreat Queensland’s Safer Pathways for CALD Women program aims to help CALD women living in the Rockhampton and Gladstone region who are experiencing or are at risk of domestic and family violence, to access the support that they need. The program’s focus is on connecting with the CALD communities of Rockhampton and Gladstone to educate them about respectful relationships and domestic and family violence, to improve referral pathways, and to seek feedback on what barriers prevent CALD women from accessing support.

Under the Safer Pathway program, people who have experienced domestic violence are provided with coordinated support, reducing their need to re-tell their story and relive traumatic experiences and partners with women and families providing practical support, security, and advocacy to be, and feel, safer and secure in their homes.

For more information about Integreat Queensland’s Safer Pathways program, phone 07 4900 1617 or email contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Programs and Events.

Gladstone

Conversational English is the language used every day.

Many people learning English as a second language come up against a very frustrating problem! They study hard to be able to speak with correct grammar, accurate vocabulary and relevant expressions. Yet when they speak, they still sometimes hear responses like: “I’m sorry, what?” “Could you repeat that please?”

It’s extremely annoying! If your English pronunciation isn’t good, then your level of fluency will be consistently underestimated. A strong accent can be a great barrier to making connections. Research even shows that employers in Australia often favour candidates that they can understand clearly.

Integreat Queensland’s Let’s Talk Conversational English classes provide a safe and comfortable setting where those who might not otherwise have the opportunity, can improve, and gain confidence in their spoken English. Our classes offer the opportunity for people to practice their speaking skills in a supportive and non-judgemental environment in an informal setting to encourage connection and confidence in communicating, making new friends, and learning new things.

When: Thursday, (during school term)
Time: 1pm – 2:30pm
Where: Integreat Qld – 1a Manning St, South Gladstone.
Cost: Free. Registration required.
*Participants can join anytime during the term.

To register or for more information, please contact us on 4903 1931 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

From little steps, friendships grow.

Did you know attending a playgroup is a great way for parents and carers to regularly get together with their young children to connect, learn through play and most importantly, have fun.

At Integreat Queensland, we believe our Little Steps Multicultural Playgroup supports children’s emotional confidence while having a parent close by for encouragement, and a sense of stability while sharing the experience together.

With children, parents, and carers from all different cultures attending the playgroup, we believe the meeting of new people and builds confidence and independence not only for the child but for the parents as well.

“We decided to enrol our child to improve his social skills and his communication with other children”, a parent of one of the children said.

“Going to playgroup on a weekly basis has made our little boy more sociable, and it makes him so happy where he looks forward to attending every week.”

Integreat Queensland’s Little Steps multicultural playgroup supports children’s emotional confidence while having a parent close by for encouragement, and a sense of stability while sharing the experience together. The meeting and interacting with new people stimulates children to learn to separate from their carers if even only for short bursts of time, building confidence and independence.

When: Every Tuesday & Friday from 9:30am to 11:30am (during school term)
Where: Philip Street Families and Communities Precinct – 1 Pengelly St, Gladstone. (Yellow/Nutchee building)
Free: Everyone with children from 0 to 5 years old are welcome.
Limited places available. Please do register for the day you would like to come.

This program is an initiative delivered by Integreat Queensland Inc. in partnership with Capricorn Communities for Children Facilitating Partner. Capricorn Communities for Children Facilitating Partner is funded by the Australian Government and facilitated by The Smith Family.

For more information, please contact us via email: littlesteps@integreatqld.org.au or phone 07 4903 1931.

Want a rewarding career in Hospitality?

Integreat Queensland are currently recruiting those who wish to obtain a Certificate lll in Hospitality. Commencing Tuesday, March 14, whether you have a flair for food, are a master of mixology, or have a reputation as being the ‘hostess with the mostest’, there is no better place to embrace your passion and carve out an exciting career than in our local hospitality industry.

Where could a Certificate III in Hospitality take you? A new career? Some extra income? A different lifestyle? This course offers you the chance to explore various career pathways in the hospitality industry – from preparing barista coffees or on-trend cocktails, to preparing food or serving customers, the opportunities are endless.

This is one of the only opportunities in Gladstone to do this course offline, so get in quick to secure your place.

To register your interest or for more information, please contact us on 4903 1931 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Let’s make friends and have a Picnic!

Let’s have a Picnic? What will we pack for our picnic? Let’s have some fruit and sweets. Let’s have some crisps and sandwiches. Let’s have some cheese and meats? Integreat Queensland’s Picnic in the Park is much like the ‘Picnic’ poem – tasty, entertaining, conversational, and most of all FUN!

Our Picnic in the Park events provides a perfect opportunity meet new people and to get together with your family and friends in a safe environment. Held on the first Sunday of every month, Picnic in the Park get togethers are not only a great way to relax and destress, but a great way to meet friends and make new ones in the Gladstone community. This event is about connecting with others and having fun over some food and drinks in a great atmosphere.

Our next Picnic in the Park is on Sunday April 2 from 12pm onwards at Spinnaker Park – (Area C – near the swimming beach area. Please look for Integreat QLD signs.

This is a free event every month. Integreat Queensland will provide a sausage sizzle and some games. All ages welcome. Please BYO picnic food/, chairs, picnic mat etc.

Rockhampton

Strengthen and promote positive childhood experiences.

Integreat Queensland’s Circle of Security program is a free parenting program, designed to help parents understand their child’s behaviour and to build and strengthen a secure relationship with their child. We all know that secure children exhibit increased empathy, greater self-esteem, better relationships with parents and peers, and enhanced school readiness, but how do we get there?

Integreat Queensland’s Circle of Security Parenting program is a relationship program for caregivers. We believe everyone can help prevent adverse childhood experiences and promote positive childhood experiences by supporting children and families to develop the skills needed to support and strengthen parent-child relationships.

So what do we do? We look at children’s emotional world and learn to read and support a child’s emotional needs by enhancing the development of their self-esteem but most importantly, we honour your wisdom and desire for your child to be secure.

Available in person and online, daytime or evening and depending on demand can be held in two locations – north or south Rockhampton. Expressions of interest are now open so let us know your preferences and we will see what can be offered. Childminding will be available for daytime, in person sessions.

Online:

Date: April 26
Time: 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Cost: Free
Register by connecting here NOW.

In Person:

Date: May 2
Time: 12.20pm to 2.30pm
Where: Berserker Street Community Hub
28 – 140 Berserker Street, North Rockhampton (Entrance – corner of Charles and Berserker St)
Register by connecting here NOW.

To find out more and/or to register your interest in attending, please phone 4900 1617 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Understanding your Journey.

Have you ever wondered about women’s support groups? Perhaps you’ve considered joining one, but aren’t exactly sure what you’re looking for. If so, you’re not alone. It can be difficult to sort through the many different offerings that provide group support to women.

Integreat Queenslan’d a Mother’s Journey is designed to be a supportive, educational and fun environment for women. Together, our program is designed to help women, mothers and female carers that may have been out of employment due to children, lack of employment opportunities, are or intending to partly retire to discuss and learn about ourselves and what’s available in Central Queensland.

A Mother’s Journey is a free program to assist mothers to learn about themselves and the services that can help and support them and the ones they love. We celebrate where we’ve come from and what has made us who we are and hear from a variety of guest speakers about our rights, our mental health, and gender diversity plus more. The program is for women of all ages who look after children – part time, full time, your own or others.

A Mother’s Journey is held on Fridays one day a week (up to 5 hours) during school hours and will include free lunch and childminding.

When: April 21
Time: 9.30 to 2.30pm
Where: 223 Campbell Street, Rockhampton

If you are interested or would like to learn more, please phone 4900 1617 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Isn’t it time we talked about English?

If you asked most people why they want to learn English, the answer would likely be: I want to be able to hold a conversation with confidence. That, in essence, is conversational English. It is the ability to confidently speak English with native speakers. It is not necessarily about being fluent in English. They are very different skills and for most English learners, the goal is to learn conversational English.

Conversational English is the language used every day. It is casual and informal. It is the type of English that is used in grocery stores, at the gym or when speaking with friends and family. It is, for most of us, the language used to communicate.

When: Every Thursday from 1 – 2.30pm (during school term)
Where: Berserker Community Hub and from 3.30-5pm @Lakes Creek Community Hub.
Cost: Free. Registration required.
*Participants can join anytime during the term.

We are currently taking expressions of interest for our English Literacy class. Please let us know if you or anyone you know would like to join this program.

If you are interested in joining our English classes, please contact us at 4903 1931 or email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au

Taking little steps to create friends.

Being a new parent is a constant maze of trying to navigate what you should and shouldn’t do to help give your little human the very best start in life. There are differing opinions on this subject, but it is clear that children who are given opportunities to socialise and communicate with others from a very early age acquire better interpersonal skills and are quicker to cooperate and problem solve. These skills lay the foundations for a child’s future learning, development and function.

For parents and carers, it offers opportunities where they interact with each other at the same time as their children. Forming connections with other adults who are facing similar challenges and have the same uncertainties, frustrations, and experiences of raising children of a similar age, provides a valuable way to support each other. Everyone is welcome to join Integreat Queensland’s Little Steps multicultural playgroup.

When: Every Tuesday from 9:30am to 11:30am (during school term)
Where: Berserker Street Community Hub, 28 – 140 Berserker Street, North Rockhampton (Entrance at the corner of Charles and Berserker St)
Free: Everyone with children from 0 to 5 years old are welcome.

To register and for more info, please contact us by email: contactus@integreatqld.org.au or phone 07 4903 1931.

Integreat Queensland opens up opportunities for everyone from everywhere to get involved, feel welcome, learn new things, and contribute to a strong, thriving local community.