Covid and Beyond ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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There was COVID. What now? My brain goes fuzzy and my mouth dry when people try to talk intelligently to me about COVID now. I feel it is my body's beautiful way of protecting me from engaging in further distress. So, while I cannot engage our Peers in a robust discussion about the pros and cons of vaccination and progress of the virus, I can continue to do what I do in the fight against the virus's devastation on our community's wellbeing. We offer a safe space for people to re-enter community and deal with the various challenges that impact us. Reach out if you need us.
Here's what we have planned in bursting out of the gates as positively as possible in 2022:
- New home
- New employees - Youth Peer Support Workers
- New partnerships are being formed as we speak to provide our peers and local community members a selection of "come and try" groups to enhance wellbeing. See "what we loved this month" for just two of those partners we are engaging for this group initiative.
- Art Therapy is back and at our rooms every Saturday
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Our New Home
I am so excited that we have a place to host our services that is congruent with our peer needs.
Our group room will be a drop in space when not in formal use, so drop by and say hi to us at Shops 8 & 9, Centre Road, Bentleigh. Enjoy some colouring, puzzles, read or just sit and breathe.
You might even see a couple of new faces behind the desks in the adjoining office space.
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Youth Peer Support Program
There was a time I thought I might need to shelve our Youth Peer Support Program. For some reason, it just wasn't taking off. With community now reconnecting, we are finally seeing interest in this service that recognises its true worth. I am very excited to announce that Effie, our Senior Peer & Social Worker, has returned after maternity leave. Effie has much experience working with youth and their families and will ably support our Youth Peer workers. If you are interested in becoming a peer with us or know someone who would benefit from our Youth Peer Program, please give us a call.
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Kyle joins the team as a Peer Worker.
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Kyle joins us having experienced some pretty heavy mental health challenges after the loss of friends to suicide. Kyle supports peers who are beginning to experience their own challenges and began his first partnership just this week! Kyle will also be APTF's Sporting Peer Program Lead with our Ormond JFC program. He will begin his studies in Mental Health Certificate IV in April and will be ably supported by Effie. In the next edition, I look forward to introducing you to Oli and Nick (more new Peers) and re-introducing you to Freya, one of our long standing Peers
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A Glimpse at what we do with families..
It's almost impossible to neatly sum up our supports for carers and families because we make every attempt to customise our services to what young people and their family needs. So, that said, here is a small snapshot.
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NDIS Helping people get access to NDIS supports and/or advocating for them to ensure they continue to receive adequate funding and/or get reputable services. Advocacy With NDIA, at schools, in hospitals to advocate for the voice/s of my peers and partner with the system to ensure best outcomes for our families. Referrals Numerous referrals to specialised supports utilising my partnerships in surrounding areas. We are well aware when people need services that we cannot provide and pride ourselves on connecting those people to professionals who have expertise and experience in the needed area. Ongoing Support Sometimes we just need to be heard; to have our experiences validated and feel valued. We have provided numerous hours of peer support sharing our lived and living experience to walk beside our families.
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Things we loved this month |
Mindful Kids in Melbourne.
Mindful Kids Melbourne supports the wellbeing of children and their families through positive psychology-based mindfulness practices. Sarah provides mental health and wellbeing support for children and caregivers, that will assist with life-long learning and development of resilient problem-solving adults.
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Assertive Fitness
We are super excited to share this business partner with you. Get fit and learn self-defence skills at the same time with Mark at Assertive Fitness. Mark is an experienced trainer with martial arts background who is great in supporting people of all ages. We can't wait to get our Youth Peers Partnerships involved with him.
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Pressing Buttons
This newsletter we want to acknowledge Ben and Ryan, of Pressing Buttons for another donation; this time a massive $3,000 which is currently being used to subsidise services for some important younger members of our community.
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M N Videos
I feel so grateful to have been awarded the Change the World video with MN Videos. Each time someone sees the worth in what we are doing at APTF, we feel grateful. Thank you Radi and Moises.
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