Program

On a practical level, the program provides help with:

• Professional development training: Such as public speaking, event management and offering access to information on job opportunities.
• Paid work experience: Including community events, youth group workshops and consultation participation.

• Offer a safe and welcoming space for women and children
• Support women to identify and build upon their strengths
• Ensure the physical safety of women and their children
• Support women to make positive life choices and engage in healthy relationships
• Reduce vulnerability factors, such as homelessness, domestic violence and drug and alcohol issues, and child protection risks
• Strengthen relationships between women and their children

This program aims to support women living in the Redfern Local Area Command and surrounding areas to leave violent relationships and stay in their own home where possible, or relocate to safe accommodation, by providing casework, court support, safety planning and brokerage to fund security upgrades.

Our domestic violence caseworkers can see women in our centre or visit their homes to provide safety assessments as well as accompanying them to police stations and courts. Childcare is available by appointment for women coming to the centre for casework – bookings are essential.

We conduct regular community consultations to ensure that we are addressing the needs which the community has identified, and frequently host events and activities to include all members of the community.

Our volunteer tutors assist children and young people with:

• Core Maths, Science, and English subjects
• Transition to high school
• NAPLAN
• Higher School Certificate preparation
• Basic reading and writing for children and young people with low levels of literacy

Students come from many walks of life. Our program prioritises students who fall into any of the following criteria:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Culturally or linguistically diverse
• Refugee status or background
• Migrant and/or asylum seeker
• Lives in social housing
• Single parent family
• Low income earning family
• Parents/Carers possess a Centrelink health card or Pension Card

Our tutors are volunteers recruited from within the community who feel passionate about education and supporting children to feel confident at school. They have a strong academic background, and a commitment to have a positive impact on the lives of children and young people.

As part of the program, we equip people with a structured 12-month plan which includes bail, pre and post-release support, plus diversionary options. We believe that, by connecting with people 12 weeks before their release, we can significantly increase their chances of successfully integrating back into the community.

Our team provides practical support in the following ways:

• Obtaining essential identification documentation
• Setting up bank accounts
• Organising referrals to specialised services
• Ensuring our clients can access cultural health and wellbeing initiatives

In August 2018, we co-facilitated the first Cultural Health & Wellbeing Camp – Walu-Win Gundyarri, providing young Indigenous men with the opportunity to reconnect with themselves and their culture.

Getting your L’s: We can help you study for the Driver Knowledge Test and can help with the cost of the test.

Instructors: Driving Change has 2 professional driving instructors who can provide professional lessons to Driving Change participants at a special discounted rate. Both of the Weave driving instructors are Keys2Drive accredited.

Volunteers: Our volunteer driving supervisors help people to gain experience on the road and help people under the age of 25 to get their 120 logbook hours.

Cars: We have automatic and manual vehicles for our professional lessons and volunteer sessions.

Safer Drivers Course: Weave will be delivering the course at our Waterloo office in partnership with Peters Driving School. People who complete the course will get an extra 20 hours in their logbook.

Dual diagnosis is a term used to describe someone who is experiencing both mental health and substance use issues. Some examples include:

• A mental health issue that leads to alcohol and/or other drug use
• Substance use issues that affects mental health and wellbeing

Our pioneering program, which won the award for Excellence in Community Drug Treatment at the NADA Awards in 2016, continues to deliver responsive, holistic, effective support to young people experiencing dual diagnosis, helping them deal with practical issues and receive trauma informed care.

The program offers opportunities for people to experiences themselves differently and engage in creative projects, events and group work programs — this gives young people the chance to build relationships, and connect with themselves, and the broader community.

Activities are purpose driven and designed to address underlying issues. The Kool Kids Program builds connections with community and family, creating a safe, comfortable environment that allows our kids to have fun, make friends, and learn new skills. Through this, our Kool Kids quickly develop their self-esteem and sense of independence, and are better placed to overcome hardships.

At Kool Kids, every child has the opportunity to:

• Engage in recreational activities like overnight camps, bushwalking, rock climbing, and cultural excursions
• Work closely with our Advocates to improve their social health and wellbeing
• Build a stronger connection to their culture
• Foster strength and resilience in every area of life