Are you, or is someone you know, having difficulty getting around the home. Want to make your home safer and more easily accessible?

Join us on Monday 14 November at Gumnut Place, 22 Gore Street, Murgon from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm for the 'Great Gadgets' talk and display for a chance to learn more about design solutions and assistive technology, including equipment and fittings to make your home environment safer and more easily accessible.

Please register your interest in attending with Ailsa by Thursday 10 November on 4168 1852.

For more information about LifeTec Qld call 1300 885 886 or email mail@lifetec.org.au

South Burnett CTC, volunteer mentors and learner drivers would like to thank Bill Hull Car Centre in Kingaroy for their donation of a car to support the Learner Driver Mentor Program.

Learning to drive and getting the necessary 100 hours required for a log book can be a very daunting proposition.  With this in mind South Burnett CTC through their Diversionary Services have put together a Learner Driver Mentor Program aimed at helping young people obtain their Learner’s Licence and to clock up their 100 log book hours.

The program relies on the generosity of members of the public to volunteer their time to mentor young drivers. 

The young drivers are given lessons with accredited driving schools to learn the basics of driving and road rules. Then, after consultation between the driving school, CTC and the Volunteer Mentor the learner driver is matched with a suitable mentor to begin getting those hours.

The program has been given a huge boost through the wonderfully kind donation of a  Mazda 2 by Bill Hull Car Centre in Kingaroy. This is a major boost to our program and has provided the program with a new car that all drivers will feel comfortable learning to drive in.

If your interested in becoming a learner driver mentor contact Sarah on 4169 5260.

CTC Diversionary Services facilitate various support programs to assist people who need help to reduce or cease drinking alcohol to live a sober life. With summer on its way, the team has been out and about promoting the latest campaign ‘H20 the Way to Go’ - ‘Drink Less Alcohol, Drink More Water’.

The campaign focuses on the benefits of drinking water whilst encouraging people in our community to alternate their alcoholic beverages with water. Being sensible by drinking responsibly and staying hydrated keeps you in control and helps make you feel great! Sadly, excessive alcohol consumption has a number of impacts on your life and can badly impact on your family, friends and the surrounding community. The purpose of this campaign is to encourage healthier choices and increase our community’s awareness of the dangers associated with dehydration and high alcohol consumption.  

Recently, Diversionary Services held a sausage sizzle, raffle and gold coin donation morning tea at the Cherbourg Radio Shed where they gave away free water bottles featuring our slogan ‘H20 the Way to Go’. This was a great opportunity to promote the campaign whilst raising some appreciated funds for the Ration Shed.

Our Support Workers recently met with the Cherbourg Rangers Team (run by the Cherbourg Police) where they discussed the importance of drinking water daily and replacing sugary drinks with H20. The event was a great success with more free water bottles given to the players.

CTC would like to thank the community for their ongoing support and participation in the campaign with a special mention to Struddy’s Sports Murgon, Betta Electrical Murgon, Mark Smith’s Menswear, the Top of Town Meats and the Murgon Bakery.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming events and promotions this summer and pick up your free water bottle from CTC Diversionary Services today. H20 the way to go!

Welcome to CTC Diversionary Services first newsletter which has been designed to let our community know a little more about our services and programs whilst providing an update on recent activities and events. Please take the time the read over our latest newsletter by clicking here.

CTC is very proud of our Community Services Trainee Cecil Sullivan who has recently been accepted at the Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre to study a Certificate II Indigenous Leadership.

The Australian Indigenous Leadership Centre is a not-for-profit company that offers accredited and non-accredited training courses to Indigenous Australians of all ages, backgrounds, cultural expressions and lifestyles. The centre aims to foster and nurture new Indigenous leadership and Cecil is very excited that he has been accepted into the course.

Cecil will have the opportunity to learn valuable skills and obtain knowledge that will prepare him for pivotal roles in Indigenous Leadership.

CTC and the Community Services staff would like to congratulate Cecil on his efforts. This is an amazing opportunity - well done Cecil!

On Friday 14 October, South Burnett CTC Inc (CTC) held a graduation ceremony for the participants of the local Green Army Flood Recovery Project, as funded by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). The graduates were congratulated by Council representatives and CTC staff at a BBQ held at Mt Wooroolin lookout.

Due to the significant flooding that occurred earlier in the year, CTC received State Government funding to facilitate a 20 week job placement project for 15 unemployed jobseekers. Under the guidance of Project Supervisor, Dave Little and CTC’s Employment Services Manager, Barb O’Hanlon, the participants completed extensive works at Mt Wooroolin. The project involved constructing an observation deck at the summit of the climb, as well as a shade structure at the picnic area, re-vegetation planting on the mountain and the renewal of flood damaged walking tracks.

These works were designed to provide participants with a variety of skills in the areas of construction and horticulture, with the intention of gaining further employment during or after completion of the 20 weeks. During the early stages of the project two participants were able to acquire employment.  To date, the Green Army Flood Recovery Project has assisted seven more participants gain further employment. 17 jobseekers were awarded certificates acknowledging the successful completion of their Work Placement and Training Plans at the graduation ceremony.

Government officials, Council representatives and community members have continued to provide positive feedback on  the projects completed at Mt Wooroolin. The works have improved the area providing the facilities for active recreational activities to be enjoyed by local residents and tourists alike.

The Employment Services teams in Kingaroy and Gympie must be congratulated on their efforts in supporting the National Breast Cancer Foundation with Pink Ribbon events throughout the month of October.

On Tuesday 18 October Employment Services Gympie hosted a  ‘Pink Morning Tea’, in memory of loved ones lost to cancer, and to support awareness, research and cure. The entire team were decked out in varying pink items. from pink t’shirts, hair ties and the identifiable pink ribbon pins, to the more ‘corporate’ ties of pink glitter and spots for the gentlemen of the office. Generous bakers and biccy-lovers alike, provided all with cheesecakes, pink lamingtons, cupcakes, biscuits and naughty chocolates to celebrate everyone’s efforts. Congratulations to the Gympie team who raised over $350 through purchasing their various items directly from the National Breast Cancer Foundation and at the morning tea.

On Wednesday 19 October Employment Services Kingaroy hosted a Pink Ribbon breakfast with over 20 people from various CTC services and family and friends in attendance. Everyone enjoyed a scrumptious BBQ breakfast with fresh fruit and juice whilst sharing their stories of friends and loved ones who had been touched by Cancer. Staff from the Employment Services team each purchased their own Pink Ribbon shirts to wear on the day and raised over $80 for the Cancer Council (excluding the funds raised from the sale of the Pink Ribbon merchandise). "All in all it was a great chance for people to show their support for such a great cause” – Troy Schultz.

Employment Services would like to offer a big thanks to everyone who made these fundraising events possible.