Community Connect

The achievements of 40 years were celebrated at the New Zealand Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisation’s (NZFVWO) Annual Meeting on Tuesday 15 September 2009.

The second Te Anau Heartlands Community Familiarisation Expo was held at the Te Anau Community Events Centre on 8 September 2009. The Expo built on the one held earlier this year which was well received by the community.

Family and Community Services online directory of family support services is getting a new name. The National Directory, which lists over 5,500 community-based organisations will now be called the Family Services Directory.

At the touch of a finger, Webhealth kiosks can link you to wellbeing. They provide a free link to community services through a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week anonymous access to quality, local, up-to-date information connecting you to a wide range of h

Speaking at the Hutt Valley Disability Networking Forum in July, the Minister of Disability Issues, Tariana Turia, praised the joined-up approach taken by Upper Hutt and Hutt City to address the needs of people with disabilities and their families.

American public policy expert Mark Friedman will conduct one-day workshops in Wellington and Christchurch in December on how organisations can use results-based accountability (RBA) to achieve better social outcomes.

Applications for the 2010 study awards close on 16 October 2009.

Twenty school principals and kindergarten managers in Birkenhead and Northcote found themselves at the receiving end of an act of kindness.

Migrants living in Northland now have a place to meet with the opening of the Whangarei Migrant Centre on 29 July 2009.

More than 300 people from migrant and refugee communities in Palmerston North and Feilding contributed to a recent report on the settlement experiences of newcomers to the area.

Learning ways to positively discipline children has been a focus of the Hamilton Ethnic Women's Centre Trust who have been running parenting groups for mothers and grandmothers from Hamilton's ethnic communities.

When government agencies and community groups team up to help a family, amazing things can happen.

Every year, approximately 2,500 families receive services via an Early Years Service Hub, which provides a central point where families with young children (pre-birth to school entry) access such services as antenatal care, Well Child health checks a

An organisation which has seen its client numbers double because of the recession and is managing increased demand is one of 164 recipients who received funding from the Community Response Fund.

2009 will be a year to remember for the community and voluntary sector as the effects of the economic downturn start to bite.

A new ‘Advocates for Children Witnessing Family Violence’ role in Waitakere is linking schools and agencies with the support and tools they need to help children dealing with family violence.

In a community that deals with many incidents related to family violence, central/local government agencies and community groups are working together in a concerted effort to tackle this issue.

They may be young but the Aranui Eagles have already got the message that family violence is not OK.

Christchurch Advocates for Children Witnessing Family Violence are working with schools to educate teachers about how to respond to children and young people who witness violence.

Getting involved in the Parents as First Teachers (PAFT) programme opened up a whole new world of support and friendship for one young mother who felt ashamed about her family circumstances.

Young dads are taking part in a ten-week men’s parenting programme in Whangarei and are learning new skills to help them in their important role.

When a mother has just heard she has cancer, or dealing with post natal depression, sometimes it’s difficult to focus on your child, let alone yourself. Sometimes, family and whanau will rally around and provide that much needed soft place to fall.

Over 300 parents were challenged to practice a SKIP strategy presented to them in a mystery envelope before the Funky Monkeys concert in Palmerston North last month.

SKIP and The Warehouse joined forces for Fathers Day again this year to promote positive parenting and celebrate dads.

"If we had known what we have learnt today, we would have walked the walk to help our children. …and our families would have been in a better place." A woman hardened by years of living with gangs is tearful when she says these words.

Programmes to address family violence in Maori and Pacific communities were officially released by Minister Tariana Turia at Parliament on 31 August 2009.

Māori family violence service providers were given ‘pass along cards’ that have positive and easily understood messages. Demand for the cards has been high.

School holidays will be a lot more fun for young people who don’t normally access holiday activities through the newly announced Break-Away School Holiday Programme.