“…assisting you the Murri way…every day in every way…” 
 

Community Support Service

Supports Indigenous community members and their families by providing links and referrals to a range of mainstream and indigenous services that may include welfare and social support, family violence, child care, legal, housing and health (including drug and alcohol services). This service will enhance social inclusion and community cohesion by better linking indigenous people to community services. Relationships with other service providers are also developed.

The Service provides a welcoming place where Indigenous people and their families can go for help to find a service to meet their needs and access the internet.

CQID employs workers in Emerald, Longreach and Rockhampton.

A holistic approach to the Client’s wellbeing is taken through the appointment of a Holistic Outreach Services (HOS) Community Support Worker who ‘journeys’ with the client and follows up on the outcomes at regular intervals. The intimate relationship between community wellbeing and individual wellbeing is addressed by improving access to pre-existing socio-economic and social & emotional support programs at both the individual client and community level. This approach has a two pronged effect in that client access is increased and service provision is improved as the program staff monitor and supports the client’s continuum of care through referral pathways and advocacy in utilising appropriate services.

This program is funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Non-Government Organisation Treatment Grant program (NGOTGP)

The objectives of the Program is for non-government organisations to establish and operate a range of services with a particular emphasis on filling geographic and target group gaps (women, youth, comorbidity, families with children, psychostimulant users and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) in the coverage of existing services and to expand or enhance existing NGOs to achieve improved service outcomes and to increase the number of illicit drug treatment places offered.

The program is to provide case management and referral services to Indigenous people requiring assistance to treatment and programs with regard to alcohol and other drugs, initially within Rockhampton and then regionally depending on availability.

Our primarily focus is to maintain a continuum of care for clients by providing support and advocacy, counselling and follow-up with an emphasis placed on the ongoing review of the clients continuum of care. We know that this is vital in identifying and closing gaps in client access and service delivery, from this information, decisions and suggestions can be made to reduce gaps.

We also aim to support service providers who may be restricted in accessing the target group in an outreach capacity e.g. riverbank, parks, streets, homes, any place that is neutral ground to the target group.

 The following diversionary programs are also delivered:

• Music program

• Arts and crafts through traditional art and bead making 

• Back to Country including fishing, fire making and food gathering, with local traditional owners. 

• Monthly outings

This program is funded by the Department of Health and Aging.

Monthly Outings

Monthly outings have been organised for participants of the diversionary program as a way to promote a healthy lifestyle and provide an enjoyable day out. Trips to different parks in Rockhampton allow people to enjoy painting, music and jewellery making activities followed by a b-b-que and health promotion. Workers from service agencies also attend and give presentations on topics such as diabetes, alcohol and drug abuse and sexual health.  

Clients benefit by learning about a healthy lifestyle, being away from their regular place in an alcohol and drug free environment, developing friendships and strengthening those bonds and increasing their self esteem.

Participants have input into where they go and a camping trip is being planned.

If you wish to come along or refer someone to this program, phone: 4927 4248.

River 2 Home

This initiative will support people in the target group to move into stable, long term housing and achieve long term lifestyle changes by providing the following service components:

Access Outreach Component

Initiating face to face contact in public space and other locations and providing assessment, appropriate referral and access to specialist homelessness services. Contact with clients can occur where people are sleeping rough such as in parks and streets as well as improvised dwellings, marginal accommodation and boarding houses. During this time, small step by step, practical assistance helps build confidence and trust btween the service and client. 

Access Outreach will work in partnership with other specialist homelessness support services and mainstream agencies such as primary health and treatment services.

Mobile support component

Providing case management support to people in their home or in a community setting, other than specialist homelessness service's places or in a public space. The goal of the mobile support may be to transition a client from homelessness to being housed or support a client to maintain a tenancy and prevent a tenant from becoming at risk.  

The River 2 Home service will initiate 'rapid responses' where pressure points are identified either through outreach by the service or by advice from other services, government agencies or the community. Responses will be situational specific and ensure that necessary actions are coordinated and timely to assist individuals. This program is funded by the Department of Communities.

Woorabinda Drug & Alcohol Service

The pupose of this service is to improve the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through the delivery of effective, holistic and culturally appropriate drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Woorabinda. CQID is currently developing a treatment model and policies for residential rehabilitation  for use at the Woorabinda Residential Treatment Centre. it is anticipated that this centre will be operational early in 2012. 

Referrals can be provided by any of the following:

• Self-referral/ walk-in
• Family member/ Elder/ friend
• Aboriginal Medical Service
• Hospital
• General Practice
• Mental health service and/ or social and emotional wellbeing services
• Mainstream or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community health service
• Other mainstream and/or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drug and alcohol services
• Justice system

Where other consideration is required in addition to client need, approval must be sought from the relevant OATSIH project manager.

Other appropriate drug and alcohol services, to support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Woorabinda are also delivered and networks with other community service providers are nurtured to facilitate communication, information exchange and client referrals.

Department of Health & Ageing

CQID Band

'The Drones'

The CQID Holistic team predominantly works with people with a dependancy on drugs and alcohol, providing them with support and outreach programs to get their life back on track. After seeing people playing music in the parks, it was decided that CQID should start a band as part of the Community Support Program.

Music is a great drawcard and healing process and the creation of a band was seen as the way to assist program participants. Not only would they learn new instruments and develop friendships, but by attending practice sessions twice a week, band members would develop structure in their life and increase their confidence and self esteem.

The Drones played at the NAIDOC expo in 2011 and have had offers from other organisations to play at their events.

The band has six members and is always looking for more participants. if you are able to play an instrument or sing and would like to join the band, phone: 49274248.

The Drones