Family Life

Music classes in infancy and early childhood have been shown to improve cognitive and social development, and support positive relationships between children and parents.

At Baby Music Class you will have fun dancing and singing, learn to play percussion instruments, and support healthy development through musical play.

This class is available for parents and children aged 0-5 who reside in Mornington Peninsula Shire, Frankston City, City of Kingston, Bayside City, Glen Eira, Stonington and Port Phillip. To register and find out more, visit: https://www.familylife.com.au/early-help/

Corporate volunteering is a great team building exercise to get out of the office and give back to the community! Are you interested in finding out more about our corporate volunteering opportunities? Visit: https://www.familylife.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/ to find out more and to get in touch!

Please join us for an afternoon of fashion and fun! Family Life are back rolling out the red carpet catwalk for our 2024 Fashion Show: Fashion Through the Ages.
Event details and tickets available at: https://ow.ly/6w8H50SVuZj

Hurry, limited tickets available! Can't wait to see you there 🧡

Today is the United Nations International Youth Day. International Youth Day began in 2000 and was organised by the UN to recognise the input that young people make in education, community development, environmental groups, volunteering for different social projects.

International Youth Day gives a platform to the voices of the youth. It engages youngsters and aims to take initiatives and actions that will increase opportunities for them.

Did you know? Family Life has work experience opportunities available, in addition to being part of Monash University's Volunteering Platform. Volunteering is a great way to meet new friends, give back to your community and learn great workforce skills!

Let's make a difference together; if you have thought about volunteering opportunities at Family Life now is the perfect time to start your journey! We are 💪 🌏

https://www.familylife.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

Happy National Student Volunteer Week! Student volunteers not only learn new skills and have the chance to give back to their communities, but provide great insight and fun for all those who work across our Community Op Shops!

Let's make a difference together; if you have thought about volunteering opportunities at Family Life now is the perfect time to start your journey! We are 💪 🌏

https://www.familylife.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

This week is Loneliness Awareness Week (5-11th August).
Loneliness Awareness Week shines a spotlight on the shared experience of loneliness and calls on all Australians, including individuals, communities, workplaces, education, and government, to take action to reduce loneliness and create more opportunities for meaningful social connections.

To find out more, and to get involved visit: https://lonelinessawarenessweek.com.au/

National Student Volunteer Week is an opportunity to acknowledge the impact that student volunteers make through volunteering. This year, we are celebrating the powerful and positive changes students bring to our communities through volunteering.

Family Life currently has over 30 student volunteers across our 10 Community Op Shops! These young volunteers bring a great energy to their stores to create a community minded workplace.

Let's make a difference together; if you have thought about volunteering opportunities at Family Life now is the perfect time to start your journey! We are 💪 🌏

https://www.familylife.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

This year’s National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day theme is, ‘Strong in Culture, Stronger Together’. This year we stand with our children, proud of their culture, stories, kin and community – all that makes our children special, resilient and the bright leaders for our future.

Our vision is for our children to thrive, be strong in culture and connected to kin and community – our children should be proud to come from the oldest living culture in the world.

Our men’s support services work to improve the lives of adults that use family violence and to improve the safety of women and children.

We provide Men's Behaviour Change Programs, Perpetrator Case Management Program, Stepping Forward Programs and Dads In Focus. Risk management is a key function of our programs and through our interventions respond to the diverging needs of adults using violence as they journey through the service system.

To find out more, visit: www.familylife.com.au

The traumatic effects of family violence on children and their families are well acknowledged. Family Life is passionate about providing a holistic response to Family Violence which includes all family members, both those impacted by violence and the individuals use violence.

Read about how Family Life's support assisted Bobby in understanding the impact of his violent behaviour on his family, enhancing his knowledge, and modifying his behavior to break the cycle of family violence: https://ow.ly/S7eI50SLSWI

We're Hiring! Do you have a passion for pre-loved fashion and homewares? Do you love merchandising and making recycled treasures shine? Are you highly organised and experienced in retail? Are you a people person who loves customers and can inspire and support our wonderful group of volunteers?

We're on the hunt for a Casual Retail Assistant at our Community Op Shops across Bayside or the Mornington Peninsula! Apply now: https://www.familylife.com.au/careers/

We are celebrating International Friendship Day this week with schools and kindergartens within our community! 🧡

Stay tuned to see what activities and events our local schools/kinders get up to!
You can get involved as well, by wearing orange this week and making a donation toward our Family Life programs, services and initiatives via our website: https://ow.ly/XaOC50SLSUM

Our Family Life Connect program offers free mental health support to the cultural and linguistically diverse communities for people who live, work or study in Greater Dandenong.

If you, or someone you know, is feeling stressed, anxious or worried the Connect team can support your wellbeing and help you achieve your goals.

Find out more, or to seek support visit our website: https://www.familylife.com.au/

Family Life has recently transitioned from a Hybrid Work policy to a Flexible Work Policy. This allows for a greater flexibility in how individuals and teams at Family Life choose to work! The new policy promotes connection, equity and diversity while accommodating for differences between roles. As always, our work is centered around our clients and community first and foremost.

If this sounds like your ideal working model, we have current roles available! Find out more and apply at: https://www.familylife.com.au/careers/

1 week to go! We are teaming up with our local schools and kindergartens to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Friendship (30th July).

In the last week of July, we are asking local schools/kinders to implement activities and games to celebrate friendship, and for students to wear something in the colour orange on a free dress day.

If your school or kindergarten is interested in getting involved, we have digital resource kits available now.

Please email [email protected] for more information. 🧡🧡

Family Life is committed to providing families and children with the support and resources necessary to address these challenges and cultivate a safe home environment. Through our range of services, including counselling and therapeutic interventions, we work hand in hand with our families, empowering them to overcome obstacles and create brighter futures.

Read about how Family Life's support assisted Sarah in gaining confidence and connection to her community: https://ow.ly/ujRn50SB7ng

Last week, our own Tony Johannsen (Executive Manager of Clinical Practice) partnered with The Hatchery - Hub for a free online seminar on working with men who use Family Violence to support Mens Behaviour Change facilitators to challenge men’s narratives for meaningful change.

Tony presented on 'How to use empathy to elicit personal responsibility with men who use violence' during the online workshop. To find out more about our work with people who use violence, visit our website for a suite of programs and services: https://ow.ly/nK5350SB7ka

Last week, Brian McDowell, Family Life's Director of Services, joined the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Vicki Ward MP for Eltham and officials, partners and colleagues at Bentleigh’s new Orange Door Access Point, located at the corner of South Road and Nepean Highway.

Orange Door locations provide coordinated help and support for people experiencing family violence, and for families needing support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people.

People can seek help face to face at the Frankston primary site, Bentleigh or Hastings Access Points or call Orange Door Bayside Peninsula on 1800 319 353 or email [email protected]

Happy World Youth Skills Day! World Youth Skills Day celebrates the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship.

Family Life supports the need for work skills development. Our social enterprise volunteering program provides retail and interpersonal skills for many young people preparing them for the workplace.

For more information on volunteering and to fill out an expression of interest form, visit: https://www.familylife.com.au/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/

Family Life has supported the development of the City of Casey Community Service Organisations Growth and Attraction Framework. Last week Family Life team members attended the launch. The purpose of the framework is to establish the foundations for shared agreement and collective action so that Community Service Organisations can grow both individually and collectively and Council decision-makers know what to focus on and when to act.

This follows our Casey Community Listening Tour project and report produced which highlighted the importance of community service organisations collaborating and working together to address local based needs with community solutions. To find out more about our Community Listening Tours, visit: https://www.familylife.com.au/community-listening-tours-2/

Children and families can face significant challenges to their health and safety if their environment is unsafe.

To combat this, Family Life works closely with families, neighbourhoods and broader communities to improve safety and wellbeing. We do this through our program, Creating Capable Communities.

To find out more about our suite of Creating Capable Communities programs, visit: https://ow.ly/sllc50SwBQw

The Family Life team were delighted to attend Nairm Marr Djambana's Annual NAIDOC Dinner. A wonderful evening of traditional and contemporary dance, awards, conversation, fun and connection.

This years NAIDOC Week theme is,"Blak, Loud and Proud". This encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world.

Earlier this week, family Life staff attended Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association for a NAIDOC Week flag raising event.

This years NAIDOC Week theme is,"Blak, Loud and Proud". This encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world.

Have you had a chance to check out our Family Life Op Shops? Our incredible 10 stores provide funding for our community programs and services, all made possible by our group of amazing 300+ volunteers.

Our stores don't just offer great bargains, but support a circular economy- giving back both through social and environmental impact. Support our Op Shops and shop for social good! 🧡

You can follow our stores at Family Life Opportunity Shops on Instagram and Facebook.
Statistic from Charitable Reuse Australia

Family Life staff attended the Nairm Marr Djambana this morning for a flag raising event to celebrate NAIDOC Week.

This years NAIDOC Week theme is,"Blak, Loud and Proud". This encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world.

Happy NAIDOC Week. This week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year's theme is, "Blak, Loud and Proud". This encapsulates the unapologetic celebration of Indigenous identity, empowering us to stand tall in our heritage and assert our place in the modern world. This theme calls for a reclamation of narratives, an amplification of voices, and an unwavering commitment to justice and equality. It invites all Australians to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected.

Poster title: Urapun Muy. Artist: Deb Belyea
To find out more, and to get involved visit: https://www.naidoc.org.au/

We all experience personal, family and relationship issues throughout the course of our lives. While we can sometimes work through these with the help of friends and relatives, other times we require outside support.

If you’re in need of a space to talk about issues affecting you, your family or your relationships, Family Life can help. Find out more: https://www.familylife.com.au/support/relationships/family-counselling/

As a proud sponsor of the event, members of our Family Life team attended the Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place NAIDOC Dinner for 2024 at the Southern Golf Club on Friday 28 June.

This year’s NAIDOC theme is "Keep the fire burning! Blak, loud and proud”. NAIDOC Week 2024 is celebrated between 7-14 July 2024. For more information and how to get involved, visit: https://www.naidoc.org.au/