Uniting

What do you love about your unique family?

Uniting celebrates the rich diversity of all the families in our teams and our services.

We're sharing the Uniting Families Report for great actionable insights on Australian Families raising children.

This week we brought many of our friends, peers and leaders across the human services sectors, NSW government and the academic community together to discuss the importance of understanding and recognising family diversity. 🙌

The event launched the Uniting Families Report and was a valuable opportunity to connect and open the conversation on how we can, together, improve policy and service delivery to better support all families.

"We can't remove climate change as a factor, but we can change how we support our clients through it."

Lauren works for Uniting's home and community care team, supporting ageing clients with some of the most complex needs across Northern Sydney. She says that changes to the climate is already affecting them in unexpected ways.

🤲 Uniting's clients rely on our care, especially during extreme weather, and we have a duty to support them through these challenges.

We must take action action for those who can't. Let's care for our communities and our planet together. 🤝

We continue to welcomed new faces to our Uniting volunteers family. 🤗

So who better to tell us why you should try it than our incredible volunteers. 👏

If you know someone who has just an hour free a week and would enjoy connecting with others or a cause, tell them about volunteering with Uniting. 👊

Team Uniting have shared their inspirational stories of growth and success during our first-ever Uniting Chronicles event.

Experts were on hand to provide learning and development opportunities, as well as different pathways to careers in management, clinical care, catering and hospitality and administration.

One of our speakers - Mark Sanchez - shared how 10 years ago he immigrated from the Philippines to start work as a kitchenhand at Uniting. 😮

With dedication and determination, Mark trained to become a Registered Nurse and is now the Service Manager at Uniting Illowra in Waverley.

Mark was just one of many stories demonstrating the unlimited options available to staff at Uniting who want to advance their careers in aged care.

Olympic fever continues across Uniting. 🥇🥈🥉

This time it's residents from Uniting Nareen Terrace and Nareen Gardens setting PBs across the track and field.

From hurdles to cycling, and even pool noodle javelin - the Uniting team have encouraged health and movement exercises to replicate events at The Games.

And the results have been inspirational.

Well done to all our future athletes. 👏

Next stop: USA 2028 🤩

Congratulations to the Uniting Connect team on the success of their Central Coast Homelessness Connect Day Health & Wellbeing event. 👏

The event provided free services to local people sleeping rough, including haircuts, food, clothes, connection to health services and much more.

Thant you to the 9 News crew for supporting the event and helping to raise awareness. 🙌

This Homelessness Week, we want to shine a light on the team at Sydney's Foyer Central - who support young people with lived experience of out-of-home care. 🙌

Since Feb 2021, they have provided residence with a safe place to access opportunities for their personal development, health and wellbeing, education and employment.
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Youth Development Coaches, like Amba, provide mentoring and life skills to help them transition from out-of-home care to independence.⁣⁣
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“Amba has been my Youth Development Coach for 2 years and she has seen my change and has always help me – even when I was ready to give up,” says Foyer Central resident, Korrine.⁣⁣
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“She has always been there to encourage me, and I want to thank Amba for always being consistent and for other aspects outside of my education, like my house and living skills – which help to further my skills so I can live independently.” ⁣⁣
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She has never made me feel ashamed and has always listened, and then guided me when I needed advice.” 👏⁣⁣
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A big thank you to the Foyer Central Team.🙌 ⁣⁣
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*Foyer Central is a partnership with Uniting, SGCH, Social Ventures Australia and NSW Government. ⁣⁣Foyer Foundation

Today we recognise our Uniting aged care team.🥇

From the cleaning staff to the hairdressers - like Kay - who care for our loved ones and bring them so much joy.

"We share lots of stories and laughter," says Kay.

"It's not a job when you have so much happiness in your life from day to day. It makes my heart so full."

Thank you, and happy Aged Care Employee Day. 👏👏

"I cannot thank you enough for the work you do, the dedication and for going above and beyond." 😂

Uniting Illowra Service Manager, Mark Sanchez, shares a special message for the Uniting family on Aged Care Employee Day.

We couldn't have said it any better, Mark.🙌

Happy Aged Care Day to our incredible team, who care for over 24,000 vulnerable Australians. 💜

😔 2 years on from the devastating floods in Northern NSW, 1200 people still remain in emergency accommodation.

Trish Bowie has no family to turn to and continues to live in uncertainty after losing her rental property during the floods.

A resident at the Brunswick Heads Community Village Bayside, Trish is supported by the Uniting Recovery Support Service (RSS) team, who help her access the services she desperately needs.⁣

"They make me feel special, which is really lovely because I know as you get older you feel invisible," says Trish.

But this accommodation is only a temporary solution.

"I'm safe now but I've heard local members begging for acommodation for me and being told there's no answer for me."

On any given night in Australia, more than 122,000 people experience homelessness. Being an older woman with a mental health condition makes up a big part of this demographic.

✊ Homelessness Week is a time to raise awareness of the impact of homelessness and advocate for change for people like Trish.

Uniting Elanora residents in Shellharbour have fallen in love with their new feathered friends. 🐣

During the 2-week hatching program, residents welcomed 7 chicks and 3 ducks.

They were assigned different roles and assisted with feeding and watering and cleaning the cage.

"I love watching our residents get excited to race down every morning to see if there was more babies or how they have grown," said Uniting Elanora Quality Coordinator, Logan Stoker.

There was even a competition created for the first person to spot a newly hatched chick.

The prize? The chance to name them. 🙌

Some of the names chosen were: Quackers, Milk, Clucky and Cherper Chick.

"We heard stories from those who grew up on farms and others who raised animals. Some of our residents would spent a lot of time sitting in front of the cage watching the babies do their thing," said Ms Stoker.

Great job, everyone 👏

Let the Games begin.🥇

Olympics-fever has taken over Uniting The Marion, with residents competing in their own version of the Games.

Events such as the egg and spoon race, floor darts, electric car racing and balloon tennis were set up by Uniting Leisure and Wellness Coordinator - Robyn Dunne - and the team.

Gold, silver and bronze medals were handed out to the best competitors and everyone competing got to enjoy treats of green and gold jellybeans.

To add to the excitement, Mike Dalton from 9 News and a film crew from Channel 7 captured the residents in action.

Congratulations to all the winners, and to Robyn and Team Uniting for organising such a wonderful event. 👏

Chaplain Rev. Minh Towne shares her heartfelt reflections after many years supporting residents and their loved ones during their most vulnerable times.😭

The Anchor is a FREE resource to support kids whose parents are divorced or separated.

Tools include:

✅ Tip sheets for kids, adolescents and parents
✅ Helpful information and videos
✅ Links to other resources to download
✅ Support groups for kids in the same boat
✅ Programs to help parents support kids better
✅ Resources for professionals

It's your Anchor in the storm of separation.

Happy NAIDOC Week celebrations across the weekend, from everyone at Uniting.🖤💛❤️

Local Area Coordinator Leanne shares her personal and powerful connection to NAIDOC Week. ⚫🟡🔴

Opened in Feb 2021, Sydney's Foyer Central provides young people with lived experience of out-of-home care a safe place to access opportunities for their personal development, health and wellbeing, education and employment.😍⁣
⁣
Youth Development Coaches, like Amba, provide mentoring and life skills to help them transition from out-of-home care to independence.⁣
⁣
“Amba has been my Youth Development Coach for 2 years and she has seen my change and has always help me – even when I was ready to give up,” says Foyer Central resident, Korrine.⁣
⁣
“She has always been there to encourage me, and I want to thank Amba for always being consistent and for other aspects outside of my education, like my house and living skills – which help to further my skills so I can live independently.” ⁣
⁣
She has never made me feel ashamed and has always listened, and then guided me when I needed advice.” 👏⁣
⁣
A big thank you to Amba and all our Foyer Central Youth Development Coaches.🙌 ⁣
⁣
Foyer Central is a partnership with , Social Ventures Australia and NSW Government. ⁣

We’re For 👉YOU 👈

Uniting Local Area Coordination is thrilled to announce the launch of our LAC Customer Care Team!

We’ve made it easier than ever for you to reach us and receive support and assistance regarding the NDIS and your NDIS plan.

Now, there’s only one centralised number to call for all your Local Area Coordination queries. The LAC Customer Care Team is ready to answer your questions, assist you, and ensure you receive the highest level of service.

How to contact our Uniting LAC Customer Care Team:

🔴 Call 1300 453 303 between 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday to Friday.
Email [email protected]