BUSHkids Annual Report 2022-23

CPSS - Children and Parenting Support Services

Cunnamulla Case Study Western Queensland Primary Health Network (WQPHN), Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health (CACH) and BUSHkids have been working together for the past three years to ensure children in Cunnamulla can reach their potential. In October 2020, an inaugural workshop between the three organisations was held in Cunnamulla to identify strengths in the community and how BUSHkids could build upon these strengths. A hybrid service model has been developed over time to incorporate consistent face-to face visits, engaging, child-focused and family- centred telepractice, community capacity building and more recently, employment and upskilling of an Allied Health Assistant who grew up and lives in Cunnamulla.

BUSHkids practitioners work collaboratively with key early childhood stakeholders in the local community – including CACH’s New Directions teams in Mums and Bubs groups – and in the kindy, day care and primary school, as well as individually with families. Over time our collaborative partnership has matured and children and families are receiving consistent, integrated supports. BUSHkids AHA Stacy-Lee Stacy grew up in Cunnamulla and has a passion for helping people in her community. She attended all of her schooling in Cunnamulla from preschool through high school. Now she supports the Mums and Bubs Groups run by Cindy and Caitlyn from CACH’s New Directions team which are held in the building where she attended preschool. Cindy worked in the preschool room when Stacy attended and now they work alongside each other to support Cunnamulla parents and carers so their little ones will thrive.

BIRDIE’S TREE EARLY LEARNING AND UNIVERSAL SUPPORT Across Queensland, families have been impacted by significant natural disasters, including flood, drought, bushfires, and the pandemic. During this period, infant mental health clinicians at the Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health noticed a sharp increase in babies and young children aged 0-4 showing emotional and behavioural disturbances linked to their experiences of storms and floods. The Program and universal resources were developed to support children’s behavioural, mental health and emotional wellbeing by identifying and responding to the needs of they and their families before, during and following a natural disaster.

BUSHkids supports children and families experiencing adversity and who are at risk of not achieving their potential. Funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS) provides early intervention, prevention services and resources to improve children’s development and wellbeing, and to support parents and carers in raising children, for our work in Stanthorpe, Kingaroy (Kingaroy North and Nanango) and Agnes Waters (Miriam Vale); Texas and Inglewood are independently funded by BUSHkids.

Stacy-Lee and Cindy are two generations working together at Cunnamulla.

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Annual Report 2022–23