Communities That Care Launches in Baw Baw Shire

Published on 24 October 2018

Baw Baw Shire Council and local auspice agency Berry Street have partnered to officially launch the ‘Communities That Care’ program across Baw Baw Shire today.

Baw Baw Shire Central Ward Cr Mikaela Power joined Communities That Care (CTC) Community Relations Officer Amber Osborn and Berry Street CEO Michael Perusco, Berry Street Gippsland Director Annette Jackson and Deputy Director Jane Barr to officially launch the program at Wesley of Warragul earlier this afternoon.

West Ward Cr Jessica O’Donnell, representatives from West Gippsland Healthcare Group and other local agencies were also in attendance for the launch event celebrations.

CTC is an evidence-based community change process aimed at improving health outcomes for local young people.

The program gathers local information on what is contributing to outcomes for young people and then delivers effective supports to reduce risks and improve protections for their better outcomes. Throughout the process, communities target their prevention efforts to reduce risk factors and strengthen protective factors in the four domains of community, family, school and individuals.

CTC also creates awareness of risk and protective factors impacting on the healthy development of children and adolescents and provides communities with a unique approach to identify and understand the issues experienced by local children and adolescents.

Berry Street is the auspice agency to engage with and guide the CTC process for the Baw Baw Shire community. Berry Street is in the process of appointing a Coordinator to the role which is expected to occur by late October.

Baw Baw Shire Council has committed $40,000 to the program over a two-year period in addition to the Victorian Government’s Department of Justice and Regulation’s $220,000 funding commitment.

For more information about the CTC process visit www.communitiesthatcare.org.au

“This project has been a real collaboration between Council, Berry Street Gippsland, Communities That Care, the Victorian Government and our local community.”

“We’re proud to see Council’s $40,000 investment go towards improving the lives of local young people. We thank the Department of Justice and Regulation for their $220,000 funding commitment. Without this, we would not be able to work with Berry Street to run this program over the next two years.”

“Communities That Care is a fantastic community-change process that will make a difference in the lives of young people in Baw Baw.”

“We know this program will provide opportunities for young people to benefit from research and more focused program delivery.”

“It’s great to have the opportunity to partner with Berry Street and further increase our engagement with local young people. Change takes time, but together we can improve the health and wellbeing of young people in Baw Baw.”

Image: Baw Baw Shire Council, Berry Street and local agencies join to officially launch 'Communities That Care' in Baw Baw Shire.