Five important ways our Aboriginal Family Support Officer can help
This National Reconciliation Week we are sharing some of the ways our Aboriginal Family Support Officer can help Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people with support.
Afterall, the 2023 theme is “be a Voice for Generations” which encourages us to collectively be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, and socialise.
Southcare’s Aboriginal Family Support Officer Beverley says the week is for the generations past, and the benefit of generations future.
“Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Beverley said.
“We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation and my role here at Southcare directly helps so many.”
Some of the ways Southcare helps Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people with support include:
- Writing support letters
These letters are prepared for support agencies and explain your situation in simple language and can request assistance in the form of housing, benefits, employment and more. We’ll have a yarn with you to understand what you want to say and work with you to get the words together. Letters can be short or long and you can take a printed copy of the letter with you at the end of your appointment, or we can forward letters electronically on your behalf. - Advocate on your behalf to the Department of Housing for any housing-related issues
As an advocate, we can speak on your behalf. We can make phone calls or attend meetings with you and help you with the right words and support. It might be related to rental arrears, inspections, or requests for better accommodation for you or your family. Whatever it is, use our voice to be your voice. This ensures you are treated fairly and heard correctly when it comes to housing matters to best support you. - Referrals to services and linking in networks
Here at Southcare, we have been helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for 40 years and have an extensive support network. If you need help from another provider, we can arrange an introduction, tell you who to speak to, where they are located and how they can help you. Sometimes the problem might be not knowing who to turn to for help so let us help you find the right people to connect with so you can be supported in the best way possible. - Attending appointments with you
Sometimes information at appointments can be overwhelming or hard to understand so we can join you at meetings to make sure nothing is misled or misinterpreted. We ask that all appointments are arranged prior to help with resourcing and commitments to other customers. - Having a yarn
Connection is what unites us as people, and we recognise that people feel isolated and need someone to talk to. We provide all conversations in a safe and welcoming environment from our offices in Manning. Beverley has a very empathetic nature, a great listener and lots of experience helping people in vulnerable situations. The meetings are all confidential so you can rest easy that you can have a yarn in private, leave feeling lighter and with a fresh perspective about how to manage your situation. We’ll provide the tea and coffee, too!
Our Aboriginal Family Support Service operates from Manning and our officer Beverley is a Noongar person from Perth with extensive experience in social services. Beverley can assist people living in Como, Karawara, Kensington, Manning, Salter Point, South Perth, and Waterford.
Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome and will be seen in order of arrival. Our caring hands are always here to help. Please reach out to Beverley if you need support by calling 9450 6233.
Southcare acknowledges the Whadjuk Noongar people as the traditional owners of the land on which our buildings stand. We pay our respects and Southcare respectfully recognises Elders past, present and future for they carry the wisdom, stories, and traditions of the Aboriginal people.