Programs
Discover More About Our Community Programs
Whilst our primary focus is on Foster Care, Kinship Care, Respite Care and Carer support, we are also proudly involved in many community programs that are targeted to support, educate and develop skills with those needing specific help.
What is Gumaguy?
Gumaguy is a service aimed at reducing the risk to families, where children and young people have been identified by Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) assessment as being at risk of being removed from the family home. The program works intensively with families to support Jarjums to stay with their families in community and on country. Families can only be referred to the program through DCJ.
What to expect from involvement with Gumaguy?
Gumaguy is an up to 2-year program. A family engaged with Gumaguy will have 2 to 3 home visits per week where a identified Intensive Family Worker will engage with the family and work towards identified goals such ad housing, education attendance, routine building in the home, attending medical appointments, engaging and referral to service from health, NDIS, Employment, Transport and anything else that will support the family to reach their identified goals to keep Jarjums safe and happy at home with family.
What is Targeted Early Intervention? (TEI)
Funded as a Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) program, Bugil Wernbe delivers flexible support to children, young people, families and communities in need where it has come to the attention of Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) that they are vulnerable. Tabulam District has been identified by DCJ due to geographic and social isolation factors, lack of service delivery on community and community demographics.
The program is fully funded to 2025 to offer support to families and community by linking to services and delivering projects and providing individual support to residents which enhances parenting capacity, family cohesion and wellbeing for Jarjums. As the number of our children reported to be at significant risk of harm continues to grow, we are pleased to have secured this program to target support to these remote communities and will continue to seek out opportunities to get similar funding for other communities across the Far North Coast of NSW.
Services are delivered under two broad streams:
Community strengthening – activities that build cohesion, inclusion and wellbeing across all communities, and empower Aboriginal communities.
Wellbeing and safety – activities that support families and individuals, and provide opportunities for personal development.
The TEI program will be collating outcomes data on services through the Data Exchange. This will improve how we respond to evolving client and community needs. As our evidence base grows, we will adapt service delivery to reflect what we know works, and align services to community needs with a more intention and focus
What is the Service Area?
Jubullum, Tabulum, Bonalbo and Coraki
What is Wudjabiyn?
Wudjabiyn is an unique early childhood education program at Ngunya Jarjum funded by the Department of Education, Aboriginal Families as Teachers program. Wudjabiyn has been named with consultation and permission of a local Bundjalung language and knowledge keeper. It means “beautiful blossoming flower” which recognises the rapid growth of a jarjum in their first 5 years of life.
Wudjabiyn provides 10 free visits to your home or a place of your choosing where an Early Childhood workers will bring along fun and exciting play based learning activities for you to incorporate learning experiences into your daily life at home. You will be supplied with a learning kit that can be used at anytime for you to support the growth and development of your Jarjum along with a booklet full of ideas and resources that have been developed by a qualified teacher.
Playgroups
Playgroups will be held in two locations weekly during the school term, one in Southern Bundjalung country and one in Northern Bundjalung country. These playgroups will have a variety of play based activities that support learning development of a Jarjum in a culturally safe environment ran by experienced Early Educators and family workers.
Education opportunities for parents
Parents or caregivers who are interested in being mentored and supported through a Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education are encouraged to contact us. There will also be opportunity for Parenting support and training facilitated by a Wudjabiyn Family worker.
Who can refer to the program and how?
Playgroup
The playgroups don’t require referral, and families can come whenever they want. Playgroups are able to be used as family time visits if this is something your clients are interested in doing as they provide a safe and fun environment to spend time with their Children and develop parenting skills.
In home program
The in home program has a referral link on the website, or you can contact us to refer a family.
Families can self refer, or services can refer on behalf of the family.
Other training or events
Training opportunities and events such as circles are advertised on the Ngunya Jarjum Facebook and newsletter
