Rugby heroes to join MA staff at Brisbane Winter Sleepout

Queensland Reds and Wallabies players Radike Samo and twins Saia and Anthony Faingaa will tonight join a group of Mission Australia staff from the Brisbane South Employment Solutions team sleeping rough to raise money for our homeless services.

Mission Australia’s Elia Tuqiri said staff taking part in the Sleepout at Citipoint Church are aiming to raise up to $10,000 to help people experiencing homelessness.

“In my job I meet a lot of people who are desperately looking for work as they are at risk of losing their home, or worse, are already homeless,” Elia said.

“In many cases, it’s not just individuals who are homeless, but families with young children without a stable home. Many are couch-surfing at friends’ places or sleeping in their car, because they haven’t got a place of their own. In the toughest cases they are sleeping rough in our community.

“I often think of myself as very lucky to have stable full time employment and the ability to pay my rent, have food on the table and a safe place to shower and sleep.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted – and that is why we have organised this Winter Sleepout to build awareness and raise important funding for Mission Australia’s homeless services.”

Former Reds player, Charlie Fetoai will also share how he turned his life around after suffering a serious spinal injury that brought his Rugby Union career to an end.

Charlie now works as a Mission Australia Indigenous Employment program mentor, helping young Indigenous men and women to overcome challenges in their own lives and get the training and support they need to find work.

“When I suffered a serious spinal injury on the field, I went from the highest point in my life – doing what I loved, playing professional rugby – to the lowest point, where I was terrified I might not walk again,” Charlie said.

“It was through self belief, staying positive and the support of my family, friends and team mates that I was able to recover and walk again. The experience completely changed my outlook on life, and has motivated me to help others who are struggling with barriers in their lives that are holding them back.

“The Winter Sleepout is a great cause, aimed at helping people out there who are struggling with circumstances hard for any of us to imagine – and that is why I am pleased to be a part of this event.”

There will be performances by school and dance groups from 6:30pm and the players will be signing autographs from 6pm.

Meanwhile on the Gold Coast, more than 30 staff from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions offices and the crew from Southport Rotaract Club offices will brave the winter tonight to raise money for the homeless.

Good luck to all everyone camping out tonight for Winter Sleepout to help us reach our $250,000 fundraising target. To find out more about Winter Sleepout or to make a donation, visit: www.wintersleepout.com.au

Thanks to our City2Surfers for going the distance
Huge thanks to the 150 people who ran, walked and even skipped the 14km in last weekend’s Sun-Herald City2Surf in support of Mission Australia. There was a blur of red and white singlets in almost every category of the event, from the speedy runners to the walkers.

A few even ran the whole distance in their PJs, in support of our Winter Sleepout. Along the way hundreds of well-wishers, including Senator Mark Arbib and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, offered their support.

Of all our fundraising supporters, first-time City2Surfer Sook Smith outdid herself, raising over $9,000 for our services and sitting at number eight in the overall top ten individual fundraiser ladder for the event.

She joined Mission Australia staff, supporters and members of Team MA, made up of clients of our homeless services, at a post-race barbecue in North Bondi.

All those weeks of training with the Sydney Roosters paid off for Team MA, with all members crossing the finishing line. Among them was Wayne Richards, who has taken part in every City2Surf since 1974.

In the lead-up to the City2Surf, Wayne attended every training session with players Ethan Lowe, Cheyse Blair, Lama Tasi and Boyd Cordner.

Thanks to Wayne, his team mates, all our fundraisers and their supporters for playing your part in this fabulous community event. Your efforts have raised a much-needed $20,000 for Mission Australia’s support services.

Media Release: Local Mission Australia staff sleep out to help the homeless

More than thirty staff from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions offices on the Gold Coast & the crew from Southport Rotaract Club offices will brave the winter cold tonight, in an effort to raise money for the not-for-profit’s homeless services.

The driving force behind the local event – Crystal Jousovec from Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions office in Palm Beach – said she decided to organise a Winter Sleepout because she wanted to help people less fortunate than herself.

“In my job I meet a lot of people who are desperately looking for work as they are at risk of losing their home, or worse, are already homeless,” Crystal said.

“In many cases, it’s not just individuals who are homeless, but families with young children without a stable home.

“Many are couch-surfing at friend’s places or sleeping in their car, because they haven’t got a place of their own. In the toughest cases they are sleeping rough in our community.

“I have experienced homelessness personally myself in a brief moment over a year ago.

“I have a young daughter and I understand the despair of not having anywhere to live. Luckily I had the support of my friends and work mates to help bring me through homelessness and I now have my own unit which I pay rent for.

“I often think of myself as very lucky to have stable full time employment and the ability to pay my rent, have food on the table and a safe place to shower and sleep.

“Sometimes we take these things for granted – and that is why I wanted to organise a Winter Sleepout to build awareness and raise important funding for Mission Australia’s homeless services.”

The Winter Sleepout is being held at Southport Rotaract Youth Club, Lawson Street Southport, tonight from 7pm, with the group aiming to raise $1000 or more.

Raffles will be held on the night, with Jupiters Casino donating one night’s accommodation in a superior room for two adults, including buffet breakfast; and local beauty company True Beauty Revealed donating vouchers for facials and massages at their salon.

Mission Australia’s Winter Sleepout, which was first held in 1988 in Sydney’s Martin Place, is about raising both awareness and funds for Mission Australia’s more than 100 services for homeless people nationally.

Last year, Mission Australia assisted close to 30,000 people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness.

This year’s Winter Sleepout fundraising target is $250,000. With your participation, we can reach this target and help transform the lives of more homeless Australians in 2011.

To find out more about Winter Sleepout or to register, visit: www.wintersleepout.com.au

For more information on tonight’s event at Southport contact (07) 5559 6200

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell (07) 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Above photo: The team from Employment Solutions Palm Beach in preparation for their sleepout

Government Media Release: 70 jobs in Warwick region Indigenous Employment project

Up to 70 Indigenous jobseekers from Warwick, Stanthorpe, Goondiwindi, St George and Dirranbandi will be part of an employment project thanks to the Australian Government’s Indigenous Employment Program.

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib said the Warwick Employment Service Area Industry project, delivered by Mission Australia, showed a commitment to boosting the skills of jobseekers so they could find meaningful employment in the local area.

“The project comprises pre-vocational training, industry-specific training, job placement and post-placement support for the participants and employers,” Senator Arbib said.

“Mission Australia will assess each participant and work with them to draw up an individual action plan outlining the steps the participants needs to take to move into a job. Once employed, participants will receive ongoing assistance for the first six months.

“Some of the key industries in the Warwick Region include transport and logistics, retail, wholesale, horticulture and primary production, food processing, aged care, hospitality and government.

“Industry-specific training will be given to participants based on what skills local employers have identified they need.

“This training can include things like licences and tickets for transport vehicles, forklift and machinery operation or short courses in retail, business administration or hospitality.

“The important thing with this project is that we are showing our commitment to getting Indigenous Australians skilled and employed in a meaningful way, not just providing training for training’s sake.”

Senator Arbib said the project was a result of more than $675,000 from the Indigenous Employment Program and would employ two mentors and a project coordinator with Mission Australia.

“This project follows on from the success of a 2009 Mission Australian Indigenous Employment Project in St George, which saw more than 97 per cent of project participants placed into employment,” Senator Arbib said.

“Thanks to this partnership we are able to continue to build job and training opportunities in regional and remote Queensland for Indigenous Australians.”

Senator Arbib said Treasury predicted 500,000 jobs would be created over the next two years and it was critical that Indigenous Australians had the support and training they needed to take up employment.

“Indigenous employment is not a short-term issue. Over the next four years the Australian Government has committed almost $650 million to the Indigenous Employment Program and $50 million to the Indigenous Youth Careers Pathway Program,” Senator Arbib said.

“This is part of the Australian Government’s target to create more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.”

This media release was issued by Senator Mark Arbib on 17 August 2011

Media Release: International Youth Day – a chance to help young people reconnect

As communities around the world celebrate International Youth Day today, Mission Australia is reminding Queenslanders to spare a thought for those young people who are disadvantaged or struggling to cope in their community.

Mission Australia Queensland State Director Penny Gillespie said there are many young people making a great contribution to our communities – but we need to also ensure those who are struggling to get by are not forgotten, and that we do what we can to keep those young people engaged and connected.

“At Mission Australia, we provide support for some of the most vulnerable young people in our communities – people who have often lost touch with their families, disengaged with education and found themselves homeless or, worse, in trouble with the law,” Ms Gillespie said.

“In recent months, Mission Australia staff have reported a particular increase in the number of young people coming into contact with our services who are not coping in their current school environment – and as a result are avoiding classes or dropping out altogether.

“In many cases, this disengagement with school has also led to young people leaving home and ending up on the streets where they are more susceptible to becoming involved in crime or anti-social behaviour.

“Our youth services, such as Reconnect and Project Circuit Breaker, aim to help those young people to reconnect with their family and support networks, and to find education opportunities that will be supportive and responsive to their individual needs.

“As the demand for these services continues to grow, Mission Australia is encouraging government to think outside the box and support initiatives that recognise the fact, not all young people fit into the system and alternate education opportunities need to be provided.”

Ms Gillespie said the shocking events that have occurred in London over the past week should act as a reminder of how important it is to support young people to stay engaged in the community in order to prevent anti-social, destructive activities.

“The events of the past week in London have horrified the world. It is a very disturbing situation when you have young people taking out their anger on their own communities and fellow citizens,” Ms Gillespie said.

“We are fortunate not to have this sort of situation in Queensland. But these events should act as a warning that we must not allow the seeds of this sort of activity to grow, such as high youth unemployment, large numbers of young people not engaged in education or training, and disengagement from community.

“Mission Australia will continue to work with all levels of government to identify new opportunities to support young people who are at risk of homelessness or disadvantage.

“Queensland youth are the future of our State and we want to see all young people given the chance to engage positively with education, employment, family and community.”

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Helping young offenders turn their lives around

A new Townsville service run by Mission Australia is helping to change the lives of young people just released from youth detention.

The Supervised Community Accommodation pilot opened its doors last November and has already helped prevent youths from reoffending or ending up back on the streets.

The pilot was officially launched on Friday by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Senator Jan McLucas, Member for Townsville Mandy Johnstone and Mission Australia’s Queensland State Director, Penny Gillespie, during National Homeless Persons’ Week.

Ms Gillespie said the program is a Queensland first, aimed at reducing rates of homelessness and recidivism.

“This program provides 24 hour, seven day a week supervised accommodation for young males who have just come out of detention and don’t have anywhere to go,” Ms Gillespie said.

“It’s about helping those young people to transition back into the community and get a fresh start in life – so they don’t become homeless, and don’t become repeat offenders heading back to detention.

“We know that young people coming out of detention face real challenges and without the necessary support many can end up homeless or return to a life of crime.

“Through this service, our staff work with the young people to help them make positive decisions about their future, to find secure long-term accommodation and to get back to school or into work.

“We also place a great focus on reconnecting with families and support networks, which will help the youths stay on track in the future.

“The program is already achieving great results, with a number of young offenders who have accessed our service now back at school or starting new jobs – making a positive contribution to their community.

Ms Johnstone said the Queensland Government was pleased to be funding this important service, with $3 million committed over three years.

“We know that there is genuine concern about youth homelessness in Townsville and young people coming out of detention are particularly vulnerable,” Ms Johnstone said.

“The Mission Australia staff who work at this service are dedicated individuals with the experience and knowledge to help these young people get the support they need to get their lives back on track.

“This is not only helping to build a better future for these young people, it is also helping to make our whole community safer by preventing homelessness and youth crime.”

Senator McLucas said the service is playing an important part in the Gillard Government’s efforts to reduce homelessness around Australia, through the Homelessness National Partnership Agreement.

“This pilot is a great example of how grass roots community services can make a real difference to reducing homelessness across Australia,” Senator McLucas said.

“Ensuring these young people have a safe place to call home is an essential part of helping them turn their lives around.

“The service is providing a roof over the heads of some of our more vulnerable members of the local community and helping them to stay connected and lead productive, healthy lives.”

The Supervised Community Accommodation service targets primarily 16-18 year old young males who:

• Are residing in Townsville catchment areas 


• Are leaving detention on either a Supervised Release Order or bail 


• Are homeless or at risk of homelessness 

The service can support up to 4 young people at any time and Mission Australia works intensively with them for up to 6 months.

Mission Australia is working collaboratively with the Queensland Department of Communities, Youth Justice, and Cleveland Youth Detention centre to deliver the pilot under the State Government’s Youth Housing and Reintegration Service (YHARS).

Photo: From left, Senator Jan McLucas, Service Manager Judy Paton, State Director Penny Gillespie and Member for Townsville Mandy Johnstone.

North and South Queensland staff connect with homeless

Mission Australia staff on the Gold Coast and Cairns have marked National Homeless Persons’ week at two community events that offered people in need support, advice and supplies.

Staff from our Employment Solutions services on the Gold Coast dug deep for Wednesday’s Homeless Connect event at Broadbeach, donating a ute-load of supplies – including clothing, towels, toiletries, blankets and even kids' toys - that were handed out to people in need.

Coordinated by the Gold Coast Homelessness Network and the Gold Coast Youth Service, the event brought together all the major services and agencies involved in providing assistance to people living rough on the Gold Coast.

Now in its third year, the event was created in response the Gold Coast having one of the highest rates of homelessness in the state. According to 2006 Census figures, each night more than 2,200 people don't have a home to sleep in.

Crystal Jousovec (pictured right), one of our employment advisors at Palm Beach who organised the donation drive, also did a great interview with ABC 91.7FM ABC as part of a live broadcast.

Our staff also provided advice about employment and other services offered by Mission Australia.

Mission Australia Employment Solutions State General Manager Phil Schultz thanked staff for making “such a valuable personal contribution”, in addition to the work they do each day to help people looking for employment.

Connecting in Cairns
Today, the team from Mission Australia’s Going Places homeless support service in Cairns joined other local agencies in providing advice and support to locals at Homeless Connect at Munro Martin Park.

Local Service Manager Natalie Musumeci said hundreds of items of clothing and blankets had been donated by community members, local businesses and Mission Australia staff themselves for the event, which also featured a barbecue and entertainment.

“It’s great to see the community getting behind an event like this and we’re very grateful to all the businesses and individuals that have made a contribution,” said Ms Musumeci.

“By helping people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of losing their tenancy, not only can we assist the individuals to improve their circumstances, but the whole community also benefits, she added. “These are complex issues and no two cases are the same, so by working together with other community organisations and government services to provide a holistic approach to reducing homelessness we can all make a difference.”

The program, funded by the Queensland Government, aims to provide local people who are living rough with the support they need to find secure accommodation and to make the positive changes in their lives that will allow them to stay off the streets.

When this service started, staff were mostly working with single people looking for accommodation. But in the past three months, they have seen an increase in the number of families with children seeking help from our service.

Since our Going Places program started in Cairns last November, Mission Australia has already assisted 113 people who were experiencing homelessness, including 34 families.

Media Release: Mission Australia warns battle for affordable housing continues among the homeless

In a sign that the battle for affordable housing is growing, leading Queensland homeless organisation Mission Australia has reported its staff are now spending almost twice as many hours trying to find appropriate permanent housing for people as they were six months ago.

According to the latest data, Mission Australia’s frontline staff working in seven of its homeless services across Queensland, spent more than 420 hours assisting clients to secure permanent housing and tenancy between 1 January and 25 July 2011.

This compares to 241 hours staff had to spend specifically on securing housing for clients in the six months prior.

State Director Penny Gillespie said the increasing challenge in finding permanent accommodation for people experiencing homelessness shows just how essential the push for more affordable and social housing has become.

“Mission Australia has seven services throughout Queensland aimed specifically at helping homeless people to find permanent accommodation and turn their lives around,” Ms Gillespie said.

“Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation such as family conflict, mental illness or unemployment.

“But in the last six months, the amount of time our staff have had to dedicate to simply trying to locate and secure permanent housing for eligible clients has almost doubled.

“This demonstrates just how tough the lower end of the housing market has become, and of greatest concern is the impact such a shortage will have on people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

“We don’t want to see homeless numbers spiral in Queensland, leading to more young people, adults and families ending up living on the street or sleeping on a friend’s living room floor.

“We know that the demand for public or affordable private housing in Queensland is very high and we acknowledge the significant efforts of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments to invest more funding than ever before to boost social housing supplies.

“We also welcome the significant contribution of both levels of government to providing better services and support through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.

“With National Homeless Persons’ Week starting today, this latest data is a strong reminder of how important this investment is and the risks to our community if such investment doesn’t continue.

“Our staff will keep doing everything we can to support people who have nowhere else to go and we will continue to work with all levels of government and other housing providers to assist clients to get a fair go in the housing market.”

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Transforming homes and lives after the floods

Eleven young participants in Mission Australia’s Access Program – Plastering have taken our “transformation” philosophy to heart, making positive changes to their own lives while giving a Queensland household affected by the January floods a helping hand.

Access is a training program that provides long-term unemployed youth (among other job seekers) with the skills and motivation to gain apprenticeships.

The participants attended Bremer TAFE for four weeks, studying five units from the Solid Wall and Ceiling Plastering Qualification. They then had the chance to put their new knowledge to the test by spending a week working on a flood-affected house in the Ipswich suburb of Bundamba.

Mission Australia Australian Apprenticeships Access Program Placement Officer Leonie Doyle said this particular program was run to fill a local skills shortage in post-flood Queensland where many homes need to be gutted and relined.

Ms Doyle said she was bowled over by the enthusiasm shown by the young men – few of whom who had real work experience.

“When I first told them they were going to do a week of restoring a home, they were really excited and counted down the weeks and days until they started,” she said. “Once they were in the flood-affected community they were determined to do as much as they could.”

Working in small teams under the supervision of their trainers, over the course of a week the young men had fixed new lining boards to all walls and ceiling, and even relined the linen cupboard and pantry.

“The owners were most grateful – on the last day they told the boys they were moving their bed inside that night after spending months living in a caravan,” she said. “The sense of achievement and pride the boys felt was wonderful to see.”

Significantly, all the young men who began the course finished it – and four of the 11 participants have since started apprenticeships with group training company Apprenticeships Queensland and are now restoring homes in the Bundamba area.

Another three are expected to be signed up to apprenticeships this month. Congratulations to all 11 participants on a job well done.

Pathways to Prevention turns 10!

This week our Pathways to Prevention program celebrated a decade of providing support to children and families in the Inala and Carole Park areas of Brisbane.

This partnership between Mission Australia, Griffith University and Education Queensland aims to promote positive parenting, healthy family relationships and enhance children's experience of school.

Representatives from Griffith, including Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Paul Mazerolle, Prof Sidney Dekker and Prof Ross Homel AO, were joined by Queensland’s Minister for Community Services, Karen Struthers, and Mission Australia staff and supporters attended the 10-year anniversary event. More than 125 local children and their families also celebrated the milestone.

Prof Homel, who played an instrumental role in developing Pathways to Prevention, shared highlights from his 10-year involvement with the early intervention program, which has touched the lives of 4,200 individuals from 1,129 families from the local community so far.

The 250 guests enjoyed a Sing and Grow Music Group guitar session featuring local Aboriginal children, as well as dance presentations by local children and women from the Samoan and Vietnamese communities.

The Pathways Choir, made up of 40 Mission Australia staff and clients, also sang ‘The Pathways Song’, which was composed by former staff member Sue-Ann Swindon.

During the official ceremony, philanthropist John Barnes – Pathways to Prevention’s most significant supporter through The John Barnes Foundation – spoke of the importance of the program and his involvement over the past 10 years.

Ms Struthers also congratulated Mission Australia and Griffith University on the “positive impact they have had on Queensland families”.

Mission Australia Service Manager Cherie Lamb said the celebration was a fantastic reminder of just how far the program has come in 10 years: “It’s so heartening to see this program, which started off as a small seed of an idea many years ago, grow into something that makes a difference to so many people in this community.

“The festival atmosphere of this celebration, with the music, laughter and face-painting, says it all – Pathways really is something that locals hold very dear and love being a part of.

“With the ongoing support of our partners, Government and the local community, Pathways can only get better.”

Yesterday Mission Australia’s Executive Leader - Community Services, Lincoln Hopper, presented Ms Lamb with a certificate and flowers as a thank you for her incredible contribution to the Pathways program and the local community over the past 10 years.

Further reading:

• ‘Brisbane kids follow in big footsteps’
• Pathways to Prevention Project: The First Five Years 1999 - 2004 

Above image (L to R): Prof Ross Homel, Cherie Lamb, Lincoln Hopper, Karen Struthers, Penny Gillespie and John Barnes celebrating 10 years of Pathways to Prevention.

New van freshens up Café One service

Mission Australia’s Café One on Wickham has a new refrigerated van to help it support disadvantaged people in Brisbane thanks to the generosity of The Talbot Family Foundation.

The café in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley provides low-cost meals and coffee as well as a range of support services to the city’s homeless and other people in need of a hand up. Importantly, Café One is a place to connect.

The Talbot Family Foundation kindly funded the new VW Caddy van, which will make it easier for the café to access fresh produce and other donated supplies in order to provide nutritious low-cost meals to people in need.

Amanda Talbot, wife of the late Ken Talbot, Chairman Don Nissen and the Foundation’s CEO, Lynne Gardner, last month officially handed the vehicle over to Penny Gillespie, State Director Mission Australia (pictured), at the café.

“They were really thrilled and all commented on the great vibe at the café and could really see its importance in the community,” said Helen O'Connor, Mission Australia’s Queensland Relationship Manager.

A Café One customer was moved to make a spontaneous speech, thanking Mission Australia and The Talbot Family Foundation for their support.

“She was incredibly thankful to the café and the staff - both past and present - for helping her along her journey because she now has a home and had worked incredibly hard to get there,” said Helen.

David* is a more recent Café One regular who appreciates the good food and support he has received there in recent weeks. Through his visits to Café One David has not only had access to nutritious food, but has found a safe place to stay after living on the streets.

When David came in asking for a meal at Café One’, the service’s Acting Team Leader Mitchell Peterson set up an account to ensure he could regularly access healthy food at the eatery. He also organised accommodation for David at Mission Australia’s Roma House.

“I was raised in a foster home since I was 18 months old until about 16,” David said. “Since then, I’ve come to places like Café One for advice, guidance and counselling. I’m 27 this year and I’d like to say Café One is a huge, great benefit and support network to the community and all people of society.

“The support I receive here is really hopeful,” he added. “At times during the week I can’t eat, so I come here for a feed that’s better than home-cooked meals and better than starving.

“My mum has been coming here for a few years and Café One supports her with food and counselling, which we all need as humans.”

Café One on Wickham relies on donations, local community support and volunteers to operate. As part of The Talbot Family Foundation’s long-term commitment to Mission Australia, Café One will receive a generous annual donation for five years.

If you would like to donate to Café One call 1800 88 88 68 or click on the ‘Donate’ button on the top left of our website. Local philanthropists who wish to support Café One can contact Helen O’Connor, Mission Australia Relationship Manager, on (07) 3394 8149.

Volunteering opportunities at Café One also regularly appear on the Volunteering section of our website.

*Name has been changed to protect the person’s identity

In the wake of Cyclone Yasi

Although Cyclone Yasi is weakening, it continues to affect the Queensland coast and ranges with heavy rains. No doubt, the impact of Yasi will be felt for many months to come, especially given this natural disaster comes on the back of Queensland's devastating floods.

As the true extent of the damage becomes apparent, Mission Australia expects an increased demand for our services in Queensland, with people particularly needing our support to help meet their accommodation needs.

In the coming days, Mission Australia will contact our current clients in North Queensland to ensure their wellbeing and ascertain their needs.

We are also currently working with the Red Cross in the provision of targeted assistance.

If you're worried about friends or family in the cyclone area, please call the Red Cross on 1800 727 077 rather than contacting local police, or visit redcross.org.au

After Yasi - useful resources

The Queensland Government's Cyclone Yasi page offers post-cyclone advice, such as urging residents in affected areas to listen for radio or advice from council, police or emergency services, and to be sure the storm has passed before leaving shelter.  

The Queensland Government site also lists school, hospital and road closures as well as emergency contact details.

Distress is an understandable and normal response to disasters. The Queensland Health website features practical advice about how to cope in times of disaster.

This website also includes downloadable facts sheets on stress after emergencies, common reactions to trauma, coping personally, general information for health staff and volunteers, and children and teenagers and crisis. 

For general news updates and emergency information visit abc.net.au/emergency/cyclone/yasi or go to Google's Crisis Response Page at google.com/crisisresponse/queensland_floods

Preparing for Cyclone Yasi

Mission Australia’s thoughts are with the individuals, families and communities that are in the path of Cyclone Yasi – including our staff members and clients from our eight local services.

Authorities have urged North Queensland residents to stay calm and listen to safety advice as the storm moves in. It is also important that people stay off the roads, turn off their electricity and gas, unplug appliances and fill bathtubs with water.

Queensland Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said mattresses and pillows should be kept close by. He said the smallest room (usually a laundry or bathroom) is often the safest.

This afternoon AMA Queensland President Dr Gino Pecoraro highlighted the importance of explaining to children what the storm is expected to do over the next 24 hours.

He said children should be warned to expect the loud noise of cyclonic winds. Their favourite music - listened to via headphones - as well as board games, puzzles and crosswords could help provide a comforting and familiar distraction.

Families should also have a first-aid kit at hand, containing all medications currently being taken, including any unfilled prescriptions. Preparations should include a battery-operated radio to listen to emergency broadcasts and a torch.

TV and radio transmission interruptions may occur. Reliable broadcasts are available on short wave radio at 9710kHz during the day and 6080kHz by night.

Those not heading to community shelters should have food on hand that does not need refrigeration. People in need of emotional support can call Lifeline 24 hours on 13 11 14, Mensline Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.

For more information visit this link at SMH online

Useful resources

• The ABC is providing excellent coverage and information about emergency procedures. For more information visit abc.net.au/emergency/cyclone/yasi
• According to ABC reports this afternoon, evacuation centres in the Cairns region are at capacity. For a list of North Queensland evacuation centres please click here
• People who have left their homes and have nowhere to go should call 1300 99 31 91 for help in finding emergency accommodation.
• The Bureau of Meteorology site, contains a Tropical Cyclone Forecast Map, which indicates the proximity and strength of Yasi.
• The Google Crisis Response Page is another good resource, featuring maps, contacts and links to news reports.

Emergency contacts
Call the State Emergency Services on 132 500 or for life-threatening emergencies call 000.

Volunteers source discounts online for flood victims

A group of volunteers has set up a website where retailers and service providers can genuinely discount their goods for Australian flood victims.

Co-ordinated by Rebecca Wilson, Mikael Wedemeyer and Suzanne Pelizzari, www.flooddiscounts.com.au is a non-commercial site that relies heavily of a team of volunteers from throughout the community.

Mr Wedemeyer said that the site has been designed to help people affected by floods to save money and time.

He added that Flood Discounts had attracted many of Queensland and Australia’s most popular retailers of homewares, building materials, flooring, electrical appliances and everyday needs, some offering in excess of 50 percent off cost prices for legitimate flood victims.

All listings are free and there are no paid contributions or advertising on the site. Find out more at www.flooddiscounts.com.au

Long grassers help out Queenslanders with Out Of The Rain

A group of Darwin “long grassers” (people who sleep out in the city’s parks) have been so moved by the plight of their fellow Australians affected by the Queensland floods that they are hosting a special fundraiser this Sunday.

‘Out of the Rain’ is a performance initiated by participants of Bricks Without Straw – a homelessness project of The Salvation Army NT.

The initial idea came from Ned, a veteran long grasser and active participant in the project.

“We should remind the rest of Darwin that when we were down and out after Cyclone Tracy, who came to help us?” he said. “Therefore we should also lend a hand to those who need our help in Queensland.”

Out of the Rain will be held on the 30 January at the Filipino Community Centre on Amy Johnson Avenue, Karama from 6pm. It will feature guest performances by professional and community artists, including Tracy Bunn, Phil O’Brien, Yuliana Pascoe, Sean Hutton, Reggae Dave Asera and many more. Presentations will also be made by long grassers such as ‘Trevor the Rubbish Warrior’ and The Bricks Without Straw Drumming Ensemble.

Paintings and artworks will also be auctioned on the night. Food and drinks will be available to buy, however the event is alcohol-free. Entry is free.

Organisers still need meat, bread and other food such as curries and rice, as well as volunteers to help cook, clean and drive.

All funds donated will go to The Salvation Army’s Queensland Flood Relief Fund. Businesses and other organisations are encouraged to initiate simple fundraising activities and present the proceeds on the night of the concert.

For more information please contact Major Peter Wood at The Salvation Army Regional Headquarters on (08) 8944 6000 or Project Coordinator Betchay Mondragon Williams on 0447 340 241.

Queensland Police warn donors and residents to be vigilant

The Queensland Police Service is urging the public to beware of unscrupulous individuals who are taking advantage of the public’s compassion in the aftermath of the floods.

Police have received reports of fraudulent emails, phone callers and door-to-door scammers who are seeking funds.

Mission Australia urges people wishing to support communities in flood-affected Queensland to please go to qld.gov.au/floods/donate or call 1800 219 028 between 6am and 11pm.

Police are also asking people to be extremely cautious when taking phone calls from people claiming to be from consumer and government offices.

Unscrupulous individuals are reportedly calling residential addresses identifying themselves as a representative of a genuine banking institution or representatives of ‘bank reclaim expert’ companies.

According to Detective Superintendent Brian Hay, the scammers call the victim and get them to recite their personal details including their name, birthdate, address, phone number and the banking institution they are with to give the impression they are from a genuine institution.

There are also reports of bogus tradespeople demanding money up-front to clean or paint buildings affected by the floods or clear yards. After receiving payment, these “tradespeople” then disappear with no work being done.

Scams can be reported via the ‘report a scam’ page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

Anyone with information that could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au. Crime Stoppers is a 24-hour charitable community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.

Post-flood advice and information

Mission Australia appreciates many of you in flood-affected will be bombarded by post-flood information. However, if you are having difficulty accessing information due to high demand, we hope the following advice is beneficial.

Health and safety

• The priority in flooded areas is opening roads and clearing debris so people can safely re-enter homes and businesses. Wait until transport routes are open before heading off of any journey.
• Be careful with electricity. Before cleaning, ensure gas and electricity is off. Get an electrician to clear your home of danger before using electrical equipment. To report fallen powerlines, call Energex on 13 19 62.
• Wear rubber gloves and water-resistant clothing, including gumboots, goggles or a face mask. Cover any open wounds before cleaning and watch out for snakes.
• Ventilate your home while cleaning. Also throw out food that may have come into contact with floodwaters or perishables spoiled due to power cuts.
• Queensland Urban Utilities has advised that water in Brisbane is safe to drink. However, floodwater is unsafe, being contaminated with chemicals and sewerage, so do not enter it. 

Waste collection and other services

• Brisbane City Council will provide industrial bins and a kerbside collection for damaged goods once floodwaters recede – locations and times to be advised. www.brisbane.qld.gov.au is a good resource but due to high demand currently displays as a low-bandwidth version.
• If you are in Brisbane, call Council on 3403 8888 to report issues outside your property such as fallen trees, potholes or road debris. For help with extensive damage call the SES on 132 500.
• For information on public transport, visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30. Updated information can also be found at www.qld.gov.au/floods/ or www.abc.net.au/emergency/flood/
• Insurance and banking:
• Do not be concerned if insurance documents have been lost or damaged in the flood. Insurance companies keep electronic records and only a name and address.
• Remove water and mud-damaged possessions. Carpets and soft furnishings can be disposed of as part of your clean-up. If possible, take photos or make an inventory of damaged items before removing. Contact your insurer before authorising repairs.
• Call 1300 728 228, The Insurance Council’s 24-hotline, if you have questions about insurance, including lost paperwork.
• Many banks have activated emergency relief measures for flood-affected customers, including the suspension of home loan repayments, waiving of fees and loan support.
  Commonwealth Bank customers call 13 22 21
  NAB Care customers can call 1800 701 599
  ANZ Customers can call 1800 149 549
  Westpac customers call 1800 067 497
  St George customers call 1300 769 578

Volunteering update: All Sydney call centre positions now filled, stay tuned for further opportunities

Yesterday we announced Mission Australia's National Office would act as a support call centre for Volunteering Queensland, which is being inundated with calls from people eager to help with flood recovery activities.

Our Volunteer Team has been able to place volunteers into all available call centre positions, and are working through a large backlog of registrations to fill upcoming opportunities.

Stay tuned on our Twitter and Facebook pages for new volunteering opportunities as they become available through Volunteering Queensland 

A BIG THANK YOU to all the amazing people that have registered to volunteer at such short notice!

Sydney call centre volunteers needed for flood support

As of tomorrow, 14 January, Mission Australia's National Office will act as a support call centre for Volunteering Queensland, which is being inundated with calls from people eager to help with flood recovery activities.

Our Volunteering Team is urgently seeking people who can work in five-hour shifts from Mission Australia’s head office in George Street, Sydney.

Call centre shifts will operate from 10am to 3pm and from 3pm to 8pm for at least the next seven days. Training will be provided on site.

If you are able to register to volunteer for the call centre or on-the-ground support in Queensland, please send an email to volunteering@missionaustralia.com.au or call 1800 110 578, providing your name and contact details.

Mission Australia and Volunteering Queensland would appreciate any time you can donate to support communities in flood-affected areas.

Supporting flood-affected communities

Mission Australia’s Volunteering Team has received many offers from staff and members of the public to help out in flood-affected Queensland. This generosity of spirit truly speaks volumes about our community.

Our National Volunteer Team is working with Volunteering Queensland to engage and utilise staff and community volunteers.

Volunteering Queensland is aware that Mission Australia can supply volunteer resources when required, and people who have asked about helping out are aware that their details may be passed on to local coordinators.

If you are able to register to volunteer, please email volunteering@missionaustralia.com.au or call 1800 110 578, providing your name and contact details.

If you would like to offer financial assistance, Mission Australia urges people to donate to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html or by calling 1800 219 028

Support rolls in for Queenslanders

Mission Australia staff have rallied behind their colleagues and clients in flood-affected Queensland, sending messages of support from across the nation.

Here are just some of the kind thoughts sent to Queenslanders:

“Hi all up there in Queensland. Our thoughts are with everyone up there at the moment. We cannot imagine what you all must be going through right now and in the weeks and months to come. Just seeing the images on our TVs is distressing enough. Remember that our thoughts are with you all, stay safe and take care.” - Denise Armstrong, Centre Director, Mission Australia Early Learning Services, Springvale South, Victoria.

“Hi Queenslanders. On behalf of all the ladies in this little town of Muswellbrook our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep your chins up. We’re thinking of you!” - Love and wishes, all the Muswellbrook Ladies, NSW.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. No words could heal the pain and anxiety you may be feeling. Please know that we are all praying for your safety, although we are not close to you in distance, we are close to you in heart and mind.” - Sladjana Armour, Service Manager, Southern Adelaide Metro Regional Services.

Mission Australia’s Volunteering Team also appreciates the large number of calls and emails received from members who would like to assist with the post-flood clean-up.

Further support

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) has been activated to assist people who have been adversely affected by flooding affecting Queensland. If you or someone you know has been affected by this disaster you should speak to Centrelink as soon as possible to arrange assistance. The AGDRP Fact Sheet contains more information.

You can also view a full list of organisations that offer Disaster Recovery Support and advice. This list includes the SES and Disaster Recovery Line details.

This afternoon we have also been told that Storage King has extended its Free Month’s Storage Free offer to people south-east Queensland and New South Wales. For more details call 1800 STORAGE (1800 786 724). This offer is subject to availability.

Anyone who wishes to help provide emergency relief funding is being urged to donate to the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal at www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate or by calling 1800 219 028. This appeal cannot accept donations of goods or services. Andrew Heslop has written a good article on the ABC’s Drum about how cash donations are vital during times of crisis.

Mission Australia is not running a door-to-door fundraising appeal for flood victims, so please be wary of any unscrupulous individuals claiming to raise funds in the community on our behalf.