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It’s a gold star for BCR! ⭐ After a rigorous audit, we have received our Performance Report from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and are excited to share that we have been assessed as Compliant against every Aged Care Standard for our HCP, STRC and CHSP aged care services. We are so proud of our Aged Care, People & Culture and Administration teams, this result is testament to their hard work, professionalism, empathy and the personalised care they give to our clients. A big thank you to everyone involved who worked so hard for this fantastic result. 😊 . Well done team!

Do you provide care and support for someone because of their health or mental health needs, a disability, or due to ageing? Please share your experience at nationalcarersurvey.com.au ! Every two years, Carers NSW and the State and Territory Carer Organisations conduct the National Carer Survey, a comprehensive Survey to better understand what Australia’s carers want and need.  The Survey informs research, advocacy, and service design for carers across Australia. The 2024 National Carer Survey is now open at nationalcarersurvey.com.au . Participants can enter a draw to win one of 24 gift vouchers valued at $200 (3 vouchers per state/territory). If you would prefer to complete the Survey on paper, please contact the Carers NSW Research team at research@carersnsw.org.au  or on 02 9280 4744 and we will send you a printed questionnaire including a reply-paid envelope. The Survey is funded by the NSW Government and led by Carers NSW, with the support of the Carer Organisations in each state and territory of Australia. For more information including the survey impact , please visit www.carersnsw.org.au/about-us/our-research/carer-survey . The Survey closes 31 July 2024.

It’s a common scenario – after a few years of retirement, Sanctuary Point local Julie Garamy started to feel restless. She wanted to feel like she was helping others again, to be part of a team and have a purpose to her day. Luckily for BCR Communities, Julie picked up an issue of About Magazine, read a story about volunteering with BCR and the next day made the call to offer her services. BCR Communities is a not-for-profit which has been providing aged care, community, youth and disability services in the Bay and Basin for over 32 years. We were started by locals for locals and volunteers like Julie have always been at the heart of our organisation. “I started by volunteering with aged care clients, helping with activities in the centres and assisting with social outings on the bus,” Julie said. “I loved it so much because I could see how happy the clients were, it felt so good to see them engaged and having a wonderful time together.” Julie has been volunteering with BCR for nine years and is a much appreciated member of the team. She now works in volunteer administration and service coordination acting as the match-maker between our clients and our volunteers. ‘Having a chat’ is Julie’s superpower, she can talk to anyone and find common ground very quickly. After a couple of hours in Julie’s company everyone feels they have found a friend and she is an expert at finding the right fit for our volunteers. BCR Communities offers a range of volunteer opportunities – you could change a young person’s life as a driver mentor;  use your woodworking skills for community projects; provide companionship to someone who is socially isolated and so much more. If like Julie, you are ready to find your purpose and give back to your community, contact BCR Communities today on 1300 222 748 or email info@BCRcommunities.com .

Have you been directly impacted by the recent flooding? BCR is hosting a Community Recovery Information Point at the Sanctuary Point Youth and Community Centre this Thursday from 11am to 6pm. On site will be the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Australian Red Cross, Legal Aid and The Salvation Army as well as local health disaster clinicians and other local service providers. It will also be an opportunity to give feedback on what is needed in the future. A free BBQ will be provided from 4pm.

It’s National Volunteer Week, an opportunity to celebrate the over five million Aussies who generously give close to 600 million hours of their time each year to make a meaningful contribution to their community. While it’s natural at this time to think of frontline volunteers like surf lifesavers, local bush fire fighters and junior sports coaches, there is another group of unsung heroes we should be celebrating. Thousands of not-for-profit community organisations across the country would cease to exist without the selfless contribution of their volunteer Board Members. People like Bay and Basin locals David Reynolds and Ross Clifton who for over 22 years served on the Board of BCR Communities. Ross and David held highly responsible and demanding full time roles during their Board tenure, but despite their significant workloads, both men volunteered their time on the Board of BCR for over two decades. Why? Why spend nights discussing financial, governance, compliance and legal documents when you could be relaxing at home after a long day at work? Both said it was a love of their community and a desire to see a unique local initiative thrive. Ross said “I joined the Board because I really wanted to see the organisation grow and thrive while still preserving what is special about it.” “BCR is really unique in that it supports the community from the cradle to the grave and it has such a diverse range of services. In my experience, there are not many organisations like it in the community sector.” “I first started working with BCR as part of my PhD research on change management in community organisations. When my research ended I decided to apply to become a volunteer Board member because the organisation was going through big changes and I felt I had the knowledge and experience to be of service.” Ross said. David joined the BCR Board not long after moving to the Bay & Basin from Albury Wodonga, seeing it as a way to give back to and be connected with his new community. “I have always been someone who has been proactive and to me BCR was just an essential part of the community,” David said. “Back in those days the Bay and Basin was seen as underprivileged and underfunded, there was quite a bit of poverty.” “BCR seemed like an organisation that was trying to improve things and it was having a positive impact in the community at a number of different levels.” Anyone who has served on a Board for a period of time will tell you that there can be challenges. Tough decisions have to be made, differences of opinion can ensue and sometimes juggling Board responsibilities with a demanding career and family life can test a person’s resilience and commitment. Ross and David both agree that the reason for their longevity on the BCR Board was the support and guidance they received from the CEO and Executive team. “I don’t recall as a Board member ever going home feeling that I had a lot of weight on my shoulders,” David said. “The CEO and Executive team would never say to the Board, there is this problem you need to sort out. They would do the research, present a solution to the Board and we would discuss it and make an informed decision.” David said “The culture at BCR was always very positive, engaging, community-minded and accessible. You felt like you wanted to be a part of it, that you could have a positive impact.” For the countless hours they have given to BCR over the last 22 years, both Ross and David agree they have been given a deep sense of pride, achievement and connection to their community in return. “Living where BCR operates, you can really see the difference it makes,” David said. “The achievements I am most proud of was to grow the organisation without losing its original values of diversity, inclusion and connection to the community, while at the same time building assets and infrastructure behind it,” David said. For Ross, the real satisfaction and sense of achievement comes from hearing the stories of individuals thriving. “I remember a young woman who didn’t really know what she wanted to do in life who went through a program run by BCR. She developed the skills and confidence which enabled her to get work and now she runs her own successful business in the Bay & Basin and gives back to the community in return,” Ross said. “The way the organisation has helped individuals to really shine in the community is what I am most proud of.” With the rates of volunteering on a steady decline in Australia, Ross and David are urging other professionals to consider giving their time and expertise to not-for-profit organisations. In their opinion while being a Board member is a serious responsibility it is one that can be richly rewarding.

This National Volunteer Week, the team at BCR Communities wants to extend a huge Thank You to all the amazing volunteers who give their time, expertise and energy to support the work we do. We are so grateful for their contribution and their commitment to making a difference in our communities. In return, we hope all our BCR volunteers receive benefits for their efforts. Studies have shown volunteering gives a sense of purpose and belonging, can improve physical health, increase happiness and wellbeing and provide social connection. This was the definitely case for one of our newest volunteer recruits, Brian Foden, who signed up after a casual chat with a radio announcer at a live outside broadcast. Brian discovered that Martin Benge, the presenter of his favourite show ‘Strolling Down Memory Lane’ on BBCR 92.7FM, used to work at the famous Abbey Road Studios. As a guitarist, singer, life-long music lover and fellow Englishman, Brian was very keen to meet Martin. “I said, ‘I have to meet this guy – this is my hero he has actually worked with the Beatles,” Brian said. “So I met Martin and came to the BCR Activities Hub and I thought this is great, this is for me.  I can help out in my community and be around fellow music lovers.” Brian, who is a retired Maintenance Manager, only moved with his partner to the Bay & Basin two years ago and he said volunteering with BCR has given him the opportunity to meet new people and put his handy man skills to good use in the Activities Hub. “I’ve really enjoyed it so far, everybody has been so friendly. I think volunteering is fantastic, you get the company, and you feel like you have achieved something when you get home, while also helping your community.

Make a letter box in the shape of a cow – no problem! Take on a 50km walking challenge – why not! Build a bar inside your house – let’s give it a go! When it comes to their goals and dreams, the NDIS participants at BCR Communities won’t hear the words ‘that’s too hard’ or ‘we don’t offer that here.’ The BCR NDIS support team take the participant’s goals very seriously and while not everything is possible, every attempt is made to support the participant to achieve them. For recently appointed BCR Work, Life & Training Coordinator, Tracy Hughes, it was this person centred approach that attracted her to the role. “Every disability service would love to offer person centred supports but BCR Communities is the first organisation I have worked for that is able to deliver it,” Tracy said. “We don’t expect participants to just slot in with established programs, we find out what they want to achieve and then design a personalised program around those goals.” “I have a strong connection to the community in the Bay & Basin and I am really excited about working with the schools, participants and their families to create the kind of NDIS support services that they really want and need – right here locally.” Proving anything is possible, NDIS participant Jessica has achieved her goal of building the cow-themed letter box she designed herself.  With the support of Tracy, 16-year-old School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) participant Ryeleigh, took on the ‘50ks in May Challenge’, achieving his first ever fitness goal and raising hundreds of dollar for Multiple Sclerosis. While 19-year-old NDIS participant Bailey has started learning basic carpentry skills with smaller projects as he works up to building his dream bar at home. If you would like to find out more about BCR Communities NDIS supports, phone 1300 222 748, email info@BCRcommunities.com or visit BCRcommunities.com

We are excited to welcome Leonie Way to the BCR Communities team as our new Lifestyle Activities Coordinator. Leonie has many years of experience organising programs and activities for NDIS participants and is really looking forward to applying her knowledge, enthusiasm and experience to aged care as well as disability. Leonie has spent her first two weeks getting to know the rest of the team, learning all the many, many aged care acronyms and busily planning a social, fun and exciting calendar of activities for clients in the northern Shoalhaven area. When not at work, Leonie enjoys having a chat, listening to music, going for walks in nature and she really loves cooking, especially Thai! She has a passion for adventure and loves to try new places and activities but is also partial to a nap! She can't wait to meet all our Social Group clients over the coming weeks.

Our BCR Communities Youth Collective participants have been working hard to organise the first Sanctuary Point Youth Markets on Friday 3 May from 2pm to 6pm at the BCR Communities Wellness Garden. As well as a stall of handmade products and gifts perfect for Mother's Day, there will be outdoor games, food, entertainment and information about youth employment, volunteering and learning pathways. See you there!

BCR Communities’ new ‘Ls to Ps Driver Mentoring Program’ is about to hit the road and the search is on for local volunteers willing to help disadvantaged learner drivers in the Shoalhaven to get their licence. A driver’s licence opens up a world of opportunity and having one in a regional area means better access to employment, education, training and social activities. BCR Communities CEO, Heather Marciano, said the organisation is partnering to deliver this urgently needed service in the Shoalhaven, especially for disadvantaged young people, newly arrived migrants and people with a disability. “While the required 120 hours of driving time a learner needs keeps everyone safer on the roads, it does make getting a licence very challenging for some people,” Heather said. “Not everyone in our community has access to a vehicle or a licensed family member or friend who can mentor them for the required time.” “We think this volunteering opportunity will be very rich and rewarding for anyone looking to broaden their connection to their community and have a real life-changing impact on the people they mentor,” Heather said. Volunteer mentors need to be fully licensed, with a good driving history, and available for a minimum of one hour per week to help learners gain on-road experience in different conditions. BCR Communities vehicles are supplied for mentoring sessions. If you are an experienced driver, have a positive attitude, patience and a little free time, BCR Communities would love to hear from you. To express your interest or to find out more about volunteering for the ‘Ls to Ps Driver Mentoring Program’ please email info@BCRcommunities.com phone 1300 222 748 or visit BCRcommunities.com/Job-Board. Check out this video from the Driver Mentoring Program (Y-Drive) operating in the Eurobodalla region to hear what Driver Mentors say about the experience!

Even though she enjoyed a very fulfilling career as a schoolteacher, 70-year-old Robin Gunter felt her life really began in 1995 when she became engaged to Huxley Gunter. It was a deep and enduring love with the pair sharing a passion for teaching, creating, sailing, travelling and adventures. “Hux was the most wonderful and fascinating person I have ever met and we adored each other.” Robin said. After getting married, Huxley moved to the Bay and Basin where Robin was teaching at Huskisson Public School. At the same time, the busy pair were running a beef cattle farm on their property out past Crookwell. Their life together took a turn when Huxley felt severe chest pains and suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, after open heart surgery and rehabilitation, he made a full recovery, but the experience made the couple think about what they really wanted and Robin decided to retire from teaching. “It made us realise that life is very precious,” Robin said. “We decided to reduce our farm commitments, take things more slowly, pursue new interests and reduce stress.” “We joined the local sailing club and learned how to sail which was so much fun. In winter we would travel in our caravan with our much loved dog – a gorgeous Maremma. “Our lives were filled with happiness. Every day was a celebration of life and it could not have been more wonderful.” On a cold morning in July 2017, Huxley and Robin were enjoying a cup of tea together when Huxley suddenly and unexpectedly suffered a massive heart attack. Tragically, he couldn’t be revived and Robin’s life was completely upended. The grief Robin experienced was overwhelming and she is thankful for the close friends and relatives who have generously given their caring support. Last year, Lucy, one of those close friends, encouraged Robin to join the BCR Wellness Classes run by Bek and Gabby from Jervis Bay Physiotherapy – a decision she said was life changing. “I am so glad I joined. The other members and I feel that our lives have become more positive through the social connections we are making, as well as the actual exercise classes. The group has become so strong now that we join together for coffee once a week with much chat and laughter,” Robin said. “Because of this social connection many of us are now also attending social group activities and bus trips organised by BCR Communities. “From my life’s experiences, I have learned to appreciate every day and every experience and enjoy amazing friends.” BCR Communities would like to welcome Robin as a volunteer member of our newly created BCR Consumer Advisory Body. The group will meet four times a year to give feedback on the strengths of current BCR programs and suggest possibilities for improvement or additional services or programs. If you are interested in joining the Advisory body, please email CEO@BCRcommunities.com

Happy International Women's Day to all the incredible women at BCR and across our communities. Today, we join with women around the world to celebrate all the inspirational women making a difference every day. This year's theme asks us to imagine a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive where difference is valued and celebrated.