Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 35 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Staff conference at the Chancery. Parish administration staff know their parishioners and the issues they are experiencing. So, it is important that they are aware of the vast array of services CCV provides to ensure referrals are made to the appropriate people. Launch of the Children’s Contact Service. In July, CatholicCare Victoria launched a new Children’s Contact Service (CCS) in Wangaratta with funding received from the Attorney-General’s department. The CCS provides support for separated families to manage contact or shared care arrangements for their children. It provides parents and carers with supervised visits at a safe and neutral venue with the children they do not live with. The service also provides facilitated changeovers, to enable children to move smoothly between their separated parents or carers. Magistrates Court of Bendigo and Heidelberg. Late in 2023, CatholicCare Victoria launched a pilot program for an early intervention diversion program. CatholicCare Victoria had been approached by the Magistrates Court of Bendigo and Heidelberg to create a pilot early intervention diversion program, aimed at supporting young people to avoid being placed on personal safety intervention orders. This is the result of an emerging trend, where courts are being used to manage conflicts between students at primary and secondary schools. Youth Justice funding renewed. CCV’s Youth Justice funding has been renewed in Bendigo, with an increase in referrals for Youth Justice Group Conferencing. Parish Engagement – Grief Workshops. CCV’s Engagement Coordinator and Advisor met with Dr Chris Cotter, Director of Mission and Pastoral Life, to explore ways to support volunteers in parishes who are in turn supporting and comforting their fellow parishioners in bereavement. A Grief Workshop was developed and in July it was delivered in Kerang to people from across the Diocese with the assistance of Fr Dean Bongat. The aim of this workshop was to arm volunteers with the knowledge they need so they are better prepared to support people in their communities who are dealing with grief. Feedback received from attendees was positive. School engagement. In April 2023, CatholicCare Victoria’s Engagement Team presented to Year 11 students at St Augustine’s College in Kyabram on Catholic Social Teaching and how it relates directly to the work of CatholicCare Victoria. The feedback received was very positive and the Engagement Team hopes to be invited to present to more schools across the Diocese of Sandhurst during 2024. Pictured — Agnes Sheehan Chief Executive Officer CatholicCare Victoria Kalma Rathouski, Engagement Coordinator, CatholicCare Victoria Speaking at the Parish Admin Conference
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