A vacancy for a caseworker is now available at Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Child and Family Network Inc. The position is located in Casino and requires applicants to have three years' experience in working with disadvantaged kids and families. This position also requires a satisfactory "working with children check". Applications close 10th of February, 2012. Send your applications to: Chairperson, Ngunya Jarjum, Po Box 646, Casino, NSW 2470. For more information, please see the following document.

 Funding is now available from Rous Water for community groups that wish to undertake water saving and water efficiency projects.

Interagencies across the Northern Rivers region will again be meeting in 2012. These meetings are a great opportunity for community service organisations to network, collaborate and find out more about what other services do.  If you've never attended one before, make 2012 the year to start! It could the the beginning of a new chapter in how your organisation operates.

 If you think that ‘new media’ and ‘social media’ has improved the lives of people with disability, this book begs to differ Click here to read on.

 A new report has heralded the end of the ‘work to live’ mentality. Click here to read on...

Early-bird registrations are now open for the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) 2012 conference.  The theme for 2012 is ‘Sharing the Wealth of the Lucky Country’ and the conference will provide a forum for discussion and debate to address the growing inequalities across Australia as material wealth continues to boom.

 To read the latest  update (January 2012) on ageing and disability news from NCOSS, click here.

 NCOSS will be conducting consultations on the impact of the equal pay case on small generalist NGOs at Ballina RSL on the evening of Thursday, 23 February, 2-4pm.  This is a great opportunity for local organisations to feed into the process. Please register by Friday 27 January 2012

 Northern Rivers Buslines and Ballina Buslines have capped their fares at $9.40 as of January 2012.   This will make a significant difference to the hip pocket of people who travel on longer distance rural routes.  

The Education Centre Against Violence will deliver a nationally accredited Certificate IV in Aboriginal Family Health in Lismore throughout 2012, thanks to support from the Lismore Workers Club. The course is for Aboriginal workers only, and will run over 6 week-long study blocks here in Lismore from February – October 2012.

 The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Victor Dominello MP and the Ministerial Taskforce on Aboriginal Affairs are seeking your views in the development of a new Aboriginal affairs strategy for NSW.

 The Bullinah Cultural Festival is a celebration of local Aboriginal Heritage that compliments current Australia Day activities. It aims to educate and break down ethic and social barriers b y integrating Australian and Aboriginal history in a fun and social atmosphere. Bullinah Cultural Festival Day acknowledges and celebrates the survival of our local Aboriginal culture. There will be games for the young & old as well as open mic entertainment and other fun activities so come along & join in.