When did your community become part of Communities That Care?
Geelong officially became a CTC community in 2014, with our first round of data collection in 2015, however our links with CTC began in 2011.
Who are the key partners in your local coalition?
Barwon Child Youth and Family, Bethany, City of Greater Geelong, Victoria Police, Leisure Networks, Geelong Arts Centre, Primary and Secondary Schools in the suburbs of Corio, Norlane and Lara, Barwon Health, Department of Education, headspace, Alcohol and Drug Foundation, AFL Barwon, and Our Place as well as community members.
What are the current priorities you are addressing in your local area?
- Reducing alcohol use
- Improving family relationships
- Improving school engagement
What are the biggest achievements that your partnership has delivered since it started?
- The creation of a Youth Advisory Group which has enabled young people from the community to participate and lead projects related to our target areas, such as the YAG Art Exhibition.
- The involvement with Prevention United in a serious of online forums for organisational and community leaders, and frontline workers working with young people aged 12 - 25. The forums aimed to raise awareness about the importance of mental health promotion approaches, increase knowledge about evidence-based approaches to mental health promotion, and provide an overview of the CTC approach.
- A poster initiative to encourage all retail outlets to ask everyone for photo ID, and for people of all ages to expect to be asked.
- The ongoing delivery of a range of parenting programs in the community.
What programs/initiatives/activities are you currently delivering?
Alcohol supply monitoring activities, parenting education programs including Strengthening Family Connections, Bringing Up Great Kids and Tuning into Kids, and the Inspiring Student Leaders program.
For more information about Communities That Care in the Geelong region, get in touch with CTC Coordinator Louise McDonald on (03) 5226 8900 or visit the website.
