PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

Community Solutions Inc. specialises in innovative and collaborative public health projects and services. We recognise that health is more than the absence of disease, but is a whole of community issue that is a complex blend of physical, social and emotional factors.

Our philosophy towards public health is based on the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion.  Community Solutions Inc.’s projects seek to blend public health policy, the creation of supportive community environments, strengthening of community action, the development of skills and sustainable “user friendly” services.

Through a community engagement approach, Community Solutions Inc. develops and implements strategies that address evidence-based need in a constructive and sustainable way.

Areas of expertise include:

Current and recent projects include:

Bright Futures

A program for young people in the care of grandparents or other family members. Bright Futures offers support, advocacy and a range of positive activities designed to assist social engagement of young people in kinship care. Bright Futures is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Grandparents as Parents

The Grandparents as Parents (GAP) Project supports grandparent carers through the provision of information and case management support for families. Funded through the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services and the Telstra Foundation, the GAP Project is currently supporting grandparent carers with direct advocacy and support, group activities for grandparents and their grandchildren and a social program to bring grandparent carers together and address issues of social isolation.

For more information, go to www.grandparentsasparents.com.au

Generations Connect

Generations Connect will teach grandparent carers to use technologies that young people in their care use on a daily basis. These technologies include SMS messaging, taking photos on a phone, uploading photos from a phone to a computer, email, creating a website, creating a blog and other similar technologies. With funding from Telstra Seniors Connect the project will provide training to grandparent carers and other interested Seniors.

Web E@sy

Community Solutions is currently developing resource materials to assist adults with literacy difficulties to access information via the internet. Resource materials will be available for use by February 2009. Web Easy is funded by the Australian Government department of Education and Workplace Relations.

Party Smart Party Safe

Party Smart Party Safe is a twelve month project aimed at reducing the harms associated with alcohol consumption and risky behaviours. Targeting the tourist areas of Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns; Party Smart Party Safe will include harm reducation for a range of settings including nightclubs and activities based around boating and the water. Party Smart Party Safe is funded by the Queensland Police Service under the National Drug Strategy Law Enforcement Fund.

Stay Physically Active

Stay Physically Active (SPA) is a physical activity project targeting people aged 60 and over. The project provides an opportunity for participants to try various low impact activities for blocks of 6 weeks at a time. Activities are offered throughout the Sunshine Coast including the Hinterland areas. Options include tai chi, water aerobics, dancing, bowls, walking and croquet. SPA is finded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Statewide Scope - Local Perspectives

Volatile Substance Misuse in Queensland

A community engagement initiative undertaken throughout Queensland in partnership with the Queensland Police Service. Using a process developed by Community Solutions Inc., community representatives from locations such as Thursday Island, Mt Isa, Rockhampton, Cairns, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Hervey Bay and the Gold Coast participated in workshops to identify key issues and develop localised strategies in relation to Volatile Substance Misuse.

Community Solutions Inc. is currently developing resource materials to assist police officers to work collaboratively with their local communities to devise and implement a range of proactive strategies that build local capacity.

Statewide Scope - Local Perspectives received the 2004 Queensland Police Service Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented and Partnership Policing.

Toursmart

A three year crime prevention project in the Hervey Bay area that aims to prevent or reducs crimes against backpackers and older itinerant tourists. Toursmart involves a combination of local partnerships supported by resource materials promoting safety messages to tourists. Toursmart is funded by the Australian Government Attorney General's Department.

RaveSafe

An education and early intervention program to reduce the harms associated with ecstasy related drug use. RaveSafe provides information at music events and in nightclubs in South East Queensland, and works with event promoters and nightclubs to provide healthy settings for patrons. Teams of peer helpers attend music events providing information and support to patrons, and referring where necessary to health services. RaveSafe is implemented in partnership with Queensland Health.

The RaveSafe website is www.ravesafeqld.com

Out in the Community

The development of a video resource to assist police in implementing the key components of the National Drug Strategy through their work with community groups, schools, local government and other key community agencies. A resource development project implemented in partnership with the Queensland Police Service and funded under the National Drug Strategy.

Eye on the Bay

An arts project currently being implemented in the Hervey Bay area through which young people are involved in a multi-media project culminating in a short film festival. Funded through the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, this project focuses on risk and protective factors for young people in relation to the misuse of illicit substances.

Young Women of Cape York 

An arts project implemented collaboratively with the alliance of Cape York schools with the aim of reducing disengagement rates for young girls in remote indigenous communities. The project also aims to identify any needs and vocational opportunities for young women and to support them to identify options and make positive choices about their work and life.

Sunshine Coast Safelink

The Safelink project targets the ageing population of Queensland's Sunshine Coast through a coordinated approach involving a range of government departments and non-government organisations. Funded through the Commonwealth Attorney General's Department, Safelink provides Sunshine Coast residents aged 60 and over with safety information, supports existing education initiatives and features a recreation and leisure program designed to increase community connectedness and the use of public space by Seniors.

Changing Places

Changing Places supports families settling in to areas west of Caloundra. Commencing in June 2006, Changing Places will provide information and direct family support to transitional families and primarily address parenting issues unique to families that move into a new area. Changing Places is funded through the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

Queensland Schoolies Information Strategy

An innovative and collaborative state-wide approach, that for 10 years provided young people with health and safety information that will assist them to celebrate Schoolies Week safely; and provided teachers with professional development and resource materials to assist in delivering Year 12 students with high quality and relevant school drug education. The Queensland Schoolies Information Strategy was implemented in partnership with Queensland Health.

Workplace Drug Policy - Mobilising Businesses in South East Asia

In collaboration with the Colombo Plan, Community Solutions Inc. took a lead role in the coordination of a symposium and subsequent resource manual to assist businesses in South East Asia with the development and implementation of workplace drug policies.

Mooloolaba Water and Alcohol Safety Project

A public education strategy addressing the harms associated with swimming and boating under the influence of alcohol. The Mooloolaba WASP strategy was funded under the National Drug Strategy and implemented in partnership with the Queensland Police Service and the Maroochy Shire Council.

Tertiary Events Planning Manual

A CD Rom developed by Community Solutions Inc. in partnership with Queensland Health to assist event coordinators in tertiary campuses with the organisation of safe campus events.

For further information please contact >

Jenny Madden, Manager - jmadden@community-solutions.com.au