Fair Go For The West: Consultancy a new way to care
THIS mother of two with a background in social welfare plans to provide childhood and family support through approved childcare centres in Macarthur.
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CHRIS Harris wants to save Camden, one family at a time.
The mother of two with a background in social welfare plans to provide childhood and family support through approved childcare centres in the Macarthur region.
“I’ve worked with homeless children in the past and throughout my career have come into contact with many children and families in need,” Ms Harris said.
“But now I find myself back in Camden and have realised there is also a real need to help children and families in my own community, it’s not only the lower socio-economic areas that need support.”
Ms Harris has been nominated in the community category of The Daily Telegraph and NewsLocal’s Champions of the West awards, a grants competition for the Fair Go For The West campaign that consists of 14 categories, each offering a $10,000 grant.
She plans to set up a children’s consultancy through childcare centres so families can gain support, information and referrals for a range of issues such as dealing with a family death or illness, abuse, domestic violence or even helping children newly arrived in Australia.
She could help centre directors and staff with strategies to assist children and their families as well as offer support directly to families who may be doing it tough.
“It’s about supporting the parents and help them make the decisions they need to make for the benefit of the family,” Ms Harris said.
“Every family issue and need is unique, and I would work individually with each family to get the best outcome. I see the consultancy as working like a triage area of a hospital: assess, support and refer to the relevant area for help.”
Ms Harris has determined the $10,000 grant would provide 200 consulting hours to work with families in the Macarthur region. There are 22 childcare centres in the area, so this would provide each one with nine hours consulting time with the staff or families in need — or roughly one hour a week for one school term.
“Childcare centres are great at looking at children’s development and getting kids ready for school,” she said. “But what about the other needs of the child and their family? There are organisations out there that families can access, but they are specific.
“My consultancy can help with any area, it would be like a one-stop shop.”
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CHAMPIONS of the West rewards ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Western Sydney to the tune of $10,000 grants in multiple categories.
The 2015 grants program is expanded this year to acknowledge the achievements of Western Sydney innovators and those making a difference in their community and respective fields.
This year’s categories include small business, education, sport, and the arts.
The Sunday Telegraph, The Daily Telegraph and NewsLocal — together with corporate partners NAB, NRMA, Crown, UWS, Origin Energy, Harvey Norman, and TAFE WSi — will reward those excelling in their fields.
Are you a Champion of the West? Click on the banner above to enter!
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