SERVICES

BADAC supports the health and wellbeing of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal community with a range of holistic services, including:

• BADAC Medical Clinic

• Koorie Family Services

• Early Years Learning & Development

• Children & Youth Services

• Kinship Care

• Aboriginal Family Lead Decision Making (AFLDM)

• My Aged Care

• Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Support

• Social & Emotional Wellbeing Program

• Justice Support

• Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care

For more information on any of the services/programs that we offer, please click on the below links, or alternatively you can call us on 03 5331 5344.

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING (SEWB)

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Service is a Primary mental health and drug and alcohol service that specialises in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.  SEWB services work with community in Ballarat and surrounding district.

BADAC offer a range of services designed to deliver SEWB programs in a holistic and culturally appropriate manner. SEWB services has a diverse range of staff with specialist skills and work as a team, to ensure care is inclusive of individual, family, and community needs.  

The range of services offered include:

• SEWB Counselling and treatment;

• Alcohol and Other Drug Counselling;

• Making a Change (MAC) Program;

• Psychological Treatment Services (Adult and Children);

• BADAC Keela Borron (Parental Mental Health Support);

• Youth Mental Services;

• AOD Peer Support program;

• Visiting Psychiatrist and Psychologists.

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CONTACT DETAILS

Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB)

106 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat VIC 3350

03 5331 5344 (extension #3)

CULTURAL THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT

BADAC offers cultural therapeutic care for the Ballarat & district Aboriginal community to connect with culture, spirit and self. Our team create and facilitate experiences to support individuals and families on their self discovery and healing journey.

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The range of services offered include:

• Cultural Support Planning

Aim to develop or maintain children's cultural identity through connection to family, community and culture, while they are in care.​

• Local Justice

Through ongoing support programs our aim is to help Aboriginal people and their families who have been in contact with the justice system to heal and reintegrate into the community. A strong support system and cultural connection helps people heal, build resilience and prevent re-offending.​

• Mens Group

In a strong culturally safe environment surrounded by your peers and community the BADAC Mens Group provides a place to discuss social, cultural, physical and mental health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Men of all ages.​

• Womens Group

The BADAC women’s group is a place of healing, a place for Aboriginal women to come together for friendship, yarning and cultural activities. Our group is strengths based and focuses on increasing cultural knowledge and community connections as a way of achieving healing for our mob.​

• Therapeutic Family Support

Through the support of our skilled and professional care teams, we have the fundamentals to support and respond appropriately to children’s experience of trauma, and their associated developmental, attachment and behavioural needs in a culturally safe way.​

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CONTACT DETAILS

For any further inquiries please contact our Cultural Therapeutic Support team on: 03 5331 5344

COMMUNITY HOME SUPPORT SERVICES
HACC-PYP & NDIS

BADAC’s Home Support & NDIS team provides support and assistance to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Community members regarding home and community care and disability services.

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The range of services offered include:

• Community Home Support Program

If you, or someone you care for, can generally manage, but just need some help with daily tasks to continue living at home, the Commonwealth Home Support Program may be right for you.

The aim of this program is to help older people live as independently as possible — with a focus on working with you, rather than doing it for you.

The program is for non-Aboriginal people aged 65 years and over, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and over.

Contact My Aged Care to arrange your assessment:

Call: 1800 200 422

If you would like BADAC to provide your CHSP services, please let your Aged Care assessor know

• HACC-PYP

The Home and Community Care Program for Younger People (HACC-PYP) focuses on the needs of the following individuals who do not have an aged care or disability package, but who may need help with regular activities to be able to better manage living at home:

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged under 50 years old

• Non-Aboriginal people under 65

Services available for the CHSP and HACC-PYP include:

• Home maintenance

• Garden maintenance

• Respite

• Transport

• Group activities with BADAC

• Domestic assistance

For further information on the above programs, please contact our Community Home Support Services team on: 5331 5344

• NDIS

BADAC can implement approved plans to achieve your goal in the following areas:

• Therapeutic Support

• Behaviour Support

• Participation in Communities

• Group/Centre Activities

• Assistance in Household task

• Assistance in Personal Activities

• In-Home Care Support

BADAC has a dedicated NDIS Community Support Connector worker available to assist with accessing the NDIS and further information.

CONTACT DETAILS

For any further inquiries please contact our Home Support Services & NDIS team on 5331 5344.

EARLY YEARS LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT

Early Childhood Services offers support for children and families in a holistic environment within the Ballarat and District Aboriginal community.

The range of services offered include:

• Playgroup

• Koorie Pre-school Assistant (KPSA)

• Perridak Burron Early Learning Centre

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CONTACT DETAILS

For any further inquiries regarding daycare and kindergarten, please contact our team at Perridak Burron on: 03 5334 4727

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For all other Early Years inquiries, please contact the Early Years manager at cbrown@badac.net.au

KOORIE FAMILY SERVICES

BADAC’s Koorie Family Services programs are designed to strengthen and support Aboriginal families in our community. These programs are delivered in a culturally aware, confidential and empowering way.

The range of services offered include:

• Integrated Family Services

Integrated Family Services (IFS) program provides support to families experiencing difficulties on a range of issues. IFS work with families and children aged 0-17.

• Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making

Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making is to implement and co-convene a Culturally-responsive model of family decision making with Aboriginal children, young people and families who are referred by Child Protection. The Aboriginal Family Led Decision Making program gives families a voice towards achieving the goals between the family and child protection.

• Keeping Families Together & The Response; Victorian & Aboriginal Family Preservation & Reunification Response

Keeping Families Together & The Response (The Victorian Family Preservation and Reunification Response) provides an initial intensive intervention phase, followed by a sustained service support phase, over several moths which aims to prevent at risk children entering or re-entering care. Keeping Families Together is in partnership with CAFS.

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Referral pathways to Koorie Family Services are made through The Orange Door, Child Protection and external services. IFS referrals can be done via self-referral.

CONTACT DETAILS

For any further enquiries, please contact our Koorie Family Services team on:

03 5331 5344 (Ext #9)

familyservices@badac.net.au

GOBATA BURRON

BADAC’s Gobata Burron has S18 Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care, Kinship Care and First Supports Program. The aim of these programs is to provide support and assistance to families who are going through the courts, out of home care and child protection.

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The range of services offered include:

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• ACAC (Aboriginal Children in Aboriginal Care)

ACAC  is it is about supporting parents to meet their Court ordered conditions when their child/children is on a Child Protection Order. Case plans and case management is done by Gobata Burron rather than DFFH Child Protection, giving a more culturally safe model and allowing Gobata Burron to provide strong advocacy for our people in a space where we have not had this before. 

• Kinship Care

The Kinship program supports Out of Home Care placements that would normally be managed by DFFH. The goals of the Kinship program is to provide ongoing support and advocacy to sustain an Out of Home care placement with a family member, while a child is in their care. Connection with parents and siblings is an upmost priority when a child is in a Kinship placement. 

If you are interested, or in a position to provide a culturally safe and secure place for a child in our Community to stay, please get in touch with our Gobata Burron team on 03 5331 5344.

• First Support Program

First Supports is a program where initial support and assessment of a Kinship placement takes place. BADAC's First Supports worker will work with the carer to assess the placement is appropriate and help with immediate needs. We provide information on support services available to assist families in providing a safe, happy environment for children in out of home care.

CONTACT DETAILS

For any further enquiries, please contact our Gobata Burron team on: 03 5331 5344

CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES

BADAC's Children & Youth Services is focused on engaging, supporting and mentoring our Children & Youth of Ballarat and Districts.

The range of services offered include:

• Koorie Youth Justice Program                                                                    Supporting young Koorie people who are on justice orders.

• Koorie Youth Group​​

       After school engagement program for youth aged 6 to 18

• Parenting Program

       Support for parents of young children from pre birth to 6

• Better Futures Program

         Practical Support for young people from 16 to 21 who have ben or                           remain on Child Protection Orders

• Koorie Youth Engagement Program 

       Visits to Primary and High Schools in the BADAC area to support the                       delivery of Aboriginal programs

• Burron Guli (Boys to Men)

       8 week Primary and Secondary school program for young boys and men                 which provides Aboriginal role modelling to strengthen understanding of               culture, which in turn challenges the norms of thinking about Aboriginal                 Family Violence

• Sista to Women (Girl to Women)

         8 week Primary and Secondary school program for young girls and women             which provides Aboriginal rold modelling to strengthen understanding of               culture

• Sport & Recreation/Outdoor Programs

       Creating linkages with local Sport & Recreation organisations to encourage           physical activity and healthy lifestyles for young Koories

• BADAC Media

       Creating and exploring the use of media to create strong messages of self             determination for the local Aboriginal Community. Using film, photography,           music creation and dance, this program hopes to create local Aboriginal                 stories.

• Koorie Families as First Educators (KFFE)

       Koorie Parenting Program is an individual in home support program for                   parents and carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from                 pre-birth to age 6.

       The program focuses on assisting families to build better connections and             understanding of their children, while creating cultural connections to the               local community and BADAC services.

CONTACT DETAILS

Children & Youth Services is located at 124 Armstrong St Nth, Ballarat.

For any further inquiries please contact our Children and Youth Services

team on: 03 5331 5344

STOLEN GENERATIONS

If you are a part of the Stolen Generation and are needing support, please contact the Stolen Generation Program at BADAC.

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What is the Stolen Generation?

The forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Between 1910-1970, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were forcibly removed from their families as a result of various government policies. The generations of children removed under these policies became known as the Stolen Generations. The policies of child removal left a legacy of trauma and loss that continues to affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, families and individuals. What happened and why? The forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families was part of the policy of Assimilation.

Assimilation was based on the assumption of black inferiority and white superiority, which proposed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be allowed to “die out” through a process of natural elimination, or, where possible, should be assimilated into the white community. Children taken from their parents as part of the Stolen Generation were taught to reject their Indigenous heritage, and forced to adopt white culture. Their names were often changed, and they were forbidden to speak their traditional languages. Some children were adopted by white families, and many were placed in institutions where abuse and neglect were common.

Assimilation policies focused on children, who were considered more adaptable to white society than Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. “Half-caste” children (a term now considered derogatory for people of Aboriginal and white parentage), were particularly vulnerable to removal, because authorities thought these children could be assimilated more easily into the white community due to their lighter skin colour. Assimilation, including child removal policies, failed its aim of improving the lives of Indigenous Australians by absorbing them into white society. This was primarily because white society refused to accept Indigenous people as equals, regardless of their efforts to live like white people. If you are a part of the Stolen Generation and are needing support, please contact the Stolen Generation Program at BADAC.

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What we do?

• Social, emotional, spiritual wellbeing support

• Counselling

• Referrals

• Confirmations of Aboriginality

• Stolen Generation Presentations

• Research

• Family History Research

• Annual Healing Camps

• Client Meetings (bi monthly)

• Client Outings (bi monthly)

Contact the Stolen Generation Team

108 Armstrong Street Nth Ballarat, Vic 3350

03 5331 5344

FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES

BADAC's Family Violence Services programs are deigned to assist and support Men, Women and families experiencing family violence.

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The range of services offered include:

• Family Violence Therapeutic Programs

We provide family violence counselling to those who have experienced, or are currently experiencing family violence.  The team works with victim-survivors and their families to develop strategies to manage trauma, and provide support around their experience of family violence.​

• Men's Case Management

Our Men’s Family Violence Case Management  Worker (MCM) provides support for Aboriginal men who have used, or have had issues with using family violence behaviours and would like to change these behaviours.  The MCM worker assists men to learn about healthy relationships, to identify and understand  their abusive behaviours, as well as showing that there are other ways to manage and regulate emotions.​

• Men's Community Connections Program (MCCP)

The MCCP provides Aboriginal men opportunities to engage in community activities (learning/social/recreational) of their choosing to assist them in building stronger social, community, and cultural connections.  Group activities such as weekly walks, a cooking group, and even a weekly cuppa (our shout!) will be happening but we always offer individual activities for those who may not want to engage in a group setting.  This group is for those who have used family violence behaviours and want to make a change for the better and works alongside BADAC’s MCM.​

• Women's Community Connections Program (WCCP)

The WCCP provides Aboriginal women who have experienced, or are currently experiencing family violence opportunities to engage in community activities (learning/social/recreational) of their choosing to assist them in building stronger social, community, and cultural connections.  We have individual and group activities such as weekly walks, cooking group, and even a weekly cuppa             (our shout!).​

• The Orange Door

The Orange Door helps to protect women, children, and families from violence and give people an easier way to access family violence services.  Our Aboriginal Hub Practitioners will assist you with many of the immediate needs you may have whilst also connecting you to culturally appropriate services for further support. ​

CONTACT DETAILS

For any further inquiries please contact our Family Violence Services team on: 03 5331 5344