Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Beneficiary - July 2006 Uniting Care Burnside

Northern Lakes Family Centre

Uniting Care Burnside is a child and family welfare organisation operating as an autonomous entity within the Uniting Church. They run a number of youth, family and other welfare related Centres throughout NSW.

Funds were sought to support the activities of one of Burnsides’ facilities located at Lake Munmorah, the Northern Lakes Family Centre.

This Centre was established in 1997 after the Wyong Shire was identified as an area of high growth, poor public transport and an area with many families who were both socially and geographically isolated.

The Centre provides a range of services in support of families with young children and broader community outreach services. These include:

1. A child health clinic
2. An immunisation clinic
3. Families First supported playgroups
4. Centrelink Outreach service
5. Young families group for parents under 25
6. Coast care counsellor
7. Burnside parenting groups
8. After school care programs

The intended purpose of the Centre is to provide to the Northern Lakes community access to an integrated range of family support services and the opportunity to develop both formal and informal support networks. The ultimate aim being the reduction of domestic abuse, crime, family break-up and preventable health problems in this community.