Winter 2007 Friends of ACS Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Since the receipt of your last edition of Friends, there have been several changes within the service.

The first change of course, is myself. Having now been in the big office for approximately 15 weeks it has been a steep learning curve with a number of significant issues requiring my attention. However, I would like to convey my thanks to all the staff for the manner in which they have welcomed and accepted me, and for the way in which they are willing to participate in looking at our future direction.

As you can well understand the position does present its challenges and at this present moment in time it is quite time consuming— especially seeing as I have to fly to Sydney to gain some insight and training in the Responsible Gambling Fund accreditation and management responsibilities.

I hope that in the next Friends I can bring you more up-to-date with what is happening in ACS.

Larry
Executive Director

Development Application

The Development Application for 34 Denne St was approved by Council. Unfortunately structural difficulties have been encountered which have forced a re-think of the design. As a result we are hastening slowly with the new building design. The Diocese now owns the house and we are considering how we can use it in its present form while we work on the plans for its future.

Staff Changes

Over the last 3 months we have had quite a turnover in staff:

• Donna Boughton has resigned from Moree.
• Judy James has announced her retirement from Tamworth.
• Carol Mackerras has resigned as Finance Officer and Manager of Community Education.
• Rosemary Marshall has announced her resignation as assistant to the Finance Officer.
• Shirley Shirley will be retiring from Inverell in early July.
• Betty Yeaman has retired as Counsellor and Manager of Clinical Services.
• Fran Tiernan has resigned as Assistant to the Principal of LRCCS and has joined the Tamworth counselling staff as a trainee.
• Ann Elsley has joined us in Tamworth as Finance Administrative Assistant.

With her move to Moree, Sharon Kirk has left the Tamworth counselling staff and re-joined at Moree as counsellor and educator.

We anticipate the new Manager of Clinical Services will be joining us on 17 July.

There are several people being interviewed for the position of Finance Officer, although none has put in an official application.

At present Larry is overseeing Community Education with a view to approaching someone to take on this position.

We are considering solutions for addressing reception needs at Inverell and Moree.

Administrative Staff of ACS

• Larry Apthorpe—Executive Director.
• Bruce O’Hara—Business Manager, and Manager of the Coledale and Manilla Projects and Drought Funding.
• Ann Elsley—Finance Administrative Assistant.
• Rosemary Marshall—Assistant to Finance Officer.
• Meryl Gowing—Data Entry and IT.
• Cheryl Cottrell—Receptionist, Tamworth Counselling Centre.
• Mattie Ho—Administrative Assistant, Armidale Counselling Centre.
• Positions vacant—Finance Officer, Manager of Community Education

Lois Reid College of Counselling Studies

The Higher Education Board sent a list of conditions and necessary additions to the re-accreditation application that need to be organised by the end of June. As Jenny has been overseas for most of June, Ruth has been responsible for collating our response, with tutors and Academic Board members being delegated various sections of the HEB letter to respond to.

Coledale and Manilla Projects

Under the leadership of Bruce O’Hara, these projects are progressing well. Both Haidee (Manilla) and Kate (Coledale) have had requests for further ACS participation.

A Coledale group have worked with Jenny and Kate on adapting the Anger Management course for use with indigenous and low literacy groups. It has been run successfully in Coledale, and is currently being run in Manilla by Kate and Betty.

Life Skills Courses 2007

July

• Skills for the Road Ahead in Tamworth
• Communication in Armidale
• Anger Management in Tamworth

August

• Communication in Tamworth
• Assertion in Tamworth
• Self Esteem in Tamworth
• Communication in Manilla

Prayer

• New staff —getting to know the idiosyncrasies of the job
• Travel
• Rain—famine and flood
• LRCCS re-accreditation application
• Administrative staff—getting the work done in an efficient manner, to free the counselling staff to do the work for which they are trained
• The staff that are leaving

Anglican Counselling Service, Executive Director: Larry Apthorpe

Lois Reid College of Counselling Studies, Principal: Jenny Regan

Financial Counsellor: Faith Boehm

Relationship Counsellors: Ruth, Libby, Catherine, Judy, Sharon, Cheryl L, Caroly, Wendy, Ros, Frances, Jenny M, Ran, Bettina, Jenny R, Shirley, Fran

Other Staff: Cheryl C, Lois, Meryl, Elaine, James, Joy, Kate, Mattie, Bruce, Kathryn, Ann

Volunteers: Colleen, Eleanor, Jane, Nancy