From the Pen of the Executive Director

I suspect most of you have heard of the Messiah complex.  It refers to a tendency for caring people, to become rescuers who try to deliver others from their problems.  At times, almost all of us want to be like messiahs, saving people from dysfunctional families, enslaving addictions or self-destructive lifestyles.

How does the real Messiah, Jesus Christ, relate to us as counsellors & a counselling service?  What can we learn from his life on earth, from his crucifixion & resurrection?  Do His actions have any real practical bearing on our counselling & on our clients at this present time in history?

God made human beings from dust, & in the image of God.  We were meant to bring glory to God but rebellion & sin tarnished that image & corroded all our relationships – with God, with others, ourselves & with the world.  We were trapped by sin & we needed someone to deliver us.  This brings us to Jesus Christ.

By his life, death & resurrection we are declared right with God because Jesus paid the price for our sins.

This means we & our clients can know & experience peace (with God, others & within ourselves), forgiveness, freedom & hope as Christians look forward to the day when the whole of creation will be “liberated from its bondage to decay” reconciled to God & restored to the state of beauty & wholeness that it once had (Rom 5:11; 8:9-22; Col 1:20; Gal 3:26-29; 4:4-7).

Staff Matters

In November 2003, Dr Eleanor Knox announced her intention to retire at the end of the year  after 12 years with ACS in Tamworth.  We thank her for her valuable contribution particularly in working with children. 

Jo Wakeford has also retired after 16 years working with the ACS in Tamworth.  Jo is working with the Mental Health Support Group.

Sharryn Willoughby, our counsellor in Narrabri has moved to Canberra following her husband’s change in employment.

It is with sadness Brian accepted Stephen Cunneen’s resignation.  Steve has been the Accounts Officer for about 3 ¹/₂ years.  Steve is pursuing PhD studies in Australian History at UNE.  Brian hopes to appoint a replacement in the near future.

Brian has spent a lot of time in the last six months at meetings with other service providers, staff from the Department of Family & Community Services, Anglicare and our Federal representatives.  He and Jenny Regan have also attended a number of conferences.

Brian appreciated the opportunity to minister in Emmaville and Deepwater recently.  Although it was a cold day, the warm welcome, fellowship and the opportunity to share about the work of the Counselling Service made the trip enjoyable.

Brian will be visiting Nundle and Walcha parishes in the next two months.

During April the ACS held an in-service at Uralla on Clients who Self Harm and Critical Incident Counselling.  These sessions were led by staff members who have attended conferences on the topics, and wanted to share their knowledge with the others.

In early May, the counsellors and ACS Board members met at Copeton Dam for a retreat.  The feedback from this time away has been very positive.  Brian led studies on the Beatitudes and there was time in groups and alone to think & reflect.

In May, Ruth Blakely & Caroly Laurie conducted a Depression Workshop called How to Get Up when You’re Down.  About 30 people attended who appreciated the day.

It is great to have Allan Every join the ACS team for the next 12 months as a Drought Support Worker.  Allan is employed for 2 days per week to support people impacted by the drought, conduct workshops where requested, liaise with other organisations and refer people to appropriate services.

Money Matters

After discussions with the Department of Family & Community Services, ACS funding has not increased for the next 12 months.  FaCS acknowledges that ACS is under-funded but no extra funding was allocated from the Budget.  Rather, according to FaCS cost estimates & the number of counselling clients ACS sees per year, ACS is under-funded by about $300 000.

On a brighter note,  we have been successful in a submission to allow all our counsellors professional development in the area of ‘Alcohol & other drugs’.

Also under the recent Drought Funding we will be running 2 Know Yourself personal awareness courses in rural centres.

We have received new computers under two submissions: from the Human Services Better Delivery Programme & from the Paul Newman Foundation.

Praise Matters

• Rain … Yay !!!

• For the years of service to ACS provided by Eleanor, Jo & Sharryn

• For keeping our financial head above water

• Receipt of $36 000 from the Office of Fair Trading to provide much needed financial counselling services

• Also received $847 for the West Tamworth League Club to provide counselling resources in Tamworth.

Prayer Matters

• Rain … please !!!

• That our continuing submissions for funding be looked upon favourably

• Pray for protection from the evil one—particularly the staff who are currently counselling clients involved in Satanic worship

• For Eleanor, Jo & Sharryn as they head in new directions

• ACS Board meeting at the end of July

• Allan as he undertakes his new role

[Home] [Up] [Summer 2004/2005] [Spring 2004] [Winter 2004] [Summer 2003/2004] [Spring 2003] [Winter 2003] [March 2003] [December 2002] [August 2002]

Send mail to eservice@acsdarm.org.au with questions or comments about this web site.  For general enquiries see the Contact Information.
Last modified: 13 May, 2008