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Social Futures For 50 years, we have been achieving positive social change. Welcome to the Social Futures community. Spamming or posting promotional material is not permitted.

We create positive social change in regional Australia, working directly with individuals, families, communities, organisations and governments. To help everyone enjoy our page, we ask that when you post, you keep in mind the following:

We reserve the right to delete comments at our discretion and block any repeat offenders. We will remove content that is fraudulent, deceptive or misleading. We don’t allow defamatory, indecent, offensive, profane, discriminatory, misleading, unlawful or threatening comments. Personal attacks, name-calling, trolling and abuse will not be tolerated. Respect that other people in the community have had different life experiences and may have a different perspective to yours. We welcome different viewpoints. Our community is a public place. Don’t post personal information that you would not be comfortable sharing with a stranger. We recommend that you don’t post any information that may identify you or anyone else, such as your address, email address or phone number. If you have a question about a program or service of ours, please get in touch via our website at www.socialfutures.org.au

October is Mental Health Month, and Daniel’s story is a reminder that asking for help doesn’t always happen at the first...
21/10/2026

October is Mental Health Month, and Daniel’s story is a reminder that asking for help doesn’t always happen at the first opportunity, and you don’t necessarily need to know exactly what you need before reaching out.

Care Connect provides free aftercare support for people who are at risk of su***de or who have previously attempted su***de. Social Futures delivers the program across the Central Coast, Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter and Taree areas.

Support can be practical, personal and shaped around what is happening in your life.
To access Care Connect, call 1800 719 625 between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, or learn more here: https://socialfutures.org.au/care-connect-nothing-to-lose-everything-to-gain/

If Daniel’s experience brings someone to mind, you can save this post or share it with them privately.

Care Connect is funded by the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network.

For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Su***de Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 000.

***deAfterCare ***dePrevention

20/10/2026

The best way to understand the impact a program is having, is to hear directly from the people experiencing it.

This is the first in a three part series about The Indie Project, a fun and creative, music-based program that aims to build self-confidence and peer connections for the students involved.
We’re kicking things off with Team Leader Dom Shelley, who introduces the program and the purpose behind it.

Next, we’ll hear from a teacher about the impact they’ve seen in the students and then from the young people themselves about what the experience has meant to them.

Across the series, we want to show not just what The Indie Project does, but what changes when young people are given space to connect, create, express themselves and participate in ways that best work for them.

Follow us and stay tuned for part 2...

Learn more about The Indie Project here https://socialfutures.org.au/service/the-indie-project/

To sign up your school email: [email protected]
or call us on 1800 719 625.

The Indie Project received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Are you caring for an adult with disability?Join Social Futures Local Area Coordination in Grafton for a free informatio...
19/10/2026

Are you caring for an adult with disability?

Join Social Futures Local Area Coordination in Grafton for a free information session designed for parents, families and carers.

Hear practical information from:
- NSW Trustee and Guardian — Power of Attorney, Enduring Guardian and Wills
- Carer Gateway — support and services available to unpaid carers
- NSW Fair Trading — consumer rights, complaints and purchases through the NDIS and My Aged Care

When: Monday 26 October 2026 | 9:15 am arrival for a 9:30 am start
Where: Les Beattie Function Room, Grafton District Services Club 105–107 Mary Street, Grafton

Places are limited. RSVP here https://ow.ly/phlf50ZX1Bf

16/10/2026

Reaching out for alcohol and other drug support can feel like a big step, especially when you don’t know who will be on the other side of the conversation.

So over the next few weeks, we’re introducing some of the people behind The Bridge and Pillars of Support in Singleton.

First up, meet Josiah.

He shares a little about why he works in alcohol and other drug support, what matters to him, and who he is when he’s not at work. Shout out to the legendary mattcorby 😉 👏 who gets an honourable mention.
 
The Bridge provides free alcohol and other drug support, while Pillars of Support provides free counselling for people affected by someone else’s alcohol or other drug use. No referral is needed.

Both services are available through our Singleton hub at 2/16 Cambridge Street, Singleton, with phone and telehealth options also available.

Learn more via the link in our bio.

The Bridge and Pillars of Support are funded by NSW Ministry of Health.
 

Social Futures' Housing and Homelessness team recently attended the Australian Homelessness Conference 2026, connecting ...
15/10/2026

Social Futures' Housing and Homelessness team recently attended the Australian Homelessness Conference 2026, connecting with colleagues from across the sector and exploring this year's theme, Disrupting the Narrative.

The conference brought together different perspectives on homelessness, including the importance of elevating First Nations voices, culture and knowledge in conversations about housing and homelessness solutions.

For our team, it was a valuable opportunity to reflect on the approaches we're taking across our housing and homelessness programs, learn from the experiences of others and consider how we can continue to adapt our practice to the needs of the people and communities we work alongside.

The conversations reinforced our commitment to being open to new ideas, working collaboratively and continuing to learn as we work towards making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.

Thank you to AHURI, the speakers and everyone who contributed to the conversations and shared their knowledge and experiences.

15/10/2026

To celebrate headspace day today we wanted to showcase some of the unique programs we offer that are driven by young people’s interests and allows them to express themselves in new and creative ways.
 
Meet Matt from Maca music who facilitates the music program at our Ballina headspace centre. The aim of the music program is not to be the best musician but rather focuses on the emotional wellbeing and social interactions of the young person, to give them a safe space to connect with themselves, their emotions and to build connections with others through a shared interest.
 
Head to the headspace Ballina  and headspace Lismore accounts to see what events they are hosting this headspace day.
 
headspace Lismore, headspace Ballina and headspace Tweed are funded by Healthy North Coast.
 

We are in the process of developing our Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Which means we want to hear from YOU!Are you s...
12/10/2026

We are in the process of developing our Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Which means we want to hear from YOU!

Are you someone with a disability, a carer or a community member? Have you accessed Social Futures services before? Click the link to add your voice and share your experience with us.

Your feedback will help us understand:
• What is working well
• Where barriers still exist, and
• What we should focus on over the next three years

The survey is short and closes on the 15th October.

A sample of people who use our services will also be invited to take part in a longer one-to-one consultation. People selected for these consultations will be paid for their time.

Click the link to help shape better, more accessible community services https://ow.ly/OsZv50ZWGHT

Image description: A pink and purple graphic reads: “Are you someone with a disability? We want you! Complete our Disability Inclusion Action Plan survey! Help shape more accessible community services. For more information click the link in our bio.” Along the bottom are illustrations of four people, including a wheelchair user and a person using a walking frame.

Are you struggling and need someone to talk to? We can help.Elements can help you to:- Find your own purpose and place w...
09/10/2026

Are you struggling and need someone to talk to? We can help.

Elements can help you to:
- Find your own purpose and place within your family and community
- Create healthy boundaries
- Recognise and address negative patterns of behaviour
- Navigate drug and alcohol misuse
- Address mental health challenges
- Improve and repair family relationships

Elements delivers family counselling services to Lismore, Casino, Coraki, Evans Head and Ballina. Learn more here https://socialfutures.org.au/service/elements/

Funded by the Australian Department of Social Services.

08/10/2026

What happens when a group of young people come together to make music, explore what matters to them and discover talents they didn’t know they had?

At Pimpama State Secondary College, the result was ‘Let Your Emotions Out’, an original song and music video created by students participating in The Indie Project.

The song was inspired by the students’ hopes and dreams for themselves and their peers, alongside a strong message about being proud of who you are.

For one Pimpama student, the experience created a new sense of belonging, they said “It made me feel like I belonged. I became more in touch with my feelings, being able to connect with more people than I would have been able to alone.”

Across The Indie Project, students have described finding greater confidence to speak up, forming new friendships and discovering what they can achieve when they work together.

Interested in bringing The Indie Project to your school?
Email [email protected], call 1800 719 625 or head to the link in our bio to learn more.

The Indie Project received funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Swipe across to meet our friendly team!The Bridge is a free alcohol and other drugs support service for the Upper Hunter...
06/10/2026

Swipe across to meet our friendly team!

The Bridge is a free alcohol and other drugs support service for the Upper Hunter.

Pillars of Support is a free counselling service for those who support people dependent on alcohol or other drugs or are impacted by other people’s use of alcohol and other drugs.
You don’t need a referral to visit, just walk in or call us on 1800 319 801, or click the link in our bio to learn more.

We are here for everyone in Singleton, Cessnock, Kurri Kurri, Muswellbrook, Maitland and surrounds. Our team will welcome you and listen. Together we will work out how to best support you.

The Bridge and Pillars of Support are funded by the NSW Ministry of Health.

Address

Unit 5, 274 River Street
Ballina, NSW
2478

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+611800719625

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