Community Projects and Events
 

In partnership with other organisations, we create inclusive, innovative community activities. A number of workers and community members initiated and/or been  have been key drivers in many of the projects and events. Our project work is guided by The Bridges Network Approach Themes : "There's more to drug use than drugs", "Building on Strengths", "Working Together and Strengthening Relationships", and "Promoting Voices".

• Partnership with Mt Druitt Indigenous Church (2008-12) - Bridges continues to partner with Church Leaders Rick and Kayleen Manton to run projects supporting the church, following on from the Indignenous Children's Photovoice project. 

• Willmot Indigenous Children's Photovoice (2008)- Bridges partnered with Mt Druitt Indigenous Church and Wilmott Public School and worked with 15 children, strengthening resilience and developing a booklet using photos taken by the children. This booklet has has since been presented on National Indigenous TV.

• Shalvey High Partnership and Project Work 2004-2008- Kathy Carn has been essential to Bridges' collaboration with Shalvey High since 2004.
  • Shalvey High School Film Project (2008) on friendship, the school community and drug issues
  • Outreach counselling and groupwork (2005-6)
  • Design and Technology Year 7 Project 2004
  • Participation in Bridges' Celebrate the Power of Community Event in 2004.

•  Doonside Place Projects 2008 - Chris Ryan (previously Chris Norman, who also coordinated one of the first Bridges events at Riverstone), coordinated some of these activities.
  • Stronger Kids Project (with Doonside Community Hub and Doonside Public School)
  • Blokes Day (with Doonside Community Hub)
  • Groups for Parents (with Doonside Community Health)
  • Training for Teachers (with Doonside Public School) and Training for Health and Community Workers (Doonside Community Health).

• What helps kids grow strong - workshop and training project (2008)- Bridges in collaboration with other organisations organised a series of workshops for parents and traing sessions for workers on resilience-based parenting. Called "What helps kids grow strong," the workshops were designed and run by Peter Slattery.

• African and other CALD Young peoples' Discovery Challenge Film Project 2007- Australian born and African young people also had their voices heard through participation in the making of the Discovery Challenge DVD.  Several aspects of their lives were explored, including family, friendship, war and dreams and hopes.

• TAFE 2001-2009
  • Mt Druitt TAFE training project to support Mt Druitt Indigenous Church' community leadership group (2009)
  • Nirimba TAFE Project Work with Terrasancta College, Mt Druitt High and Mitchell High 2003-4
  • Ros Leahy and Dave Nash initiated workshops and community events with three schools by TAFE students in collaboration with Bridges. Following the success of the 2003-4 Nirimba TAFE schools project, five out the 27 TAFE students formed the volunteer Bridges Community Leadership Group.
  • Voice for SONG Forum 2003  Pat Johnson engaged her students to support Bridges (then BADFS) and Voice for SONG.  Eva Cox's UTS students contributed research to this forum.
  • Nirimba TAFE/Terrasancta D'Fest 2002  Ros Leahy's students ran this community event.
  • Nirimba TAFE/Terrasancta community event 2001 
    Marlene Hvass was part of the initial core team.

• More Projects and Events (including Bridges Stage I)
• • Bridges Training 2008
  • Celebrating the power of Community Events I and II
  • Previous Bridges Website Design and Launch 2006
  • Mission Australia Links to Learning 2006. Masks project coordinated by David Manzcak and Abigail Cases (also presented at the Celebrate the Power of Community Events).
  • Projects with BYSA
  • UWS Project (presented at the Celebrate the Power of Community Events)
  • Bridges Stage I - Initial Community Events, coordinated in collaboration with Sydney West Area Health, in particular Ellie Ellis and Michelle Azizi.

• Community and Agency Forums 1997 to 1999- See Social Capital and the Strengthening of Community and Family Relationships to address substance use and related issues

• Voices Project 1994-5, a project to support families in talking about alcohol and other drugs and gambling.