chips.org.au

News & Events

2022 Chaplaincy Positions Available

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CHIPS has Chaplaincy Positions available across 4 primary schools, commencing in Term 1 2022:

Schools 1 & 2:  2 days each school per week (that is, a total of 4 days per week).

Schools 3 & 4: 2 days each school per week (that is, a total of 4 days per week).

*NB: It is CHIPS’ preference to have two candidates fulfil these roles.

A bit about us: Established in 1999 and incorporated in 2003, CHIPS is a non-profit organisation based in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. CHIPS is well known in the local area for working with primary aged children in crisis and has won the Casey Volunteer Organisation of the Year Award in 2010 and 2014.

CHIPS’ Chaplaincy program is unique as it is a “team model” of Chaplaincy. As a result, CHIPS provides Chaplains and programs which are tailor-made to suit each individual school’s needs. During crisis times (such has fire, floods or death) the Chaplaincy team, community groups and various volunteers associated with CHIPS, help to provide food parcels, respite care and home support. All the programs, services, seminars, camps and support listed on the CHIPS website (www.chips.org.au) are available to our Chaplaincy schools.

Chaplains may:

-work as a member of the school’s well-being team in the delivery of student well-being services
-contribute to improving student engagement and connectedness
-contribute to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
-provide pastoral care and guidance to students
-operate within the school community and with external providers

This role is suited to team players who are passionate about working with primary aged students and their families and who have an understanding of Trauma Informed Practice.

Successful candidates will have the ability to:

relate to female and male students; deliver both individual and group sessions; form positive connections with school leadership teams, teachers, support staff and parents/guardians; meet the minimum qualification requirements:

Applicants must have a minimum Certificate IV in Youth Work, or Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care (or equivalent qualification), as well as a current Working With Children’s Check and Police Check.

The minimum qualification must include the following units of competency:

• Work with people with mental health issues (CHCMHS001); and
• Respond to client needs (CHCCCS016), which includes making appropriate referrals.

Applications must include a covering letter, CV and two referees.

Applications close: Friday 28th January at 5:00pm and should be directed to CHIPS’ Office Manager- Mrs Cathy Wieckmann via enquiries@chips.org.au

(Previous applicants need not apply.)

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CHIPS Christmas Hampers

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Christmas Hampers that bring joy.

Thanks to your generosity, for the past eight Christmas’ CHIPS has been able to bring joy and hope to families who are finding life tough.

This year, due to the continuing Covid Lockdowns, CHIPS has received a record number of requests for our Christmas Hampers.

To date, we have had 29 schools order a total of 152 Hampers! (Update- we are now providing 177 Hampers!!!)

Every year the Hampers are such an important way of letting families know that no matter what is happening in their world, they are important, valued and thought of.

Feedback from previous Hamper recipients:

“The Hampers were just beautiful. Two women broke down in tears, one uncontrollably, as they received them.”

“I just picked it up. Thank you again so so much for the toys and the food. It’s going to help so much this year.”

Would your family like to buy another family a Christmas Hamper this year?

There are 5 ways to give:

1. $25- Christmas Hamper Family Game which provides a family board game (such as Operation, Monopoly Junior, Mouse Trap, etc) in the Hamper, for a family to enjoy together.

2. $45- Christmas Hamper Food which includes: a Bertocchi ham, potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit salad, plum pudding, custard, soft drink, short bread, bon bons and candy canes.

3. $70- Christmas Hamper with Family Game which includes: a Bertocchi ham, potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit salad, plum pudding, custard, soft drink, short bread, bon bons, candy canes AND a family board game.

4. $350- for 5 Christmas Hampers with Family Game.

5. $700- for 10 Christmas Hampers with Family Game.

If you’d like to support a local family this Christmas, please click here.

(NB: Donations will need to be received by December 10th. Thank you.)

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Give a little, change a lot!

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The support we receive from you is a HUGE encouragement as we continue to assist primary aged children experiencing trauma, grief or loss in their lives.

Our aim for 2021 is to have another twenty one people commit to supporting CHIPS by donating just $40 a month for twelve months.

Your regular donation will enable us to forward plan as we continue to assist vulnerable children in local primary schools around Casey, Cardinia, Dandenong and Knox.If you would like to become a CHIPS Champion, please click here: https://www.givenow.com.au/chipschampions

In times like these, every little bit counts, so if you’d like to make a one-off donation the end of this financial year, please click here: https://www.givenow.com.au/chips

THANK YOU for helping us to continue Changing Little Worlds in BIG Ways!

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How far will you run?

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The Sunrise to Sunset Challenge is an unmarshalled, unsanctioned 12-hour virtual running race where participants aim to take on a little suffering to help ease the suffering of others.

Founded by Michael Griffin and Daniel Wieckmann, they are simply an intermediary created to support the work of CHIPS.

Sunrise to Sunset's Mission:
To take on a little suffering to help ease the suffering of others.

Growing up can be a challenge at the best of times, but for too many children there is an added layer of grief and trauma which leaves them anxious, detached and on a path of unfair suffering.

The Sunrise to Sunset Challenge exists to help support primary school aged children experiencing grief, loss or trauma by raising some much-needed funds for CHIPS' Life Get Better Camps- which are run twice a year and aim to move children from surviving to thriving.

Set your challenge- You set the bar!
Challenge yourself to run as far as you can between sunrise to sunset on November 6th, 2021.

Raise money- Raise much needed financial support for children who are experiencing grief, loss or trauma by inviting your family and friends to donate.

Go the distance- Log your run through Strava and upload your results to see how you compare to the Sunrise to Sunset community.

Not able to run? Then Sponsor a friend. Select a person you would like to sponsor and donate funds to help them reach their personal fundraising goal for CHIPS.

Click on picture above for promo

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Why has CHIPS created a shop?

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“Why has CHIPS created a shop?” we hear you ask. Great question!

Here’s the answer…

During 2020, CHIPS provided support for over 2,000 children (through our in-school wellbeing program), 1,000+ home activity packs (for isolated children), PD’s for over 400 teachers, as well as dedicated crisis support to families and school staff.

CHIPS’ support for children and families in crisis is needed more than ever, as (apart from the effects of Covid and the extended Lockdown) police reports of domestic violence in the area have jumped between 25-30% on the same time last year.

Everything we do relies on volunteers and the support of amazing people like you, but we also needed to think of another way to generate funds.

Enter CHIPS’ shop!

When you purchase a product from CHIPS, apart from being a quality item and supporting other local, Australian businesses, the profits made will be going back into CHIPS’ programs which assist children and families in crisis.

So please, support CHIPS. Buy something from our shop and spread the word…EVERY little bit helps.

www.chips.org.au/shop

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21 Years of Life Gets Better Camps

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LGB Letter
Today, one of our long-term office volunteers (Russ) quickly popped into the CHIPS office to drop off a gift to commemorate 21 years of our Life Gets Better Camps.
 
The gift is a beautiful cross-stitch of a little child and their Grandfather, walking down to a lake (with their fishing rods and old, faithful dog), along a narrow dirt track. Across the bottom of the picture are the words- "Changing Little Worlds in BIG Ways"...CHIPS' motto.
 
Sometimes it's hard to know how much we can truly change a little world in a BIG way when our time with children is so short, but then we receive beautiful letters like these below (and pic):
 
"Hey Cathy. Sad that I can't be at the upcoming Life Gets Better camp but I'm thinking about you all and praying for a great camp. As I write this I am bumping down the highway in a big, old American school bus in New Jersey USA. For the last 10 weeks I have had the privilege of working at summer camp, with a group of 8 and 9 year old boys. My time here in the U.S comes to an end in a few weeks’ time and I have been reflecting on my journey to this point.
 
Back in 2002 I attended a Life Gets Better Camp and a few years later began volunteering on camps. I can say without a doubt that without Life Gets Better camps and the countless amazing program's that C.H.I.P.S does I would not be the person that I am today.
 
All the way from New Jersey USA I just want to say a huge thank you to the C.H.I.P.S team for the amazing work they do in encouraging kids to be kids. I can't wait to hear about the camp when I get back."
"I would like to say a big THANK YOU to all the CHIPS team for the amazing experience they enabled my boys to have during camp over the weekend. It melted my heart to see such joy & happiness from both of them. It's certainly a credit to you all for doing such a great job. I cannot thank you enough for giving two boys the best experience of their life. Thank you."
 
Oh, how we've missed seeing all of those little faces, and catching up with our amazing team of volunteers this year and how sad we are that we aren't able to celebrate the positive impact that we've ALL had in these precious little ones lives, over the past 21 years.
 
BUT...how grateful we are that we have been given the opportunity to be "present", to "see, hear, understand and accept" the children JUST AS THEY ARE, because each one is of intrinsic value.
 
So, today we say- THANK YOU! Thank you to EVERY ONE who has supported CHIPS' Life Gets Better camps over the past 21 years and for going on this amazing journey with us.
 
You truly are continuing to Change Little Worlds In BIG Ways.
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R U OK? Day 2020

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'THERE'S MORE TO SAY AFTER R U OK?'

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and circumstances have made it even more important for us all to stay connected and, for those who are able, be willing to support those around us. This year R U OK?Day is helping Australians know what to say when someone says they’re not OK and guide them through how they can continue a conversation that could change a life.

You don’t have to be an expert to keep the conversation going when someone says they’re not OK. By knowing what to say you can help someone feel supported and access appropriate help long before they’re in crisis, which can make a really positive difference to their life.

Learn what to say after R U OK? and download their FREE resources for tips and ideas to help you share the message in your community: https://www.ruok.org.au/join-r-u-ok-day

 

*wording taken off the R U OK? website*

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FREE Student Well-being Resource

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!! ATTENTION PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS !!

 

FREE Student Well-being resource as your little people prepare to head back to school.

Written by a School Counsellor, this story aims to help primary aged children with the transition back to face-to-face learning, after a period of uncertainty, and learning to find comfort in different ways.

‘Coming out of hibernation’ follows the journey of a little echidna, as everything starts to change due to Covid-19. From going into isolation at home, navigating remote learning and his transition back to school, this story captures a child’s feelings and point of view, as the world around him changes drastically.

(Feel free to download and/or share.)

 

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