Kyabra Community Association Inc. is a community based organisation that is committed to strengthening Individual, Family and Community Life.

Our activities are inspired by a vision of local communities that are safe and fair for everyone and in which all people are free to be themselves, to fulfil their potentials and to achieve their goals.

We have a range of resources that we can offer to individuals and families to help bring about positive change. These resources are offered in an integrated and flexible way.

How do people access Kyabra?

Sometimes individuals or families contact us themselves to discuss their situation and see if we can assist them. At other times another organisation or a government department may make contact.

We can work with people to identify their goals, strengths and the resources they may require. From there a package of resources can be organised.

These resources could include:

• Trained workers to work with individuals and families in a strengths-based and solution focussed way
• Trained volunteers who can assist families and individuals to achieve their goals
• Often people may not be sure of what services or activities might be best for them. A key worker is available to work with you to coordinate the most appropriate resources to meet your needs.

Geographic Area

Kyabra Community Association accepts referrals from the suburbs of:

Acacia Ridge; Algester; Berrinba (part of); Calamvale; Coopers Plains; Drewvale; Eight Mile Plains; Karrawatha; Kuraby; MacGregor; Mackenzie; Mansfield; Mt Gravatt; Mt Gravatt East; Nathan; Parkinson; Robertson; Rochedale; Runcorn; Salisbury; Stretton; Sunnybank; Sunnybank Hills; Upper Mt Gravatt; Wishart

(Some specific services also accept referrals from broader areas)

How to Access Services

Often people may not be sure of what services or resources might best suit their needs.  Whilst many people access our core services, there are also many individuals and families who consult with us about their goals and hopes for the future.  This is often referred to as our ‘Agency Work.’

We have developed a way to help identify what might be the best way of working together.  Whist the process may vary a little, it generally follows these steps:

1. Request for Assistance.  Whether this is a referral from another agency or an individual, a worker is available to speak with you about your current situation and your hopes for the future.  The worker will explain how we work and if you would like to access services.  Everyone living in our geographical area is eligible to access services.  If our services are not right for you, the worker will be able to provide information about other services.
2. Initial Visit.  This can occur in your own home, or at our Centre, if you prefer.  Usually a couple of workers can arrange to meet with you and identify both your picture of the future and the strengths and resources you may draw on to move towards that picture.
3. With your permission, these workers will consult with other colleagues at Kyabra to draw together the resources/services that you may require.
4. A worker will then bring this information back to you to consider.  If you wish to continue with the agency, this conversation may be the start of a plan to achieve your goals.

Kyabra workers realise that we are privileged to be invited into people’s lives.  We treat that privilege with great care and respect.  If you are thinking of accessing our services, you may find it helpful to know a little more about some of our ways of working.

Fees and Charges

Kyabra values the range of services and activities that it offers the community and in some instances will seek to recover contributions so as to further enhance and develop these services.

Confidentiality

Kyabra respects that information shared by clients belongs to clients.  We aim to uphold the highest standards of clients’ rights to confidentiality and privacy in accordance with the principles embodied in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000.  Clients’ information will not be shared without their permission, the exception being where Kyabra workers are required, ethically and/or legally, to report matters involving risk to an individual’s safety and well being. 

Kyabra shall collect only such personal information from clients as is necessary to provide the service offered to or sought by them.  The client’s permission for our holding information shall be obtained in all cases.  In seeking this permission, there shall be full disclosure of what information is to be held and how it may be used.  The client will be offered the right to inspect any information held and to correct inaccuracies.  Information will be securely stored and accessed only by those employees whose job makes it necessary for them to do so.  No information will be shared with a third party without the client’s permission, except where issues of personal risk of public safety make it legally or ethically mandatory that we do so.  No new use of information shall be made without the new permission of the client.  However, records may be used in statistical analyses so long as individuals cannot be identified.  Private records shall be destroyed or de-identified when not further required, except where legal requirements or public safety considerations make it necessary or prudent for us to retain them for longer.  Kyabra shall put in place procedures to ensure the privacy, safety and security of client information and to ensure that clients and employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities with regard to privacy matters.

Access to Information

Kyabra believes that information about a person belongs to that person. All clients and staff will be able to access any information concerning themselves.  Clients and workers are encouraged to jointly document their involvement and clients will be encouraged to retain these records.  Any information that is generated about a person will be shared with that person.

Your Right to be Heard

If you don’t like something or you are unhappy with the support or service you are receiving from Kyabra, you have the right to voice your concerns and be heard.  You can do this by either phoning or writing to anyone within the organisation you feel comfortable with.  This may include a Resource Worker, Manager, the Chief Executive Officer of an Executive Board member.  If you would like to talk to someone about your concerns, you also have the right to have someone with you – a friend or advocate of your choice.

Consultation

Kyabra Community Association Inc. is committed to engage appropriate consultative mechanisms in all aspects of its operations.

This commitment is founded on people’s universal right to be involved in decisions that affect them and is firmly based in the belief that effective consultation will produce optimum results.  Here at Kyabra Community Association Inc. we want to make the best decisions again and again.

We embrace the concept of being a learning organisation that continually develops and evaluates consultative processes.  In this context we wish to avoid overly prescriptive policies and practices.

We will engage such consultative processes and mechanisms that maximise participation of all stakeholders.  There is a hope that given appropriate opportunities, stakeholders will participate.

Whilst individuals may, from time to time, disagree with the final outcomes of consultation, we hope that they value the integrity of our processes.
 
Through consultation we endeavour to arrive at decisions that enhance our service to our community and region.

At Kyabra Community Association Inc. we want to make the best decisions again and again.

Community Member Participation

Kyabra recognises the right of community members to have opportunities to actively participate in relevant aspects of organisational development and activities.  Kyabra highly values and wishes to encourage collaboration, consultation and participation of community members.  

We will ensure that, wherever appropriate, community members will be given opportunities to participate in service and organisational planning, development and evaluation.  These opportunities may include involvement in: recruitment and employment processes, reference groups, steering committees, service and organisational reviews, evaluation processes and strategic planning.

Honouring Community Member Contributions to Projects and Activities

Kyabra acknowledges the contributions of community members to a range of activities and projects.  Kyabra wishes to acknowledge these contributions in an appropriate form.  Contributions may include consultancy or participation in the development of products.

In considering fair and appropriate acknowledgement, Kyabra will negotiate the terms and conditions prior to the commencement of the activity, or at whatever point a product outcome is identified.  The nature of the activity should determine the appropriate form of acknowledgement. A written agreement is to be drafted and signed by all parties. The Chief Executive Officer will be the delegated representative of the organisation. The agreement must stipulate all contractual arrangements including permission to use the material in specified ways.

When considering appropriate forms of acknowledgement it is recommended that importance be placed on the possibility that community members may understate the value of their contribution. Consequently, the onus is on the organisation to assess what is a fair and equitable arrangement, in line with the organisation’s vision, values and operating principles.