Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre, Who We Are And What We Do

For over ten years the Centre has been providing services and programs to the residents of Kincumber, Avoca Beach, Copacabana, MacMasters Beach, Kilcare, Empire Bay, Bensville, Saratoga and Davistown.

Our objective is to support children, young people, individuals and families so they can enhance their independence, safety, self-esteem and quality of life within the community.

We try to build strong communities and increase social capital. This is done through community development; so communities are well informed, well resourced and well connected. We embrace equity and diversity in our community.

WHO ARE WE?

We are a community based, non-profit, incorporated organisation that is managed by a committee of local residents. We have charitable and benevolent status. Under the Rules of the Association the Committee must meet at least six times each twelve months. The committee currently meets on Monday mornings. A quorum for meetings is one half the number of committee members elected at the Annual General Meeting. Currently this is five members. The Annual General Meeting is held in October each year.

Our funding is primarily from the NSW Department of Community Services and is supplemented by various small grants which may become available for specific programs. For example: Gosford Council, through its Community Grants program, occasionally funds us to run short term programs and the Avoca Bowling Club also provides some support for our activities.

The building, previously known as Kincumber Multipurpose Centre, was built by Gosford City Council who still retain ownership. The Neighbourhood Centre has occupancy and agrees to manage the building. Council is responsible for some ongoing maintenance and the committee is responsible for keeping the building clean and tidy and maintained. The committee must make the centre available for community use. The committee, through the Centre staff, hires out the building to Community Groups and For Profit groups. There are different hiring rates for each of these categories. Any surplus money from the hiring, after deducting all expenses and provisions, is allowed to be used for Neighbourhood Centre programs - There are three rooms for hiring. There are also (3) offices, apart from the Managers, these are the counselling room, an office permanently hired to Aunties and Uncles, and the Seniors Computer Club Training room.

The staff include a full time Manager (35 hrs) and a part-time (10hrs) Breakfast Club Co-ordinator. Their activities are supplemented by our wonderful volunteers.

WHAT DO WE DO?

The list of current programs is always changing to meet the emerging needs of the community.

Our ongoing activities are to provide Information and Referrals, Community Development, Research Community Needs, Counselling, Outreach, Family Support, Personal Development Programs and development of support groups.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CENTRE

The East Brisbane Water Neighbourhood Centre Project Steering Committee was formed in 1990 and was successful in gaining Area Assistance Scheme funding to employ a Community Development Worker. Brian Cochrane commenced employment in Feb 1991. The name was later changed to Kincumber and District Neighbourhood Centre Project. The funding was later picked up by DOCS (the NSW Department of Community Services).

Brian worked out of various locations whilst undertaking community development and working tirelessly to get a home for the project. Locations included a shop upstairs in the Kincumber Shopping Centre and the Green Point Community Centre. The Kincumber Multipurpose Centre was officially opened on 25 May 1996. Brian Cochrane resigned as coordinator in November 2001 and June McSweeney was appointed.
The name of the building was later changed to Kincumber Neighbourhood Centre. For two years the foyer was the temporary Kincumber Library, with access to the Neighbourhood Centre via the side door.
When the Library vacated a new office was built in the foyer. The Seniors Computer Club established their training room in the old office.