The SECASA Administration Team: The heart of everything

By Saihini Naidoo 

SECASA is a unique and multi-tiered entity. Each team within the organisation is responsible for its own important, specialised, duties and each Team carries out these duties with the utmost pride and passion.

In saying this, there is one Team in particular, who are the heart of everything…

The Administration Team, led by newly appointed Team Leader, Gihan, plays an integral role in coordinating the fluidity of SECASA processes. This efficient team is responsible for intake work, scheduling appointments and receiving and managing clients on SECASA’s client management system called ‘IRIS’. It is also responsible for the more mundane tasks such as: ordering printing paper, toilet paper, stationary, tea, coffee and various other items which are required to ensure the smooth running of the Dandenong, Seaford and East Bentleigh sites.

Student Placement at SECASA

By Jessica Woolley

Each year SECASA has taken students on placement. Most are social work students but there have also been students from other disciplines.

A highly rewarding program, the students are given the opportunity to be trained by counsellors and partake in the variety of programs that SECASA offers. They learn about the techniques, procedures and practice of trauma-informed counselling.

The Lion’s Club

President Cerise De Gelder

The Moorabbin Lions Club: An organisation dedicated to its community

Many people have heard about the wonderful contributions of their local Lions Club. However, only a few have an in-depth understanding of just how valuable the organisation is to the community.

Whilst SECASA acknowledges the value of the Lions Club as an entirety, it owes a great deal of thanks to the Moorabbin Lions Club in particular.

In addition to the 55 years of service that the organisation has offered to its local Moorabbin community, the Moorabbin Lions Club has donated over $15,000, which has funded the donation of items such as clothes and toiletries to SECASA since 2002.

Bayside Quilters: Where creativity meets compassion

By Saihini Naidoo

Bayside quilters donate over 200 quilts per year to SECASA which have on them a label ‘a quilt from the heart made with love for you’.  For many of our clients they have never been given anything that has been made especially for them.  Bayside quilters are absolutely wonderful to do this for our clients.  Our manager, Carolyn Worth, goes to their AGM each year to talk about the quilts and what a difference they make to the lives of our clients.

Volunteers and supporters

By Jessica Wooley

SECASA volunteers support counsellors and administrative workers. In 2018 we had Molly, who was based at the Dandenong office, Darlene at Seaford, Shannen at East Bentleigh and Ilo who volunteered at various SECASA locations.

SECASA’s volunteers assist in several key tasks. There is always photocopying of materials and incorporating this with printed material into information packages for community development talks. There are collating materials and helping counsellors with talks at schools and information sessions. They also play a key role in running activities and events.

Volunteer coordinator, Sheryl would like to extend her thanks to the volunteers, who are “a vital part of SECASA achieving our goals in the community”.

Tuesday Social Group - Seaford MDC

By Jessica Wooley

The Tuesday social group has been running at Seaford for 18 months. They gather once a week at the Seaford MDC for two hours, playing games, watching movies, participating in arts and crafts and generally catching up.

One of Seaford’s counsellors, Natasha, started the initiative when one of her clients wanted a safe space to play scrabble with other people. This client had tried to go to community groups to play, but found the other people took it too seriously and community spaces often required users to pay.

There is a core group of four to six women each week, and Natasha describes them as “such a lovely group of women who all support each other”.

Reflexology: A beneficial practice for SECASA survivors

By Saihini Naidoo

Reflexology is an alternate medicine that involves massaging the hands and feet to promote wellness in other areas of the body. Modern reflexology is based on the principle that the foot has ‘reflex’ points which correspond to the various structures and organs throughout the body. The process is designed to be very relaxing and is often an effective way to alleviate stress.

Sam Langridge is a Reflexologist and has been practicing in the industry for 18 years. She has been operating a private clinic for the past 15 years and runs a reflexology program for SECASA survivors with the help of fellow Reflexologist Jenny Rigby.