Inaugural Financial Wellbeing and Capability Team Workshop - CatholicCare NT

On 9^th and 10^th March the CatholicCare NT Financial Wellbeing and Capability (FWC) team got together for 2 days of team building, planning and training. Team members from Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Wadeye attended. The group were made up of Case Managers, Financial Counsellors and Lead Practitioners. It was the first event of this kind for the FWC team and hopefully the first of many. The aim was to team build in a fun, engaging and lasting way. We connected with one another, our purpose and the roles we play, not just in our small teams but in our broader NT program and the communities in which we work.

General Manager Programs, Judy Davis opened the 2 day workshop for us and welcomed the team to the event, reflecting on the wonder of us all being together and the hard but beneficial work we do.

We played games that encouraged us out of our comfort zones to promote adaptability to change, working together and creative thinking. This was the foundation for improved team morale and an overarching more expansive and inventive way to approach the work we do.

We listened to an inspirational story from a participant, who shared with us all the outcomes she achieved since reaching out to our FWC program. She was glowing as she smiled to show us proudly and talk of her new teeth that she was finally able to afford. Her story was one of courage and capacity building that she admits was underpinned by the trust and connection fostered with her FWC worker. Evaluation Systems Manager, Margi MacGregor joined us for this segment to reflect on the importance of evaluation and capturing people’s stories.

Nicola Coalter presented a fascinating discussion on gambling in remote communities and how to work with Elders and families to minimise the harm.

Darrell from Australian Super came along and listened to our recommendations of ways Australian Super can support our participants. He provided helpful tips to the team as to how to get a challenging hardship application across the line.

We found out how overwhelmingly competitive we all are in the team building games that were expertly planned and facilitated by Amy Hetherington. Everyone threw their hearts and souls into the spirit of the activities. I think I know now how to motivate our FWC team, just run a competition!

It wasn’t all about fun and games, we got our brains engaged too and reviewed and commenced updating our FWC program logic as a team. This opened up a wider conversation to explore ways to streamline the pathway from emergency relief to case management and help participants achieve long term sustainable financial wellbeing. I look forward to hearing the success stories.

Throughout the workshop I felt honoured to be working with a team of dedicated, wise, kind and passionate people!

Author: Kelly Gulliver, FWC Manager