Samaritans Kaiyu Services
This service, previously known as Kaiyu Enterprises, provides mental health services in Newcastle.
Kaiyu (pronounced Kie You) is a word from the Awabakal language "to have power and ability". Kaiyu Samaritans Programs develop opportunities and support within the Hunter (Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and surrounding areas) to assist people with a mental illness/psychiatric disability to have satisfying and valued lives as full members of the community.
Living with or recovering from a mental illness can be a long and difficult struggle. With 1 in 5 Australians experiencing mental ill health, we will all know someone - family, friend or work mate who is affected. As the symptoms of mental ill health reduce, the person needs to regain confidence, skills, relationships with others and a sense of hope for the future. People experiencing mental ill health now have short and less frequent stays in hospital so the need for responsive community based assistance is vital. One of our goals is to provide information on the range of support and rehabilitation services to people who experience mental illness.
Kaiyu Samaritans operates two programs Kaiyu Konnect (KK), Kaiyu Konnet Early Intervention Program (KKEIP Well) and Kaiyu Community Based Activities (CBA) and provide social and skill development activities with a focus on social inclusion.
Read about the History of Kaiyu.
Konnect Programs
Funded by NSW Health
Konnect
Kaiyu Konnect is a community based mental health service for adults living with mental ill health. Kaiyu provides an environment where you can be supported in achieving your goals in life.
At a glance:
- Group Programs
- Referrals
- Skill development programs
- Develop skills to access service providers/agencies
- Outreach
- Nutritional lunches $4
- Social and recreational activities
- Link people with communities
Kaiyu Konnect is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8.30am to 4.00pm.
View the Kaiyu Konnect Brochure.
Download the Kaiyu Konnect Referral Form.
For more about Kaiyu Konnect, please click here.
Young People - KKEIP Well
The Kaiyu Konnect Early Intervention Program (KKEIP Well) is designed to support young people who are in their first few years of experiencing symptoms of mental illness.
Participants must:
- Be 18-25 years of age
- Have developed symptoms of mental illness within the last 3 years
- Be currently in a non-acute phase of mental illness
- Be currently linked with a mental health service
- Referrals reciewed by the Konnext team for program eligibility
For more information about the Kaiyu KKEIP Well program, please click here.
Please click to dowload the Kaiyu Konnect Early Intervention Referral Form for this service.
Community Based Activities (CBA)
Funded by Family and Community Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care
Support workers help people to identify, access and maintain involvement with their preferred social, recreational and skill development activities.
The Community Based Activities Program provides intensive assistance to enable its members to:
- Increase their self confidence;
- Constantly seek out affordable and interesting community activities;
- Increase their access to and use of community facilities and services;
- Improve their social and communication skills;
- Increase their living and prevocational skills;
- Increase their readiness for further rehabilitation services, training programs, employment services;
- Increase their social support networks beyond those they live with; and
- Increase their sense of purpose and self esteem.
The activities often occur in community facilities such as WEA, sporting venues and shopping centres. As all of the CBA members live in the Newcastle area, this is the area where most of these activities occur.
The Community Based Activities Program is funded by Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC). CBA supports former boarding house residents now living in supported accommodation with a mental illness/psychiatric disability.
CBA supports former boarding house residents with a mental illness or psychiatric disability in the Newcastle area.
Resources and Downloads
What is a mental illness?
Links
Kaiyu Life Members
Kaiyu Konnect Early Intervention Program flyer
Samaritans Kaiyu Brochure
Enquiries
Eleanor Cameron
Samaritans Kaiyu CBA Co-ordinator
Phone: (02) 4915 8606
Or
Ron Sharkey
Samaritans Kaiyu KK Co-ordinator
Phone: (02) 4023 1374