The “Family Matters” program launch was held at our Goodna office on Wednesday 21 November 2012. The Program was launched by The Hon Bernie Ripoll MP Federal Member for Oxley, who represented the Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing.

Steven King, Executive Director, Mercy Family Services MC’d the event. Sister Helen Stanley, joined by the Trustees of the Sisters of Mercy, Sister Margaret King and Sister Jean Gormley, and Sister Maria Vu, shared passionately with guests a comprehensive history of the Peace Centre and the community-based work of the Sisters of Mercy over the past 101 years in Goodna.

The Lord Mayor of Ipswich, Cr Paul Pisasale, a self-proclaimed “ex Mercy boy” delivered a congratulatory message to the guests via a DVD, offering Ipswich City Council support to the program and Mercy Family Services.

Our guests were entertained by the St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School Community Choir, Carole Park State School Samoan Dance and Music Group and the Kunama Dancers from Eritrea. A feast was enjoyed by all, with scrumptious food supplied by Olive Restaurant (impacted by the 2011 Floods), Mu’ooz Eritrean Restaurant (Women’s Family Support Network, creating training and employment opportunities for Refugee and Migrant women), and the Dilly Bag (Indigenous Bush Tucker).

Family Matters is a community service promoting the wellbeing of children, young people and their families. The service, funded by the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, is for children and young people between the ages of 0 –18 years who are showing early signs of, impacted by, or who may be at risk of mental health issues, and their families

The program supports children, young people and their families to:

• Access information, education, counselling;
• Mutual support groups to strengthen their resilience through early intervention and prevention;
• Increase their support networks; and
• Minimise the incidence of crisis.

The Family Matters program is available to people living throughout the Local Government Area of Ipswich. No formal referral or paperwork is needed, just contact the Family Matters Team on

3280 8000.