Challenge Community Services

We all have dreams. Whether it’s to land a good job, live independently or be part of a secure, loving family, we all want to belong.

That’s why Challenge Community Services has created one inclusive community. We’ll help raise you up to meet your goals. We’ll be there to support you when life gets tough.

Take a look around our site and see for yourself the multitude of activities and services we offer. You’ll find a Challenge community in 68 locations across New South Wales.

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What's on

Fri May 25 Dubbo Carers Morning Tea

In appreciation of the fantastic care you provide we would like to invite you to a Carers Morning Tea.This is an opportunity to meet and talk to other carers and Challenge staff.RSVP by Friday 18th of...

10:30am – 12:00pm Dubbo more info

Tue May 29 Singleton Permanency Planning Workshop

Hear FACS talk about child protection and out-of-home care under their new Permanency Support Program (PSP). This workshop is a great opportunity to hear how plans for improved support, training and e...

10:00am – 1:00pm Singleton Heights more info

Thu May 31 Maitland Permanency Planning Workshop

10:00am – 1:00pm East Maitland more info

Fri Jun 1 Tumbi Umbi Permanency Planning Workshop

10:00am – 1:00pm Tumbi Umbi more info

Thu Jun 7 Challenge Community Services Picnic Day

Challenge Community Services wishes to invite all community members from the Newcastle and Hunter Valley region to join us for our monthly picnic day promoting socialisation for people with a disabili...

11:00am – 1:00pm Maitland more info

Thu Jun 21 Central Coast School Leavers Expo

The Central Coast School Leavers Expo is an annual event for students with a disability. The expo provides everything students, families, carers, schools, services and providers need to know about mov...

9:00am – 1:00pm Tumbi Umbi more info

Tue Jul 3 Surviving Adolescence Seminar

Relationships Australia NSW and Headspace Newcastle present 'Surviving Adolescence'. This Seminar aims to support parents to assist their teenagers in meeting the challenges of the adolescent years.I...

10:00am – 12:30pm Newcastle more info

Thu Jul 26 Hunter School Leavers Expo

The Hunter School Leavers Expo is an annual event for students with a disability. The expo provides everything students, families, carers, schools, services and providers need to know about moving to ...

9:00am – 1:00pm Broadmeadow more info

Tue Oct 16 Tenterfield Art Exhibition

Challenge Community Services are pleased to invite you to join us at our Tenterfield Art Exhibition. Our clients look forward to showcasing their artworks to you. All members of the public are welco...

5:30pm – 8:00pm Tenterfield more info

Wed Oct 17 Tenterfield Open Day

Challenge Community Services has 60 years' experience providing community support to people living with disabilities. We are pleased to invite you to join us for an open day at Challenge Disability S...

9:30am – 1:30pm Tenterfield more info

News & Stories

21 May 2018 The power of praise: helping children with challenging behaviour The power of praise: helping children with challenging behaviour

When you’re tired or at your wits’ end, it’s easy to let your frustrations out and forget to compliment a child or young person in your care. When you’re dealing with frequent challenging behaviour it can feel as though nothing you do makes any difference.The first step to turning this situa...

18 May 2018 Planning to enjoy life Planning to enjoy life

A little planning and support can go a long way, especially if you have behaviours that keep you from achieving your goals.Challenge’s Therapeutic Services team help people living with a disability further develop their social skills and relationship skills, as well as help you to manage your emot...

17 May 2018 Liam's forging his own path Liam's forging his own path

Since finishing high school last year, Liam has made good use of his time.Work experience, TAFE, and Challenge Disability Services Connexions program, means Liam has lots of opportunities to find out what he enjoys doing in life. While currently studying IT, Liam is looking forward to discovering wh...

10 May 2018 Never say never to Rheanne Never say never to Rheanne

Rheanne is the type of person that if you tell her what she can’t do, she’ll go to any lengths to prove you wrong. ‘Determined’ is an understatement when talking about this tenacious young woman.Rheanne has cerebral palsy and has wanted her Ls since she was 16. People told Rheanne she could ...

10 May 2018 A family for life A family for life

We all want every child and young person to have a stable, safe and permanent home for life where they can thrive. But did you know that in NSW there are 18,000 children in need of out of home care? And the number is growing.To provide more help to children in crisis, the NSW Government is tackling...

17 May 2018 Liam's forging his own path Liam's forging his own path

10 May 2018 Never say never to Rheanne Never say never to Rheanne

1 May 2018 Challenge's Backtrack program gets green light from Council Challenge's Backtrack program gets green light from Council

Challenge Community Services were last week awarded the tender for the Tamworth Buyback Centre, but it is what they are planning on doing with it that stands to make a real difference to the local community. Currently the Buyback Centre, known as Yacannabuybetta separates and sorts re-usable item...

23 April 2018 Young people connect with peers Young people connect with peers

WHEN Sharon Kachel heads to Canada next month the business aspect will also be a personal pleasure.The disability services supervisor with Challenge Community Connexions will travel to help a young client and his family experience the same joys adventurers enjoy."We assist high-function people aged ...

10 April 2018 Hard work and dedication: all in a day’s work for Garth Hard work and dedication: all in a day’s work for Garth

Some people are lucky enough to love their job.They turn up every day, without fail, and enthusiastically undertake any task required from them. They are loyal and dedicated to their workplace, and they work hard.For 35 years, Garth Hutchinson has been a model employee for Koora Industries, a suppor...

21 May 2018 The power of praise: helping children with challenging behaviour The power of praise: helping children with challenging behaviour

10 May 2018 A family for life A family for life

19 April 2018 Giving a child a safe home for life Giving a child a safe home for life

If you’ve ever yearned to be a parent, you’ll understand that physical ache to hold a small baby, hoist a toddler onto your hip or kick a ball in the park with your son or daughter. When everyone is getting pregnant except you, the feeling of isolation is very real.When asked whether they would ...

10 April 2018 When it’s time to say goodbye: Restoring children to their family of origin When it’s time to say goodbye: Restoring children to their family of origin

After Sally was diagnosed with cancer just over five years ago, becoming foster carers was a path she and her partner, Lyndal, had not expected to take. Challenging, rewarding and at times heart breaking their life is never dull.Following her recovery from a hysterectomy, the couple decided to becom...

12 March 2018 Opening homes, and hearts, to kids in need Opening homes, and hearts, to kids in need

Adoption reforms that were brought into effect in NSW in 2016 have seen a surge in open adoptions and a dramatic reduction in approval times.Since the changes, foster carers who wish to adopt a child in their care have had their applications fast-tracked and the new system has resulted in adoption a...

18 May 2018 Planning to enjoy life Planning to enjoy life

23 March 2018 New service to provide psychological support for local NDIS clients New service to provide psychological support for local NDIS clients

If you or a loved one receives NDIS funding and has trouble with anxiety or behaviour management, a new service on the Central Coast could be the answer.Challenge Community Services recently opened a Therapeutic Services office in Tuggerah employing four psychologists. Two of the on-site psychologis...

6 February 2018 Building brighter futures together Building brighter futures together

Providing foster carers with a helping handFostering is hugely rewarding. Helping a child to grow and learn, seeing them smile, and playing a part in the development of their self-confidence are the greatest gifts of foster caring.In fact, as a foster carer, you will possibly form the closest relati...

17 October 2017 Advocating for the homeless Advocating for the homeless

Shane arrived in a small rural town having been placed in a NSW Housing flat, after being homeless for several years. He had not seen his flat before arriving, he just needed to take whatever place he could so he didn’t have to sleep in his car anymore.Shane had moved far away from his family and ...

17 October 2017 Caring for the carer Caring for the carer

Jay is an 11-year-old boy who lives with his foster carers in rural NSW. He was having difficulty managing his emotions and our Therapeutic Services team accepted a referral from his carers, who were desperate to explore the reasons behind his concerning behaviours and find out how they could supp...

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