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 Apr 27 Vacation Care - Fitness 4 Kids

Challenge Community Services in Tamworth is offering Vacation Care for students with a disability from Monday 16th April to Friday 27th April 2018. We will feature a variety of fun activities for ch...

8:00am – 4:00pm Tamworth more info

Wed May 2 safeTALK

FREE 3-hour suicide aware module heightens suicide awareness and the signs that someone is considering ending his or her life.safeTALK is a half-day awareness program to increase suicide alertness to ...

9:30am – 1:30pm Islington Rd more info

Wed May 2 Healing Invisible Wounds Training

This three day course assists carers to:• Develop an understanding about the impact of trauma.• Respond more effectively to the behavioural and emotional challenges of raising children who have e...

10:00am – 2:00pm Tumbi Umbi more info

Thu May 3 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

Wed May 9 Healing Invisible Wounds Training

10:00am – 2:00pm Tumbi Umbi more info

Thu May 17 Healing Invisible Wounds Training

10:00am – 2:00pm Tumbi Umbi more info

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

News & Stories

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 ...

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 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...

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...

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...

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

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

16 March 2018 Lachlan saddles up for life after school Lachlan saddles up for life after school

Lachlan McMahon is a keen horse rider and campdraft enthusiast.Like many of his peers at Quirindi High School, Lachlan can’t wait to finish school. While he isn’t sure what to do at the end of the year when Year 12 is over, he’d prefer to work with horses.“My favourite subject is Primary Ind...

6 March 2018 Great online resources for school leavers Great online resources for school leavers

There’s a lot to decide when you are about to finish high school. Regardless of your exam results, you’ll need to start making plans for the future. The more information you have, the more in control of your decisions you will be.We’ve taken the stress out of finding information by collecting ...

1 March 2018 Challenge Community Services hosts annual swimming carnival Challenge Community Services hosts annual swimming carnival

Members of Challenge Community Services gathered at the Gunnedah heated pool for the organisation’s 15th annual swimming carnival. Along with participants from local disability organisations such as Sunnyfield and G.S Kidd Memorial School, swimmers took part in a range of competitive and non-c...

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

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

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...

13 February 2018 Getting started as a foster carer Getting started as a foster carer

Opening your home to foster children and welcoming them into your family is a big commitment, and not a decision you should make alone.The whole family has to be on board with the decision to become foster carers, because you will all have to work as a team to provide support to children in need.Pre...

16 January 2018 Caring comes in all shapes Caring comes in all shapes

Deciding you would make a good foster parent is easy; actually making the required adjustments to your family life is another matter.As a nurse and manager in a sleep disorder clinic and a single parent of three, Kate knows what it’s like to juggle commitments.After discussing her desire to foster...

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

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...

17 October 2017 Supporting the transition to school Supporting the transition to school

Bonnie is an engaging little girl who had a difficult start in life. Knowing her history and the way children with similar histories often present, our Therapeutic Services team expected that she may have had some difficulties in her relationships and her ability to manage her emotions. There were c...

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