Southern Tasmania service celebrates 10 years

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Mission Australia's team at Southern Tasmania's charming Chigwell House recently celebrated 10 years delivering services in the local community. The team deliver various services in the region which primarily focus on young people and families.

Program Manager Jenny Reynolds said the celebration was a good reflection of the impact Chigwell House has had in the community over the past decade.

"It was a really positive day with lovely Tassie weather, wonderful locally made food and excellent conversation. There was an atmosphere of celebration with some old faces and people who we met for the first time," Jenny said.

"It was a real team effort with many people getting involved to make the day a success. We collaborated with other service providers – Wellways, Bucaan Community House and Family Food Patch – and a few local volunteers. A definite highlight were the lemonade scones, a famous recipe of our valued volunteer, Dot."

The office of local MP Sue Hickey donated a plaque to commemorate the anniversary and guests shared in a cake to celebrate the birthday of a valued community service.

The celebration was a chance to reflect on the strong relationships built with families in the local community over 10 years. Two family-focused programs based at Chigwell House include Integrated Family Support Service (IFSS) and Targeted Youth Support Service (TYSS).

IFSS is a voluntary service focused on increasing the wellbeing and safety of children, youth and families by providing support and resources to build family strengths, resilience and capacity. Case workers offer flexible outreach support to identify and develop specific goals for the people they work with.

TYSS is a strengths based program that helps young people to identify and achieve their goals. The program offers intensive case management and therapeutic support for vulnerable young people aged 10-18 who are identified as having significant risk factors and where without support, could result in requiring child protection or possibly escalation into the youth justice system.

Mission Australia has operated from Chigwell House since 2008, but the cottage's history dates back as early as 1804. The farmhouse has had several owners of the years, and has withstood the test of time - almost. In 1858 the house was destroyed by fire with the house seen today being built in 1860.