Kelso Public School to launch new Konnex to support families in need

Kelso Konnex was officially launched on Monday, with the facility set to provide a vital link between connecting school, services and community.

Kelso Public School principal Lance Cooper said the facility, which has been six months project of planning by the school, will help support parents and children who are in difficult situations or in need of support.

"The idea [of starting Kelso Konnex] is we wanted to support kids in a range of things," he said.

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"Once we did our situational analysis, we worked out that kids needed to feel like they belonged here and have that connection to community.

"We thought this facility would be a great way to achieve those ideas."

Mr Cooper explained that there will be an number of services on offer to parents and children.

"There'll be everything from a baby health clinic, pediatricians, women's health, housing and right through to us running training sessions for parents and launching our private YouTube channel," he said.

"One of the things people need to feel is safe in what they do.

"This facility is about providing somewhere where they can come in where it's confidential, where they feel safe and where they can say what they need to say without the feel of retribution.

"They can come into school and do those things."

Services that will be on offer at Kelso Konnex includes Veritas House, Relationships Australia and NSW Health, as well as local housing service Wattle Tree.

The facility is currently open to Kelso Public School families only, however, Mr Cooper said he's happy to look towards the broader community if the need arises in the future.

The facility, which is an older school room that has been refurbished in recent months, will feature two private office spaces, a relaxing common area with a children's corner, as well as access to computers and printer, with all services accessed at the facility available for free.

For more information on Kelso Konnex contact Kelso Public School community liaison officer and Kelso Konnex facilitator Debbie Green via email deborah.sarkis@det.nsw.edu.au or via phone on 6331 1577.

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