Picabeen Community Association Inc provides a range of community development and support services which aims to assist people living in North West Brisbane with seeking safe outcomes and gaining increased connectedness to their community and to enhance and develop a responsive network of agencies in North West Brisbane, via joint service delivery, identifying gaps and working with the government and community to develop solutions.

History

The Picabeen Community Association was formed at a public meeting in 1992 as the Hills and Samford District Welfare Association. Originally incorporated in 1994, the Association changed its name in 1996 to the Picabeen Community Association. The name 'Picabeen' was taken from the Picabeen Palm which is endemic to the area in which the Association serves.

Discussion with local indigenous people in the area has explained that Picabeen means 'meeting place' - based again on the palm and the association of the wind bringing the people to the palm.

The Association is an independent, community based organisation servicing two local government areas - Brisbane City Council and Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Services and program activities are targeted at residents living in the Mitchelton, Keperra, Enoggera, Ferny Grove, Ferny Hills, Arana Hills, Everton Park and Everton Hills areas. The residential population in this area is estimated to be more than thirty six thousand people.

Mostly, Picabeen has relied on self-generated income to enable it to blossom into the community space that is has become. Some funding from the Department of Communities over the past six years has off set costs - through the position of a Youth Information Referral Officer and part time Office Administrator. In 2005 Picabeen secured funding from the Department of Communities to employ three full time Youth Support Coordinators and one team leader. The development of the centre and its diversity of program activities is ensured by the employment of a part time Centre Coordinator.

Mission and values

Mission: The essence of what we do and how we are different to other organisations

Picabeen is a community hub that respects the diversity of people, that delivers support services, opportunities and activities to help people to enhance their quality of life.

Picabeen delivers quality services in the local areas of:
Mitchelton, Enoggera, Keperra, Ferny Grove, Ferny Hills, Everton Park and Everton Hills.

Values: Values that we hold as important in the way we do our work.

The way we do our work is based upon:

• Social Justice principles
• Inclusiveness
• For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Self-determination and an end to their disadvantage.
  • With active respect for people from all cultural backgrounds
• Collaboration / Co-operation
• Planned development
• Shared decision making