June 2023 Vol 17 No.2
  1. Sharing from Centre Director
  2. Please Specially Pray for Our Financial Need
  3. Prayer
  4. Cherrie’s Sharing
  5. Cantonese Seminars
  6. English Webinars

Sharing from Centre Director

  • “May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.” (Psalm 90: 16-17)

    「願你的作為向你僕人們顯現，願你的榮耀向他們子孫顯明。願主—我們　神的恩寵歸於我們身上。願你堅立我們手所做的工，我們手所做的工，願你堅立。」 (詩篇 90:16-17)

    Dear brothers, sisters, and friends,

    First Light Care is celebrating its 25th year of serving the community! It is a remarkable achievement for a non-government-funded and non-profit community organisation to endure for over 25 years. We thank God for making it possible by providing for all the needs of this ministry and express gratitude for your faithful support and partnership throughout the years.

    With your help and support, we have assisted thousands of individuals in alleviating their mental health struggles, repairing broken relationships, and overcoming various life challenges, enabling them to live healthier and happier lives. Many have not only found emotional and relational strength but also experienced spiritual renewal. Some have even become helpers themselves, serving those around them and the wider community. We are grateful to witness the works of God, who blesses and cares for the people He loves.

    In October of this year, we will be holding a 25th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service to celebrate what God has accomplished through this ministry and to envision our mission for the future, especially in serving a new generation. This celebration will mark the beginning of a new era for our ministry.

    Similar to the Chinese tradition of cleaning homes at the end of each year in preparation for the coming new year, we are engaging in a “year-end cleaning” (大掃除) at FLC. This process involves removing the old and welcoming the new (除舊迎新), as we prepare for the new era. I am pleased to inform you that significant progress has been made on multiple fronts.

    We have successfully completed the renovation and furnishing of our new permanent centre, which God has graciously provided for serving the new generation. Since January, we have been utilising this facility to benefit our clients.

    Two members of our counselling team, Cherrie and Yixin, are currently completing their Master of Clinical Psychology course. We are grateful that their increased knowledge and experience will equip our team to provide professional services to the new generation. Truly, God prepares His workers well before sending them into the field for harvest.

    The Pastors Renewal Ministry has also strengthened its team this year, comprising a total of seven experienced pastors who offer free support and consultation services to serving pastors and their spouses in Australia.

    Furthermore, we are finalising a refresh of our website, aiming to make it more aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly for diverse language groups. The revamped website will be launched in June.

    We kindly invite you to visit our website, Facebook page, and Instagram account. Our entire team has invested significant effort in improving our communication with the broader community through these channels. We value any feedback that can help us enhance our services.

    Behind the scenes, the Administration team, with the assistance of dedicated volunteers Kingsley Hui and Wylie Ma, has been diligently updating our administrative information systems, ensuring better service for our ministry in the years to come.

    As we reflect on the past 25 years and look ahead with hope and trust in the Lord, we have so much to be thankful for. Thank you for accompanying us on this journey.

    May the grace and peace of the Lord be with you and your family.

    Sincerely,

    Gerald Cheung                                                                                                                                

    Centre Director

Please Specially Pray for Our Financial Need

Although we received sufficient financial support to enable us to complete the renovation and furnishing of our new permanent centre in December 2022, we have received much less donation in general operational fund so far this financial year resulting in a deficit of about $120,000 at the end of April.

Please can you consider making a tax-deductible donation before June 30 to help us by:

(1) calling us on (02) 9211 9998 to make a donation using a credit card, or
(2) visit our website to make a donation via other payment methods.

Thank you for your prayer and support!

Prayer

  1. We mourn the passing of our member Dr Stephen Wong who returned to the Lord on 8 May 2023 because of ill-health. Please pray that His grace, peace and strength be given to  Stephen’s wife Annie, who is our Management Committee member, and to his daughter as they adjust to a new life while still grieving over their loss.
  2. Please pray for our Management Committee member Rev Joseph Fung’s recovery from  surgery he will receive in early June.
  3. Please pray for counsellors Cherrie and Yixin as they are completing the Master of Clinical Psychology course this year. Pray that God will give them good physical and spiritual health as they get through this busy and demanding year.

Cherrie’s Sharing

  • Dear brothers, sisters and friends,

    I was asked to write about my journey of training in Psychology and Clinical Psychology and share it in the newsletter so you will be more confident in what we do at First Light Care. I gladly accepted the challenge and thought this might also encourage anyone interested in working in this profession to plan ahead, persevere and do it for His glory.

    In Australia, there are many pathways to becoming a psychologist. For me, I went through a pathway called 4+2. It includes a 4-year accredited sequence of study in psychology, followed by two years of internship. The 4-year study program can be broken down into two parts. The first part is about learning fundamental theories and statistics. The second part involves a year-long research project and practical counselling skills training.

    After I graduated from my undergraduate studies, I took a year break, then entered a 2-year internship which required 3,000 hours of direct-client, client-related and supervision hours. In those hours, I needed to complete eight case reports, pass the National Psychology Exam, and pass the training requirements in adult and child tests of intelligence, specialised test of memory and personality tests. I am also required to practise and report about working with diverse groups, people across the lifespan and ethical dilemmas. I used to think an internship was just about work experience. Unfortunately, in psychology, they ask for more, which is absolutely understandablebecause the next stop after 4+2 is to obtain a general registration as a psychologist.

    The study of clinical psychology prepares a psychologist to work with complex cases with additional emphasis on multi-model case formulation and evidence-based interventions. To be endorsed as a clinical psychologist, one has to complete a 2-year clinical registrar program after completing the Master’s degree. Interestingly, the Medicare rebate for seeing a clinical psychologist is significantly higher, contributing to its popularity as the highest in-demand area of practice endorsement. Personally, I respect all areas of practice endorsement and believe they are equally valuable in our society.

    I am now on my way to completing the study of clinical psychology. For those interested in this path, knowing what is required from the start would be helpful. Academically, the minimum requirement is around distinction in the average grade. The admission rate for a postgraduate degree in clinical psychology is notoriously low. If I use the most recent 2023 references from my college and Western Sydney University, where one of my friend is studying at, the acceptance rate is about 5-8%. I would imagine the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales would be even more competitive. Generally speaking, each cohort is around 20 people selected from hundreds of applicants. The selection process varies. For me, it involved an entrance test (multiple choice and short essay questions) and 6 individual interviews which asked about my responses to different case presentations, my career goals, my strengths and weaknesses.    

    God has good purposes for each and every one of us. If He leads you to work in this caring profession, He will provide and bring it to fruition. I pray that we all work hard and faithfully wherever He positions us for His glory. May God help us to see His beautiful plans and the Holy Spirit empower us to follow where He leads.

    “For with you is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.” Psalm 36:9

    Blessings

    Cherrie

    Registered Psychologist

Cantonese Seminars

Organiser: First Light Care Association
Co-organiser: Five Plus 2 Christian Platform and EFCA Living Stone

No post found!

English Webinars

No post found!