1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
60 Years of the Brotherhood on the Mornington Peninsula
Children & Families
Northern Family Services formed out of BSL’s Craigieburn & Whittlesea services
Early education intervention - Research staff were involved with services staff in planning innovative early intervention services, including undertaking training in Israel in the HIPPY (Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters) program with a view to implementing it in Melbourne.
The documentary Life Chances, featuring seven of the four-year old children and their parents, was made as a cooperative venture between the BSL and the production company Film Projects (Georgia Wallace-Crabbe & Gregory Miller). Funded by the then Film Finance Corporation of Australia and the Baker Benefactions, it was screened by SBS on 28 March and had international screenings (Brotherhood Action Winter 1995 p.1; BSL Annual Report 1994 p.21. See also <http://www.filmprojects.com.au/aboutus_c.html> 12 July 2010. For the paper "Life chances: longitudinal research in a changing policy context" by Janet Taylor see <http://www.aifs.gov.au/conferences/aifs5/taylor.html> 12 July 2010).
The work of the Homework Program and the Toy Library were featured in Brotherhood Action (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.3).
Community Issues
Bishop Michael Challen attended the Non-Government Organisations Forum at the United Nations Fourth World Summit in Denmark where the theme was Social Development (3-12 March) (Challen 1995).
Bishop Michael Challen spoke at the planting of 100 crosses by members of African community (in conjunction with Community Aid Abroad) to mark 12 months since the Rawandan Genocide (6 April)
"Significant link now with National Farmers Federation following discussions on tax reform and needs of low income rural people" (July-August)
The BSL co-sponsored the Independent Public Inquiry into the Privatisation of the Electricity Industry (Panel members were David Scott AO, Fay Marles AM & Graeme Wise) in July-August. The Report was published in August 1995 ("Report of the Independent Public Inquiry into the Privatisation of the Electricity Industry", August 1995; Sponsoring bodies were the People Together Project, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, Anglican Church Social Responsibilities Committee, Good Shepherd Youth & Family Services, Salvation Army - Crossroads, Catholic Commission for Justice, Development & Peace, Victorian Council of Social Services, Wesley Central Mission, Uniting Church, and the Baptist Church.). People_Together_re_PrivatisationofElectricity.pdf
The Brotherhood, together with the Child Safety Centre of the Royal Children's Hospital and the Federal Office of Road Safety, promoted the use of child safety harnesses in place of an adult lap safety belt in cars. The BSL was to give 1,000 of these to families in need throughout Victoria (Brotherhood Action Summer 1995 p.5).
The Panel Project was conceived as a way of monitoring the effects of the changing social and economic environment as viewed through the experiences of a group of people on low incomes. The original idea came from Jenny Trethewey. The project was renamed the Changing Pressures Project in 1996.
Employment & Training
In early 1995 the Fitzroy Employment Action Centre offered the following programs & services:
- JobSkills (paid work experience combined with formal training)
- Job Club (assistance with job searching)
- Open Access (provision of job search facilities and supports)
- Open Employment Unit (employment placement, onsite training and support to people with disabilities)
- Opening Avenues (careers investigation and jobsearch for people over 45), later called Options Now
- Case Management (a major Commonwealth Working Nation initiative that commenced in April 1994) offering individual planning and assistance to long-term unemployed mature-aged job seekers
- Post Program Support (which provides follow up support for former program users)
- A range of programs providing varying types and levels of training and support to young unemployed people with some particularly targeted at those with multiple disadvantages:
o Active Placement Unit (vocational guidance and support)
o Youth Unit (personal development and job search program)
o MOVE (outdoor skills program)
o Traineeship Access Course (preparatory training in clerical and retail areas with paid work experience)
o The Body Shop partnership project, combining the Brotherhood’s pre-vocational training with paid work experience with The Body Shop in a twelve-month Retail Traineeship for young homeless people
o JPET Linked Access Program (employment placement and support)
o STEP (a Group Training Scheme utilising traineeships) (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1997 p.2) STEP_Group_Training_in_Action_Autumn1997.pdf
o Housing Resource Unit (information, advice and some advocacy and financial assistance in relation to accommodation for young people using EAC Services).
o The Disability Access Support Service which provided skilled support to Skillshare Programs across the state to increase their capacity to meet the needs of people with disabilities (BSL Annual Report 1995 pp.10-13; BSL Metro Region Strategic Planning Working ,p.46 .
The Central Highlands Employment Services offered the following programs:
- Employment Action Centre - Community Based Employment and the New Work Opportunities Program (a joint venture between the Brotherhood and the Ballarat Aboriginal Cooperative)
- Employment Placement Unit
- Pixie Property Maintenance Service
- Highlands Personnel, Ballarat (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1994 p.2)
- Landcare & Environment Action Program (LEAP) - (for details see 1992)
- Provincial Communities Enterprise Project
- The Provincial Communities Enterprise Project established the Ballarat Employment and Enterprise Fund (BEEF) (BSL Annual Report 1995 pp.13-14)
Koori Work & Family Needs Project (ten-month Federally-funded project through the Department of Industrial Relations) to look at the particular needs of Koori staff was undertaken in the BSL’s Central Highlands region (Minutes of Central Highlands Regional Advisory Committee Meeting, 23 May 1995). BSL_Central-Highlands_Divestment_Papers_1995.pdf
In the Barwon region the labour market programs were JobSkills, Job Club, Contracted Placement and JPET. Barwon Family & Community Services continued to provide financial relief for emergency situations and the No Interest Loan Scheme for low-income families needing to purchase household goods (BSL Annual Report 1995 pp.14, 19).
The Peninsula region offered the JobSkills labour market program. Frankston Material Aid service moved to a central location in Frankston. The No Interest Loans Program co-located, partially resourced by material aid staff, who reported the inability of the program to meet the vast demand (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.18; BSL Internal Working Paper No.2, "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)", p.16). BSL_Income_Supplementation_Services_1972-1996.pdf
The Future of Work project's Cut Waste & Energy for New Jobs Project began in Fitzroy in July. This was a demonstration project designed to test the potential for generating employment through savings achieved as a result of reduced energy consumption and waste minimisation. Initiated by the Green Jobs Unit of the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Australian Council of Trade Unions, and taken up by the Brotherhood's Future of Work project, this provided training and employment under the JobSkills program for three long-term unemployed young people (Brotherhood Action Summer 1996 p.4; BSL Annual Report 1996 p.34).
Cut_Waste_&_Energy_Report_to_Directors_1995-6-26.pdf
The Job Placement Employment & Training program (JPET) which had been established by the Brotherhood as the Linked Access Project in conjunction with The Body Shop in November 1992 was faced with closure. The BSL's project was the first of its type in Australia and achieved an 80% success rate in placing homeless young people in employment. More than 40 similar projects were set up in Australia by various agencies following the Brotherhood initiative. The end of JPET was scheduled after a Federal Government 1995-6 Budget decision: previously funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health & Housing, JPET was presented with new funding guidelines set by the Department of Education Employment & Training (DEET). The Federal Government decision to adopt a Case Management approach to employment programs gave rise to the fear that this would not meet the needs of JPET clients, many of whom were long-term unemployed as well as homeless. At the breakfast organised in June by Employment Action Centre workers to farewell the Oakleigh JPET program, the then Minister for Employment, Education & Training (Simon Crean) "was so impressed with what he saw that he was determined to help keep it going". Interim funding was made available to the Oakleigh program (also available to other JPET programs) and the BSL developed a new model to provide a program for disadvantaged young people not yet ready for the Case Management approach. The BSL's Youth Employment Action Centre, replacing the BSL's JPET program, was launched in November in Oakleigh by the local MP Mr Alan Griffin and Bishop Michael Challen. The Centre provided support and training aimed at getting homeless young people 15-21 years into employment or further study (Brotherhood Action Spring 1995 p.1 and Summer 1996 p.1. "JPET was evaluated as a pilot in 1995 after operating in some 44 sites nationally between 1993 and 1995. While the findings from the evaluation were positive, the program was not funded in 1996 but funding was resumed in the following year". (from " JPET - Keeping on Track: Evaluation of the Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) Programme - Final Report", by Butlin, Malcolm, Lloyd & Walpole 2000). BSL_JPET_Reprieve_in_Action_Spring1995.pdf
Oakleigh_JPET_&_Youth_Employment_Action_Centre_1995-1996.pdf Youth_Employment_Action_Centre_Oakleigh_in_Action_Summer1996.pdf
JPET_&_the_influence_of_BSL's_model_1995-7-4.pdf
The Employment Action Centre received funding from the Department of Education, Employment & Training (DEET) to investigate the feasibility of a Hospitality enterprise project for the Active Placement Unit. The proposal was for two components – re-establishing a canteen service for the BSL staff at 67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, and using the canteen as a springboard for the "production and manufacturing of Christmas Plum Puddings". In December the Father Tuckers Canteen began to implement strategies in preparation for this program. (See 1993 for the initial project & 1996 for progress) Father_Tucker_Canteen_Proposal_1995.pdf Father_Tucker_Puddings_Proposal_1995.pdf Father_Tucker_Puddings_Proposal_Appendix_1995.pdf
The Employment Action Centre developed a wilderness & adventure program called MOVE (Motivation, Optimism, Vocation and (ultimately) Employment. Sponsored by the Australian Foundation Against Drug Abuse, and conducted in association with the Department of Employment, Education & Training, the Outdoor Experience and SkillShare, the program took eight young people to a remote area for seven days with three supervisors and supplies for camping in the wilderness. The aims included improvement of the self-confidence of unemployed teenagers by making them aware of the skills and ability they possess (Brotherhood Action Summer 1995 p. 5).
Fundraising & Resources
The Care Manager software, developed in the Peninsula Linkages program by Brendan Walsh and students from Swinburne, became a marketable product across Australia ("Computer program with a caring approach", Brotherhood Action Summer 1996 p.4; BSL Annual Report 1995 p.25)
John Clarke and Bryan Dawes' films appealing for clothes for the Brotherhood's shops were again screened in twelve Melbourne cinemas from 11 May to 29 June (Brotherhood Action Winter 1995 p.4.)
The Great Quilt Trade-In was launched by Sheets "R" Us and Tontine Bedding in support of the Brotherhood's annual Winter Blanket Appeal. The partnership was a 'first' between manufacturer, retailer and a welfare organisation. The appeal was also supported by various schools and colleges throughout Victoria (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.4; BSL Annual Report 1996 p.41).
In the 1994-5 financial year:
Fundraising events included:
- The Brotherhood's largest raffle (of a house and land package from A V Jennings Pty Ltd) in conjunction with the Victorian Red Cross and the Arthritis Foundation. Merchandising campaigns raised $51,050 (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.31)
- An exhibition of portraits by Greg Mallyon (opened on 3 May) at the Design Warehouse, Como Gaslight Gardens in South Yarra, See Brochure (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.6)
- Pianist Roger Woodward playing at the Design Warehouse for the opening of an exhibition by Charles Gosford (28 August), a fundraiser for the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Project - almost 400 guests attended (Brotherhood Action Spring 1995 p.4) Brochure for the event (A Night to Remember, 29-08-1995)
- The sale of framed prints, 20 from John James Audubon's "Birds of America" and 20 reproductions of "Original Views of London" by Thomas Shotter Boys (Brotherhood Action Summer 1996 p.5)
Christmas Book Appeal begun by the University of Melbourne Bookroom (BSL Annual Report 1997 p.23).
Thousands of toys gathered from the Christmas Wishing Tree appeal at 5 Kmart stores and from staff social clubs at a number of major corporations were distributed to families at material aid centres at Fitzroy, Frankston, Geelong, Lalor and Craigieburn ("A time for giving", Brotherhood Action Summer 1996 p.3; BSL Annual Report 1996 p.40).
Material & Financial Support
In early 1995, following consultation with staff, volunteers & participants, the BSL closed the Sharehouse project. The participants established a new group, retaining the name Sharehouse (and incorporated in 1995 as The Sharehouse Community Group Inc.). A BSL staff member was an ex-officio member on the management committee (BSL Internal Working Paper No.2 "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)" p.16; "Brotherhood Community Nexus Submission for Ageing Carer Respite Facilitation and Circles Of Support Pilot Project", February 2006, p.27 - "Sharehouse is a weekly program aimed at providing participants with an opportunity to meet and develop new friends in a supported environment. The community members who participate in this activity may be experiencing barriers to everyday life such as chronic unemployment, mental health issues etc. This program is now run entirely by community volunteers. The program was established approximately 12 years ago with the support of the BSL." See copy of the information pamphlet). Sharehouse_Frankston_pamphlet.pdf
Ballarat small loans and emergency financial relief program discontinued because of lack of funds and a high rate of loan defaults (in contrast to BSL experience elsewhere) (BSL Internal Working Paper No.2 "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)" p.19-20).
Whittlesea (Lalor) Material Aid Service, still staffed by local volunteers, supplemented by a coordinator employed for 9 hours per week. The Emergency Relief service reported that major reasons for seeking help were linked to the high costs of utilities (gas, electricity, water and telephone), "demanding much time in advocacy and negotiation" (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.18.; BSL Internal Working Paper No.2 "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)" pp.18, 22-24.).
Craigieburn & Roxburgh Park No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) began with capital base of $30,000 from the William Angliss Trust (July) (BSL Internal Working Paper No.2, "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)", p.29).
The No Interest Loans Schemes auspiced by the Brotherhood (Craigieburn, Whittlesea, Barwon & Frankston) were featured in Brotherhood Action (Brotherhood Action Spring 1995 p.3).
The role of Donors and their support for the BSL was recognised in a feature article in Brotherhood Action (Brotherhood Action Winter 1995 p.3).
Organisational aspects (BSL)
The Avalon property was sold to Geelong Grammar School in March (Letter of offer from Geelong Grammar) Avalon_1995-03-15_GeelongGrammar_Offer.pdf
60th anniversary of founding of the Settlement at Carrum Downs by Fr Tucker and 60 years of the Brotherhood's work on the Peninsula were celebrated with a range of events through the year (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.4. See also the publication by Ben Bennett, "GK Tucker Settlement - An historical record 1935-1995: 60 years with the Brotherhood of St Laurence at Carrum Downs", Limited Edition).
Implementation of the outcomes of the Directions 2000 review commenced, including an operating charter of defining principles to ensure that the BSL’s mission is reflected in decisions, criteria to assist faster decision-making, and divestment of some significant services and programs and the associated property. The proposal from the Direction 2000 Implementation Committee re the future of Central Highlands region recommended that the region seek to become self-funding within five years. A Task Force was established in July to investigate the withdrawal of the Brotherhood from direct responsibility for services within the Central Highlands Region (Letter from Bishop Michael Challen to the Central Highlands Regional Director, Ian Brain 6 April 1995). Directions2000_+MBC_re_CentHigh.pdf Directions2000_Focus_PositiveSocialChange_in_Action_Autumn1995.pdf
BSL_Central-Highlands_Divestment_Papers_1995.pdf
The Central Highlands Regional Committee resolved in August to cease existence and a special implementation task force was set up to investigate alternative management options with appropriate agencies for services in the Central Highlands region. Recommendations of the task force were accepted by the Board in December 1995 when local and community management of most services was achieved. … "The only services that did not continue were the Pixie Property Maintenance Service, the Employment Action Centre, the Training Unit and the Administration Unit". Not all services were transferred. The Provincial Communities Enterprise Project and the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Project remained with the Brotherhood and management of the Donated Goods Division transferred to Campbellfield (Brotherhood Action Summer 1996 p.2; BSL Annual Report 1996 p.10, 16. The Employment Placement Unit was divested to the Ballarat Community Education Centre; Highlands Personnel became an incorporated body in 1996, operating as an independent organisation; the Employment Action Centre and Pixie Property Maintenance Service closed in 1995; and the Landcare and Environment Action Program continued but under the direction of the Australian Trust for Conservation Volunteers).
As recommended in Directions 2000, a Deputy Director of Operations was appointed and the Executive Council commenced on 17/7/1995. The new position of Deputy Director of Operations was created as the last phase of the Brotherhood's restructure of its management framework arising from the Directions 2000 review. Ken Swanson took up the position, with the brief to ensure that "services conform to the guiding principles for service involvement developed under Directions 2000" (Brotherhood Action Spring 1995 p.4).
Directions 2000 Implementation Task Force ceased on 31 October, with unfinished business transferred to the new Executive Council.
BSL considered possible partnerships in Craigieburn in light of the merger between the Mission to Streets & Lanes, the Mission of St John & St James and St John's Homes to form Anglicare Victoria, with the Community Centre (120 Hothlyn Drive, Roxburgh Park) & Selwyn House (13 Dianne Avenue, Craigieburn) as possible venues. With the intent of empowering local people to take over the program/s and establish their own agency, there could be a network of services i.e. Community Centre be the hub with "out-centres" and there could be a rationalisation of services and who is responsible for them - for example, "parenting training" (not part of BSL services) could occur at BSL properties by mutual agreement. (Bishop Michael Challen to J. Wise & K. Swanson 20 Dec 1995)
Through the Service Development Forum the Brotherhood’s target group was defined as people who are poor, with little money and power. A key focus was defined as exercising a broader strategic influence beyond the immediate impact of the service delivery (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.29).
The 60th anniversary of the founding of the Settlement at Carrum Downs by Fr Tucker and 60 years of the Brotherhood's work on the Peninsula were celebrated with a range of events (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.4).
The Brotherhood Board at its December meeting approved arrangements for the transfer of the Barwon regional services to the local community through a new independent charitable welfare organisation to be known as St Laurence Community Services (Barwon) Inc.
The Brotherhood's staff development program continued in 1995-1996, with the budget allocation at a level of one percent of gross salaries. The devolution of responsibility to the regional staff development committees was accompanied by the adoption of a competency focused approach to the identification of present and future training needs (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.38).
People
Professor Ronald Henderson died in January. Professor Henderson - renowned for his work on the "poverty line" - had acted as a consultant for the BSL's Social Policy & Research after retiring in 1979 from the University of Melbourne's Institute of Applied Economic Research, and had been a patron for the Brotherhood's Future of Work Project (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.4).
The lunch to celebrate staff who had served for 15 years was held at Carrum Downs Settlement in April. Certificates were presented to Jean Wilson (Broughton Nursing Home), Janet Henry (Carinya Nursing Home) and Barbara Lawson (Brunswick retail shop).
The 1995 Volunteer Recognition Day was celebrated on 16 May with a luncheon in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria (Brotherhood Action Winter 1995 p.5; BSL Annual Report 1995 pp.35, 37).
The contributions of volunteers and auxiliary members to the work and income of the Brotherhood were featured in Brotherhood Action, Summer 1995 (Brotherhood Action Summer 1995 p.3).
People with disabilities
The Pre-school Support Program which provided advice and practical assistance to pre-school staff in the Peninsula area in order to assist children with disabilities to gain access to and participate in their local pre-school centres expanded to cover the (then) Health & Community Services Southern Region, employing one full-time coordinator and 32 part-time staff (BSL Annual Report 1995 pp.18-19).
The Brotherhood's Pre-School Support Program had a part to play in the video of a new resource kit "Like Any Child: planning for children with disabilities". The detailed book and video were also a guide for parents of children should get out of early childhood programs (Brotherhood Action Summer 1995 p.4).
Presentations & Publications
Address of the Executive Director to the BSL's Annual General Meeting
65th Foundation Festival, Christ Church South Yarra, speaker - Reverend Ann Wansbrough, Uniting Church Board for Social Responsibility (18 June)
The 14th Sambell Oration : What happened to compassion? was given by Professor Stuart Macintyre at St Peter's Eastern Hill (August).
Publications included:
Young people
The Homework Centre in Fitzroy changed its program from one large group three times per week to two groups twice a week to increase access to the program. A weekend camp was also organised for the students (BSL Annual Report 1995 p.17). Homework_Program_Historical_data_1990-2007.pdf
Prevention of Youth Homelessness Project's definition of prevention and objectives were revised and it was decided to cease the work in Dandenong and concentrate on a smaller range of activities in Ballarat. There was a particular focus on schools, a much closer integration of service delivery and research and a wish to encourage the greater perspective of young people in the Project. A separate metropolitan proposal did not proceed since no funds were available. (mid-1995)
John Wise, "Regionalism and the Brotherhood of St Laurence", p4: "Our last independent project 'The Prevention of Youth Homelessness' arguably failed in Dandenong because it was centrally driven and lacked local support, cooperation and service links."
Wise_John_Regionalism_&_the_BSL_1996-1-16.pdf
As part of the Prevention of Youth Homelessness project (April 1995 - December 1996) two programs were developed and trialled at Ballarat Secondary College - a Peer Mediation program at the Wendouree Campus and an Alternative Behaviours to Violence program at the East Campus ("Strengthening attachments - The report of the Prevention of Youth Homelessness Project", October 1997, pp.69-83.). PYHP_Strengthening_Attachments_Booklet_1997.pdf PYHP_Getting_It_Together_Booklet_Pt1_1997.pdf PYHP_Getting_It_Together_Booklet_Pt2_1997.pdf
BSL was asked by the Federal Government to auspice a program to support young indigenous students at Northland Secondary College who were at risk of leaving the school system - required establishing & supervising a Committee of Management (April).
Brotherhood Action Spring 1995 p.3 (no numbering) [No_Interest_Loans_Scheme_in_Action_Spring1995.pdf]
at the Design Warehouse for the opening of
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