1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 

Children & Families 

David Green presented a proposal for the development of Limurru as a neighbourhood children's centre  (Green, D. 1981, "Proposal for the development of Limurru as a neighbourhood children's centre", BSL).

Community Issues 

The Victorian Ministry of Housing started a Home Renovation Service similar to the BSL's Home Improvement Service (begun in West Geelong in 1979).  Because of the similarity between the two services, the Ministry allocated $20,000 to the BSL to continue the Home Improvement Service for 1981-1982 (Brotherhood Action, August 1981 (No.236)).

Fitzroy and ARC Credit Union, run by an independent board of directors, operated out of the Sharing Centre premises with the BSL providing 90% of its funding. "The Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit Co-operative Ltd (FCCC) grew out of the Action Resource Centre Project under the auspice of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1977. The aim was to provide a savings and loan facility relevant to the needs of people on low incomes. The organisation has now grown to an independent community-managed credit union based in Fitzroy providing appropriate and supportive financial services to people on low incomes who live in the cities of Yarra, Darebin, Melbourne and Moreland and in the suburb of Heidelberg West. As well FCCC accepts members outside these areas in need of supportive financial assistance who are referred to it by financial counsellors and welfare organisations" (See BSL Annual  Report 1981-1982 p.7; BSL Internal Working Paper No.2 "Overview and History of Income Supplementation services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)" p.12).

Employment & Training 

BSL launched a proposal for a Commonwealth funded job creation scheme - the JOBS scheme - to provide work experience for unemployed young people.  A second proposal, INCOMES, made recommendations about the junior rate of unemployment benefit, payment of a living alone allowance, and educational allowances to remove disincentive to leaving school (Brotherhood Action, June 1981 (No. 235) p.1).

The Unemployment Rights Service closed at Fitzroy and moved to Footscray in October as an independent service run by the Western Region Right To Work Committee.  Work with unemployed people took place on a regional basis from Footscray, with a specific local program in St Albans.  The BSL continued to provide over 90% of funding for the service, including one worker; the service was assisted by students from the then Phillip Institute of Technology (now RMIT University Bundoora).  (BSL 1982, Annual Report, p.7; Brotherhood Action, December 1981 (No. 238); Welfare Rights Unit).

Material & Financial support 

ARC (Action and Resource Centre) Community House established in Clifton Hill as an independent co-operative society in June with a Board of Directors elected by the membership.  The Brotherhood provided approximately 80% of the funds needed to maintain the project. ARC moved from 116 Fitzroy Street to 388 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill. (Brotherhood Action, April 1981 (No.234) p.1; Brotherhood Action, August 1981 (No. 236); BSL 1982, Annual Report, p.7).

The Sharing Centre for low-income people opened in the building previously occupied by ARC (116 Fitzroy Street, the original St Mary's Mission at the rear of 67 Brunswick Street).  This provided opportunities for low-income people to contribute their time and skills in shared activities and to participate in the provision of services such as cooking community lunches, packaging, pricing and ordering in the shop. The Sharing Centre expanded the role of the old Material Aid Service (Brotherhood Action, February 1982 (No. 239); BSL 1982, Annual Report, p.2; BSL 1996, "Overview and history of Income Supplementation Services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)", Internal Working Paper No.2, p.12).

Fitzroy and ARC Credit Union, run by an independent board of directors, operated out of the Sharing Centre premises with the BSL providing 90% of its funding.

"The Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit Co-operative Ltd (FCCC) grew out of the Action Resource Centre Project under the auspice of the Brotherhood of St Laurence in 1977. The aim was to provide a savings and loan facility relevant to the needs of people on low incomes. The organisation has now grown to an independent community-managed credit union based in Fitzroy providing appropriate and supportive financial services to people on low incomes who live in the cities of Yarra, Darebin, Melbourne and Moreland and in the suburb of Heidelberg West. As well FCCC accepts members outside these areas in need of supportive financial assistance who are referred to it by financial counsellors and welfare organisations" (BSL 1982, Annual Report, p.7; BSL 1996, "Overview and history of Income Supplementation Services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)", Internal Working Paper No.2, p.12).

Small food cooperatives and a consumer buying service arose from the work of Sharing Centre staff with a number of other groups.  The BSL was instrumental in forming the Food Cooperative Support Group (BSL 1984, Annual Report, p.5; BSL 1996, "Overview and history of Income Supplementation Services in the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1972-1996)", Internal Working Paper No.2, p.12).

Older People 

SPAN became an independent cooperative from 1 January (Brotherhood Action, December 1981 (No. 238)).

Hume Court hostel for the frail aged at St Laurence Park was almost demolished by a freak storm on 9 January.  The 52-bed hostel, built in 1972, was completely unroofed with many ceilings and doors blown down.  Of the residents only six people were injured.  The residents were able to move back mid-year (Brotherhood Action, February 1981 (No.233); Brotherhood Action, August 1981 (No. 236); Information booklet).

Sambell Lodge hostel for frail aged persons opened in Clifton Hill in March (Brotherhood Action, April 1981 (No.234); Brotherhood Action, Autumn 1990, p.9).

Organisational aspects (BSL) 

Mrs Concetta (Connie) Benn left the position of head of the Social Policy & Research Department to head the School of Social Work at Phillip Institute of Technology (now RMIT Bundoora) after 10 years service. She left on 13 November 1981 (Brotherhood Action, December 1981; BSL 1982, Annual Report, p.9).

Father Ross McAuley appointed Chaplain to the BSL

Jessica Millott retired after 30 years with the Brotherhood, having begun as a volunteer in 1951 at Carrum Downs, then at the Coolibah from 1953 (manageress from 1962) (Brotherhood Action, August 1981 (No.236), p.1).

Women’s Issues Group established, operating as a regular open staff forum for women and men (Gilley, T, 1988, "Inequality and the workplace", BSL, pp. 11-12).

Task Force on Shared Methods of Responsibility established "to explore ways and means by which there can be more effective sharing of mutual responsibility amongst the various people associated with (the Brotherhood’s) work".  This was "the basis for later development of the staff manual detailing rights and obligations of BSL employees" (Gilley, T, 1988, "Inequality and the workplace", BSL, p. 11).

Community of St Laurence began as the more active 'child' of the Companions of St Laurence (begun in 1971) who were a group of people with long connection to the Brotherhood - a number had worked alongside Father Tucker - who kept in touch with the Brotherhood through regular meetings and supported it through prayer and intercession.  Members of the Community took on the responsibility of meeting monthly, publishing Poverty Watch, organising the annual St Laurence Day service and helping with sundry Brotherhood functions.   (Brotherhood Action, December 1988 (No.275), p.12; Brotherhood Action, June 1989 (No.277) p.7).

David Green presented a proposal for the development of Limurru as a neighbourhood children's centre (Green, D. 1981, "Proposal for the development of Limurru as a neighbourhood children's centre", BSL).

Poverty Education Project closed at end of 1981 and replaced by the Clearing House on Poverty and the new Communications Unit.  This group consisted of Executive Director, Coordinator of Social Policy and Research, Senior Research Officer, Public Relations Officer and the new position of Media Officer (Brotherhood Action, December 1981; BSL 1982, Annual Report, pp. 2, 5 &10; Benjamin, J. 1981, "The Poverty Education Project - Final Report", BSL, p.4).

Brotherhood Luncheon addressed by the Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen (formerly Dean of the University of Melbourne Law School when the legal aid service was provided through the BSL in the 1950's) (Brotherhood Action, December 1981 (No.238)).

Presentations & publications 

The first Sambell Oration: Why care? An attempt to state the theological basis for Christian social action was given by Archbishop Sir Frank Woods

Labour Force or Labour Ward: Is this a choice young women are making? Meg Montague  (Brotherhood Action, June 1981 (No.235); Montague, M. 1981, "Labour force or labour ward: Is this a choice young women are making?", BSL).

SPAN : a community project involving older and retired people. Second progress report (September 1979 - September 1980) Jean Hamilton-Smith (Brotherhood Action, June 1981 (No.235); Hamilton-Smith, J., 1980, "SPAN: A community project involving older and retired people", Second Progress Report (September 1979-September 1980), BSL).

Bibliography of Brotherhood of St Laurence publications and papers 1933 to 1980 compiled by Vera Wicks & Shirley Sargent  (Brotherhood Action, June 1981 (No.235)).

August 1981 - First issue of Poverty Watch published by the BSL’s Poverty Education Project 

As part of the Poverty project between the 8th November 1981 and 8th of December there was a Poverty - Poor Choices Exhibition at St Paul's Cathedral. It was an exhibition of photographs taken by Ian Cosier and Dyranda Prevost showing how poverty in Australia affects every aspect of people's lives - housing, health, employment opportunities and education. They were not the traditional pictures of "poor people" but attempted to demonstrate the ways in which our society failed to provide fair opportunities and equal access to services for all Australians (Brotherhood News, November 1981 (No.2) p.1; Brotherhood Action, December 1981 (No.238) p.3).

Young People 

The Northcote Accommodation Project was developed by the Brotherhood to provide accommodation for homeless, unemployed young people to help them acquire the physical, social and emotional skills for independent living.  This was funded with $50,000 from the Anglican Diocese, $20,000 through the Brotherhood’s Jubilee Appeal, and $11,000 from the Northcote City Council.  A house in Thornbury was leased from the Victorian Ministry of Housing.  The funds and the proposal were handed over to the local community "as part of the Brotherhood's new policy of providing resources to local areas with particular needs". 

(BSL Annual Report 1980-1981 p.6; BSL Annual Report 1981-1982 p.6; Brotherhood Action October 1981 (No.237).

An overview of this demonstration project is in Appendix 4 of  David Chambers' "Report of Melbourne Diocesan Consultant in Welfare and Community" 1982.  The Brotherhood submitted the proposal on which the Northcote Accommodation Project was based to the 1982 inquiry into youth homelessness held by the Senate of the Australian Parliament's Standing Committee on Social Welfare. That Committee commented: "The Committee sees a great deal of merit in the way in which this particular project has evolved, and believes it could become a blue print for further community based schemes specifically designed to assist homeless youth."  (See also "Housing the Young", Brotherhood Action February 1984 (No.251) pp.2-3; Justin McDermott, "Half a chance: the evaluation of the Northcote Accommodation Project; Brotherhood Action June 1985 (No.259) p.3); BSL 1981, Annual Report, p.6; Brotherhood Action, October 1981 (No.237); 1981, "Youth homelessness in Melbourne", BSL; Brotherhood Action, February 1984 (No. 251) pp.2-3).

The BSL made a submission to the Community Youth Support Scheme Task Force established by the Federal Government to investigate the future of the Community Youth Support Scheme beyond 28 February 1982.  (Brotherhood Action, February 1982 (No.239)).