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2008

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Children & Families

 

The new position of National Manager for HIPPY Australia (the Home Interaction Program for Parents & Youngsters) was filled in August (Personal Communication 2008) and the new HIPPY programs for 2009 and their sponsoring organisations were announced in December.  This was the first instalment of the Federal Government funded program to take HIPPY to 50 of the most disadvantaged communities in Australia over the next 5 years.

 

New HIPPY programs and the partner agencies announced for 2009:  (Location) NSW, La Perouse (Successful Partner Organisation) Eastern Zone Gujaga Aboriginal Corporation; NSW, Claymore, Macarthur Diversity Services Inc; NSW, Windale, JobQuest Newcastle; ACT, Charnwood, Uniting Care Kippax; QLD, Riverview, Playgroup Queensland; QLD, Inala, Brisbane Sth Dvision of General Practise; NT, Alice Springs, Yipirinya School Council Inc; WA, Rockingham, Ngala Community Services; WA, Girrawheen, Ngala Community Services; SA, Elizabeth Grove, Anglicare South Australia; VIC, Moonee Valley, Brotherhood of St Laurence; VIC, Fitzroy, Brotherhood of St Laurence; VIC, Moreland, Moreland Community Health Service; VIC, Winchelsea, Glastonbury Child and Family Services; VIC, Colac, Glastonbury Child and Family Services; VIC, Geelong, Glastonbury Child and Family Services; TAS, Burnie, Circular Head Rural Health Services Inc; TAS, Smithton, Circular Head Rural Health Services Inc; TAS, Rosebery, Circular Head Rural Health Services Inc; TAS, Clarendon Vale, Colony 47; TAS, Sheffield, Playgroup Tasmania; TAS, Launceston, Anglicare Tasmania.

 

The Breakfast Club at the Atherton Gardens Estate in Fitzroy continued to provide children with a tasty breakfast and some laughter and friendship before their school day began.  It was supported by volunteers and financial contributions from SJB Architects, Freehills, Pitcher Partners, Grocon and Lander & Rogers; at the end of the year the team from Diners Club concluded their involvement after a three-year commitment ("Breakfast Club kids say 'thank you'", Building Better Lives Issue 33, December 2008 p.3). 

 

The Brotherhood, partners Hume City Council, Broadmeadows UnitingCare and a range of early years services were finalists in the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development 2008 Early Years Awards.  The Schools in Community Hubs in Broadmeadows project was "highly commended" and has resulted in three schools becoming community hubs:  Meadow Fair North Primary School, Coolaroo South Primary School and Campbellfield Heights Primary School.  These schools provide more accessible and inclusive services for children and families, particularly disadvantaged families, offering playgroups, structured language and activity groups, and kindergarten & transition-to-school programs as well as parenting programs and adult English classes ("Humming hubs in Broadmeadows", Building Better Lives Issue 33, December 2008 pp.3-4).  

 

Community issues

In Victoria's 2008 Multicultural Awards for Excellence by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the BSL was named as a recipient of an award for Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria in the Organisations category:  "The organisation works hard assisting people who have undergone misfortune and trauma on their journey to Australia and is commended for making a difference to so many disadvantaged people."

 

Tony Nicholson (BSL Executive Director) and the Hon Justin Madden (Victorian Minister for Planning) launched the Craigieburn Community Bus on 16 May at the Brotherhood of St Laurence's Centre, Craigieburn

 

The Federal Government established the Australian Social Inclusion Board on 21 May, naming Tony Nicholson (Executive Director of the BSL) as one of the members. 

 

The BSL and KPMG published a report A National Energy Efficiency Program for low income households

 

The BSL surrendered its representation on the Board of Yarra Community Housing Group Ltd (YCH) with the group's change of status "from a local community housing organisation managing properties under various Victorian Government programs to being an organisation that more independently owns, manages and develops a growing portfolio of affordable rental housing properties across a wide geographical area", and its merger with Footscray-based transitional housing provider MetroWest. (October)  [1]  YarraCtyHousing_&_BSL_2008.pdf

 

Employment & Training

The achievements of the 2007–2008 Community Enterprise graduates from the Community Contact Service, Street BSL and the AMES/BSL Cleaning Enterprise were celebrated at a Graduation ceremony on 9 May.  Presentations were made by the Hon. Richard Wynne MP, Minister for Housing, and Tony Nicholson, Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Laurence.   BSL_CE_Grad_Invite_2008-05-9.pdf

 

The Brotherhood, in conjunction with Mission Australia, placed 6 West African refugees as trainees with Crown Casino’s Access program. (October)  

"Crown's Access Program helps job seekers who are having difficulty gaining skilled employment due to personal circumstances.  These people include early school leavers, long-term unemployed and people returning to work after a long break.  In partnership with Mission Australia and the Brotherhood of St Laurence we are currently delivering our second Access program in 2008.  The participants are 6 West African refugees, who are working in Crown Promenade Hotel as Room Attendants while they complete a Certificate I in Work Preparation at Crown College.  We hope that many of these have long and successful careers with us."  Crown Careers, 28 October 2010"


The employment program of the development company Grocon included the hiring of long term unemployed people on their sites in conjunction with the Brotherhood of St Laurence  [2]

 

Following involvement of the BSL in the workforce planning project led by Dairy Australia (DA, the umbrella body for the Dairy Industry), discussions began between the BSL, Dairy Australia (through the "People in Dairy" team), and the National Centre for Dairy Education (NCDEA) about the development of a pilot project aiming to recruit and train unskilled people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the dairy industry.  Through the partnership of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, WestVic Dairy, the Victorian Government (Victoria Works), the Helen McPherson-Smith Trust, WestVic Staffing Solutions and the NCDEA, this later became the In2Dairy program - a two-week pre-employment program that includes help looking for a job and the option to take up a traineeship.  (See 2010) [3]

 

Closure of Furniture Works Training Centre (Frankston & Rosebud) - Training programs transferred to the High Street Centre (27 November) (For a scan of the BSL Board discussions click here)   FrankstonFurnitureWorks_re_closure_2008-10-16.pdf Furniture_Works_&_Employment_Services_Update_2008-11-27.pdf

 

Fundraising & Resources

A 3-year partnership between HIPPY Australia and AXA was launched in February ($450,000 for HIPPY over 3 years). 

 

Launch of the annual Kmart Wishing Tree appeal at Atherton Gardens Estate (October)


The annual Brotherhood of St Laurence and Ecumenical Migration Centre Business Breakfast at the RACV Club (Melbourne) was held on 28 February. This function provides major support for the work and profile of the BSL's employment programs for refugees.  The speaker was George Megalogenis, senior feature writer for The Australian and author of Faultlines: Race, Work, and the Politics of Changing Australia (2004) and The Longest Decade  (2006).  BSL_Business_Breakfast_2008.pdf

Ormond Auxiliary Store celebrated 50 years

Following the $100,000 incentive offered by developer Lend Lease, the Greensborough Shop closed after 30 years, but an alternative site was being sought  (October)

 

Brotherhood Books resale venture was launched on the internet in December at https://www.brotherhoodbooks.org.au/ 

 

Material & Financial support

 

The launch of the ABC Local Radio 774's Giving Tree gift donation campaign which contributed to the BSL's annual Toy Appeal was funded by Freehills (November)

 

The Brotherhood again benefited from the Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal for Christmas gifts, with the launch of their 21st appeal being held at the Atherton Gardens Kindergarten in Fitzroy [4]

 

The BSL's Christmas Toy Program distributed 7,587 toys through more than 60 organisations throughout the State.  

 

Older people

Broughton Aged Care (high care) facility in Frankston closed given the financial inability to meet the government requirement for new standards of accommodation

 

Sumner House aged care facility (Fitzroy) passed all 44 requirements of the Federal Government & was given 3-year accreditation (October 28-29)

 

Organisational aspects (BSL)

 

BSL’s High Street Centre, Frankston opened in June  (Invitation to the Launch)

 

The new Sumner House Garden (Fitzroy) was officially launched by well-known 3AW Garden expert, Jane Edmanson (May) (Building Better Lives, September 2008, p.4). 

The BSL's Volunteer Recognition Event was held at St Paul's Cathedral in the morning followed by light lunch at Zinc in Federation Square (14 May)

 

Charlie McShane, resigned from the position of Senior Manager Community & Employment Development on 23 May, with the intention of returning to Scotland.

 

Father Peter Thomson retired from the BSL after seven years of service in Chaplaincy, beginning as part-time Chaplain and advisor to the Executive Director in 2001 (October) ("Message from our Chaplain, Fr Jeff O'Hare", Building Better Lives Issue 33 December 2008 p.2

 

Assistant Chaplain Debra Saffrey-Collins commenced with the BSL (October 6)

Launch of a new Brotherhood film produced by Angela Buckingham  (November)

Opening of the renovated Napier Street Centre.  This work was supported by a $50,000 donation from McConnell Dowell, substantial pro bono contribution from SJB Architects and below cost building work by Kubic Constructions (November 18) [5]

 

Presentations & Publications

The 28th Sambell Oration: Climate change as an equity issue was delivered by Professor Ross Garnaut  (November)  

A Forum on Indigenous Inclusion was held on 30 May at Fitzroy with indigenous guests.

 

Publications included:

 

Videorecordings:
Brotherhood of St Laurence: working for an Australia free of poverty.  In this film Pat, Jeffrey, Kenneth, Kate, Warren, Michael, Jack and Monica talk about their life experiences and involvement with the Brotherhood.  

 

Launch of the biography Sambell - A Man of the Word, a life of Bishop Geoffrey Sambell and written by Bishop Michael Challen (October)

 

Divine Discontent - A History of the Brotherhood of St Laurence by Colin Holden & Richard Trembath with Judith Brett was published in November [8]  Divine_Discontent_Launch_2008-11-21_Mark_Peel.pdf  Divine_Discontent_Launch_2008-11-21_+Andrew_Curnow.pdf  Divine_Discontent_Launch_Brian_Howe_2008-11-21.pdf Divine_Discontent_Launch_Invitation_2008-11-21.pdf

 

Young people

Unsung Heroes - the third program of the 'digital storytelling for social justice project'  involving Melbourne Grammar students and elders from the Coolibah Centre - featured on ABC-TV Stateline on May 30 and in The Age newspaper on May 31 (Building Better Lives, September 2008, p.5).  

Footnotes

  1. Yarra Community Housing Annual Report 2008 pp.3-4. Brotherhood representatives on the Board of Yarra Community housing included: Stephen Ziguras (resigned 1/08/02); Lence Markovska (appointed 17/10/02, resigned 7/8/03); Anna Bubb (appointed 7/8/03 - resigned 23/12/2005); Mark Daniels (appointed 7/2006). Mark Daniels was the last BSL representative on the Board of Management. [YarraCtyHousing_&_BSL_2008.pdf]
  2. Media release "Grocon to partner Government in supporting homeless", Thursday, April 24 2008 http://www.grocon.com.au/pdfs/mediareleases/MediaRelease_060308.pdf 28 October 2010
  3. See the entry in 2010 and the article "Dare to dairy" in Australian Dairyfarmer, Friday 1/10/2010 Page 38
  4. "Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal celebrates 21 years", Building Better Lives Issue 33, December 2008 p.3
  5. "A shiny new Napier Street Centre", Building Better Lives Issue 33, December 2008 p.4
  6. This report examines the survey responses of 58 low-income Victorian families about the cost of their 129 primary and secondary school-aged children's participation in formal education during 2007. Although the survey was small in scale, it revealed that these parents faced considerable difficulties in paying education expenses, resulting in some children missing out on vital activities. To reduce the rate of students disengaging or dropping out, the writers recommend policy changes to eliminate financial hardship as a critical barrier for children in disadvantaged families.
  7. [Bodde_Unmet_Need_Geelong_2008.pdf]
  8. See a review from the Weekend Australian 10-11 January 2009 [Divine_Discontent_Review_TheAustralian_2009-1-10.pdf] and the speeches made at the launch at St Peter's, Eastern Hill [Divine_Discontent_Launch_2008-11-21_+Andrew_Curnow.pdf] [Divine_Discontent_Launch_2008-11-21_Mark_Peel.pdf] [Divine_Discontent_Launch_Brian_Howe_[ed]_2008-11-21.pdf]

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