Media Release: Mission Australia warns battle for affordable housing continues among the homeless

In a sign that the battle for affordable housing is growing, leading Queensland homeless organisation Mission Australia has reported its staff are now spending almost twice as many hours trying to find appropriate permanent housing for people as they were six months ago.

According to the latest data, Mission Australia’s frontline staff working in seven of its homeless services across Queensland, spent more than 420 hours assisting clients to secure permanent housing and tenancy between 1 January and 25 July 2011.

This compares to 241 hours staff had to spend specifically on securing housing for clients in the six months prior.

State Director Penny Gillespie said the increasing challenge in finding permanent accommodation for people experiencing homelessness shows just how essential the push for more affordable and social housing has become.

“Mission Australia has seven services throughout Queensland aimed specifically at helping homeless people to find permanent accommodation and turn their lives around,” Ms Gillespie said.

“Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation such as family conflict, mental illness or unemployment.

“But in the last six months, the amount of time our staff have had to dedicate to simply trying to locate and secure permanent housing for eligible clients has almost doubled.

“This demonstrates just how tough the lower end of the housing market has become, and of greatest concern is the impact such a shortage will have on people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

“We don’t want to see homeless numbers spiral in Queensland, leading to more young people, adults and families ending up living on the street or sleeping on a friend’s living room floor.

“We know that the demand for public or affordable private housing in Queensland is very high and we acknowledge the significant efforts of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments to invest more funding than ever before to boost social housing supplies.

“We also welcome the significant contribution of both levels of government to providing better services and support through the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.

“With National Homeless Persons’ Week starting today, this latest data is a strong reminder of how important this investment is and the risks to our community if such investment doesn’t continue.

“Our staff will keep doing everything we can to support people who have nowhere else to go and we will continue to work with all levels of government and other housing providers to assist clients to get a fair go in the housing market.”

Media Contact: Nicola Hazell – 3394 8114 or 0467 783 421

Media Release: Beds to give away in unique project to help homeless South Australians

Mission Australia - one of Australia’s leading community service organisations - has lots of beds to give away – to the homeless or those at risk of being homeless.

Its unique Sleep Better Project targets children, young people and adults that do not have access to a bed or mattress.

"National Homeless Persons’ Week (August 1-7) is a time to acknowledge that there are thousands of people in South Australia who are not able to tuck their children into a bed or lay their head on their own pillow at night,” said Kim Holmes, Operations Manager at Mission Australia.

"Homelessness is not always obvious or visible on our streets – but that does not mean it isn’t a problem. There are families living in cars, young people hoping to find a friend’s couch to sleep on and people living in overcrowded dwellings.

"Homelessness has many layers, but the ultimate impact is a sense of diminished safety, security and certainty,” she said.

As part of Sleep Better, Mission Australia has a large number of single and double beds with mattresses to be distributed through their own homelessness services as well as through their non-government partners for people in need.

"There's no substitute for a home of your own, but many of the people we help don't even have their own bed.

"A bed of your own brings with it a sense of safety, security and rest. It is more than a piece of furniture.

“Mission Australia’s Sleep Better initiative aims to help provide a good night’s sleep so South Australian children and adults can have a better opportunity to participate in education and employment,” said Ms Holmes.

The project has been funded by Community Benefits SA.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan at Rann Communication – (08) 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636

Mental health in the spotlight this National Homeless Persons’ Week

Mental illness among homeless people has become such a significant problem that Mission Australia frontline staff spent more hours assisting people with mental health needs than homelessness.

From 1 January to 25 July this year, 255 Mission Australia frontline staff across 75 of our homeless services nationally spent 5,896 hours helping people with mental health issues. In the same period, they spent 4,093 hours helping people with homelessness issues and another 1,379 hours in relation to clients at ‘risk of homelessness’ – a total of 5,472 hours.

This illustrates the strong link between mental illness and homelessness and follows on from Mission Australia’s groundbreaking study of homeless men last year that found close to 70 per cent had a diagnosed mental health or substance use disorder, 81 per cent had “very high levels” of psychological distress and exhibited Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at levels 20 times greater than the general male population.

Mission Australia CEO, Toby Hall, said the new data provides an insight into an important aspect of Australia’s broader mental health problem and of the huge demand homeless services face from people wrestling with mental illness in addition to their need for shelter.

“When you look at these figures, there’s no doubting how big an issue mental health is for both the people accessing our homelessness services and our frontline staff,” Mr Hall said.

“And when looked at in combination with Mission Australia’s earlier research on the extent of mental illness among homeless men, we are looking at a hugely significant problem. Through Mission Australia’s data collection we’re able to see exactly the type of supports our homelessness services offer young people, adults and families on a daily basis.

“It tells us that in a little over the first six months of 2011, frontline staff in our homelessness services put in more hours assisting people with mental health needs than with issues directly related to their homelessness. That’s quite extraordinary. That includes conducting health assessments, providing counselling – both formal and informal – and referring clients to more specialised medical care.

“It also reflects the complexity of the support we provide homeless people. Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation.

“For example, a debilitating mental illness that, untreated, makes it impossible for an individual to hold down a job or a home. For both homeless people – and the staff that support them – it’s an issue that keeps on getting bigger and bigger.

“This National Homeless Persons’ Week, while it’s important to recognise the downpayment the Australian Government made on mental health in its last budget – at $2.2 billion over five years, a significant amount – we need to keep in mind how huge the demand out there is, particularly among our community’s most vulnerable.

“I suggest that the experience of our frontline staff is just the tip of the iceberg. The government’s mental health funding is going to need to stretch a long way,” said Mr Hall.

For more information see our Media Release.

National Homeless Persons’ Week in SA and Queensland
In South Australia, Mission Australia is giving away a large number of single and double beds with mattresses to our own homelessness services and non-government partners for people in need. Find our more about our Sleep Better initiative here.

In Queensland, the battle for affordable housing worsens. Mission Australia staff are now spending almost twice as many hours trying to find appropriate permanent housing for people as they were six months ago. Read more here.

Further reading:

• Sean Tovey’s ‘treatment’ for sleeping out
• Find out what’s happening during National Homeless Persons’ Week

Media Release: Homeless service staff spend more hours assisting people with mental health than homelessness

National Homeless Persons’ Week – 1-7 August

Mental illness among homeless people has become such a significant problem that staff at one of the largest providers of homeless services in Australia spent more hours assisting clients with mental health needs than homelessness in the first six months of 2011.

According to the data, 255 Mission Australia frontline staff, across 75 of its homeless services nationally, spent a total of 5,896 hours assisting clients with mental health issues between 1 January and 25 July 2011.

In the same period, staff spent 4093 hours assisting clients with homelessness issues and another 1,379 hours in relation to clients at ‘risk of homelessness’ – a total of 5,472 hours.

The data illustrates the strong link between mental illness and homelessness and follows on from a groundbreaking study of homeless men by Mission Australia in August 2010 which found close to 70 per cent had a diagnosed mental health or substance use disorder, 81 per cent had “very high levels” of psychological distress (compared to 3 per cent among males in the general population), and exhibited Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at levels 20 times greater than the general male population.

According to Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, the new data provides an insight into an important aspect of Australia’s broader mental health problem and of the huge demand homeless services face from people wrestling with mental illness in addition to their need for shelter.

“When you look at these figures, there’s no doubting how big an issue mental health is for both the people accessing our homelessness services and our frontline staff,” said Mr Hall.

“And when looked at in combination with Mission Australia’s earlier research on the extent of mental illness among homeless men, we are looking at a hugely significant problem.

“Through Mission Australia’s data collection we’re able to see exactly the type of supports our homelessness services offer young people, adults and families on a daily basis.

“It tells us that in a little over the first six months of 2011, frontline staff in our homelessness services put in more hours assisting people with mental health needs than with issues directly related to their homelessness. That’s quite extraordinary.

“That includes conducting health assessments, providing counselling – both formal and informal – and referring clients to more specialised medical care.

“It also reflects the complexity of the support we provide homeless people. Often our work isn’t primarily about finding someone a ‘roof over their head’; it’s about tackling the issues that stop them being able to maintain independent accommodation.

“For example, a debilitating mental illness that, untreated, makes it impossible for an individual to hold down a job or a home.

“For both homeless people – and the staff that support them – it’s an issue that keeps on getting bigger and bigger.

“This National Homeless Persons’ Week, while it’s important to recognise the downpayment the Australian Government made on mental health in its last budget – at $2.2 billion over five years, a significant amount – we need to keep in mind how huge the demand out there is, particularly among our community’s most vulnerable.

“I suggest that the experience of our frontline staff is just the tip of the iceberg. The government’s mental health funding is going to need to stretch a long way,” said Mr Hall.

Media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495

Supporters run up a great fundraising tally

Thanks to everyone who went the distance at Run Melbourne earlier this month to raise funds for Mission Australia services in Victoria.

The 16-person strong Run DMC from Digital Pictures, who raised almost $1,800, made up a large part of the 22 supporters who took to the streets to help raise money for services such as Charcoal Lane in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program. Together they raised a very much appreciated $2,698.

Among the runners was Emily Day (pictured on her way home after the run) who was decked out in a blue cap, red tights and neon-pink shorts and top. Despite a few wardrobe malfunctions, she had a great day – and exceeded both her personal best and fundraising target by pulling in $365.

“Yes, everyone at work was very generous!” she wrote this week. “The day was awesome, I wore a super-hero costume with a cape and despite the cape strangling me at various times during the course, I still managed a PB of 26 minutes 15 seconds for the 5km.

“I ran with my dad the whole way until the end when I pipped him at the post, which was good because he kept winning on our training runs!”

The marathon and fun-run season is still far from over, so you can still sponsor a runner who is trying to raise money for Mission Australia. We have 69 registrations for Sydney’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August but still need plenty of support to reach our target.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia – including those MA Team runners from our Sydney homeless services who are being coached by the Sydney Roosters - visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.

Fashion 75 years ago

If you attended the mannequin parade held at William Cooper and Sons in February 1936, this is one of the glorious frocks you would have seen. It comprised a three-piece cocktail suit, featuring the latest monk cape and hood. The skirt and hood cape (lined with pink) were composed of black panne velvet, and the blouse was of pink net. Also modelled at this mannequin parade were some rather risque Berlei corsets. Cutting edge for 1936.

Media Release: Launch and graduation for young environment trainees in Shepparton

Local youths will graduate from an exciting Mission Australia environmental training program and the launch of the final stage of the project will take place on Friday 29 July 2011.

Mission Australia’s National Green Jobs Corps (NGJC) project – a 26 week environmental training program offered in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia – offers young people a combination of work experience, skill development and accredited training to equip them with the skills necessary for future employment in green and climate change industries.

During the project, the group of graduates from the Shepparton region have undertaken real work experience activities such as tree planting, propagation, weed control and stabilisation of embankments in newly created wetlands.

The launch of Shepparton Wetlands rejuvenation project will be the last of its kind for the region. Participants will be undertaking real work experience activities including reclamation and redevelopment of the old land fill site at the end of Kialla Tip Road.

Anthony Moore, Victorian Regional Manager for Mission Australia said the team is looking forward to making a difference to the local environment and picking up skills for the future.

“This is an opportunity for a team of local youths to get hands-on experience in projects that benefit the environment and the local community.” said Mr Moore.

Date: Friday 29 July 2011
Time: 12:30 pm
Where: On site – Marquee At the end of Kialla Tip Road

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Anthony Moore, Victoria Regional Manager, Mission Australia
• Tracee Vassallo, National Green Jobs Corps Business Manager, Mission Australia 
• National Green Jobs Corps graduates and their families

Media contact:

• Rachael Nightingale on (03) 9600 0006 0449 881 980 or rachael@fenton.com.au
• Justin Watts on (03) 9600 0006 or justin@fenton.com.au

Media coverage - ABC: Homebuyers shut out until 2020

House prices in capital cities are forecast to stay severely unaffordable for at least a decade, according to a study by the University of Canberra and AMP that found that median house prices jumped nearly 150 per cent between 2001 and 2011.

Sydney remains the most expensive place to buy a house while Hobart is the cheapest.

Ben Phillips from the University of Canberra is the lead author of the report by the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) and AMP, which looked at housing affordability from 2001 to 2011.

Mr Phillips says housing in Australia has become severely unaffordable and will remain so for at least the next 10 years.

One of the most surprising figures to come out of the report was how unaffordable houses in places such as Newcastle and Wollongong were.

"It's now the case that these cities are actually just as unaffordable as somewhere like Sydney or Melbourne and the reason for this is because whilst their house prices are a little bit lower, their incomes are significantly lower than a city like Sydney," Mr Phillips said.

"I guess the distinction in this report though is we've sort of split it up into the housing haves and the housing have-nots, and the affordability report looks very much at those trying to get into the market as opposed to those who are already in the market," he said.

Read the full ABC report online

Read highlights from the report here (PDF download - 1.46MB)

Spit Bridge beginnings

What is going on here? Why are the men hanging over the water so precariously? The date is 5th May 1924, and Alderman Samuels of Manly has just driven the first pile for the first Spit Bridge.

Brighter days ahead for Shane and his kids

We wanted to share this story about a Caloundra dad who is turning his life around with the help of Mission Australia’s Employment Solutions.

Our Caloundra Employment Solutions team is helping the single father of three to avoid possible eviction and move into stable employment.

Shane was facing homelessness when he approached Mission Australia Employment Solutions 18 months ago. After being unemployed for some time, he was struggling to support his children and suffered from depression, anxiety and stress.

With the help of local ES Assessor Julie Conlan, Shane is transforming his life:

"When I came to Employment Solutions I was able to do little more than pay rent, school fees and electricity bills,” Shane told The Caloundra Weekly. “I was near breaking point.

"Julie helped me identify what I wanted to achieve in terms of employment, and then helped me acquire my HR (Heavy Rigid) truck license, with all lessons and costs paid by Mission Australia."

Mission Australia has also assisted Shane to gain his excavator ticket, and Julie is confident he is close to securing steady employment.

“There are now opportunities out there for him. He is still moving forward and staying positive, which is so important,” said Julie.

“I love being able to work with clients like Shane, to see them overcome barriers, build confidence and them transform their lives.”

With over 30 years’ experience, Mission Australia Employment Solutions helps job seekers find quality jobs that match their capabilities and long-term goals, through employment assistance and training.

Giving back to great employers
The gift of employment is perhaps the greatest gift that an employer can give. Employment makes a tremendous difference to a person’s life, and helps them to engage with the community in which they live.

To celebrate businesses that give unemployed people a “fair go” Mission Australia Employment Solutions’ is hosting its inaugural 2011 Employer Awards.

These awards strive to recognise employers who are willing to overlook and help overcome the challenges which job seekers face, and help make a real difference in their lives.

Employers can be nominated by completing a nomination form and returning it to your local Mission Australia Employment Solutions site. To learn more and apply, click here

ABS Media Release: Consumer Price Index - June quarter up 0.9%

The ABS Consumer Price Index rose 0.9% in the June quarter 2011, compared with a rise of 1.6% in the March quarter 2011.

The most significant price rises this quarter were for fruit (+26.9%), automotive fuel (+4.0%), hospital and medical services (+3.4%), furniture (+6.0%) and deposit and loan facilities (+2.1%). The most significant offsetting price falls were for vegetables (–10.3%), audio, visual and computing equipment (–6.3%), electricity (–1.5%), domestic holiday travel and accommodation (–1.5%) and milk (–4.6%).

Fruit prices increased by 26.9% in the June quarter 2011 mainly due to an increase of approximately 138% in the price of bananas due to shortages created by Cyclone Yasi. Banana prices increased 470% over the six months to the June quarter 2011.

The ABS Consumer Price Index rose 3.6% through the year to the June quarter 2011, compared with a rise of 3.3% through the year to March quarter 2011.

Further information is available in Consumer Price Index, Australia (cat. no. 6401.0) or visit www.abs.gov.au...

The 16th series CPI will be introduced from the September quarter 2011. This will include a new commodity classification and expenditure weights from the 2009–10 Household Expenditure survey. For more details about the upcoming changes to the CPI, please refer to Changes to the CPI from September Quarter 2011.

Government Media Release: Minister Calls on Local Government to strengthen Indigenous Employment

Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Mark Arbib today opened the National Roundtable on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment in Local Government and urged representatives to employ more Indigenous people.

Representatives of local government organisations from around Australia gathered for the two-day roundtable at Redfern Town Hall to discuss how they could contribute to closing the gap on Indigenous employment.

“The Gillard Government is committed to working in partnership with local governments which are well placed to employ Indigenous Australians, especially in remote and regional areas,” Senator Arbib said.

“This roundtable, convened by the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, is a great way to share ideas and plan partnerships to increase recruitment and retention of Indigenous workers.

“The Centre of Excellence has identified that local councils are facing a crisis in long-term workforce planning due to an ageing workforce and the drain of skills from the regions which has been compounded by demand from the mining boom.

“The solution is right in front of us – investment in local Indigenous communities and individuals who can provide those skills in the long term.”

Senator Arbib announced in April new funding of $4.8 million over three years to support mentoring programs for Indigenous Shire Council employees working in the Northern Territory and urged councils to become involved with school-based traineeships in their communities.

“The Government has also committed $50.7 million to provide 6400 school-based traineeships for year 11 and 12 students. The program provides assistance to young Indigenous Australians as they move from school to work,” Senator Arbib said.

“Local Councils can take advantage of the program and work with school-based trainees in their area. In addition, Councils can use Government programs and services, such as Job Services Australia, to provide job-readiness training, literacy and numeracy skills and ongoing mentoring for their Indigenous employees.

“There are also a raft of programs available to assist local governments in employing and retaining Iocal Indigenous job seekers, as part of the Government’s goal of creating more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.

“The Government is committed to working with all levels of Government, the corporate and community sectors and Indigenous communities and people to reach the target and close the gap on Indigenous employment.”

Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au
Non-media queries: 1300 363 079

A creative space for young people

Mission Australia’s Clifton Adolescent and Family Support (CAFS) service in Sydney’s north-west is running a free creative group for young people living in the Hornsby, Ku-ring-gai and Ryde areas.

Beginning on 16 August and running every Tuesday for the following six weeks, Something Outta Space is designed to help 12 to 16-year-olds use creative tools to explore pressures like study, body image, family conflict, depression and stress - issues that our 2010 National Survey of Young Australians identified to be of concern to youth.

“The idea with Something Outta Space is that art frees you up from the inside out!” said CAFS Service Manager Nicola Hensler.

“No artistic talent is necessary, but we want local young people – or those with a connection to the area - to bring a willingness to have fun, explore and be themselves.”

The first session starts on 16 August at Level 1, 1 Coronation Street, Hornsby, and runs from 4pm to 6pm. To book please call (02) 9482 1366 and ask for our Youth Support Worker, Laura Glasby.

CAFS is an early intervention service that works holistically with young people in the city’s north-west aged who are aged from 12 to 24, as well as with their families or carers and existing services, to bring about positive change in their young lives.

Further reading:

• 'New program tackles top concern from our Youth Survey'
• Click the image below to view the Something Outta Space brochure

Language program opening doors for new arrivals

Last night comedian Anh Do won the Australian Book Industry Awards for his memoir The Happiest Refugee, which dealt with his early challenges learning to speak and write English.

Do’s story had a happy ending, but thousands of people remain locked out of employment and community life because of poor literacy skills.

To help, Mission Australia runs a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP) in more than 30 metro and rural locations. The program aims to help build students’ verbal and written English skills and in turn open doors to employment, study and community participation.

It also targets Australian-born clients who have had disrupted or minimal access to formal education and assists these clients with their reading, writing and numeracy.

Tom McKay, Mission Australia Operations Manager said that LLNP not only provides students with the opportunity to go on to further study and employment, but it also helps them to form friendships and connect with the wider community.

“If you are unable to communicate effectively there can be a feeling of isolation within the immediate community and stronger language skills empower people to be able to get out and be part of the community,” said Mr McKay.

For Muhammad and Maggie, two of Mission Australia’s LLNP students in Sydney’s inner west, the course has made a huge difference.

Muhammad (pictured with LLNP teacher Tina Zhang) enrolled in the program within a week of arriving in Australia. He is fluent in four other languages and moved to Australia from Cairo, Egypt.

Since completing more than half of the course, Muhammad’s written and oral English skills have increased dramatically. As a qualified engineer in Cairo, he hopes to gain employment in the same area once he finishes the LLNP program.

Muhammad added that he also enjoys the social aspect of the class and being able to talk to others in his situation. Having arrived in Australia alone, Muhammad is looking forward to meeting more people in his local area – and knows that strong English skills will unlock more social possibilities for him.

“I love coming to class so I can talk to others and practise my English. Our teacher is fantastic and always provides any extra help if needed”, he said.
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For Maggie, a mother of two from Hong Kong, the course has helped her build confidence to complete everyday practical tasks.

“Before I started the course, I found it very difficult to do simple things,” she said. “Now I can do things like take my son to the doctor or write a note to my son’s school.”

LLNP provides up to 800 hours of language, literacy and numeracy training. Courses are provided in 200 hour modules, with minimum attendance of 10 hours per week.

The initiative is a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) program that is available to eligible jobseekers who want to increase skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing and maths.

The program is available through Mission Australia in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with a new LLNP service recently beginning in Geraldton.

To find out more, visit the LLNP page or call 1300 676 937.

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Party

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The gift

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Location:Woolgoolga St,North Balgowlah,Australia

Media coverage – AFR: Reform efforts have charities all atwitter

At 7am on a chilly Monday in May, Tim Morris-Smith sat in his car in Mission Australia's underground car park and sent a tweet to his network of 1,300 Twitter followers. The night before had been bitterly cold and the charity had run short of blankets for the 350-plus homeless who sleep rough on Sydney's streets on any given night of the year.

Morris-Smith, a social media boffin, was urging people to help. Twelve people replayed the message throughout their own Twitter networks, and by the end of the day, close to 1000 blankets had been amassed. “It’s not something that typically falls within the gamut of the chief financial officer of a $300 million organisation,” admits Morris-Smith, who spent 20 years working in big listed companies such as American Express and TNT before joining Mission Australia three years ago.

Any perception that the not-for-profit sector is softer or less than the commercial sector is rubbish, Morris-Smith says. “The relentless focus on process improvement, cost reduction, structural change all exist here. We benchmark relatively well against the commercial sector given we’re delivering against something like 350 separate government funding contracts, using processes that don’t exist in the commercial world,” he says.

As competition for funding increases, not-for-profits have worked hard to improve the rigor of their reporting, aided by forums like PwC's transparency awards for good disclosure. Being one of the largest, Mission Australia is doing a lot of the groundwork for new funding instruments like “social impact bonds”, which essentially apply a public private partnership model to social projects rather than toll roads.

“Australia is less advanced in its thinking around PPPs in the social welfare space than other countries,” Morris-Smith says. “I think the financial community has an important role to play in advancing that conversation by collecting rigorous data and constructing benchmarks.” Mission Australia has also moved into new business lines, working with liquidators and banks to purchase a portfolio of the failed ABC Learning childcare centres last year.

“Social capital notes, mezzaninc notes, working capital finance, all the stuff you’d find a management buyout – that wasn’t in the job description when I signed up three years ago,” Morris-Smith says, illustrating how charities were having to cope with more complexity as the sector grew.

Charity is a big business in Australia. Industry revenue, generated by some 44,000 entities employing over 1 million workers, in expected to increase by 6.4 per cent to reach $101.5 billion in 2010-11, according to IBISWorld data.

Mission Australia’s income rose 20 per cent to $312 million for the year to June 30, 2011. About 90 per cent of it came from government.

The sector’s growth has attracted the regulator’s attention, promoting two key reforms in the May federal budget. The first, a new national commission to oversee the activities of the sector, can’t come fast enough for Morris-Smith. The compliance burden created by disparate state governing bodies is immense.

“It’s an opportunity to rationalise the legislation that the sector has to comply with,” he says.

The other reform, a tightening of tax rules so commercial entities can’t claim charitable status to dodge tax, is causing more angst. Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia tax counsel Yasser El-Ansary says this is primarily because the change took effect from July 1 and the government still hasn’t released details on the definition of a charity. “We don’t know what’s in and what’s out,” El-Ansary says.

The fact that Treasury forward estimates include no incremental tax revenue from the reform is being interpreted by some as a sign that the government is not trying to close off profitable social enterprises that reinvest earnings into community programs.

“They’re on the record as saying that they’re not trying to close off those investments by taxing the sector more,” Morris-Smith says.

But questions remain about which activities quality for charitable status. Professional body CPA Australia was in the federal court earlier this month arguing against the ATO’s efforts to revoke its not-for-profit status. “Clarity will be good for the sector,” PwC partner Regina Fikkers says.

Story originally published in the Australian Financial Review on Monday 25 July 2011.

Catalyst students celebrate learning

Celebration is one of our values at Mission Australia (along with compassion, integrity, respect and perseverance), so we always welcome the opportunity to mark significant achievements with get-togethers.

Last month, seven of our Catalyst Clemente Melbourne students celebrated the completion of their Australian Indigenous History unit, provided by Mission Australia in partnership with the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

The students were joined by Jude Butcher, Director of the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement, ACU; Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall, and many proud family members, friends, lecturers, Learning Partners and Mission Australia staff at ACU’s Melbourne campus.

On congratulating the class, course lecturer Dr Noah Riseman said the quality of work produced by the Catalyst Clemente students often exceeded his expectations.

Towards the end of the night, guests were treated to a musical recital by Mood Swingers, a vocal group from St Mary’s House of Welcome. Among the singers were 2011 Catalyst graduate Darren and past student Suzanne.

Current student Michael also delivered a beautiful poem about his experience with Catalyst Clemente. Born in the Philippines, he moved to Geelong at age 16. Coming from a very tight-knit, densely populated community to a regional area of Australia was a huge culture shock. Getting through Year 12 was especially difficult for Michael, as he was constantly bullied.

He was later diagnosed with mental health issues and fell into psychosis in 2003. His mental health then rapidly declined.

Michael moved to Melbourne in 2005 and, after an intense fall-out with his family, found himself living on the streets. He found semi-permanent accommodation in Richmond for the next two years, before moving into The Fintry Community. That’s where he heard about Catalyst Clemente from a former student.

At the recent Catalyst celebration, Michael beautifully expressed his thoughts on the value of education and the life-changing program:

"Education. It provides a unique form of freedom once learned can never be taken away. Writing, reading and research. The truth. The workload, its all part of the process. A process of which that requires dedication and commitment. At the end, a rewarding career. The age of digital technology. Revolutionising the way information is gathered and stored. The late nights and the insomnia. I wonder if I’m going to pass or get a good grade. Time management is the key. Do the reading and participate. Asked questions and make relevant comments. Take notes in the lecture, it will help you study. The level of academic ability. If you are passionate on what you are doing, you will be successful. Chose wisely on your degree, deferring is always the difficult thing. On campus and online. Some people prefer one over the other. To me personally it’s a bit of both actually. I never thought I’d end up at the Australian Catholic University, even though I did my primary school studies at St. Francis of Assisi in the Philippines.

"Chivalry is not dead. You will learn that in university with the proper learning partner. A God send who will help you on your way. How do I reference, ask them and they are more than happy to show ya. Mission Australia. Where would I be without the guiding light? Perhaps still asking questions where there is no answer. A free education and delicious food from Nicole and Layla.

"The program that help people study. What a great idea. Higher education at the ACU. I feel that I can build an empire of true Christian values. All you need is faith and your Mac Book computer. Finally to the teachers and coordinators thank you for the time and effort, I did my best to repay in academia. Who said that learning is not fun, maybe it’s just the voice of negativity, which thanks to university has become a lot quieter. All the best and enjoy the celebration."

Melbourne’s Catalyst Clemente students are now enjoying a well-deserved break until mid August, when they will begin the Introduction to Media Studies. A first-time inclusion in Catalyst Clemente, it is anticipated the subject will add a new dimension to the program, giving the students the opportunity to participate in a more ‘hands on’ and interactive approach to world of the humanities.

Further reading:

• Learning Life Lessons Through Catalyst Clemente
• A Catalyst for changing women’s lives
• Survey reveals stark difference in outlook between homeless and non-homeless youth

Media Release: Launch and graduation for young environment trainees in Gippsland

Local youths will graduate from an exciting Mission Australia environmental training program and the launch of the final stage of the project will take place on Friday, 22 July 2011.

Mission Australia’s National Green Jobs Corps (NGJC) project – a 26-week environmental training program offered in partnership with Conservation Volunteers Australia – offers young people a combination of work experience, skill development and accredited training to equip them with the skills necessary for future employment in green and climate change industries.

During the project, the group of graduates from the Gippsland region have undertaken real work experience activities at Nyerimilang Heritage Park assisting to maintain the heritage buildings, re-planting to create corridors for habitat and improving biodiversity on a broad scale.

The launch of Stage 4 of the Greening East Gippsland program will be the last of its kind run in the region. Students will establish native gardens, collect and propagate seeds, identify and control environmental weeds, reduce fire hazards to protect the habitat and more.

Anthony Moore, Victorian Regional Manager for Mission Australia said the team is looking forward to making a difference to the local environment and picking up skills for the future.

“This is an opportunity for a team of local youths to get hands-on experience in projects that benefit the environment and the local community.” said Mr Moore.

Date: Friday, 22nd July 2011
Time: 10am to 11am
Where: Conference Room 68 Macleod Street Bairnsdale

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Karen Jones, Mission Australia Business Manager from East Gippsland
• National Green Jobs Corps graduates and their families

Media contact:

• Rachael Nightingale on (03) 9600 0006 0449 881 980 or rachael@fenton.com.au
• Justin Watts on (03) 9600 0006 or justin@fenton.com.au

Charles Chambers Court residents put on their blue suede shoes

Residents of Mission Australia’s Charles Chambers Court in Sydney’s inner city celebrated the life and music of Elvis Presley this week, attending a themed lunch in honour of the King of Rock 'n' Roll.

Jill Bicknell, Mission Australia’s Aged Care Operations Manager said all the residents attended the lunch and had a fantastic time.

“Staff, residents and our volunteers really enjoyed the day, but none more so than one of our residents who performed his Elvis impression for over an hour.

“The same resident normally frequents the local hotel by 10am each morning, however on Tuesday he stayed for the event and entertained everyone. He had the time of his life,” said Jill.

A big thank you to the seven volunteers from PwC who kindly provided lunch on the day and also gave away seven lucky door prizes.

Charles Chambers Court, Mission Australia’s award-winning service for Sydney’s aged homeless, provides high-quality accommodation and personal care, enabling an independent lifestyle.

Mission Australia is currently building a new facility in nearby Redfern, which aims to address the increasing need for permanent accommodation for the city’s aged homeless.

New central office opens in Newcastle

Mission Australia has officially opened a new office in central Newcastle, which will be a base for a range of community services.

The new premises at 956 Hunter St, Newcastle West, enables Mission Australia’s Northern NSW Division to provide support services from one place rather than three separate offices across the city, which was previously the case.

Mission Australia will continue to provide important services to the community from this central location, including:

• Newcastle Adult Accommodation Support Services
• Personal Helpers and Mentors program
• Community development and Family Support
• Breakaway Post Release Support Program
• Hunter Gambling Counselling Program
• Gambling Smart Program

Mission Australia Operations Manager for Northern NSW, Lisa Short, said the new, central office will have many advantages for the local community.

“I am very excited about this move, as it provides a range of services for the community in one place,” Ms Short (pictured left) said at yesterday’s launch. She was joined at the launch by Newcastle Lord Mayor John Tate as well as Mission Australia Executive Leader - Community Services Lincoln Hopper and our Chief Operating Officer Catherine Yeomans (both also pictured).

“It has been part of our longer-term vision for Newcastle for quite some time, so seeing it actually come together is extremely satisfying.”

“Having such a large team situated together assists us in keeping abreast of the local issues at a grassroots level,” she added.

“I am hoping that the prominent position in the heart of the city will increase our local profile and be more accessible to our clients and the community.”

Media coverage - The Southern Courier: Locals living rough

Homelessness is a serious issue in the Sydney suburb of Randwick, according to Labor councillor Tony Bowen, who will seek support for a public awareness campaign at a council meeting on 26 July.

Mr Bowen said he was alerted to the issue last year when a report tabled with the council’s social inclusion plan revealed Randwick City had the second-highest number of homeless people in the Sydney metropolitan region.

“Growing up in the area over the years I have seen an increase in homeless people and not just in the town centres but city-wide,” Cr Bowen said.

“I think a sign of our civilised society is how you treat your most vulnerable people, so anything we can do to help we should do it.”

Cr Bowen said the issue had been made worse by the closure of a number of boarding houses and rising property prices.

He said he would call on his fellow councillors’ support at the meeting next Tuesday to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people in Randwick and to inform people about ways they can help.

Mission Australia’s homeless outreach service, Missionbeat, patrols inner Sydney streets. Call them on 1800 306 461.

Readers were also invited to comment about the need to curb homelessness in Randwick on the Southern Courier website.

To comment visit this story at The Southern Courier

Media coverage: Alarming drop-out rates in Dandenong

Mission Australia’s State Director for Victoria, Paul Bird, has told The Dandenong Leader that only one in three young people were either full-time students or employed in Greater Dandenong.

“We would experience a high number of people leaving schools, but have no figures because schools aren’t recording it,” Mr Bird said. “But I think it’s happening across Melbourne.”

He said more early intervention services for families, including access to financial, anger and stress management were needed before people hit crisis point.

“I think it’s easy to see schools in not helping, but in reality, if the person is not attending class or disrupting, there are limited options. I think they (schools) do a tough job with limited resources,” Mr Bird said.

In the same article a Youth Resource Officer with Springvale Police, Leading Sen-Constable Leanne Cooper, said children were dropping out of school as early as Year 7 without any follow-up.

She said many parents were happy to have their children at home, citing at least one 16-year-old girl who had not attended school since she was in Year 7.

Read the full article at The Dandenong Leader.

North Steyne life-savers

This postcard, taken at the Exchange Studios, Sydney shows the members of the North Steyne Surf Life Saving Club Rescue and Resuscitation team. This group of life-savers won the NSW R&R championships in 1909-1910 and 1910-11, in those days virtually the Australian championships. Over those two seasons this group won many trophies - the one they are posing with here is the "West's Pictures Shield". It is not known at which surf carnival this prize was on offer, but West's Castle Pictures cinema was located at North Steyne, Manly, not far from the Steyne Hotel. It was in business under this name between 1910-1912, suggesting that the photograph was taken in the 1910 or 1911 season.

Each of the men in this photo was in the group from the North Steyne club who were awarded the first ever twenty Bronze Medallions of the Surf Life Saving Association on 3rd April 1910. Several of them fought in World War One, and J Vernon was killed in 1917. Ozzie Merrett, in the centre of the photo, went on to become the team manager of the successful Australian Olympic Games team in 1924.

John MacRitchie

A young life back on track

As Services Manager for our Making Tracks and On Track programs in Perth, Vivienne Keeley helps at-risk youths in and around the city to get their lives back on course through positive intervention.

Transforming these young lives can be a long process – in some cases it takes years of dedicated and persistent work before positive and lasting change occurs. But when it does, there’s plenty of reason to celebrate, as was the case with Tom*.

Tom was 15 when he first came into contact with On Track, which provides an alternative to police custody for vulnerable young people on Perth’s streets. When the police picked him up he was in a bad way, self-harming and using drugs.

After a very complicated and distressing start to life, by his teens Tom’s family situation had not improved. His mum had married a man who was controlling and imposing, which made an alternative life as a ‘goth’ seem all the more appealing to the young man.

Tom had stopped attending school and started self-harming. To complicate matters, he was also struggling with his sexuality. When things became unbearable at home, Tom moved in with his grandmother – but with the move came more problems.

“His grandmother was well-intentioned but when she tried to set very strict boundaries, which at the time only made matters worse,” said Vivienne. “She also thought homosexuality was unnatural, and vehemently disapproved of how he dressed and behaved. Not knowing how to deal with the constant criticism from someone he had turned to for love and protection, Tom’s confusion and anger turned to violence.”

Over the past two years Vivienne and the Making Tracks team have worked with Tom to help him address his identity, develop his esteem and channel his energy into positive activities:

“We helped him to get into kick-boxing and self-defence and provided him with the counselling he required. We recognised that he was very intelligent and articulate, so started to work with him on building on these strengths. No one had ever taken a strengths-based approach with him – that is concentrating on his assets. It took us 13 months of hard work to get him to believe in himself and develop the resilience to withstand challenges.”

Tom is now living back with his grandmother, who has grown to understand his lifestyle and the considerable obstacles he has faced in his short life. He continues to work through his issues with a psychiatrist and is taking medication.

Now 17 and ready to exit the Making Tracks program, Tom has a job and is studying youth work.
“Tom has agreed to stay in contact with Making Tracks in the future and to visit every once in a while,” said Vivienne. “His life has truly transformed.

“It’s good news stories like these that make me love my job,” she added. “I’ve been very lucky in my four-year journey at Mission Australia to work in programs that make a real difference.”

*Name and image changed to protect client identity

Media Release: Children do their bit for National Tree Day

Mission Australia’s Elizabeth Vale Early Learning Service (ELS), in South Australia, is supporting this year’s National Tree Day by holding a tree-planting event on Friday, July 29.

Around 15 children, aged 3 to 5 and dressed in bright green clothing, will be doing their bit for the environment by planting trees at the centre.

Native plants and shrubs, provided by Bunnings at Parafield Gardens, will line the centre’s new natural outdoor environment.

A recent study, commissioned by Planet Ark ahead of National Tree Day on July 31, found only 35 per cent of children play outside daily. A generation earlier, 64 per cent of children enjoyed climbing trees, playing hopscotch, skipping and exploring nature on a regular basis.

“The lack of outdoor activity reduces opportunities for social and physical development,” said ELS Regional Manager, Laura Francis.

“Outdoor play encourages problem-solving and use of imagination.

“This event is a fun and practical way for children to learn about trees and the role they play in the environment.

“It takes as little as four minutes in a natural environment to reduce stress, improve mood and steady the vital signs.

“Mission Australia plans to ‘naturalise’ the environment of the Elizabeth Vale ELS through the addition of gardens, replacing plastic equipment with timber and using paint hues inspired by nature.

“We want to address the increasing disconnect between children and nature,” she said.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan – (08) 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636

Ron Paul 2012 Ad - Conviction

Ron Paul 2012 Ad - "Conviction" Ron Paul is the man!!!
Presidential Candidate Ron Paul's first television ad of the 2012 campaign highlights his role as the national leader of the strong opposition movement against raising the country's debt ceiling.

Ron Paul is the only national leader with the experience, record, and credibility to stand up to the debt limit scheme, cut the spending now, and save our dollar.

New program tackles top concern from our Youth Survey

The Minister for Schools, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett, today cited findings from Mission Australia’s National Survey of Young Australians to launch a positive body image program for schools.

Mr Garrett referred to results from our 2010 survey of 50,000 young Australians, which revealed body image was one of their main concerns, to announce the Respect Every Body campaign.

“We know that body image is a major concern among today’s young people, with the National Survey of Young Australians conducted each year by Mission Australia consistently finding it to be among the top issues raised by youth,” he said.

Every school in Australia will be provided with new ‘Respect Every Body’ information packs to help promote positive body image and create supportive school environments. The posters and learning resources are being distributed to schools and available online, with students, teachers and parents able to use the information to learn how to tackle the subject of poor body image and related issues.

Each school will receive posters containing vital information on creating a body image-friendly school and a website with ‘conversation starter’ activities to support discussions among students and in the wider school community.
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“We’re also providing some practical ideas on how to develop a body image-friendly school,” Mr Garrett said. “The resources are not an additional part of the curriculum, but can be incorporated into existing subjects such as health or physical education.”

The information packs are on top of the work already being carried under the Australian Government’s National Body Image Strategy, including the $400,000 Free to BE body esteem resources, developed by the Butterfly Foundation.

Mission Australia's annual Youth Survey - the largest of its kind in Australia - has been undertaken each year since 2002. Each year the survey asks young Australians aged 11 to 24 what they value, where they turn for advice and support, what issues concern them, how they are involved with their community and their feelings about their future.

The resulting reports generated from the survey are now keenly anticipated by government, community organisations, schools and the media.

The survey closed in most states on 1 July, although young people in the Northern Territory can still have their say until 29 July. The key findings from the survey will be published in November.

To find our more about our National Survey of Young Australians and read past results:  www.missionaustralia.com.au/daily-news/3302-time-is-running-out-to-have-your-say

New awards recognise excellent employers

Mission Australia Employment Solutions’ Employer Awards are a celebration of the support given by Australian employers in giving people a ‘fair go’.

Employment makes a tremendous difference to a person’s life, and helps them to engage with the community in which they live.

Some people face challenges, both large and small, on their journey towards gaining sustainable work. The Employer Awards strive to recognise employers who are willing to overlook and help overcome the challenges that job seekers face, and help make a real difference in their lives.

By recognising the support that local employers give in hiring unemployed job seekers, Mission Australia Employment Solutions hopes to reduce negative perceptions of unemployed people that may exist within local communities.

Award recipients will benefit from the status of being recognised as an employer that transforms the lives of local unemployed people and gives back to the local community.

Employers can be nominated by completing a printed nomination form (available at your local Mission Australia Employment Solutions site) or by completing our online form.

Nominations opened 1 July 2011, with entries closing on 30 September 2011.

Who can enter?

The Employer Awards are open to all local employers of participating Mission Australia Employment Solutions sites who have used our services within the past 12 months.

Employers will be judged based on their contribution to helping unemployed people find work.

Local presentations of 2011 awards will take place in October 2011. Local winners will qualify for entry into the national awards and will be invited to a national awards dinner that will be held in November 2011.

More information

If you’d like to find out more about the Mission Australia Employment Solutions Employer Awards, please visit the 2011 Mission Australia Employment Solutions Employer Awards page.

Catholics for Ron Paul 2012

Check out the Catholics for Ron Paul 2012 here.

Good luck to our Run Melbourne supporters

Mission Australia wishes all of our supporters taking part in Run Melbourne this weekend the best of luck.

Runners for Team Mission Australia in Melbourne and Digital Pictures’ Run DMC team will tread the city’s streets on Sunday to raise money for Mission Australia services in Victoria, including our Charcoal Lane social enterprise restaurant in Fitzroy and the Urban Renewal program.

They are part of a community of active supporters taking part in winter and spring fun runs and marathons in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide to help fund our life-changing services.

Among the runners are several clients from our Sydney homeless services who are taking part in this year’s City2Surf on Sunday 14 August.

This morning, for the fifth week in a row, Sydney Roosters players led Mission Australia City2 Surf team members through a training session at the club’s HQ in Moore Park. Big thanks to Roosters Jake Friend (pictured with the MA Team’s Wayne), Lama Tasi, Ethan Lowe and Cheyse Blair for taking the time out to offer advice, fitness tips and motivation to our City2Surf Team. Also a huge thank you to the generous people from Fit for Good for kitting out the MA Team members with new shorts and drink bottles.

If you’d like to support the MA Team as they take on the City2Surf challenge next month, go to their City2Surf fundraising page.

If you’d like to get behind any of the teams running in support of Mission Australia, visit this page. You’ll also find links to other fundraising events, such as our 2011 Winter Sleepout.+

Fairlight House

This postcard view shows Fairlight House circa 1912-13, and indicates what a superb view its various owners would have had looking from its central tower out to the Heads. Unusually it shows the house from the rear, giving an idea of its various outbuildings. The house originally stood on some 37 acres of land when it was built in 1859-60, but this had begun to be encroached upon by the time the photo was taken. The owners from 1910 onwards were the MacIntyre family of graziers, who had large property interests in Queensland. Fairlight House was demolished in 1939 and the land subdivided.

Ipswich children and families learn to ‘speak animal’

Dogs and guinea pigs turned into teachers for a day at a recent RSPCA Queensland and Mission Australia empathy program for Ipswich families and children.

The Learn to Speak Animal program was well received by families and children participating in Mission Australia’s Referral for Active Intervention (RAI) - a six-month intensive intervention program designed to help families improve their safety and wellbeing.

The day was made up by a number of sessions, some fun and others about the serious issue of responsible pet ownership. The adults learned basic dog training techniques based on principles of positive reinforcement while the children created a guinea pig habitat and picked up tips on how to care for the pint-sized pets.

Participants were asked to consider how their own emotions could impact on others and they explored the issue of self-control.

Di Townsend, Mission Australia Service Manager RAI Ipswich, said everyone thoroughly enjoyed the challenges:

“During the day, the kids made habitats for guinea pigs and learned to care for them. The adults learnt basic dog training techniques – including how to interpret dogs’ body language and recognize emotions,” she said.

“The RSPCA animals had plenty of fun themselves – with lots of hugs and treats from the kids.”

Di added that while everyone had fun, all participants learned valuable lessons:

“We’re hoping the empathy learnt through this program can help strengthen families and improve children’s ability to interact with others.”

Why is empathy important?

Empathy is defined as the ability to recognise and respond appropriately to another’s emotional state. A number of studies have suggested that interactions with animals can be a bridge to improved interactions with humans. Training an animal to behave acceptably can promote a child’s self-control and patience and reduce violent behaviour.

Combining promotion of humane values with hands-on animal interaction and training, RSPCA Qld’s Empathy Program aims to have a positive impact on human behaviour exhibited towards people and animals.

For more information about RSPCA Qld’s education programs please email education@rspcaqld.org.au or call (07) 3710 9806.

Media Release: Mission Australia partners with Mount Barker to respond to growing community service needs

A new initiative by Mission Australia, one of Australia’s leading not-for-profit organisations, will see collaborative efforts to identify and address the growing community service needs in the Mount Barker district.

Mission Australia has appointed Shannon Mesnil as a full-time project officer with a focus on building relationships with community members, groups , businesses and local services to understand the area’s specific needs.

With degrees in education, social sciences and mental health, Mrs Mesnil has worked in the community services sector, both government and NGO, for the past 10 years, and most recently as Mission Australia’s Youth Drug and Alcohol Project Officer at Hindmarsh.

The Outer South Regional Development Project has been developed to support areas in Outer Southern Adelaide (including Mount Barker, Strathalbyn and Victor Harbor) that are predicted to have significant population growth over the coming years.

“The Mount Barker district already delivers a number of successful community services in the region, but the population growth is likely to create challenges as the need for support also grows,” said Mrs Mesnil.

“This project focuses on partnership with existing services in the region so we can learn how Mission Australia may be able to further support them to address community needs.

“Mission Australia has a long history of helping people discover pathways to strong families and happy, healthy children. We also assist with pathways away from homelessness and to successful life skills and employment.

“I am excited about the opportunity to work in partnership with the Mount Barker district to develop innovative community service solutions and create a long-term presence in the region,” she said.

The District Council of Mount Barker said it looks forward to co-operating with Mission Australia in its endeavours to establish a sustainable presence in the community.

“Our district is socially diverse and faces many issues associated with the impending population growth. Mission Australia's Outer South initiative will enable the delivery of important and beneficial community programs,” said Greg Parker, General Manager Council Services of the District Council of Mount Barker.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan - 02 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636

Media coverage - Hobart Mercury: Fund for grandparent carers

The State Government is lending a hand to grandparents, aunties, uncles and others who take on the role of primary carers for nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Children's Minister Michelle O'Byme said there was a long tradition in Tasmania of relatives permanently caring for children, typically after extremely tragic or stressful events such as the death or illness of a parent.

The $259,000 yearly program delivered by Gateway Services providers Baptcare and Mission Australia supports grandparents and others when they first assume responsibility for children.

Support includes advice to carers on services, group activities, as well as financial help to buy items including clothing and furniture.

"This practical support will remove some financial worry and make it easier for new carers to focus on a child's emotional needs at a time of significant adjustment," Ms O'Byme said.

This article was originally published in The Hobart Mercury on the 13 July 2011

Christmas lunch brings cheer to Brisbane’s homeless

One of Brisbane’s leading homeless services, Roma House, warmed up winter this week by hosting a special Christmas in July community lunch.

Around 80 guests, including residents, staff, other local community service workers, the State Member for Brisbane Central, Grace Grace MP, and Brisbane City Councillor for Central, David Hinchliffe, gathered together on Tuesday to enjoy festive food and great company.

A traditional Christmas lunch - complete with turkey, ham, roast vegetables with gravy and topped off by pudding and custard and trifle - was served by Mission Australia staff and volunteers from Brisbane’s corporate and donor community.

Even Santa made an off-season appearance, handing out beautiful handmade scarves, beanies, quilts and blankets, kindly donated by Knitting for Brisbane’s Needy, to residents. Some even took the opportunity to have a photo snapped with the big man.

Guests were entertained by musical performances by staff and residents. They also heard a residents’ presentation about Roma House’s therapeutic kitchen program, The House of Plenty, which an intentional therapeutic that connects and empowers residents through cooking and sharing meals.

Christmas in July lunch guests also enjoyed a video about the innovative Adventure Based Therapy program that also operates out of the Spring Hill site – you can learn more about it and link to the video from this page.

“This is the third consecutive year we’ve held a Christmas in July lunch,” said Operations Manager Avryl Gration. “It provides the residents with something to look forward to, and nice memories to call on during the cold winter months – and it provides our residents with a real feeling of home and belonging.”

Channel 10 News in Brisbane also made it along to Christmas in July at Roma House. You can watch their coverage of this inspirational event here.

ABC TV explores Triple Care Farm

We’ve received a fantastic response to last night’s Triple Care Farm story that featured on ABC TV’s ‘7.30’ program.

The segment, ‘A Farm With A Difference’, aired just hours after the official launch of the 'Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place for Change' at NSW Parliament House. The report explores the success of our Southern Highlands program for young people experiencing problems with substance abuse and mental illness.

ABC TV reporter Natasha Johnson spoke with 19-year-old Mat, who started using drugs and binge-drinking at age 13. Last year the young man sank so low that he tried to kill himself:

“I was feeling really depressed. I felt like my life, my whole life had no meaning,” he told ‘7.30’. “I did not have nothing to show for it. I felt like I shouldn't be here.”

Mat is one of 100 young people per year who participate in an intensive three-month residential rehabilitation program at Triple Care Farm. With the support of a coordinated team of specialists, he is learning to take care of himself and get his life back on track.

The story clearly struck a chord with our supporters. Here are a few of the positive responses we received about the Triple Care Farm report launch and resulting coverage:

“Great to see such positive exposure for Triple Care Farm and also to see debate around treatment of drug and alcohol/mental health.”

“It was good to see the program about the Farm tonight. It would be wonderful if more such institutions could be developed.”

“I want you to know how privileged I feel to be supporting, albeit in a minor way, your work in advocating for young persons with combined psychiatric and substance abuse issues.”

“I was able to see the program and what good your people are doing down at the farm.”

“What a wonderful story... Mission Australia has grabbed my heart strings. Please keep me updated.”

“I found the program very interesting, but I’m sure it didn’t show how much hard work goes into the program. The sad reality of life in Australia is that the resources available for treatment of these involved and difficult problems are just totally insufficient to meet the needs.”

For a behind-the-scenes look at this country haven for young people and to hear mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry’s views on existing services, visit www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2011/s3267996.htm A transcript of the story is also available.

To learn more about this innovative program, download the ‘Triple Care Farm: A Safe Place For Change’ report.