The Michael Project transforming the lives of homeless men

A Mission Australia initiative aimed at helping homeless men has shown early signs of success, with participants reporting improvements in their job prospects and housing circumstances after the first three months.

Men taking part in the program, The Michael Project, also reported having greater access to health services when they needed it and a decreased sense of social isolation.

The Michael Project is funded by a private donor. It aims to improve the lives of homeless men by simultaneously addressing their health, accommodation and other needs, such as literacy and computer skills.

Last year, Mission Australia released the first round of results from The Michael Project research study. This information was gathered from an initial survey of 253 homeless men and provided the most comprehensive profile of homeless adult men available in Australia.

This week, Mission Australia is releasing the second wave of results, showing how these men were faring three months into the project. Of the 253 men first surveyed, 147 were located and agreed to take part in the second survey. The results in this publication compare only the data for participants who responded to both the first and second surveys.

Of the men who were living in short to medium-term accommodation, about one in five had entered long-term housing and the proportion of those employed rose from 6.5 per cent to 19.6 per cent. Others had begun actively seeking employment.

Men who were initially surveyed in emergency accommodation, or through outreach services, were less likely to have found long-term accommodation and their employment circumstances had not changed.

In the first survey, one-third of participants said they felt they lacked the skills or education to find a job. Three months later, only 15 per cent of the men said they still felt that way and the percentage of men receiving wages or a salary rose from 6.5 per cent to 11.4 per cent.

The Michael Project combined accommodation services with assertive case management and 11 specialist services: dental, podiatry, psychology, drug and alcohol counselling, barber, occupational therapy recreation, literacy and numeracy, computer literacy, and two street-based health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outreach services.

The project ran for three years and ended last year. Remaining data gathered during that time is due for release later this year. The results of the project will provide evidence for policies and programs.

The generous donor is now also funding the MISHA project, 'Michael's Intensive Supported Housing Accord'. It is a trial of an integrated program that provides long term stable accommodation and helps homeless men build the lives they would like to live.

The full report of the three-month results is available here:
How homeless men are faring: Some initial outcomes from The Michael Project

The first snapshot of participants in the project is available here:
Increasing our understanding of homeless men: The Michael Project

For additional copies, please contact Aimee Tyson on (02) 9217 2022 or email tysona@missionaustralia.com.au

Missionbeat nurse up for top national honour

Paul Esplin, a nurse who plays a vital role in our Missionbeat team by attending to the medical needs of Sydney’s homeless, is in the running to be named Nurse of the Year.

The well-deserved finalist in the Hesta Australian Nursing Awards joined the team in 2008 as The Michael Project Nurse (Medibeat Nurse). He is co-employed by St Vincent’s Hospital and Mission Australia to provide frontline medical care for the many men and women who sleep rough in the city’s streets.

Paul works alongside Missionbeat’s Community Service Workers to help meet the medical, social, mental health and housing needs of homeless people – some who have been living on the streets for decades. The Missionbeat team patrols the streets from 7am to 11pm daily.

“If the Missionbeat workers are worried about someone’s health I drive out to see them,” he said. “It can be any from a very simple thing to a complex health matter.

“I’m very privileged to work with Missionbeat and Mission Australia – it’s a great organisation and the Missionbeat team does an extraordinary job in very difficult circumstances. I’m just another outreach nurse doing their bit.

“Of course, it’s a huge privilege to be nominated – but it also reflects the importance of The Michael Project.”

The Michael Project was a three-year initiative working that provided a comprehensive network of support for homeless men across Sydney and enabled Mission Australia to identify programs, services and policies to overcome homelessness.

For Missionbeat Manager Daniel Petsalis, having Paul on the team has provided the perfect opportunity to engage with the city’s rough sleepers.

“Paul has had a huge affect on the health and wellbeing of Sydney’s rough sleepers,” Daniel said. “The fact that he can address their health needs on the spot – whether it’s by dressing a wound or organising a vitamin B or flu shot – has made such a difference.

“Crucially, he’s assisting those people who may not get to a doctor or hospital, and getting patched up on the street can mean the difference between stopping an infection from spreading or saving a leg from being lost to gangrene.”

The Hesta Nursing Awards, now in their fifth year, acknowledge outstanding nurses, midwives, personal care attendants and assistants in nursing. As a finalist, Paul will be judged on his exceptional contribution to improving care and outcomes for patients.

He will find out if he is Nurse of the Year at a gala dinner in Melbourne on 12 May.

For Missionbeat information and video footage visit www.missionbeat.com.au

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Missionbeat in the news

Missionbeat Manager Daniel Petsalis’s use of Twitter to assist Sydney’s homeless has made the pages of this week’s Woman’s Day.

Daniel, who now has over 1,000 followers on Twitter, spoke of how he uses technology to raise not only raise awareness of the service but also reach out to those in need:

“One lady was thinking about taking her own life and sent me a message via Twitter,” he told Woman’s Day. “I was in the right place at the right time. It meant I could send someone to help her.”

To support Mission Australia’s Missionbeat call 1800 888 868 or go to the ‘Donate Now’ button at the top left of our website

Good luck, Roosters!

The Sydney Roosters have been great supporters of Mission Australia in 2010. Now clients and staff from our Sydney services are getting behind the team as they prepare for Sunday’s NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final.

As charity partners in our Community Engagement Program, throughout the year Sydney Roosters players have mentored clients and visited our Community Services in the city and eastern suburbs.

Over winter the players donated their time to train Mission Australia clients from the Liverpool Centre, Harris Park Hostel and the Mission Australia Centre in Sydney’s inner city.

The Michael Project's Recreation Officer, Adam Bowden – who co-designed the City to Surf training schedule – said local support for the Roosters has been overwhelming.

“The interaction with the Roosters players our clients have had over the year has really endeared the team to our guys,” he said.

“This relationship, coupled with the generous gifts of Roosters paraphernalia provided by the club, has enabled our clients to feel a sense of inclusion in the festive build up to Sunday’s Grand Final.

“Strutting around in the team colours and boasting to all and sundry about them knowing the players, has really elevated the self-esteem of many of our clients. The sensitivity and compassion the Roosters players have displayed when interacting with our clients, has been nothing short of inspirational.

“What ever the outcome of Sunday’s game, the Roosters are all ready winners in my eyes.”

Mission Australia wishes the Sydney Roosters all the best for Sunday. Go Chooks!

New video discusses Michael Project report - the most comprehensive snapshot into homeless men in Australia

Mission Australia regularly publishes snapshots, policy submissions and major reports on key social issues.

The latest report, Increasing our understanding of homeless men: The Michael Project is "the most in-depth and comprehensive snapshot of homeless men in Australia available" according to Anne Hampshire, National Manager of Mission Australia's Research & Social Policy unit.

"Getting an accurate picture of the men involved in The Michael Project – their homelessness history, their physical and mental health, their education and employment backgrounds, how many times they'd had contact with the justice system – was essential if we were going to be able to chart their progress," said Ms Hampshire recently.

In our latest video, Anne is interviewed about the findings in the new report and discusses the details behind the project - good viewing for anyone interested in the reality of life for homeless men in Australia.



View this video above or browse Mission Australia videos at our Youtube channel: youtube.com/missionaust

"Homeless person's theatre company" to premiere new show

Milk Crate Theatre, Australia’s only theatre company solely dedicated to people from homeless and disadvantaged backgrounds is preparing for their upcoming show, Intersection.

The new show, opening in August, will rove between three cities with the finale held in Sydney's Taylor Square.

"It is a collision of epic Greek tragedy, interactive dialogue and city tour of homeless hotspots" according to Katy Coote from Milk Crate Theatre.

"It will involve up to 40 homeless and disadvantaged participants including the Sydney Street Choir performing alongside professional actors."

The new show deals with "the moments where your life changes course - by tracking the intersection between two people, James and Sally, who meet one night at a crisis shelter."

"Ultimately, it is a story about connection, the power of reaching out when things are tough, and how we can be stronger together than if we’re alone.

"We have offered our community performers an opportunity to choose between two levels of commitment and intensity: the Shadows Group – open to anyone in transition, homeless, formerly homeless or disadvantaged. Rehearsals will be for 2 hrs per week for 2 weeks then 5 hrs per week for 5 weeks leading up to the performances; and the Figures Group - open to existing Milk Crate Theatre members and upon completion of a 2-day intensive acting workshop. Rehearsals will be for 10 hrs per week for 11 weeks leading up to the performances. This group will include a pilot education accreditation in partnership with TAFE NSW Outreach."

Mission Australia homeless services like Missionbeat and The Michael Project have been long-term supporters of Milk Crate Theatre, for it's ability to help homeless and disadvantaged people build communication skills and confidence through public performance.

For tickets sales and more information, click on the graphic below or visit www.milkcratetheatre.com

To read Mission Australia's past Milk Crate Theatre news, click here