Mission Australia and Westpac tackle family homelessness together

Mission Australia and the Westpac Group yesterday have launched a long-term partnership aimed at addressing family homelessness over the next decade.

Families make up a quarter of all homeless people (105,000 homeless Australians on any one night) and up to 80 per cent of homeless families seeking crisis accommodation are turned away from government-funded homeless services.

The partnership was officially launched yesterday at the Mission Australia Centre in Sydney’s Surry Hills, with Mission Australia Chairman Ewen Crouch and CEO Toby Hall; Westpac’s Peter Hanlon, Group Executive, People and Transformation, and the Hon Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Social Inclusion and Human Services in attendance.

They were joined by representatives from Housing NSW, MA Housing as well as Mission Australia and Westpac staff.

In the first stage of the partnership Westpac has agreed to provide $1 million over three years to Mission Australia for specific projects to address homelessness. Westpac and Mission Australia will also work together to launch a social innovation fund, targeting capital funds to be used to develop more affordable housing nationally.

Mr Hall, said the partnership was unique in Australia and displayed a shared commitment between the two organisations to tackling one of the nation’s major social problems.

He said addressing family homelessness required a three-pronged approach - prevention strategies to “turn off the tap” to homelessness; the provision of crisis accommodation services like the Mission Australia Centre to give longer-term support and offer breathing space, and the delivering of more affordable housing .

“Australia’s lack of affordable housing is one of the most significant factors influencing family homelessness,” Mr Hall said.

“Westpac’s support for this partnership will make a huge difference to our work and in the lives of countless homeless families – and those at risk of homelessness – now and in the years to come.”

At yesterday’s launch Mr Hanlon said Westpac was proud of its century-long association with Mission Australia and was committed to addressing homelessness, which is “not just about shelter – it’s also about self-esteem and inclusion”.

Above photo from left: Ewen Crouch, Mission Australia Chairman; The Hon Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Social Inclusion and Human Services; Toby Hall, Mission Australia CEO; and Peter Hanlon, Group Executive, People and Transformation, Westpac.

Media Release: New partnership offers hope for homeless families

A new strategic partnership announced today between The Westpac Group and Mission Australia will address family homelessness and help deliver more affordable housing across the country over the next decade.

In the first stage of the long-term partnership Westpac has agreed to provide $1 million over three years to Mission Australia for specific projects to address homelessness.

In addition Westpac and Mission Australia will work together to launch a social innovation fund, targeting capital funds to be used to develop more affordable housing nationally.

The partnership was launched at an event in Sydney this morning by Gail Kelly, The Westpac Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Toby Hall, Mission Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, and Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Social Inclusion.

In launching the new partnership, Mrs Kelly said: “As an active supporter of communities all around Australia, The Westpac Group believes it has a responsibility to help address the issue of homelessness.

“I am particularly proud to be announcing this strategic new initiative with Mission Australia, which we are hopeful will deliver real difference over the next decade.

“In partnering with Mission Australia, we have chosen a caring and dedicated organisation whose expertise The Westpac Group and its employees can draw upon to help make a genuine difference to the lives of the homeless.”

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said the partnership was unique in Australia and displayed a shared commitment between the two organisations to tackling one of the nation’s major social problems.

“Australia’s lack of affordable housing is one of the most significant factors influencing family homelessness,” said Mr Hall.

“Westpac’s support for this partnership will make a huge difference to our work and in the lives of countless homeless families – and those at risk of homelessness – now and in the years to come.

“Westpac and Mission Australia enjoy a long, shared history – Westpac has been Mission Australia’s bank of choice for close to 150 years. It’s wonderful to see this strong association develop to a new level.”

Other important aspects of the partnership include:

• In-kind and pro bono support from Westpac to Mission Australia.
• Engagement of Westpac’s 40,000 staff on the issue of homelessness and through a range of activities (eg: volunteering).
• Strategic advice from Mission Australia to Westpac on how best to leverage its activities and harness innovation to address homelessness.

“There’s a stark challenge facing the country – families make up a quarter of all homeless people (105,000 homeless Australians on any one night) and up to 80% of homeless families seeking crisis accommodation are turned away from government-funded homeless services.

“This partnership couldn’t have come at a more crucial time in meeting that challenge head on and making a difference in the years to come,” said Mr Hall.

Westpac media contact: Jane Counsel (02) 8253 3443 or 0416 275 273

Mission Australia media contact: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495

Mission Australia expands Macarthur service for children with disabilities

Opening of renovated Macarthur Early Childhood Intervention Service

Mission Australia officially open the renovated Macarthur Early Childhood Intervention Service (MECIS) today, improving the facilities for families that currently use the service and providing room to expand the number of places available for children with disabilities in the future.

The opening, which also coincided with the 21st birthday celebration of the service, was undertaken by The Hon Graham West, MP, Member for Campbelltown at the 5 Kingsclare Street, Leumeah address at 2pm.

Toby Hall, Mission Australia CEO, said that early intervention programs for children with disabilities are essential to helping them live a full and active life and MECIS has been a beacon for this kind of work for decades.

“Services like MECIS are really important to Mission Australia as we believe that all Australian children no matter what their circumstances should experience a safe, healthy and happy childhood,” said Mr Hall.

“All the latest research says that if we provide support to children with disabilities and delays as early in life as possible, they achieve much better long term outcomes.

“MECIS is a great example of that approach.

“Children can receive holistic support to meet their needs including early education, speech therapy, physiotherapy, and behaviour management and there are also group parenting programs while the children are taking part in group activities.

“Hundreds of children and their families have been touched by the service over more than two decades and we certainly hope thousands will benefit in the future.”

MECIS caters for children from birth to school age with disabilities and delays, and their families. It was originally established in 1979 as an outreach program of Macquarie University to address a lack of early intervention services in South West Sydney.

Today, the service encompasses early special education, therapy, standardised assessments, parent education and support. Programs are tailored to the individual needs of the child and family, and can include individual and / or group therapy intervention. Group programs offered include: early learning, preschool skills, school transition, and autism specific.

Renovations to the building in Kingsclare Street have included adding a second storey with office and meeting room space. The renovated service now includes significantly increased play and teaching areas for the children, a private meeting area for parents and new bathroom and toilet facilities specifically designed to meet the needs of the children.

The renovations were made possible by a $200,000 donation from Macquarie Group Foundation, and Mission Australia’s successful application to the NSW State Government’s Community Building Partnerships Program – which provided another $50,000.

More information about MECIS:

• Facilitated group parenting programs are on offer for parents and carers while their children attend groups.
• Individual therapy may be for a single discipline, or a combination of occupational therapy, speech therapy and physiotherapy.
• Behaviour management and early special education programs are also provided at MECIS.

Additional programs provided at MECIS include:  

Special Needs Family Support Service - ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Intensive family support program for families of children up to 12 years, who have a diagnosis, or display characteristics of ADHD and live in the Campbelltown Local Government Area.  

South West Early Childhood Support (SWECS) An outreach and consultancy program for staff in early childhood settings across Campbelltown, Camden and Wollondilly Local Government Areas to support the inclusion of children with additional needs.