NAIDOC Week at the MAC

Community and unity were at the core of this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations at Sydney’s MAC, writes the centre’s Aboriginal Community Development Worker Barry Duncan.

Kangaroo, crocodile and emu were on the menu while Aboriginal musicians Tim Gray and Vince and Michael West entertained 80 NAIDOC Week guests in glorious sunshine on the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) forecourt.

Robert ‘Sonny’ Edwards set the tone for the day when he welcomed participants to the lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and trusted they would enjoy themselves and help in celebrating a diverse and beautiful culture.

Sonny then called on Mission Australia Operations Manager Lesley Butt to help him launch the celebrations by raising the Aboriginal Flag, which represents strength and unity to so many Aboriginal people and communities.

Mission Australia Centre Manager Diana Jazic reiterated Sonny's sentiment along with acknowledging visitors and staff contributions to the day. She said she hoped everyone would enjoy themselves and, in particular, view the amazing artwork of James Simon, an Indigenous artist from Redfern who uses a vibrant and visually stunning technique.

A traditional smoking ceremony led into dance performances by Terry Olson, one of the state’s most sought-after performers.

But more was to come when former MAC resident Tim Gray delighted the captive audience with some of the skills he acquired while studying an Advanced Diploma in music at Eora College, Redfern.

“If it had not been for this centre and its supportive staff I would still be walking the road of aimlessness and homelessness,” Tim said.

Tim has become one of many Indigenous success stories to emerge from one of many Mission Australia programs.

Koori Radio Station 93.7 Live and Deadly also conducted interviews on the day, with guests including Missionbeat Service Manager Daniel Petsalis, who praised the service’s Indigenous staff member Albert Torrens.

But the true highlight of the day was a superb bushtucker feed of kangaroo, emu and crocodile prepared by staff and visitors. It was heartily consumed by all, with many coming back for seconds, thirds and even fourths. Not bad considering it was the first taste of these delicacies for some.

AGL volunteers lend a hand at MAC Christmas party

Clients of the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) in Surry Hills have enjoyed a Christmas party complete with a traditional hot lunch and karaoke thanks to volunteers from AGL.

Thirteen volunteers from AGL organised and served food, welcomed guests and entertained the crowd with a carol. One really got into the spirit by donning a red suit and beard to hand out lollies and offer photos with Santa.

This is the eighth year that AGL has funded, organised and staffed the MAC Client Christmas Party.

After being welcomed by Mission Australia Chief Operating Officer, Leisa Hart, and joining in prayer with Meffan Kaiwai, MAC Team Leader, guests tucked into turkey and pudding.

One MAC resident who has turned his life around at centre said that this Christmas would be one to remember for all the right reasons: “Coming here has really picked me up. It’s a special Christmas, and a sober Christmas… The meditation classes here [at the MAC] have been unbelievable and have helped me to change and see the world differently.”

Another guest, who attends the innovative Catalyst Clemente educational program at the MAC, thanked the centre’s staff for their dedication and care: “We couldn’t love it any better!”

The Mission Australia Centre provides crisis accommodation for homeless men and “wrap-around” programs and services for men and women that address issues such as health, literacy, and self-esteem.

Further Reading... 

• Christmas cheer at the Mission Australia Centre - 29 December 2009
• AGL and Mission Australia brighten the day for struggling families  - 16 Dec 2008
• Mission Australia helping families cut energy bills to prevent poverty spiral   - 15 Oct 2008

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.

Christmas cheer at the Mission Australia Centre

Thanks to the spectacular efforts of AGL volunteers, the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) celebrated Christmas this year with a wonderful gourmet lunch.

Mission Australia CEO, Toby Hall, and AGL CEO, Michael Fraser, helped volunteers serve the Christmas lunch last week and spent time chatting with many of the homeless men and women who have accessed the MAC throughout 2009.

"Never a dull moment," said Astra Howard MAC Program Coordinator. "Our guests had a fantastic time thanks to all the hard work of event organisers and talented entertainers: Frederick Hama, Chris Barwick, Phil Nunn and Meffan Kawai."

One client said: “I had a great time at the MAC Christmas party enjoying a lovely Christmas lunch and trivia quiz. Our table came second - the winners were googling on a blackberry! Afterwards , various members of the MAC creative classes had a lot of fun singing and dancing at the karaoke machine for a couple of hours. I'm not a singer, but I had a go at 'House of the Rising Sun'.”

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AGL partnered with Mission Australia in 2003 with the provision of energy audits for the refurbishment of the Mission Australia Centre. The partnership has since grown substantially.

Through AGL’s volunteering program, employees have provided tremendous support to Mission Australia’s homeless services in Sydney and Adelaide for the past four years.

In late 2006, the partnership reached a new strategic high with a significant financial contribution from the AGL Foundation of over $750,000. The funds are being used to make a long-term difference to homelessness and climate change.

The support from AGL reflects its broader commitment to energy efficiency in the community, particularly for Australia’s most vulnerable people.

Further Reading...

• AGL and Mission Australia brighten the day for struggling families - 16 Dec 2008
• Mission Australia helping families cut energy bills to prevent poverty spiral - 15 Oct 2008
  

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David Malouf visits Mission Australia Centre

Author David Malouf at the
Mission Australia Centre, Surry Hills

One of Australia's greatest authors, David Malouf, visited the Mission Australia Centre in Sydney's Surry Hills yesterday to take part in a groundbreaking program which offers university-accredited study to support and inspire disadvantaged and marginalised people.

The Catalyst-Clemente program is a joint initiative between the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and Mission Australia and uses the Arts and Humanities - eg: literature, drama - to build participants' self-esteem, create a feeling of community engagement and develop new possibilities for the future.

The visit - which had been kindly arranged the Australian Catholic University - coincided with the current Catalyst intake's study of one of Mr Malouf's best known novels, the Booker Prize-shortlisted, Remembering Babylon.

Class members had the unique opportunity to ask Mr Malouf a range of questions related to the novel and it's structure, formation of characters and writing style.

Catalyst-Clemente is based on the belief that poverty is more than just exclusion from material goods - it's also about social exclusion.

Accordingly, the way out of poverty is about giving people access to more than just a wage or vocational training, it's also about engaging them in activities that lead to social interaction, learning and community participation.

Since beginning in 2003, Catalyst-Clemente is now offered in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, Perth, Melbourne and with Adelaide soon to follow.

Celebrating an exceptional Volunteer - from the COMPASS Relapse Prevention Program

Mandy Smith is a volunteer and co-facilitator of our COMPASS (Relapse Prevention Program) at the Mission Australia Centre in Surry Hills.

Mandy graduated with a Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and now utilises her skills to share her expertise and experience to help improve the lives of our clients. She helps clients stay off drugs by providing strategies to steer away from triggers and old habits, while building greater self awareness and self-confidence.

Mandy finds inspiration in her COMPASS program clients - and sees their honesty, determination, strength and hope as "an inspiring gift".

Mandy commends the staff at the Mission Australia Centre for the proactive, professional and friendly environment they provide for her and her clients.

While Mandy values the contributions of her clients as a "gift", Mandy herself is a truly dedicated and inspiring volunteer for the COMPASS program and Mission Australia.

Thank you Mandy!