Stopping the spiral into homelessness

Every homeless person has a story – and the more you hear, the more you realise that often it’s personal tragedy and misfortune that sets a person on the path to homelessness.

We first met Tom* after we received a call from a concerned Mission Australia supporter – she was worried about a man who had taken up residence on the steps of a Sydney shopping centre.

Tom was initially reluctant to accept help, but it was clear that he was in dire need of care. Tom, aged 61, was underweight, long-haired, barefoot and wearing tattered clothes. After we spent some time with Tom, he cautiously shared his story with us.

Tom grew up on an isolated farm in rural Victoria with his brother Pete* and their mother, who battled a lifelong mental illness. Tom left school in Year 10 and started a career as a fitter and turner. He lived a simple life, earning enough money to get by.

But five years ago Tom was made redundant when his factory closed down and he struggled to find another job in the small rural town. When he could no longer scrape together the rent, Tom had no choice but to move to Sydney to live with Pete.

Tragically, not long after Tom moved to the ‘big smoke’, Pete was killed in a car accident. Depression and anxiety soon gripped Tom. No longer able to afford the high Sydney rent, Tom moved into an illegal boarding house. He made some money doing odd jobs, but never enough to escape his situation.

The chaotic environment of the boarding house intensified Tom’s anxiety and depression. The other residents were drug users and tried to steal the few possessions Tom owned. He became isolated and withdrawn, untrusting and suspicious of everyone.

When things become unbearable, Tom took to the streets – begging from passersby and rummaging through garbage bins for food. Eventually he settled in the alcove of a suburban shopping centre, where Mission Australia outreach staff came to know him.

Within days of hearing Tom’s heartbreaking story, we built up enough trust with this fragile man for him to accept a new pair of shoes and socks. We offered him a bed in an emergency accommodation service, but it took several weeks before he could even bring himself to get in the van with us.

Now Tom is almost ready to move into supported accommodation, and has taken another big step – he’s had a haircut. Feeling much more positive about the future, he is even talking with Mission Australia staff about enrolling in a TAFE course and finding a job.

You can help Australians like Tom by making a donation to Mission Australian’s Winter Appeal. Every contribution will help us to prevent individuals and families from spiralling into the homelessness.

* Names have been changed to protect identities.

Former Idol shares experiences and music at CYI

Students from Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives were recently treated to a visit from singer Hayley Warner, the 2009 Australian Idol runner-up.

Earlier this month the 19-year old Sydney singer, who built up a strong following for her high-energy performances on Idol, took the time to chat to CYI students, hang out and hear their music.

Based in Sydney’s Surry Hills, CYI is a unique service that provides free creative programs for young people aged 16 to 25 who are facing challenges such as homelessness, mental health issues, substance abuse, family breakdown, unemployment and poor educational experiences. The Sounds of the Street (SOTS) and Artworks! programs help develop the young person’s creativity through visual arts and music.

Hayley talked to the students about the ups and downs she has experienced along the way, and spoke of the inner-strength and resolve required to realise her dreams.
CYI students and staff were also treated to a beautiful performance by Hayley, who also spent time in the music studios giving advice. She was introduced to the service through her work as Social Services Partner for Telstra, a longstanding Mission Australia partner.

“It was an amazing opportunity for the students to hear another young person’s experience and the confidence for them to follow their dreams,” said Sera Harris, CYI Service Manager. “She was truly inspiring and we hope to see her in February when we launch the next Sounds of the Street (SOTS) CD.

SOTS is a 20-week TAFE-accredited course that gives students the opportunity to compose, perform and record their own music and learn an instrument. At the end of the program the students’ music is professionally mixed and mastered onto a CD and students perform their music at the annual CD launch.

Later in the day, Hayley also revealed that she was inspired by the visit: “Had a really inspiring time this morning hanging out and chatting to Mission Australia kids,” she Tweeted yesterday afternoon. “Epic stories of overcoming situations.”

Media coverage - The Age: Fighting the drop-out factor

All Jordan Mulhem needed was pluck and a little encouragement. The teenager wanted to leave school at year 10, mostly because he had heard that the final years were demanding. Fortunately he had enjoyed computer and electrical training courses and these, coupled with a push from his parents, meant he stayed on to finish year 12.

On leaving school, Jordan narrowly missed out on a plumbing apprenticeship, which forced him to spend a few months at home applying for courses. This gave him a taste of what friends who had dropped out of school early were experiencing. "It was no fun. You had no money. You didn't talk to anyone so you got a bit depressed."

Jordan finally decided he wanted to work for the Australian Federal Police and so accepted a place in an advanced diploma of justice course at Kangan Institute, in Broadmeadows. He loves the course and urges those who are not working to study at TAFE rather than hang around home.

Many young people would like to heed his advice, but are failing to make the transition to further study. Jordan grew up in Melbourne's north-west suburbs, where more than half those aged 15 to 19 are not studying and are registered as seeking full-time work, according to ABS figures. Some may work part-time or do the occasional short course, but many are not.

Paul Bird, state director for Mission Australia, says such teenagers are not ready for work, a problem his charity tries to alleviate by running work experience programs. "The perception that they don't want a job is wrong. They desperately want one, even those from jobless families," he says.

Educators and welfare agencies recognise that getting disadvantaged youth to complete VCE or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or do a pre-apprenticeship course at TAFE helps to break this cycle. But it often takes intervention by parents, teachers, welfare agencies and outreach programs by the TAFE to get them there. Jordan's cousin, Abdallah Ali, admits he nearly didn't make it.

"I thought about dropping out in year 9 because of the way my grades were going. I just wanted to go out with mates and have fun."

Abdallah carried on but struggled with English in year 12 as he has learning difficulties. Without an ATAR score to gain entry into a tertiary course, he joined the Army Reserve. He went on to study computer systems at the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.

Both Jordan and Abdallah believe they are studying because of a fortuitous series of events. Abdallah finally found teachers who could help him with his learning difficulties when he shifted to Thomastown Secondary in senior high school. He has also found staff at NMIT who understand. Both young men receive scholarships and support from the Smith Family, which has helped with costs and confidence.

Jordan knows others who need help. "I have a friend who regrets dropping out at year 10. I feel sad for him because he didn't have the encouragement that I had."

Staff at Kangan Institute, which sits in the heartland of youth unemployment, recognise that they must be proactive to get such teenagers through their doors.

TAFE costs remains a problem. Jordan says he could not afford his course without the Smith Family's support, despite working part time for 12 hours a week.

TAFE study is usually cheaper than university, mostly because the courses are shorter. Fees for a government-subsidised place at Kangan range from $50 to $500 for Certificate 1 courses and $500 to $1895 for advanced diploma qualifications. Costs for full fee-paying students range from $3000 to $8000.

The problem for prospective TAFE students is that fees vary between institutions so students must inquire at each one. Many students are eligible for loans through VET Fee-Help but can be reluctant to take them.

Often that's because their parents do not support their studies. Jordan says he and Abdallah are fortunate that their parents, who are from Syria, value education and taught them to respect teachers.

"Sometimes parents don't discipline their kids and so they don't know what is right or wrong, while others from overseas are really strict and their children don't know what they could do. Parents need to show them how to live life," he says.

Vicki Joyce, the manager of the Centre for Youth at Kangan in Broadmeadows, says many of the 500 VCAL and VCE students at the TAFE are disadvantaged and have complex needs. They may have been referred by schools, police, welfare agencies or youth workers.

Nathan Hubbard is in a pre-apprenticeship course at Kangan Institute after completing a VCAL "Give it a go" course where he tried trades such as metal fabrication and furniture-making.

Now 16, he says he and some friends started to get into trouble in year 9 and left Craigieburn Secondary College that year. "The teachers were getting on my nerves at school," he says. "and it was all book work except for PE. Here it is more hands-on stuff."

He now studies and works for his father's carpentry business. Despite being the youngest in his class, he recently won an outstanding achievement award for VCAL.

He is pleased with his progress but worries about some friends. "They got kicked out of school and they're sitting at home doing nothing or are getting into trouble."

Some want to study, he says, but feel pressured by their unemployed friends to continue to hang around with them. If they studied, he says, they would get support from transition facilitators and youth workers. "At school they're just teachers, but at TAFE they're your friends."

Kangan at Broadmeadows runs many programs to give high-school students a sense of what is available. As well as 20 VET programs for school students, there are taster programs for year 9 and 10 students.

It also participates in the annual "Try a Trade" event, to be held at the Broadmeadows Town Hall from May 17 to 18. Last year this showcase for different jobs in areas of skills shortages attracted 1400 students from 36 secondary schools.

Kangan also runs Front Burner, a program that gives students at risk of leaving school early training in hospitality.

Jesse Marshall, president of the National Union of Students, says such initiatives are welcome. He says many TAFEs have piecemeal student organisations, which means the most disadvantaged students often get the least support.

"In an area like Broadmeadows with high unemployment and low household incomes, you must provide support as many students come from families with no tradition of tertiary education."

The Smith Family recognises that students need to broaden their horizons. Maggie McKeand, who looks after 300 students on Learning for Life scholarships in the northern suburbs, recently took girls from Thomastown Secondary to a city law firm. She says they were surprised by the variety of jobs available.

"Your aspirations are determined by what your friends and family do. It opened their minds up."

Mr Bird is concerned about a disconnect between employers and the training system. Mission Australia offers work experience in landscaping and construction for high-needs youth. "Most have had training but are not successful in getting work and work experience," he says

Bill Threlfall, executive officer with the Hume Whittlesea Local Learning and Employment Network, says recent publicity about the high level of under-employed young seeking full-time work galvanised local agencies.

Using the 3047 postcode for Broadmeadows as a target, they established a jobs service at Broadmeadows station and found work, traineeships or apprenticeships for 30 young people within 47 days.

Story originally published in The Age on 3 May 2011

A catalyst for changing women’s lives

On this 100th International Women’s Day we’d like to celebrate our Catalyst Clemente education program, which is empowering women across the nation.

Catalyst Clemente offers free, socially supported university education in the humanities for people who are experiencing significant life challenges.

The philosophy of the program is that study in the humanities can act as a catalyst for social inclusion, intellectual engagement and positive change in the lives of participants.

Delivered in a community setting, just over half of the Catalyst participants (52 per cent) are women.

“The program is life-changing for the students and it’s great to see them realise their own potential,” said Sarah Spiker, Mission Australia Project Officer Catalyst Clemente and Communities for Children.

“One of the key benefits for the women who participate is the confidence they gain, which translates into all aspects of their lives, such as parenting, social engagement and the workforce.”

No one believes this more than Karen*, a single working mother and grandmother from Adelaide who last week commenced her third semester in the program.

Karen had to leave school at 14 due to a disruptive home life, which was marred by alcoholism and verbal abuse. “It’s hard to study when someone is ranting at home,” she said.

She waited 26 years – when her youngest child was seven – to return to study.

“Learning always felt like a luxury – something out of my grasp,” she said. “I had always enjoyed learning at school, then TAFE, but it seemed life always got in the way. I’ve since learned that if people can find a peaceful, safe place they can relax and study – you just need that place to open your mind.

“Catalyst has been fantastic. It’s given me the chance to first of all entertain the thought that I deserve to study and then allowed me to turn that into a reality,” said Karen, who is one of 11 Adelaide students enrolled in the 2011 program.

With support from volunteer learning partners and professional lecturers, women like Karen are gaining communication, writing and research skills – as well as a thirst for learning.

Last year she completed the ‘Short Stories and Their Writers’ and ‘Australia and The World’ courses. This semester she will study drama.

Mission Australia has operated Catalyst Clemente since 2005 and now offers the program in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth Adelaide, Ballarat, Newcastle and Campbelltown in partnership with various community agencies and educational institutions.

In Adelaide the program is delivered in partnership with Flinders University.

*Name has been changed.

City gig launches Sounds of the Street CD

The back of Mission Australia’s Creative Youth Initiatives (CYI) headquarters in Surry Hills, Sydney, took on the feel of a block party last Friday when students, staff, friends and family got together to launch the ‘Holiday From Yourself’ CD.

The CD was the creation of graduate students from CYI’s Sounds of the Street program, which is a TAFE-accredited music course.

Last week’s gig was the culmination of the 20-week course in which students learned to compose, perform and record their own music.

Backed by the CYI Band, students performed 11 tracks from the CD – including hip hop, acoustic guitar and heavy rock tunes – to an appreciative crowd.

“What an achievement for all our students – it takes a lot of courage to go on stage in front of a crowd and share so much about who they are and how they experience the world,” said CYI Service Manager CYI Sera Harris about the “rawness” of some of the performances.

“Some of the lyrics are tough to hear – which is why it is important that we listen to what young people have to say through their language of music.”

The performers were welcomed to the stage by Mission Australia’s Director Community Services NSW/ACT Leonie Green. Later in the day Sounds of the Street students received their official Music Industry Skills Certificate TAFE module Certificate I from Ultimo TAFE Outreach NSW Course Coordinator Paul Drury.

Achievement certificates were also handed out by Jannine Jackson, General Manager Sir David Martin Foundation, which is a supporter of the CYI program.

After the show and a sausage sizzle, 15 volunteers from Ben & Jerrys served up ice-cream. During 2010, $1 from every sale of Ben & Jerrys Peanut Cookie-Burra Dough was donated to CYI – which brought in $25,000 to the youth initiative over the year.

“Now it’s come full circle and we can see the fruits of it,” said Warren Minde, Marketing Manager, Ben & Jerrys.

For a gold-coin donation, you can hear ‘Holidays From Yourself’ and see the wonderful cover artwork from CYI Artworks! student Brian Greenwood. To order please email cyi@missionaustralia.com.au.

Lee’s new enterprise

Two years ago, just walking to the letterbox was a huge challenge for Lee. She had spent five years suffering from brain lesions that caused MS-like symptoms such as blurred vision and fatigue.

“Some days I couldn’t walk, other days I couldn’t talk,” she said. “But I didn’t give up.”

When her illness went into remission in April 2009 it heralded a fresh start for the single mother of three.

“I turned 40 and decided to take a risk and do something with my life,” she said.

In August 2009 Lee started an eight-week New Enterprise Initiative Scheme (NEIS) Program through Mission Australia Employment Solutions. NEIS helps participants gain TAFE-level small business qualifications free of charge while receiving a government allowance.

After conducting market research, Lee identified a need for an eatery in Adelaide’s Modbury Heights that sold affordable, healthy food. With the help of one of our NEIS business mentors, Megan, she created a business plan and by December had opened the doors of Spud-a-licious.

Lee now employs her eldest daughter and is doing a great trade.

“NEIS gave me an overview of what I had to do,” Lee said. “It’s given me a new lease on life.”

Lee was recently nominated for the ‘NEIS Change’ award in the 2010 National NEIS Association Awards. This award recognises the achievements of an individual who has experienced the biggest turnaround in their life thanks to the NEIS program.

While Lee did not win this award, Mission Australia’s South Australian NEIS Manager, Warren Silverston, said the small business owner was certainly worthy of recognition.

“Lee has worked so hard to get her small business up and running. She’s faced some enormous obstacles in her life and to see her achieve success in her enterprise is terrific,” he said.

In 2009-10, 945 people took part in our NEIS programs. Of these, 700 started their own business.

RCNA providing new opportunities for Aboriginal health students

In 2011 the Royal College of Nursing Australia (RCNA) will launch the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme, providing scholarships to Aboriginal people studying in the health field.  Funding is to be managed by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.

The scheme was established in recognition of Dr Arnold ('Puggy') Hunter's significant contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health as Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

The RCNA has been accepting applications for scholarships since June, but you can still submit yours before Friday 20th if you are currently studying at TAFE (Certificate IV or above) or university in the following areas:

• Aboriginal health worker
• Alcohol and other drugs workers
• Allied health (excluding pharmacy)
• Dentistry/oral health
• Health service management
• Health promotion
• Medicine
• Mental health
• Midwifery
• Nursing

To download an application and check eligibility criteria please visit www.rcna.org.au 

Mission Australia's Charcoal Lane restaurant now taking orders

It’s not often that you associate an up-and-coming restaurant with a community service organisation, but that’s exactly what makes Mission Australia’s Charcoal Lane restaurant so distinctive.

You can sense that Charcoal Lane is special as soon as you walk through its door. Created within a beautiful heritage building in Melbourne’s up-and-coming Fitzroy district, the restaurant features delicately hand painted ceiling panels.

The menu is equally unique – a fusion of modern Australian food and native flavours.

Charcoal Lane was made possible through a partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS). It provides the opportunity for Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people to transform their lives through traineeships and apprenticeships within the restaurant.

The heritage building in which Charcoal Lane is located originally housed VAHS from 1973 until 1992. VAHS is not just a health service. As well as offering access to a wide range of services and programs it has always been a place where people gather, share stories and pass on wisdom.

Many of the people who visited VAHS also frequently congregated at the back of a briquette factory in Fitzroy/Collingwood colloquially known as ‘Charcoal Lane’ – the inspiration for our restaurant’s name.

People came to Charcoal Lane to enjoy each other’s company, to share a drink and a story away from the public eye. One of those people, Archie Roach, recently released a song of the same name in remembrance of the people and times of the Lane.

The new Charcoal Lane has a wonderfully appetising menu, which showcases the restaurant’s native influences.

We hope that Charcoal Lane will continue to be a meeting place for the community in the future and encourage you to experience the food first-hand.

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For bookings or enquiries call: (03) 9418 3400 or visit  www.charcoallane.com.au/contact/booking

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Youth on track to dream career

A bit of luck and a lot of effort has Happy Valley youth Jamie Hodgetts on track to achieving his career goal of building BMX tracks in and around Adelaide.

Only a few months ago, Jamie was a disaffected secondary-school student who hated school – but wasn’t sure how he’d find a path towards a job and a future.

But with the help of Mission Australia case manager Frank Ross, a lifelong passion for BMX that’s extended beyond riding and embraced the design and construction of the sport’s specialised tracks – and some good timing – Jamie is now looking toward a career in track building and maintenance.

Jamie, 17, was one of a group of BMX fans from Adelaide’s southern suburbs who had spent many hours repairing and maintaining the bike track at Pine Road, when he and mate Anthony Collins were approached by the City of Onkaparinga Council to help with safety-related track renovations.

A TAFE student in the Mission Australia “Flexible Learning Options” (FLO) program – managed through the organisation’s Southern Youth Exchange service at Christies Downs – Jamie says the council told him it would supply the enormous amounts of dirt required for the work, if he and Anthony would perform the work.

“It was a case of being in the right place at the right time,” Jamie says. “Anthony and I happened to be there when the council workers came to the track to look at what work needed to be done.

“They could see we’d put a lot of work into the track already, and knew what we were doing.”

After a week’s effort, filling every moment when he’s not studying for his TAFE graphic design certificate, Jamie says about half the work is done.

Jamie is hoping the project will lead to a fulltime job in track construction and maintenance.

Since joining the FLO program, he’s transferred from secondary school to TAFE and has enrolled to earn his bobcat and forklift licences after his 18th birthday in October.

He says “Frank” has helped him “make good decisions” about his future.

“I wasn’t going to school much, and Mission Australia suggested I move to the FLO program and find something I really wanted to study at TAFE,” Jamie says.

“With Frank’s help, I’ve changed from being a kid who really didn’t have a place at school to someone who can see a real future in a job I want to work for – all in a few months.”

Mission Australia provides FLO in partnership with the South Australian Government. It’s an initiative that offers education opportunities for young people who have dropped out of school or are at risk of doing so.

According to Mission Australia’s SA State Director, Jillian Paull, Jamie’s turnaround is a testament to FLO’s success.

“If we’re to stop young people who feel restricted by or excluded from mainstream schooling from dropping out then we need to be flexible,” said Ms Paull.

“We need to start building education around the young person’s needs rather than fitting them into the system.

“That’s exactly what FLO does – it provides accredited schooling outside the traditional classroom in a youth-friendly environment – and the results, like Jamie’s, speak for themselves.

“We’re over the moon at Jamie’s success and glad to see that Mission Australia and FLO have played a part in helping him stay engaged with his education and in a position where he can take advantage of the opportunities before him,” said Ms Paull.