MAC hosts community and government leaders to launch new report

Mission Australia's latest report An icon for exit: The Mission Australia Centre 2005-2008 was launched yesterday by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing , at the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Surry Hills.

A s the name suggests, An icon for exit provides a detailed review of the 'all-round' programs run through MAC from 2005-2008.

The event featured a key speech from a MAC client, who provided insight into the practical needs of those trying to overcome crisis. He noted that it was MAC's ability to provide a range of diverse services "under the same roof" that enabled him to transform his life.

The event's speakers reinforced the need for modern service providers to facilitate 'all-round' services - a wide array of services is required by those seeking a sustainable solution to their crisis, such as employment services, medical and dental support, legal support, educational services, financial literacy training and conflict resolution.

Senator Mark Arbib, Federal Minister for Employment Participation, also attended to officially launch Mission Australia Employment Solutions , which facilitates the Federal Government's Job Services Australia program.

Download a free copy of An icon for exit: The Mission Australia Centre 2005-2008

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Further reading

Sydney Morning Herald ran a story today about the journey of two MAC clients, read on at the Fairfax website

Key facts from the report:

• Clients achieved 80% of their goals compared to 42% at the crisis shelter the MAC replaced (an important part of working with homeless clients is to set a goal, eg: to find independent accommodation, to beat drug addiction, etc, and work towards achieving it).
• Of clients leaving the MAC there was a 10% decline in people returning to the streets and a 6% increase in those living in a house or flat. Studies show that of men leaving traditional crisis accommodation, around 18% simply move to another short-term shelter while almost 45% return to living on the streets or squat.
• Following their time at MAC, there was a significant decline in the proportion of clients reliant on the Newstart Allowance - 58% down to 48% - and an increase in the proportion whose income came from wages/salary - from 7% to 14%.
• 48% of MAC clients weren't in the labour force before coming to the service, after leaving the centre this dropped to 36%.
• Clients stay at the MAC for an average 68 days compared to the 1-3 days at the previous service. Longer stays mean better results.
• MAC provides its full range of supports for only $154 a day per person. This is a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital $600/pd or jail $200/pd).

New report shows groundbreaking homeless service is a success

A report into a groundbreaking Sydney homeless service shows it has delivered improved accommodation, employment and goal-achievement outcomes, a reduction in the need for income support and all at a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital or jail).

The Icon for Exit report - an analysis of the outcomes of the Mission Australia Centre (MAC) in Sydney's Surry Hills since it first opened in July 2005 - will be launched by Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing, and Senator Mark Arbib, Federal Minister for Employment Participation at the centre (cnr Campbell and Denham Sts, Surry Hills) at 11.30am, Monday 2 November.

The first service of its kind built in Australia, the MAC moves beyond traditional crisis accommodation to meet the needs of a new generation of homeless people.

Rather than the short-term and 'one-size fits all' approach often associated with crisis shelters, the MAC specialises its care, encourages independent living, allows clients stays of up to three months and offers a range of services (eg: dental, GP, education, computer skills, counselling, employment) to help people back on their feet long-term.

According to the report - which covers the period 2005-08 - the MAC's results include:

• Clients achieved 80% of their goals compared to 42% at the crisis shelter the MAC replaced (an important part of working with homeless clients is to set a goal, eg: to find independent accommodation, to beat drug addiction, etc, and work towards achieving it).
• Of clients leaving the MAC there was a 10% decline in people returning to the streets and a 6% increase in those living in a house or flat. Studies show that of men leaving traditional crisis accommodation, around 18% simply move to another short-term shelter while almost 45% return to living on the streets or squat.
• Following their time at MAC, there was a significant decline in the proportion of clients reliant on the Newstart Allowance - 58% down to 48% - and an increase in the proportion whose income came from wages/salary - from 7% to 14%.
• 48% of MAC clients weren't in the labour force before coming to the service, after leaving the centre this dropped to 36%.
• Clients stay at the MAC for an average 68 days compared to the 1-3 days at the previous service. Longer stays mean better results.
• MAC provides its full range of supports for only $154 a day per person. This is a significantly lower cost per day than providing a bed in another institutional setting (eg: hospital $600/pd or jail $200/pd).

Mission Australia's CEO, Toby Hall, said the MAC's results provided governments and other agencies with a successful model for developing future homeless services.

"When we built the MAC in 2005 we based our plans on our own experiences, research among other agencies and what we saw working overseas - this service really was a first for this country," said Mr Hall.

"Now we have the results that show the MAC approach works. Yes, we still have much to do and there are challenges ahead, but the move towards more tailored and long-term support that encourages independent living is the way to get homeless people back on their feet.

"Importantly the MAC has developed into a community hub providing a large range of services - not only to its residents, but the entire inner city community.

"The MAC's success has only been possible through collaboration - between us, the three levels of government, our peer organisations, and the generous support of individual and corporate partners.

"The most exciting thing about these results is that they come at a time when both the Federal and NSW State Governments are considering their respective plans for tackling homelessness.

"We hope they both examine these findings and use the MAC's experiences to plan the next generation of homeless services," said Mr Hall.

The Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek, said the MAC - which she has visited several times as it is located in her electorate of Sydney - was setting a high standard for future service delivery.

"The Rudd Government's White Paper on Homelessness identifies the need for early intervention, targeted support and wrap-around services to help break the cycle of homelessness," Ms Plibersek said. 

"These types of services are exactly what we need if we are going to meet our ambitious goal to halve homelessness by 2020."

Opinion: Welfare reform 10 years on - from our CEO, Toby Hall

A significant milestone in our recent political history passed without fanfare this week. It’s been 10 years since the Howard Government launched Australia on the path of welfare reform.

A decade down the track we might consider whether it’s an anniversary worth celebrating.

The independent committee charged by the government to make recommendations for change – a series of proposals known as the McClure Report – came back with three objectives for welfare reform: significant reductions in the number of jobless families and households; significant reductions in the proportion of the working age population on income support; and stronger communities with improved social and economic participation.

Perhaps uniquely for a major report on such a contentious issue it was greeted positively, not only by both sides of politics, but also by the business and community sectors.

It offered government a comprehensive road map for reform – a systematic approach to what is a highly complex problem. At the time there was real optimism for change.

But the Howard Government’s failure to embrace the McClure Report as a whole – including some of its toughest reforms – has left many of its targets either unmet or compromised.

In terms of jobless families, there’s no doubt the number has fallen since the late 90s. Increasing employment and welfare to work measures have had an impact but numbers are still too high.

Australia has the second-highest percentage of children living in jobless families in the developed world.

There are an estimated 543,000 Australian children currently in this position.

Around one in seven Australian children lives in a jobless family – one in two for single parent households – with all the associated implications that carries for future social and economic development.

These are hardly significant reductions.

And remember these numbers have remained stubbornly high through some of the best economic times Australia has experienced.

It’s further evidence that the problems of jobless families and job poor communities won’t be overcome by economic growth alone.
In terms of working age people heavily reliant on income support – again, while numbers have declined overall – there remain major challenges in supporting key groups into work.

Between 1996 and 2007 the number of people receiving the Disability Support Pension actually increased from 500,000 to more than 700,000 – greater growth than in any other pension category.

It’s estimated that 20 per cent of this total – 140,000 people – are thought to be capable of work, but we’ve failed to reach them.

And as for those vulnerable communities that stood to benefit most from the roll-out of the McClure Report’s recommendations, it’s Mission Australia’s experience that we’re a still a long way off from achieving its lofty goals of social and economic transformation.

Despite a strong start, the previous government’s approach to welfare reform was unbalanced and lacked coordination and integration. Ten years on we’ve failed to reap its full benefits and in some cases have gone backwards.

The current administration has the opportunity – particularly through its social inclusion agenda and the Henry Tax Review – to finish the job.

Among other things, that means simplifying the overly complex benefits system and introducing a single income support payment with a needs-based ‘add on’ bonus according to individual or family circumstances.

It also means removing remaining barriers to participation – such as the disincentives that exist in the current tax system for welfare recipients seeking to return to work.

We must tackle effective marginal tax rates so when an individual moves from welfare to employment they don’t suffer the double hit of income tax and a dramatic reduction in benefits.

As the majority of disadvantaged Australians are moving from income support to low paying jobs, the combination of income tax and a reduction in benefits is crippling.

And we need the Rudd Government to deliver its disability employment strategy.

While completing these reforms will be challenging and costly they will ultimately benefit us all via greater economic and social participation.

But if we don’t find the political will to see them through the gap between the job rich and job poor will become ever wider, condemning our most vulnerable communities to sclerotic levels of disadvantage.

Toby Hall, CEO, Mission Australia