Still caring after 75 years

Colin Shipway has enjoyed a long connection with Mission Australia, starting out as a volunteer with the Sydney City Mission – one of our founding organisations – back in 1936.

Seventy-five years later, Colin is still passionate about helping people to transform their lives. At a recent event held at the Country Women’s Association in Bowral, NSW, to thank our long-term supporters, Colin reminded guests that while the society has changed, compassion was still very much alive in modern Australia.

Here is an extract of what he shared with his fellow supporters and local Mission Australia staff from Big Heart Enterprises and Triple Care Farm – the Sir David Martin Foundation-supported residential program for young people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues:

“Let’s start at the beginning. In 1860 a young British migrant, Benjamin Short, left England for Australia. In his homeland he had taken part in gospel meetings held by the London City Mission… In 1862 he established the Sydney City Mission, which had the motto of ‘Need, not creed’.

“In 1936, I became a volunteer worker at the Paddington branch of Sydney City Mission… which is where I met my wife. After bible college training, I was invited to join the staff as a City Missionary. I served in Chippendale, Glebe, Waterloo, Newtown and Surry Hills and later in the office.

“In 1949 I was commissioned to set up a youth department and children’s and youth camping program. Sydney City Mission had property near Bowral adjoining the Mount Gibraltar Children’s Home, complete with huts built during the war by the Royal Australian Air Force.

“My wife Rosemary and I as well as staff and volunteers ran camps in Mount Gibraltar for 16 years – and I estimated that 3,000 young people from Sydney benefited from these programs. They enjoyed pictures and campfires, sang, played sport, caught yabbies, swam and went on bus trips. On one occasion when I was climbing with a group of boys, one little fellow grabbed my hand, looked up to me and said: “Gee, I wish you were my dad - and I melted on the spot...

“In the 1960s I was brought into City Mission office to set up a family counselling service and attend to the admission of children into our homes at Cronulla, Woodford and here at Bowral.

At first these homes were for malnourished children or those who needed a holiday in the country, but then more children were coming from broken homes… As society changed, long-time care of children in homes was seen to be inappropriate, so the homes closed and we worked to support child to stay with their own families.

“I was involved with Sydney City Mission for 39 years, working as a City Missionary for 32 - I’m now in my 90th year… I’m happy to say that today all around Australia lives are continuing to be transformed by the ever-increasing work of Mission Australia.”

Thank you, Colin, for your inspiring example and tireless support of children and families in need.

Mission Australia is always looking for volunteers. Find out how you can use your time and talents to help transform lives - missionaustralia.com.au/volunteer-at-mission-australia

Pretend welfare reform will do nothing for jobless

Welfare reform is back on the agenda in a big way – or so it seems.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard recently stared down colleagues who wanted her to water down tougher penalties for unemployed people who failed to meet their job-seeking obligations.

And yesterday Opposition Leader Tony Abbott raised a number of proposals including getting rid of unemployment benefits in areas where work is plentiful.

All interesting stuff – but is it real welfare reform? Not by a long shot.

What we’re seeing here is the pretence of welfare reform. Action at the margins aimed at addressing some of the challenges facing the country in terms of workforce participation but nothing that will make a serious and long-lasting difference.

Australia needs root-and-branch welfare reform – reform that tackles the complexity of the income support system including how it interacts with the tax system, that reconsiders and possibly reinvents the nation’s approach to supporting disabled people, that takes a balanced approach to assisting long-term unemployed people into the workforce and doesn’t fall into the trap of ‘‘all stick and no carrot’’.

The last attempt at wholesale reform – on the back of the McClure Report 11 years ago – was ultimately shelved by the Howard government.

The reforms recommended by Patrick McClure, which aimed to leave no income support recipient worse off, were rejected in favour of a piecemeal approach that favoured penalties over incentives.

Eleven years on, we’re still wrestling with the same old issues.

Too many jobless families, too many people on disability support, too many long-term unemployed people wasting away without fulfilling their potential.

If there’s one set of statistics that exposes the ongoing failure of Australia’s welfare system it’s the extraordinary growth in the numbers of people receiving the Disability Support Pension (DSP) in the past 20 years.

In 1991 there were a little more than 300,000 DSP recipients. Twenty years later that number is rapidly approaching 800,000.

During that time Australia’s population grew by more than 30 per cent while disability pension numbers rose by more than 130 per cent.

As a recent report by the Whitlam Institute makes clear: ‘‘Over 56 per cent of people moving on the DSP have moved to this benefit from another income support payment – over 35 per cent from an unemployment benefit. They have moved from a benefit where the search for work is expected to one where it is not.’’

The numbers of people on the DSP are growing without check. More of the same isn’t going to address this problem and nor are simplistic suggestions to withdraw income support in regions where jobs like fruit picking are available.

What nobody wants to admit is that real welfare reform is expensive – hideously so – but then even more financially debilitating is letting the current situation continue.

But if we’re not in a position to fund these changes now – when Australia’s economy leads the world and we stand on the cusp of an extraordinary commodities boom – then when?

Many DSP recipients want to work. The keys to reaching these hundreds of thousands of people are to make sure they receive the training they need to fill vacancies in industries starved of employees; that they’re not financially worse off as they make the move to employment; and that they get the support they need for non-vocational issues.

In other words, we need to provide DSP recipients who are capable of work with a pathway to employment.

Part of the solution could be found in the area of social procurement – governments and businesses providing a social outcome when they buy a good or service.

There is plenty of scope for government to show leadership and provide thousands of employment and work experience opportunities for people locked out of the labour market by procuring goods or staff that deliver a social dividend.

Then there is the vexing issue of effective marginal tax rates – the perversity of people on low incomes facing higher tax rates than wealthy individuals as they move into the workforce simply because of the way the tax and income support systems interact.

How can we expect people on benefits to pursue work when they are slugged financially for their efforts? Where’s the incentive?

It’s not my desire to be uncharitable. I’m glad that welfare reform is being discussed. It recognises at least that our leaders are aware that there is a problem.

Much of what the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader are talking about can be achieved through changes to the nation’s employment service system – that’s absolutely appropriate and sensible.

But let’s not pretend it’s real welfare reform.

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Toby Hall is the Chief Executive Officer of Mission Australia


This piece was published in the National Times on 1 April 2011

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Earth Hour 2011: Beyond the hour

At 8:30pm on Saturday, lights will switch off around Australia for Earth Hour. This year’s theme, ‘Beyond the hour’, aims to encourage people who are turning off their lights to think about an area of their daily life they can make lasting changes to.

This commitment to change has already been made by Mission Australia as we strive to be not only socially responsible, but also environmentally responsible.

We know we won’t turn ourselves into a “green machine” overnight, but each small step we make takes us further along the path and builds a groundswell of support that drives further improvements.

For many people, Earth Hour is a great opportunity to get re-acquainted with the charm of candles. What is probably not as widely known is your choice of candle can also have an impact on the environment - so here is a quick guide:

There are four main types of candles: paraffin, soy, palm and beeswax. Although paraffin accounts for approximately 90% of the world’s candle sales, it is the worst of the four options from an environmental perspective. It’s made from crude oil, releases soot and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air and doesn’t burn as long as the other three options.

As agricultural crops, both soy and palm wax have an advantage over paraffin, however increasing amounts of soy and substantial amounts of palm oil come from once-lush rainforests that have been cleared to plant these crops. The destruction of this habitat is a major cause in the decline of orangutans and several other species in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Beeswax is sourced from a natural process, doesn’t encourage deforestation, generates minimal carbon emissions and can improve the air we breathe. It’s an obvious winner followed by soy (as long as you know where it comes from), then palm candles.

Let’s hope that this year’s Earth Hour will spark lasting change both at home and across the globe.

Story from Anthony Ogilvie, Mission Australia’s Sustainability Manager

Media release: Good business can be a laughing matter

Any comedian will tell you comedy can be hard work. Adelaide’s Ben Darsow found a novel way to make it a bit easier.

The up-and-coming stand-up comedian from Plympton honed both his business and his performance skills with support from Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS)* and started 2011 with a diary booked solid through to June.

“The program made it clear to me that developing as a performer and managing the business side of being a performer were very different tasks and reinforced the importance of focussing attention on both of them,” he said.

“It was a real transition phase. I moved from performing as a hobby for pocket money to being able to sustain a new mortgage and a suitable lifestyle solely off being a professional stand-up comedian.

“The mentoring and interaction with other fresh business owners really helped me with my marketing, admin and decision making about my professional direction and I feel worlds ahead of where I was 12 months ago.”

Immediately after completing the program Ben was able to quit his casual job and start a new work schedule that will include performances at this year’s Adelaide Fringe (his show, ‘No Such Thing as Normal,’ will be performed at Sugar nightclub on Rundle Streeet, Adelaide).

“Given the idea of the program is to help people progress past needing other sources of income that was uncannily fitting,” he said.

NEIS is funded by the Australian Government to help job seekers successfully set up their own small businesses. Participants receive payments for a year, are assigned a mentor and assisted to develop management skills and a business plan.

“It is one of the most successful labour market programs in Australia because it teaches people to avoid the pitfalls that cause so many new small businesses to fail in the first year,” said Mission Australia’s Warren Silverston.

“Most people don’t think of someone in the creative or performing arts when they think of successful small businesses but the arts add millions of dollars to the Australian economy every year and employ thousands of people.

“There’s no reason people with a creative gift like Ben’s can’t learn to turn their passion into a livelihood. NEIS’s role was to provide the support, guidance and expertise to assist them to make a go of it and channel their talent in a targeted and professional way.”

Reviews suggest Ben has the comedy skills to match his new business prowess. He’s been called “a genuinely funny bugger” (The Advertiser) and his material has been labelled as “hilarious and self deprecating; comedy gold” (Melbourne International Comedy Festival).

For more information, please contact Renae Sullivan at Rann Communication on (08) 8211 7771 or visit Ben’s website at www.bendarsow.com; or ring Ben on 0417 875 043.

*Mission Australia’s New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) is funded by the Australian Government to help job seekers set up their own successful small businesses. Around 900 people participate in NEIS through Mission Australia every year in every state and territory

Opinion: Private capital can be key to social change

There are plenty of social services we should pay for out of basic human decency, despite the cost.

It’s what Australians like to call ‘giving people a fair go’.

What most of us fail to realise, is that many social services can also show a significant return on investment over time.

And in a surprise turn, it’s the much maligned NSW Government that has lead the country by announcing the trial of Australia’s first Social Impact Bond (SIB); a financial instrument designed to provide capital to successful social programs which show a return to investors.

The SIB trial will be modelled on a similar program in the UK and will require the cooperation of government, investors and the community sector.

The principle is fairly simple.

Governments fund social programs which save them money – they’re just not good at quantifying it, particularly when the returns will come years down the track.

In the juvenile justice area for example, there are inexpensive and successful diversionary programs aimed at reducing rates of recidivism.

Reducing recidivism saves the cost of incarceration, which in NSW is around $150,000 to keep one young person locked up for a year.

Our own research shows that by reducing reoffending and time spent in jail, you also reduce adverse health and welfare outcomes and increase the rate of employment, which not only saves money but increases revenue through income tax and GST.

Unfortunately the money available from governments to scale this kind of program is more often than not tied up in the aftermath of ‘tough on crime’ sentencing and providing detention.

But by issuing a SIB, it opens opportunities for private investment.

For example, the government sells the bond – linked to a juvenile justice program - to private investors.

If the program achieves an agreed reduction in recidivism, then the government pays a return to the investor on top of their original debt obligations.

The NSW Government is estimating savings of between $4 and $17 for every $1 it invests which suggest there’s plenty of potential upside to cover the costs and then some.

It’s a wide range, but it’s a new area and there’s still lots of hard work to be done.

For one, investors and government will need to build their capacity to run the ruler over social programs the way they do with potential commercial investments.

Which funds manager will advise a retiree to invest in a social bond if they have no idea if the ‘business’ behind it is sound?

There’s also a question about who carries the risk – is this really a social bond or are you buying equity so that if the program fails you do your dough?

We also need to be wary of the fact that these are people’s lives we’re talking about – we’re not investing in widgets. Any development of SIBs needs to be based on a sophisticated understanding of the issues involved and their impact on individuals, families and communities.

But we shouldn’t allow the prospect of hard work and the need for deeper examination to dissuade us from pursuing SIBs; there are some very attractive features of creating this kind of tradable instrument.

Capital will naturally flow to the most successful programs.

It should encourage innovation, because investors can choose to put money into interesting projects politicians could struggle to get through Treasury or justify to voters…however strong the case.

Community service providers will be pushed to demonstrate tangible outcomes rather than outputs – something we shouldn’t be afraid to do.

And it provides another product for the burgeoning ethical investment market, which will in turn help increase the pool of private capital available to fund successful social programs.

Most importantly, it will allow larger-scale investment with long-lead returns which the three or four year government cycle makes nigh on impossible.

SIBs won’t solve every problem, but you’d be surprised how much money could be saved by investing upfront in solving social ills rather than perpetuating them.

Homelessness, early interventions for children with disabilities and treating people with a mental illness are all areas where investing now can show great returns in the long run.

We use bonds to fund rail and road – so why not social infrastructure?

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Toby Hall is the Chief Executive Officer of Mission Australia


This piece was published in the National Times on 14 January

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Me in My World 'photovoice' exhibition off to a great start

Mission Australia recently announced the launch of a dynamic photographic exhibition showcasing the artistic talents of young people who have accessed Mission Australia community services in south-west WA.

The Me and My World exhibition was opened by WA State Director Ross Kyrwood at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, and attended by local MP Nola Marino, Mission Australia staff, the young participants in the project, and other agencies and members of the community.

This is the third year the photographic project has been run with the young clients from Bunbury, who are not only developing their talents but also giving back to the community by donating the proceeds of their photographic sales to Mission Australia's south-west WA community services.

The exhibition will run until the 7th November - for location details visit www.brag.org.au/page.php?id=104. 
 
Scroll down for previews of some of the works:

Opinion: Wrong sort of record to set on young jobless

Victoria has the highest youth unemployment in the country. Why?

Melbourne's north-west achieved a dubious distinction in the latest unemployment data - it has the worst youth unemployment rate in Victoria.

In the region - bounded by the suburbs of Brunswick, Sunbury and Kalkallo - 55 per cent of 15 to 19-year-olds are not in full-time work or education. Even more concerning, Victoria now has the worst youth unemployment rate in the country at 28 per cent.

And yet the irony is the state continues to deliver some of the best jobs growth in the country.

So what's going on? Why are so many young Victorians out of work - or not in touch with education and training - and why is the situation getting worse?

As politicians and media focus on Australia's ability or luck in avoiding the ravages of the global financial meltdown - and the potential for a new economic boom - it's worth reflecting on how we've allowed a situation like this to develop and what we can do about it.

Historically, young Australians bear a disproportionate burden during economic crises. They also have the least resources to fall back on and are the last to benefit when things pick up.

That's because during a downturn it's the casual, part-time and lower skilled jobs in the labour market - the type of jobs young people rely on - that are first to go and the last to return.

We also know through our research and experience in Melbourne's disadvantaged communities that there is a growing disconnect between labour supply and demand.

Businesses need job-ready applicants with minimal fuss. The steadily rising tide of young job seekers don't have the employability skills required.

Beset by a range of challenges in their families and communities - domestic violence, family conflict and truancy - it's no wonder that youth unemployment is growing and perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage as these young men and women grow up and have children of their own.

How can we start turning things around? A local area-based, employer-first, co-ordinated approach is required that identifies job needs, builds trust with businesses and focuses on transitions to work for young people so they can fill available vacancies.

The jobs are there; we need to make sure that young people have the capacity to take them. The tough news is that building up this sort of approach takes time, perseverance, innovation and resources. The key is integrated programs that offer structured work experience, support to overcome non-vocational barriers, and appropriate training that fill the requirements of local industries.

These young people are not going to be perfect employees immediately. They need to be given an environment to make mistakes, appreciate the value of a wage and receive support from mentors and a new peer group.

Programs that provide all these things, and also link business, training, employment and community service organisations, are not easy, fast or traditional.

One example where it's working is with Jayco, which, along with other Dandenong businesses, has been partnering with Mission Australia to move unemployed young Sudanese men into local jobs - an initiative supported by the Victorian government and two progressive philanthropic trusts, the Felton Bequest and the Bennelong Foundation.

It has been a challenging process but the efforts are starting to bear fruit, as these young job seekers take up positions with Jayco and other local employers and begin their careers.

There's no silver bullet - this particular initiative has taken two years of hard work to put together - but that's the sort of commitment required if we are serious about breaking the back of this problem.

Another approach is the use of social enterprises: projects that combine a commercial business with personal support and training. They are notoriously difficult to get up and running, but over the past three years Mission Australia's Urban Renewal landscaping and construction business has enabled more than 100 early school leavers to enter careers in trades by giving them experience.

Another idea being trialled in Britain is private investors investing in ''social impact bonds''. Such bonds are about attracting non-government investment for community programs that otherwise would not get off the ground for lack of government funding.

Returns for investors come via a proportion of the government funds that are saved from not having to provide a range of other acute related support.

For example, by investing in bonds, businesses could benefit from accessing some of the funds government saves on income support because the young person is now in a job.

It is important to remember we all have a stake in this. Governments can provide the resources and policy settings but businesses, community agencies and individual families need to be prepared to put in the hard graft to arrive at a solution.

The bottom line is our businesses need workers and our young people need to work.

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Paul Bird is Mission Australia's Victorian state director

This piece was published in The Age on 14th October 2010

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Mission Australia set to launch local photo exhibition

Mission Australia will launch a dynamic photographic exhibition showcasing the artistic talents of young people living in the South West region of WA.

The 'Me and My World' exhibition involves a display of photography contributions from young people aged between 10-22 years, who have accessed Mission Australia's programs run across the South West.

Mission Australia Team Leader - South West, Tammy Scott said the budding artists were provided with digital cameras and produced some amazing images.

"This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the world through the eyes of South West young people - it was a chance for these young people to showcase how they see themselves, their community and life in regional WA." Tammy said.

The photographs will be on display at the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery

Exhibition date: 14th October - 7th November 2010
Launch: 13th October 2010
When: 3:00 start, official launch 3:30pm. Close 5.00pm
Where: Bunbury Regional Art Gallery, Wittenoom Street Bunbury

Interview and photo opportunities:

• Tammy Scott, Mission Australia Team Leader - South West
• The photo exhibition and launch

Media enquiries: John Cooke, PPR, 9388 0944 or 0433 679 780

Shane turns his life around

Shane*, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, had little interest in school. By the age of 14, he had disengaged from mainstream education and was getting himself in trouble with the police.

He first heard about the innovative U-Turn automotive training course from a local police officer. U-Turn is a diversionary program for young people who have been involved in, or who are at risk of becoming involved in, motor vehicle theft.

The core component of the program is a structured 10-week automotive training course in car maintenance and body work, delivered in a workshop environment.

Earlier this year, Shane joined U-Turn for the last five weeks of Course 25. The teenager did so well in that time that he ended up winning the Most Outstanding Graduate Award. This award is sponsored by Hazell Brothers, a large Tasmanian construction firm.

Shane has since managed to secure permanent employment with Hazell Brothers. However, he still attends U-Turn three afternoons a week to improve his literacy and numeracy skills.

As his confidence grows, he is increasingly in a better position to manage the effects of ADHD and connect with the community.

This young man is continuing to do well and is a great example of how giving rewards for work well done and opportunities can break negative cycles.

“I’ve learn about spray-painting, mechanics and panel-beating, he says. “U-Turn is good – it keeps you out of trouble. It’s stopped me doing a lot of things I used to do. It’s helped me. They’re good people who help you all the time.”

*Name has been changed.

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Three U-Turn clients were recently featured in our 'MATV' series of videos - view below or visit our channel at youtube.com/missionaust

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Roma House residents take on Adventure Based Learning

Roma House is widely considered to be a unique and therapeutic community service that endeavours to provide a range of intervention options to its residents.

The new “Wild Earth Adventure” project was implemented as an additional intervention / program option at Roma House and runs complementary to residents’ ongoing case work plans.

Roma House has conducted eight adventure programs over six months ranging from co-ed day trips (e.g. rope challenge courses) to multi-day journey based programs (e.g. canoe/camping adventures along the Noosa River).

The programs are designed to challenge residents’ physical, emotional, and mental capabilities, and comfort zones that can be processed during individual and group debriefing.

Amanda Smith, Roma House’s adventure based program worker, holds great stock in the potential that adventure therapy can offer participants.

Amanda’s unassuming approach recognises that people with transient lifestyles may have had few opportunities to experience the ‘wilderness’ and the activities it offers. She believes access to which is a human right, and is consistently amazed by participants’ capability and determination.

The programs are drug and alcohol free and physically and mentally strenuous. Accommodation isn’t luxurious and the itineraries are hectic.  They are completely voluntary and participation is determined in consultation with a case worker and resident nurse to ensure safety for all residents.

"Getting the Wild Earth Adventure Project off the ground has definitely been challenging, yet the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

"We have had fantastic feedback from the residents, and over 40% of participants have come on more than one adventure" Amanda said.

Amanda is now consulting with residents and staff to create the most dynamic, adventurous, and unforgettable eight-month calendar to support participants continuation of their self-identified journeys.  One idea that has ignited interest from residents is a four day sea kayaking / camping trip to Fraser Island during whale watching season.

If you are interested in donating any gear (eg: boots, camp clothing etc) or making financial contributions to the program please email Amanda at: SmithAma@missionaustralia.com.au or phone: 07 3839 1826

To read the full story visit this link:  www.qshelter.asn.au/journals/the-quarterly-march-2010.

This is an excerpt from page 8 of the March edition of The Quarterly - the publication of Queensland Shelter.

Shhhh….Let’s HUSH to help homeless Australians

Ten days to go until HUSH for Homelessness - Friday, 14 May 2010

Who knew giving your friends, family and workmates the silent treatment could help so many people?

It’s only ten days until Mission Australia’s HUSH for Homelessness so it’s now time to join in!

Symbolising the 'voiceless' lives that homeless Australians lead, HUSH for Homelessness is Australia’s biggest annual fundraising event to tackle homelessness.

On any given night in Australia, almost 105,000 men, women and children are homeless with a staggering 43% aged under 25 years*.

Mission Australia is asking you to challenge yourself or someone else to experience what it’s like to be voiceless on Friday, 14 May. It’s easy to get involved. Participants are simply asked to be silent for an hour or more and to seek sponsorship from family, friends and workmates for their efforts.

“This year, we are also encouraging people to go online to nominate who you would most like to ‘HUSH’ on Friday 14 May,” says Mission Australia’s CEO Toby Hall.

“It’s a fun way of asking people to put their money where their mouth is – to ‘zip it’ for an hour on HUSH for Homelessness day.

“We feel that by being silent for an hour or more, participants obtain a glimpse of the voiceless lives Australia’s homeless face on a day to day basis – gaining greater understanding of their plight – while at the same time raising funds for this important cause.”

All money raised will go to Mission Australia’s services providing crisis care, transitional or medium-term accommodation and essential support for homeless men, women and children. For information and to register please visit: www.hushforhomelessness.com.au

For more information and images, please contact: Sally Popplestone, Media Co-ordinator Mission Australia
M: 0415 547 626.
E: popplestones@missionaustralia.com.au

*ABS 2008. Counting the Homeless, 2006. Australian Census Analytic Program.

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Visit to Wenona Junior School

Rupert, our cheeky HUSH ambassador, along with friends Joy Hopwood and Dan Petsalis of Missionbeat, visited Sydney's Wenona Junior School last Thursday to speak at the school assembly about HUSH for Homelessness 2010.

Last year Wenona Junior School raised over $6,000 for HUSH and hope to beat their record this year - many thanks to all involved for a fantastic contribution to the cause!

Appearing in photo (left to right):
Year 5 students: Anna Mansfield, Hannah Lawton, Rhiannon Lloyd, Isabella Rooney.
Back: Dan Petsalis, Missionbeat manager, Rupert, Joy Hopwood and Mark Case, the student's Year 5 teacher.

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Early Christmas cheer for Sydney's homeless community

Christmas will arrive a little earlier for around 100 homeless and disadvantaged Sydneysiders this year when AGL throws its annual Christmas lunch at the Mission Australia Centre today.

Volunteers from AGL – including CEO, Michael Fraser – will put on a well-deserved Christmas lunch with all the trimmings for those doing it tough living in Sydney’s inner city. From catering through to gifts, and even providing the entertainment, AGL volunteers will unleash their Christmas cheer to celebrate the festive season.

With the event now in its seventh year Michael Fraser said AGL and its staff were committed to making a difference in disadvantaged communities using a combination of their expertise and enthusiasm.

“It’s been a tough year but none more so for the individuals who’ll be sharing this Christmas event with us. It’s one of the high points of our year to spend time at the Mission Australia Centre and it brings home the real meaning of Christmas to everyone involved,” he said.

“AGL is a close partner of Mission Australia’s and we sincerely welcome the commitment and contribution of its staff,” said Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall.

“This is a great example of the way corporates can help strengthen communities.”

The first service of its kind built in Australia, the Mission Australia Centre (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.

Mission Australia announces winner of Anti-Poverty Week competition

Early in October Mission Australia launched the Anti-Poverty Week competition to raise awareness around the issue of poverty and engage people in what they could do to help.

Entrants were asked to prepare a short video - no longer than 60 seconds - addressing what they would do to alleviate poverty if they were Prime Minister for a day to help mark Anti-Poverty Week (11-17 October).

Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, announced the winner this week to be The Rotary Club of Revesby-Wirrimbirra. One member of the winning team will be flown to Canberra to meet the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion, Senator Ursula Stephens, to discuss the club's idea.

Congratulations to the winners for a fantastic idea!

To view the winning video on Youtube, follow this link:  www.youtube.com/user/RotaryRW

Mission Australia launches Christmas Lunch in the Park 2009

Mission Australia will host the 34th Annual Christmas Lunch in the Park in Perth again this year. While for many Australians Christmas is a time of festivity, many less fortunate families and individuals with fewer resources may find the season isolating and lonely.

Mission Australia - with over 400 generous volunteers - are hosting Christmas Lunch in the Park again in 2009 to provide these families and individuals a place to enjoy a Christmas Lunch and celebrate the occasion with the wider community.

In previous years we have had up to 2,000 guests and expect to attract similar numbers this year.

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The new Christmas Lunch in the Park 2009 website has been launched, where you can find more information on the event or if you wish to contribute to its success.

Our generous contributors in the past have been able to help by donating presents or by making a direct donation to the event. 

For more information visit www.missionpromotion.com/clip/

Due to an overwhelming response from the public we no longer require volunteers for Christmas Lunch in the Park 2009. 

Mission Australia thanks all enquirers for their generosity.

Opinion: Charities capitalise on business to fight poverty

With over 20,000 homeless people in Victoria, we need to rethink our strategies to combat the rise of poverty in our society.

Whether we like it or not, the gap between those who have and those who have not is growing.

Enter social enterprise – a proven method in the fight against injustice, inequity and disadvantage in communities around the world.

Many charities are using the power of social enterprise to harness commercial businesses as their modus operandi. These businesses are driven not by profit, but by opportunity – giving those without power and voice a chance to participate in on equal terms.

Last week, 600 devoted social innovators from across the globe came to Melbourne to discuss emerging trends, successful models and cutting edge techniques to decrease the rise of poverty throughout the world. These international experts were seeking an innovative marriage of business and charity – the merging of market with social purpose.

Social enterprises unite communities to get a fairer deal. When exploitative factory owners and shopkeepers charged exorbitant prices in England in the industrial revolution 150 years ago, a group of workers established their own shop to provide quality and affordable food to their community and the first social enterprise was born.

Through the support of governments, the last fifteen years has seen a resurgence in social enterprise. The value of social enterprise has been recognised as the combination of local agencies and passionate people understanding local needs. Coupled with an entrepreneurial and creative approach, bit-by-bit these businesses are effectively responding to the needs of disadvantaged communities.

By providing services where little or none existed, social enterprises can give communities the public services it needs. By creating jobs for unemployed people excluded from the labour market due to their low level of educational attainment and life skills, such as early school leavers, social enterprises provide real work experience, training and allow a sustainable pathway to employment.

The most successful economies from around the world have adopted the social enterprise ethos. From coffee to construction, from landscaping to logistics, from packaging to painting, from markets to manufacturing, from recycling to repairs, from nurseries to newspapers, from hotels to health, from gyms to geraniums, from insurance to funeral homes, there are over 55,000 social enterprises in the United Kingdom alone.

The largest credit union in Canada, Vancity Credit Union has 310,000 members and provides financial support to people who have been ignored or forgotten by the larger commercial banks as well as helping charities to build their own asset base.

The world’s largest social enterprise, the Mondragón Corporacion Cooperativa in Spain, comprises 120 companies, employs 42,000 worker-owners, runs 43 schools and one college, generates more than $4.8 billion annually in manufacturing, services, retail and wholesale distribution, and administers more than $5 billion in financial assets.

Over the last ten years in Australia, the South Australian and Victorian Governments have led the recognition and revival of social enterprises, ably assisted by groups that target and sponsor unique and viable social enterprise ideas, like Social Traders.

Initially through training programs, not-for-profit groups such as Mission Australia have set up social enterprises that provide opportunities for disadvantaged and jobless Australians to get a job.

Trainees are offered integrated personal skills development and accredited training that aims to enable the transition to sustainable mainstream employment.

Social enterprises such as the Urban Renewal, a landscaping and construction business, provides an entry to the job market for young people that have limited employment prospects due to poor life and relationship skills, low educational attainment, mental health, drug and alcohol issues.

The life and job skills developed in social enterprises enable the job-seeker to find rewarding and sustainable employment in the long term.

Thanks to dedicated and skilled managers and team leaders, in running businesses such as Urban Renewal and the Charcoal Lane Aboriginal restaurant in Fitzroy, Mission Australia offers quality and value for money services to government and the public. We do not want pity. We want the opportunity to showcase the skills of people who don’t get that opportunity to demonstrate what they’re capable of.

As we reflect on the ways we can seek to draw members of our society out of poverty, Australia must share the faith of this unique marriage of business and charity. But even with the welcome support of the Commonwealth Government through the Jobs Fund initiative, the number of social enterprises in Australia remains relatively small.

In order for Australia to harness the power of social enterprise to provide jobs in our high unemployment and disadvantaged communities and get people off the streets of our cities, regional and rural areas, we need the investment and recurrent assistance from Australian governments and social investors.

Social Enterprise can help create a fairer Australia.

Paul Bird is the Victorian State Director of Mission Australia