Media coverage - Preston Leader: Garden grows for residents

From little things, big things grow is a theme East Reservoir's community garden has embraced.

Last week the first sod was turned at the East Reservoir Senior Citizens Centre by workers taking part in Mission Australia's Building Links program.

Urban Renewal has joined Apprenticeships Plus and Preston Reservoir Adult Community Education to employ 12 people to build the garden.

Nathaniel Hall, 27, said it was a great way to fulfil his ambition to work in landscaping and excavation.

"(The garden) will be good for the community (and) provide opportunities for people, especially senior citizens," Mr Hall said.

Darebin Mayor Diana Asmar said the community garden was designed for residents who did not have space for a garden or vegetable patch. The garden is expected to be completed by May 6.

Photo: Mission Australia supervisor Nathan East, trainee Nathaniel Hall and Darebin Mayor Diana Asmar. Photo by Adam Elwood, story courtesy of the Preston Leader

The Michael Project transforming the lives of homeless men

A Mission Australia initiative aimed at helping homeless men has shown early signs of success, with participants reporting improvements in their job prospects and housing circumstances after the first three months.

Men taking part in the program, The Michael Project, also reported having greater access to health services when they needed it and a decreased sense of social isolation.

The Michael Project is funded by a private donor. It aims to improve the lives of homeless men by simultaneously addressing their health, accommodation and other needs, such as literacy and computer skills.

Last year, Mission Australia released the first round of results from The Michael Project research study. This information was gathered from an initial survey of 253 homeless men and provided the most comprehensive profile of homeless adult men available in Australia.

This week, Mission Australia is releasing the second wave of results, showing how these men were faring three months into the project. Of the 253 men first surveyed, 147 were located and agreed to take part in the second survey. The results in this publication compare only the data for participants who responded to both the first and second surveys.

Of the men who were living in short to medium-term accommodation, about one in five had entered long-term housing and the proportion of those employed rose from 6.5 per cent to 19.6 per cent. Others had begun actively seeking employment.

Men who were initially surveyed in emergency accommodation, or through outreach services, were less likely to have found long-term accommodation and their employment circumstances had not changed.

In the first survey, one-third of participants said they felt they lacked the skills or education to find a job. Three months later, only 15 per cent of the men said they still felt that way and the percentage of men receiving wages or a salary rose from 6.5 per cent to 11.4 per cent.

The Michael Project combined accommodation services with assertive case management and 11 specialist services: dental, podiatry, psychology, drug and alcohol counselling, barber, occupational therapy recreation, literacy and numeracy, computer literacy, and two street-based health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander outreach services.

The project ran for three years and ended last year. Remaining data gathered during that time is due for release later this year. The results of the project will provide evidence for policies and programs.

The generous donor is now also funding the MISHA project, 'Michael's Intensive Supported Housing Accord'. It is a trial of an integrated program that provides long term stable accommodation and helps homeless men build the lives they would like to live.

The full report of the three-month results is available here:
How homeless men are faring: Some initial outcomes from The Michael Project

The first snapshot of participants in the project is available here:
Increasing our understanding of homeless men: The Michael Project

For additional copies, please contact Aimee Tyson on (02) 9217 2022 or email tysona@missionaustralia.com.au

Missionbeat nurse up for top national honour

Paul Esplin, a nurse who plays a vital role in our Missionbeat team by attending to the medical needs of Sydney’s homeless, is in the running to be named Nurse of the Year.

The well-deserved finalist in the Hesta Australian Nursing Awards joined the team in 2008 as The Michael Project Nurse (Medibeat Nurse). He is co-employed by St Vincent’s Hospital and Mission Australia to provide frontline medical care for the many men and women who sleep rough in the city’s streets.

Paul works alongside Missionbeat’s Community Service Workers to help meet the medical, social, mental health and housing needs of homeless people – some who have been living on the streets for decades. The Missionbeat team patrols the streets from 7am to 11pm daily.

“If the Missionbeat workers are worried about someone’s health I drive out to see them,” he said. “It can be any from a very simple thing to a complex health matter.

“I’m very privileged to work with Missionbeat and Mission Australia – it’s a great organisation and the Missionbeat team does an extraordinary job in very difficult circumstances. I’m just another outreach nurse doing their bit.

“Of course, it’s a huge privilege to be nominated – but it also reflects the importance of The Michael Project.”

The Michael Project was a three-year initiative working that provided a comprehensive network of support for homeless men across Sydney and enabled Mission Australia to identify programs, services and policies to overcome homelessness.

For Missionbeat Manager Daniel Petsalis, having Paul on the team has provided the perfect opportunity to engage with the city’s rough sleepers.

“Paul has had a huge affect on the health and wellbeing of Sydney’s rough sleepers,” Daniel said. “The fact that he can address their health needs on the spot – whether it’s by dressing a wound or organising a vitamin B or flu shot – has made such a difference.

“Crucially, he’s assisting those people who may not get to a doctor or hospital, and getting patched up on the street can mean the difference between stopping an infection from spreading or saving a leg from being lost to gangrene.”

The Hesta Nursing Awards, now in their fifth year, acknowledge outstanding nurses, midwives, personal care attendants and assistants in nursing. As a finalist, Paul will be judged on his exceptional contribution to improving care and outcomes for patients.

He will find out if he is Nurse of the Year at a gala dinner in Melbourne on 12 May.

For Missionbeat information and video footage visit www.missionbeat.com.au

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Missionbeat in the news

Missionbeat Manager Daniel Petsalis’s use of Twitter to assist Sydney’s homeless has made the pages of this week’s Woman’s Day.

Daniel, who now has over 1,000 followers on Twitter, spoke of how he uses technology to raise not only raise awareness of the service but also reach out to those in need:

“One lady was thinking about taking her own life and sent me a message via Twitter,” he told Woman’s Day. “I was in the right place at the right time. It meant I could send someone to help her.”

To support Mission Australia’s Missionbeat call 1800 888 868 or go to the ‘Donate Now’ button at the top left of our website

Media Release: Youth of Australia wanted for national survey

National Youth Week – 1-10 April

To coincide with National Youth Week, Mission Australia is calling on young people to help highlight important issues in their lives by having their say in the charity’s 2011 National Survey of Young Australians – the nation’s largest annual report on the views, concerns and values of young people between the ages of 11-24.

In launching the 2011 survey, Mission Australia’s CEO, Toby Hall, said it gave young people a voice across a range of issues with the information being used to help community groups and governments plan and develop youth services.

“Mission Australia’s annual youth survey is a ‘temperature check’ on what young people are feeling, what issues concern them, what they think are the main challenges facing the nation and how optimistic they are about the future,” said Mr Hall.

“Responses to the survey help governments, youth agencies and ourselves improve and develop programs and strategies that are shaped by the voices of young people themselves.”

Last year’s survey tested the views of more than 50,000 young people – its biggest group since the survey began in 2002 – between the ages of 11-24 (98 per cent aged 11-19).

When asked to rank their personal concerns from 15 issues body image was ranked most frequently in the top three by 31.1 per cent of respondents, followed by family conflict at 27.8 per cent and coping with stress at 27.3 per cent.

Body image was the leading issue of concern for 11-14 and 15-19 year olds and for females. Almost one-in-two 20-24 year olds considered it a major concern.

“Young people’s concerns can be quite volatile – moving around from year to year – and they differ between age groups so it’s important we conduct this survey annually, with as many participants as possible, to obtain an accurate picture.

“The range of concerns – from stress to depression, suicide and body image – also suggest young people are facing increased challenges as they make the transition from adolescence to adulthood,” said Mr Hall.

Mission Australia’s 2011 National Survey of Young Australians can be completed online at www.mayouthsurvey.com.au. It is also available at all Mission Australia services, secondary schools, TAFE facilities and libraries nationwide.

The survey closes on Friday, 1 July with the results to be published later in the year.

Further Reading

• National Survey webpage
  
• Coverage of the 2010 National Survey of Young Australians

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Media Release: Debut performer wins Urban Quest

It may have been his first-ever live performance on the big stage, but that didn’t stop Tevita Moala from singing his way to Urban Quest success over the weekend.

The 16-year-old Darwin High School student outperformed 10 other finalists to win the Mission Australia talent competition at the Darwin Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

The singing pianist brought many in the sold-out crowd to tears with his rendition of John Legend’s I won’t complain.

The young Kiwi national introduced the gospel song as a dedication to a friend in New Zealand who has muscular dystrophy.

Guest judge Deni Hines described Moala’s touching performance as better than that of John Legend’s.

“I want it on CD, ‘cause I’d buy it now,” the soul songstress said.

An overwhelmed Moala was lost for words at the win, scoring for himself 12 months mentoring from Music NT, cash and studio recording time.

“My friend Jeanie entered me in the competition, so if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t be here now,” Moala said.

“I was really nervous - this is the first time I’ve done something like this - but I just felt the music and am so happy.”

The Michael Buble and Temptations fan will now put his winnings to work as he pursues his musical dreams.

Jack and Sam Weaver and Peter Rautoka were equal runners-up in the competition, which raised funds for youth homeless across the Top End.

Australian pop idol Mark Holden awarded all three acts a “touchdown”, as well as 13-year-old Shiane Hawke with her collaboration of Amazing Grace and Duffy’s Mercy.

Beatboxer Kane Bishop was awarded Best Composition of the night.

Mission Australia Operations Manager Brad McIver said the night was a huge success and lifted the profile of youth homelessness.

“The money raised will support us to develop new accommodation for homeless youth in the NT and expand our current services and programs,” Mr McIver said.

“Every little bit helps and if we can make a difference in one of the 5,000 homeless Territory kids lives, then that’s what this event was all about.”

Urban Quest will become an annual fundraiser on the Mission Australia NT calendar.

For more information and interviews contact Domonique Young on 8941 9169 / 0433 447 255 or email domonique@creativeterritory.com.

View recent coverage of Urban Quest here

Transform a young life this Youth Week

Before Emma* came to Wagga Youth Connections the 20-year-old had spent four years moving from one refuge to another in the hope of finding a stable place to live.

She dreamt of being a police officer and having a place to call home.

Mission Australia staff at Youth Connections helped Emma to find independent accommodation and she happily settled in the area and established a daily routine and emotional stability.

Emma also attended life skills classes to learn how to manage her money as well as master day-to-day tasks like cooking meals, cleaning and working.

The young woman was recently accepted into the NSW police training course. With the support of Youth Connections staff, moved steadily towards her goal – working three part-time jobs, completing her First Aid Certificate and maintaining the fitness level required to join the police force.

Youth Connections is just one of more than 100 youth services Mission Australia provides to help young people overcome their challenges and get back on their feet.

Our range of youth services includes prevention and early intervention, counselling and case management, education and skills development, mentoring, and residential programs. We also offer innovative programs to encourage young people to stay at school as well as take advantage of further education to increase their employment opportunities.

This Youth Week you can help a young person who is battling drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness or other personal challenges to change their life. Show a young Australian you care by donating today.

* Name has been changed to protect the identity of the client.