November

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

As we move towards the end of the year the pace of reform is not slowing in several areas of great importance to Anglicare Australia and our member’s clients.

 

Whilst Anglicare Australia is clear that our primary advocacy is with and on behalf of those who are vulnerable of disadvantage, a strong and accountable community sector is of paramount importance in achieving this.  The Not for Profit Sector Reform Council has now been appointed for a second year with all members, including myself, recommitting to the important and prolific workload. The reforms in the Not for Profit sector are certainly not slowing as we move into the Christmas period.

 

Consultations on both the Definition of Charity and National Fundraising Reforms are currently in the public space and consultations on the legislation for the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC) and on Review of Governance Arrangements are expected in the next couple of weeks.

Add to this the effect of the imminent Fair Work decision on the SACS award and we have a pretty volatile environment.

 

The importance of a vibrant Not For Profit sector is recognised by many of us acknowledging the role not only of community sector organisations in caring but the role of the broader sector and its place in civil society.  Membership of local community co-ops, child care centres, arts or sporting groups help keep us knitted into a society and prevent us being simply a mass of customers with one way relationships with shops and service providers.

 

Minister Tanya Plibersek yesterday announced the National Volunteering Strategy detailing how volunteering will be encouraged, supported and recognised over the next decade.  Anglicare Australia members enjoy the loyalty of over 16,000 volunteers and many of our services could not run without them.  Volunteering is used as a measure of social capital and on an individual level as one of inclusion.  However longer working hours and increased pressures have led to a decrease in volunteering from people under 45.  The ACTU are leading an inquiry into the effects of insecure work, which along with workplace flexibility greatly effects people’s time in this age group. Anglicare Australia will be submitting a response to this enquiry and an outline of our response and contact for you to add input is in this edition of Aspect.

 

Special Interest Networks are a key way in which Anglicare Australia members build on their knowledge and skills to develop better services for their clients.  The CFO network is made up of those people in a Chief Financial Officer role.  This group will be working together on the implications from the Fair Work decision and we will be able to share that work across the wider network, especially to smaller organisations that don’t have that sort of role.

 

For a very good overview on the reform agenda follow this link for a paper by Prolegis lawyers, Anne Robinson and John King.

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NATIONAL OFFICE NEWS

Anglicare Australia Housing Work

Recently Anglicare Australia established a Housing and Homelessness network. Like the many other special interest networks within the broader Anglicare Australia membership, this network aims to build the capacity of individual agencies by coming together to share information and opportunities in a collegial environment. The network, though developing its own agenda, will also inform the work of Anglicare Australia more broadly.

 

Housing and Homelessness is a major issue underpinning, relating to or associated with nearly every other wicked problem faced by our members. It is itself a wicked problem with no clear strategy or response on how to overcome the issues inherent with-in it. This was made particularly clear at the recent Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) conference: Beyond the NAHA, where the benefits and limitations of the current NAHA were explored as were aspects which might be adopted in the next iteration. Highlighted were the seemingly intractable issues which pervade this space such as exit points and private rental right through to tax treatments and attracting private investment etc. Issues such as these were reiterated when AHURI Executive Director Dr Ian Winter attended our most recent Council dinner as a guest.

 

Anglicare Australia will be working in and around these issues and partnerships such as those we’re forming with other organisations like AHURI in addition to the work of networks such as the Housing and Homelessness network that will support that work.

 

If you would like more information on the Housing and Homelessness network please contact Michelle.

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Submission on Work Security

The ACTU has initiated an inquiry, to be chaired by Brian Howe, into insecure work in Australia. The inquiry will investigate insecure work and its impacts on work and social lives. Anglicare Australia will be making a submission to the inquiry citing the tensions between greater flexibility in the workplace and greater security; the impact of the funding cycle on work security and the balance to be struck between the long-term gains of employee satisfaction and the short-term savings on reduced industrial relations obligations.

The main points for addressing are as follows:

• For those who are on the edges of employment; who are entering the market after a long absence, those with informal qualifications, and who undertake work traditionally casualised, insecure work conditions has them caught in  an impossible position. On the one side they experience unstable or uncertain working conditions on the other there are rising house prices, costs of living, competitive and increasingly costly rental markets, rising utility prices and any number of other life-stage events hinging on the individuals capacity to earn a stable and secure income.
• The tension between gains made from worker satisfaction and savings made by reducing IR obligations.
• In the community sector, given its demographic make-up, greater flexibility in workplace arrangements has been sought to accommodate other aspects of an employee’s life, such as caring commitments, other family commitments, work/life balance and other aspects. In contrast however, greater security is sought due to the highly casualised and temporary nature of the positions offered.
• In the community sector, temporary and casualised positions are impacted by the certainty or rather uncertainty of Government funding of programs. The Government commitment to three year funding cycles is promising however, some organisations are managing upwards of 100 government contracts from both state and federal levels and not all of these are yet subject to ongoing funding. The uncertainty promulgated by this type of arrangement makes it difficult for community sector employers to provide sufficient certainty of employment, particularly at coal-face staffing levels. These workers have the greatest interaction with clients, where the majority of care work is undertaken and yet it is also this level of staff which can least afford uncertainty of employment.

Other considerations:

• Paid leave entitlements in casualised employment.
• Flow on effects to families of insecure work
• NFP employers balancing competing priorities: demand of clients; flexible workplaces; and attracting/retaining staff.
• The effect of the volunteer workforce: greater professionalization of volunteering roles but not at a level which substantiates total FTE.

If you would like to make a submission to the inquiry the Terms of Reference may be found on the ACTU website www.securejobs.org.au, if you would like to contribute to the Anglicare Australia submission please contact Michelle by 14 December 2011.

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NETWORK NEWS

Aspect Network Edition

With the end of the year, often comes reflection on the work that has brought us to this point. There is good work happening right round the network with much of it known only to those closely involved. Here at Anglicare Australia we have a sense of the great achievements being made on the ground in each and every member organisation and we feel that there is much to be shared and learnt from each other.

The January edition of Aspect will again be about just that. Highlighting and focussing on the great work that all of the members in the network are undertaking to improve the lives of the people in their communities. 

 

If you have a program that works well, an individual that has excelled or given their very best, a case study you would like to share, an event that is coming up or that has occurred, a project you would like to propose, anything or everything about your organisation or the work that you do, we’d like to hear about it.

 

If you would like to make a contribution contact Michelle for further details.

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Spiritus to become Anglicare Southern Queensland

From Spiritus

Queensland aged care and social services provider, Spiritus, has announced it will change its name to Anglicare Southern Queensland – taking effect from March 2012. The name change more clearly describes the caring nature of the organisation and best reflects its role in the Anglican Church and the broader community.

 

The decision comes after extensive consultation that included seeking the views of staff, clients, funders, donors, community groups, the national Anglicare network and the broader Anglican Church community. The results of the 10 month project identified the advantages of connecting with a brand synonymous with an established nationwide network of Anglican care organisations committed to building resilience, hope and justice in their communities.

 

Spiritus’ Executive Director, Della Warren, said the change of name would heighten awareness of the contribution that the organisation and the Church makes as a member of Anglicare Australia and the diverse range of care services that are offered.

 

“This is a start of a new chapter in the organisation’s proud 130-year history,” she said.

“Although our name will change, our commitment remains the same – to empower the aged, disadvantaged and marginalised to live their lives in fullness.

 

“As Anglicare Southern Queensland we will continue the service tradition of delivering quality aged care, enabling people to lead healthy and independent lives in their own homes and in specialist residential homes.

 

“People in need are supported by our social service programs that include foster care, counselling, disability services, youth services, refugee assistance, homelessness assistance, family assistance and parental education, and mental health support,” Ms Warren said.

 

Anglicare Australia welcomes the announcement as a strategic initiative for the national Anglicare brand.

Spiritus represents one of the largest member agencies in Australia, and the transition to Anglicare Southern Queensland is an opportunity to increase the footprint and exposure of the Anglicare brand across the nation. Anglicare Australia supports this strategic initiative and similarly, our member agencies recognise the opportunity to further strengthen our national presence.

 

Spiritus plays an important role in the wellbeing of many Queensland communities, providing vital social services programs in collaboration with community and government agencies, and offers fully accredited residential aged care and independent living opportunities.

 

Anglicare Southern Queensland will continue to offer the aged care and social service programs provided by Spiritus – throughout south-east and south-west Queensland and in Townsville.

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Auckland Chaplaincy Conference - Registrations Open!

Anglicare Australia in Partnership with the Chaplaincy and Parish Community Work Network, Spiritus and Selwyn Village in New Zealand are holding an Auckland Gathering in March 2012 looking at Connecting care, church and community.

 

Those in the Anglicare Australia network in both Australia and New Zealand who are involved in Chaplaincy and Parish Community Work are invited to attend the gathering to learn from each other’s approaches to both Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy and Parish Community Work as well as further explore the Christian ethos and intent which undergirds such engagement.

 

Registrations for the Auckland Gathering are now open! For Australian delegates, through a generous donation made by Spiritus subsidies for airfares may also be sought. The form to claim subsidies may be found with the registration form.

For further infomation contact Peter Burke or Angella at the Anglicare Australia office.

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Consumer Participation Strategy

From Anglicare Tasmania

Anglicare Tasmania’s commitment to expanding consumer participation has been boosted with the launch of a detailed Consumer Participation Strategy.

 

A dedicated Consumer Participation Officer has also been appointed to oversee the strategy’s implementation.

 

“There is already a strong commitment from Anglicare Tasmania to working in partnership with our clients and such work is already underway,” said Consumer Participation Officer Nadia Mahjouri. “The organisation now has a very clear action plan for the next three years”.

The action plan includes:

• developing a central consumer council or forum;
• promoting consumer pathways to employment and training;
• training and awareness-raising for staff and consumers; and
• ongoing monitoring of the strategy’s implementation.

“Anglicare believes that our clients have a unique expertise that can be used to improve the quality of our services,” said Nadia. “We want to listen to what the people who use our services tell us and have our staff and clients work collaboratively”.

 

We are looking forward to the opportunities to incorporate this theme at the Anglicare Australia Conference to be held in Hobart in September 2012.

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New Network - Strategic Marketing

At its meeting in November the Anglicare Australia Council approved the setting up of a new Strategic Marketing Network.  This network will be slightly different to other special interest networks in that it will be chaired by Council member and CEO of Anglicare Sydney, Grant Millard and will operate as a sub-committee of Council.  These arrangements recognise the importance of the work in this area and its potential effects on the whole network.  This group will consider the many issues to do with identity and brand.

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St Mary’s Picket Fence

Anglicare SA have been partnering with St Mary’s Parish on the Picket Fence and project Centre since 2008. The Picket Fence is a community based outreach program and the project centre somewhere for people to work on wood and metal work projects. Based on the experience of working together on these projects the Parish of St Mary’s and Anglicare SA have adopted the name St Mary’s with Anglicare SA as a way of giving expression to the ongoing process of joining in a mission partnership.

 

A celebration of this ongoing partnership was held with a travelling service devoted to the partnership and a day of activities held at The Picket Fence Community Centre and Project Centre. It was a day of entertainment, competition, displays and toy sales all in aide of raising awareness of the services and opportunities made possible through the outreach of St Mary’s with Anglicare SA Picket Fence and Project Centre. A highlight of the day was the paella made by Dr Lynn Arnold, CEO of Anglicare SA.

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Parkerville Charity Lunch 2011

From Parkerville

Parkerville Children and Youth Care staged their seventh annual charity lunch on Friday, 4 November, at the Grand Ballroom Burswood. The event was the largest in terms of patronage and monies raised. 730 people attended the event with key speaker General Peter Cosgrove and support act, comedian Jeff Green. The supporters of Parkerville responded to the call to support the launch of the Youth Village at the Parkerville campus, by gifting one million dollars.

 

Many of Perth's philanthropists attended the function and gave generously; there were several donations of a $100,000 each and a strong sense of community support towards the work of the Organisation.

The theme of the day was firstly to thank the supporters of the event, 70% of patrons are regular attendees and over the past 5 years raised enough money to build Australia's first Child Advocacy Centre, which opened in Armadale in March 2011.

 

The second purpose was to launch the theme of the new Youth Village at the 18 acre campus at Parkerville. This work based education programme will also incorporate accommodation, independent living skills, mental health intervention and mentoring support to change the lives of young people aged 14-17 years who have experienced significant disadvantage.

 

“The whole day was a huge success, partly because of the money we raised from the generosity of the patrons, but also because of the understanding people had in what we were trying to achieve” said CEO Basil Hanna, “We made some lasting friendships today and that all helps the kids”.

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Benetas Ramps-Up In-Home Care

From Benetas

At Benetas, helping older people to remain living in their own home is important. It's what Benetas clients say they want. With the appointment of Philip Moran as General Manager to lead the ‘Benetas at Home’ service Benetas is ensuring it is well prepared for a future of supporting older Victorians in the community.

 

“We are genuinely excited to be welcoming Philip to Benetas. We understand that we need to increase our energy and focus on supporting older people to be able to live well at home - this is what people want as they age. With Philip on board we will now be able to really increase our efforts in this area,” explains Benetas CEO Sandra Hills.

 

Mr Moran is a seasoned and well-respected leader within the aged and health care sectors. In his most recent position of CEO for Merri Community Health Services, a position he held for 14 years, Mr Moran helped Merri successfully grow exponentially both in terms of budget and service offerings to the community in which it served.

 

“With his skills and experience, I am confident Philip will be able to support the operational management of the business and also contribute strategically to the development of Benetas at Home as we innovate with new partnerships and new services,” explains Ms Hills.

 

Mr Moran’s appointment follows a recent successful bid from Benetas at Home to provide Veterans’ Home Care services throughout Victoria, he is excited about his new role at Benetas and the opportunity it presents to give more older Victorians the choice to stay in their home. Mr Moran will commence with Benetas on 5 December.

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BSL Sambell Oration

From the Brotherhood of St Laurence

The Sambell Oration is delivered each year by a guest speaker. Named after former Brotherhood Executive director, Geoffrey Sambell, the event reflects his vision for social justice and provides a forum for community leaders to discuss topical issues.

 

The Brotherhood's annual Sambell Oration Dinner for 2011 featured Jennifer Westacott, Chief Executive of the Business Council of Australia. 

Jennifer Westacott explored what shared prosperity means, the critical ingredients for achieving it and why it is an essential goal for all Australians. 

 

In her Sambell Oration, Ms Westacott stated that the Productivity Commission should be requested to investigate the sources and extent of entrenched disadvantage and the most effective means of breaking these cycles.

Shared Prosperity by Jennifer Westacott 

 

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POLICY, RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Centro Case Reminder of Governance Duties

Increasingly “the Centro case” is being cited as evidence that Board members of not for profit organisations (as well as for profits) need to be aware of their duties.

 

The link below is an article written by Myles McGregor-Loundes and Gavin Nicholson both of Queensland University of Technology on the lessons for NFP organisations from this important case.

The Lessons for Not for Profits in the Centro Judgement

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Consultations on Regulations for Community Housing

Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib has launched a public consultation on the national regulatory system for community housing providers. The consultation follows June’s agreement by Australia’s Housing Ministers to introduce nationally consistent regulatory arrangements to promote the growth of the community housing sector nationally. The Minister noted that increased funding in the community housing sector forms a crucial element to the growth of affordable housing. The aim of the regulations is to attract private sector investment to community housing providers to help them deliver more housing.

 

Senator Arbib said a national approach to regulation sought to overcome the barriers, gaps and inconsistencies that have arisen through each state and territory regulating community housing providers.

Following the consultation, a final proposal will be presented to Housing Ministers. The national regulatory system is expected to be in place by 2013.

 

For more information about the consultation, including online feedback and submissions, see www.nrsch.gov.au.

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Consolidation of Anti-Discrimination laws

Current anti-discrimination laws have been drafted over a period of nearly 40 years and the Government has become increasingly conscious that as a result they have become increasingly complex and difficult to navigate.

 

In addressing this issue, the Government is consolidating the Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws into a single law. The consolidation will form a key initiative of the Human Rights Framework. The aims of the project are to:

• reduce complexity and inconsistency in anti-discrimination regulation and make it easier for individuals and business to understand rights and obligations under the legislation.
• Not reduce existing protections
• Clarify and enhance protections where appropriate
• Ensure simple, cost effective mechanisms for resolving complaints of discrimination.

A discussion paper has been prepared for consultation on the consolidation. It outlines the key issues and questions relating to the existing anti-discrimination framework and seeks community views on the consolidation of the project. The consultations will inform the development of exposure draft legislation which will be released for further public consultation in 2012. Submissions are being accepted up until 1 February 2012. For a copy of the discussion paper or for further information see the Attorney-General’s website www.ag.gov.au/antidiscrimination

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AHURI Homelessness Conference: Call for Papers

AHURI and RMIT University are co-hosting the inaugural Homelessness Research Conference in Melbourne on Thursday 19 and Friday 20 April 2012, and they are now calling for abstracts.

Call for abstracts now open!

Abstracts based on, but not limited to, the following themes are invited:

• Cost-benefit evaluations of homelessness
•  Longitudinal analysis of homelessness
• The use of administrative datasets to monitor changes in homelessness and program     interventions
• Concepts of homelessness
• Qualitative approaches to homelessness research

 

Submissions close on Friday 16 December 2011

A referee process for papers to be published in the conference proceedings or the Australian Journal of Social Issues will occur after the conference.

Please visit the conference website for further details.

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From SHIP to SHOR: Homelessness Data Collection

The Specialist Homelessness (SHS) Collection, launched in July this year, will now be accompanied by a new online reporting and client management system. The purpose of the new system and the collection as a whole is to collect and collate more complete, timely and relevant data on homelessness in Australia. The SHS will allow governments a better understanding of resources needed to meet the benchmark of halving the rate of homelessness by 2020 and overcome homelessness in general.

 

The AIHW has developed a new secure website called SHOR, a portal through which most homelessness agencies can submit their data each month directly to the AIHW. Via the internet, agencies can log in to upload extracts and receive validation reports from AIHW. In addition to the new collection comes a new client management system called SHIP, replacing the SAAP Management and Reporting Tool (SMART).

 

The new system, SHIP, is free to any government-funded agencies that wish to use it, and will improve case management functionality and allow agencies to better provide services to their clients on a day-to-day basis. Agencies will be able to better monitor repeat clients, without the need for time-consuming re-entering of data. The new system as a whole will enable more detailed national reporting, capturing a clearer picture of homelessness for policymakers and others working in the field.

 

The SHS collection is client-focused and differs from SAAP because it uses a ‘presenting unit’. This is the person or group of people who have requested services, such as an individual, a parent with children, or a group of unrelated people. Also, for the first time, children will be counted as clients in their own right, ensuring the needs of entire family units can be better understood.

 

The new collection is also different from SAAP in its interest in the circumstances of clients, with new data categories included, such as any previous episodes of homelessness and the type of homelessness experienced, as well as greater detail on employment and education status. There is also more information on mental health issues.

 

In addition to information about the services used and clients assisted, the SHS collection also considers those who receive referrals, as well as those clients who are not able to be helped.

SHS data will be received by the AIHW every month.

 

Reports on the first quarter of data are expected to be available in early 2012. The first report will be a bulletin highlighting early results from the collection. Future reports will include more data as quality and completeness are assessed. At around the same time, participating homelessness agencies will also receive a summary of their own data, with regular quarterly reports also provided.

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Mental Health Inquiry Report

A report on the Inquiry into Commonwealth Funding and Administration of Mental Health Services was released in November, following the government’s budget decision to cut funding to the Better Access Initiative to better serve groups that have inadequate access to mental health care services.

 

The government’s initiative to redirect funding from Better Access Initiative (effective on 1st November 2011) towards other programs such as Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS), headspace, and Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centres (EPPIC), is to better address the increasing demand to mental health care by groups such as indigenous people, people in regional Australia, young people and people on low incomes.

 

The Inquiry report details the arguments for and against this redirection of money, as well as drawbacks of the capped funding ATAPS system in distributing resources effectively to serve clients. It also presents barriers in expanding headspace and EPPIC services, such as the lack of financial incentives for GPs to work in youth mental health.

 

Furthermore, the report raises suggestions/concerns about the establishment of the new National Mental Health Commission, including the importance of having a diversified representation that includes people with firsthand experience, and whether or not the Commission should be independent of the government.  The Commission will report to the PM and produce a National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in 2012.

 

For the report or further information, please go to the inquiry website.

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Statistical Overview of Aged Care packages in the Community

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a report providing a statistical overview of the three types of community aged care packages – Aged Care Packages (CACP), Extended Aged Care at Home (EACH), and Extended Aged Care at Home Dementia (EACHD)—over the period 1 July 2009 to 30 June 2010. These packages provide an alternative form of care to residential aged care and are provided to recipients in their own homes.

 

The general findings have shown that there has been an increased supply across all three packages; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had higher usage at younger ages; more than half of the CACP clients, two-fifths of the EACH clients and one-third of the EACHD clients had received their package for at least 1 year before moving to residential care settings; and that the majority of support provided is through the vital role of personal carers.

 

For further information or a copy of the full report see the AIHW website.

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Online Resource for Out-of-Home Carers

 

The federal Government has launched an online resource for out-of-home-carers to help them identify information about the financial and non-financial supports available to help them raise the children in their care.

As part of the Government’s commitment to supporting carers and in recognition of the significant social and economic contribution that carers make to our communities, has this online resource been developed. It will be a one-stop-shop where foster carers, kinship carers, grandparent carers and informal carers can go to find information that will be of use to them including the wide range of services they are eligible for. Carers devote a great deal of their time and make considerable sacrifices to raise children who are no longer able to live with their birth parents. This resource is part of a commitment to ensure that in undertaking this important role, carers are recognised and supported for the duration.

 

The online resource is now available on the Family Relationships website at www.familyrelationships/gov/au/carers. As organisations which work closely with this community, you are encouraged to visit and familiarize yourself with the online resource and to share the information among your networks. Brochures (with attached magnet) are available to help spread awareness of the new resource. These can be obtained by emailing child.protection@fahcsia.gov.au.   

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Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Non-Profit Leadership

The Fulbright Professional Scholarship in Non-Profit Leadership is the first-ever Fulbright Scholarship specifically for the Not-for-Profit (NFP) sector in Australia. It annually provides an opportunity for an emerging leader in the NFP sector to undertake a program of research and/or professional development in the U.S. for a period of 3-4 months.

 

Every application is assessed based on merit and the quality of the application and its proposal for study, research and experiential learning is critical. The perceived benefits to the Australian NFP sector and a willingness, on their return, to share their US findings and knowledge within the sector are also important considerations.

 

The Scholarship is valued at AUD 40,000 and covers travel and a monthly stipend. It may be applied towards the costs of any study program tuition and family members accompanying the applicant but any additional costs are the responsibility of the applicant. Approved study programs and research projects do not generally include conference attendance.

 

Applicants should have a postgraduate qualification OR a minimum of 10-15 years’ work experience. They should also have a record of achievement gained from a minimum of 3 years employment at a mid to senior level position (Manager/Director) within the NFP sector and have an established leadership profile within the sector.

 

Applications close 31 August 2012.

 

For further information on requirements and how to apply see the Fulbright website.

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CALENDAR

Anglicare Events

Auckland Chaplaincy Conference

Date: 25-28 March
Venue: Quality Hotel Barrycourt, Parnell

For further information contact Peter Burke.

 

Anglicare Australia National Conference 2012

Date: 16th – 19th September
Venue: Hobart, Tasmania

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Sector Events

International Day of People with a Disability

Date: 3 December 2011
Time: various
Venue: various

For further information on activities in your area see the IDPwD website.

 

ACSA National Community Care Conference 2012

Date: 21-22 May 2012
Venue: Adelaide Convention Centre

For further information see the conference website.

 

12th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference

Date: 25-27 July 2012
Venue: Melbourne Convention Centre

For further information see www.aifs.gov.au.

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