Anglicare Australia Awards 2006

 

Service Excellence

WINNER: Eastern Out-of-Home Care Program, Anglicare Victoria

'Treatment and Care for Kids' (TrACK), is an intensively therapeutic home-based foster care program for young children with complex needs and challenging behaviours. The program provides sensitively tailored support not only to the children, but also to their carers. Long-term case management and placement support integrates coordinated therapeutic intervention and specialist support for the children and advanced training and peer support groups for carers.   The program is child focussed, providing consistency, a highly skilled care team, comprehensive and systematic treatment, continuity and predictability. All children who have been supported under TrACK are now connecting better with foster families, have improved self esteem, participate better in the classroom and are healthier both physically and mentally. The Victorian Department of Human Services was so impressed with the program that they have adopted it as the basis for a model of therapeutic foster care state-wide.

For more details contact: Dennis Sherwell dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Disability Support Service, Anglicare SA

Six days before Christmas 2005 the Anglicare SA Disability Support Service team was asked to step in at short notice to relocate clients of a (non-Anglicare) service that was being closed under difficult circumstances. The Supported Residential Facility had been put into the care of an ‘administrator’ when it was found that the 17 residents were living in inadequate conditions and without appropriate support for their complex needs. At a time when most services were winding down, the Anglicare team took over all the tasks relating to day to day operation of the facility and care for the residents. They were not provided access to personal records, and there was no ‘handover’ of any kind. The results were immediate: dramatic improvement in the quality and quantity of food provided, improved medical support and new clothing, a safer and more homely environment and increased social interaction with staff and each other. Christmas was a positive experience for all, and after three months all residents had been relocated to more suitable accommodation

For more details contact: Terry Cleary tcleary@anglicare-sa.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Looking Forward' Domestic Violence Support Program, Anglicare Victoria

Looking Forward is a group program for women/mothers who have experienced or are experiencing violent or abusive behaviour from partners and/or ex-partners. The program uses a narrative therapy model and has now run for 10 years.  Intentionally open to learning, keeping abreast of contemporary theory and practice research, the program continues to evolve to effectively meet individual circumstances and changing needs.  Women who have participated in the program report they are more confident, feel less isolated and better understand their rights.  Other benefits include a more confident and informed approach to parenting and of how to nurture and recognise healthy relationships.  The program has also demonstrated a direct positive impact on the well-being and future prospects of children, many of whom had witnessed violence against their mother.

For more details contact: Dennis Sherwell dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au

 

Service Innovation

WINNER (AGED CARE): 'Bytes on the Run', St Laurence's Court, Anglicare SA

Assessing the dietary needs of residents of St Laurence’s Court aged care facility was proving to be a lengthy and complicated process. Residents had varying dietary needs, preferences and ability to eat, chew, use utensils or remember to do these things. Bytes on the Run was developed by hospitality staff, care staff, the speech pathologist, the dentist and nursing staff as well as residents and relatives. The basic aim was to implement more effective ways to capture and communicate residents’ specific food and nutrition requirements in order to expand the menus and diet types available to residents to bettercater for individual needs and analyse trends and improvements and identify problem areas quickly. The result was a much improved dietary assessment tool that enables immediate response to changing needs and provides greater certainty that each resident receives the appropriate diet (including serving size, food consistency and nutrient balance). The new system also saves time, reduces wastage, enables more exacting ordering, reduces the need for supplements and increases satisfaction - of residents and also of their families. The latest version of the data collection tool includes automated weight charting and pre-formatted reporting.

Photo: Jan Horsnell, CEO of Anglicare SA, receives the award
on behalf of the staff at St.Laurence's Court.

For more details contact: Martyn Rowe  mrowe@anglicare-sa.org.au  or Michelle Miller mmiller@anglicare-sa.org.au

 

WINNER (FAMILIES): Gippsland 'Parentzone', Anglicare Victoria

Gippsland Parentzone’s parent-focussed literacy program ‘Learn and Play’ is designed to support parents with children aged 0-6 years in developing their children’s early literacy skills while at the same time developing their own parenting and IT skills, and helping them to create a structured play environment that encourages healthy developmental learning for children.  Working with high-need, vulnerable families with children aged 0-6 years, the program is individually tailored with a combination of learning and social interaction.  It is flexible but at the same time offers continuity and a regular routine which is important for families who have experienced disadvantage, isolation or difficulties associated with mental illness, violence or sole parenthood.

For more details contact: Dennis Sherwell dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Physio Chi' Program, All Hallows Court, Anglicare SA

Physio-Chi is a holistic mind, body and spirit enriching program encompassing elements of Tai Chi, Chi Gung, Deep breathing and meditation. Through gentle movements, breathing exercises and meditation sessions it results in many benefits for the elderly residents of All Hallows Court – increased mobility and flexibility, a greater sense of calm, an outlet for negative feelings and better connectedness with one’s body. Residents have become more independent in their daily life, such as independently attending meals in the dining room, joining in lifestyle programs or going out with family with minimal support. The program is run jointly by the residential aged care lifestyle team and physiotherapists.

For more details contact: Judy Oates joates@anglicare-sa.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Lifework' Program, Anglicare WA

LifeWork is an innovative career development project that assists chronically ill or injured young people to develop career plans and access further education and training while in hospital.  The program enables these young people to obtain work placements that include appropriate support for their health-related needs.  The benefits for the young people are many – increased self-esteem, faith and hope that they can still achieve their dreams and capacity to self-manage career paths.  After the first year, some of the LifeWork participants have now gained apprenticeships and others have successfully re-engaged in education and training.  Feedback from the young people, from their parents and from hospital staff has been overwhelmingly positive.

The success of the project has now led to Hospital School Services (HSS) obtaining funding to extend the Lifeworks project to the Royal Perth Hospital and Bentley Hospital programs. AnglicareWA has been contracted by HSS to support this work until July 2007.

This in effect has resulted in a sustainable project that can now be modelled in other hospital institutions to facilitate and accommodate the needs of all people in relation to their life long learning and career pathways.   The State Department of Education and Training is now looking at ways to further expand Lifework. 

For more details contact: Rose Issa rose.issa@anglicarewa.org.au

 

Partnership

WINNER: NAALA, Samaritans Foundation

The ‘Newcastle African Australian Activities Project’ (NAALA) is the result of a creative partnership between the Samaritans Foundation and the Anglican Parish of Merewether. Over 100 newly-arrived African refugee children, teenagers and adults gather weekly to focus on strengthening English language skills development and life skills. A key contributor to the success of the partnership has been the engagement of around 90 volunteers. Tutors, drivers, kitchen helpers, administrative assistants and managers assist with skills development. Other volunteers focus on relationship building and friendship links, offering a range of support to help meet the challenges of settling into a new environment - home-based help to families, arranging medical care, mowing lawns, helping with shopping, organising furniture and clothing.

For more details contact: Sue Williams s.williams@samaritans.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: 'Celebration of Life' Senior Sports Day, Sambell Lodge, Brotherhood of St Laurence

The ‘Celebration of Life’ Senior Sports Day was the brainchild of Paul Brophy, manager of Sambell Lodge, which brought together seven other aged care facilities and members of Melbourne's City of Yarra community. It was designed to promote the positive aspects of ageing, and enabled a high level of participation by people whose age, frailty and limited mobility would normally prevent them from enjoying activity and socialisation of this natrue. The partner organaisations and community groups joined forces to develop a topical 'Commonwealth Games' theme. The result was a highly enjoyable day for elderly residents who benefited physically and socially. The enthusiasm among the relatives, volunteers, staff and local school children who also took part contributed to the festive atmosphere. The event was well covered in local media which presented it as a wonderful way to celebrate ageing. This event has now become a regular event with different themes for each one, such as a tea dance and the forthcoming country and western dance afternoon. The 'Celebration of Life' organisers hope the idea gets picked up around Australia.

For more details contact: Paul Brophy 03 9489 3000

 

Individual Achievement

WINNER: Judy Tatow, Anglicare Central Queensland
Judy has been the coordinator of Anglicare CQ’s Winna Burra Indigenous Outreach Service for the past 16 years. Judy has extensive networks across the local community, enabling her to connect homeless and marginalised people with individually tailored, appropriate support to help them through difficult times. Her commitment, energy and untiring effort on behalf of Indigenous people has been recognised by many in the community. She is an inspiration to other staff and volunteers and an enthusiastic member of the Anglicare Central Queensland team.

For more details contact: Tony Stevenson tstevenson@anglicarecq.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Glenys Clark, Anglicare Central Queensland

From the moment she joined Anglicare CQ in 2002, Glenys has played a key role in building up the family day care, long day care and after school hours care programs located in the socially isolated Callide-Dawson region of Central Queensland. By developing extensive networks of support and engaging local communities in creative and sometimes unexpected partnerships, Glenys has introduced new initiatives and ensured the ongoing viability of programs that were at risk of closure. This included stabilising and reviving a family day care service (Callide), stepping in as acting director to ensure the community child care centre did not close (Moura) and harnessing the interests and commitment of a whole town to establish a neighbourhood and learning centre (Biloela).

For more details contact: Gillian Mason-Johnson gmjohnson@anglicarecq.org.au

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Allan James, Anglicare North Queensland

In just over 12 months, Allan James turned an unstructured and rowdy program into a supportive, trusting and safe home for the clients of a residential facility for young men. When Allan joined Anglicare as this Townville facility’s program manager, he found a team of largely untrained youth workers, a group of seemingly uncontrollable boys, an unsuitable premises and a strong sense of disconnection from the head office 350 km away. Allan wasted no time. He moved the facility to more suitable premises which had far better access to the town centre and essential services. He introduced a firm support structure and clearer boundaries which helped the young men to feel safer and better supported by staff. Allan then took a holistic approach to working with each individual resident, improving connections with family members and strengthening links with community networks. The results have been dramatic, with both residents and staff benefiting from a range of health, safety, learning and social initiatives.

For more details contact: Shaun McIntyre shaun.mcintyre@anglicare.net

 

... further nominations ...

This year there were 23 nominations and the judges were impressed with the high quality overall. Although not every entry could win, the inspiring ideas behind each one of them can be shared. Contact details are provided so you can find out more about a project that might be of interest to your agency.

 

Service Excellence

'ACQuire' Project, Anglicare Central Queensland
Anglicare Central Queensland’s understanding, integrating, reporting, and evaluating project aims to develop and implement the organisations key strategies by linking the organisation’s everyday actions with its Mission Statement.

For more details contact: Tony Stevenson tstevenson@anglicarecq.org.au

 

Certificate III in Aged Care Work, Anglicare Canberra & Goulburn Retirement and Aged Care Services
Anglicare Canberra & Goulburn have developed an innovative training approach resulting in a significant enhancement of quality care for residents of Bimbimbie and Mariner Retirement Villages on the NSW South Coast.

For more details contact: Jenny Symons bimbbimb@asitis.net.au

 

COMPASS 2005, Anglicare Canberra & Goulburn
COMPASS , a seven week program designed to assist young males to develop self-esteem, build confidence and master life skills.

For more details contact: Jeremy Boland jeremy@youthinthecity.org

Service Innovation

Creative Writing Program - Family Support, Anglicare SA
The Creative Writing Program was developed to engage with parents (the majority single and female) presenting at the Family Support Program to offer them an opportunity to discover new strengths, identify the strengths they were already using and to begin a journey of hope and healing.

For more details contact: Carol Kelly ckelly@anglicare-sa.org.au

 

Connected Families - Strong Communities, Anglicare Victoria
Cranbourne Secondary College ‘Connected Families – Strong Communities’ program is designed to help the parents of the College’s new Year 7 students acquire new parenting, relationship and other skills when their children are making the transition from primary school to high school.

For more details contact: Dennis Sherwell dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au

 

Socialisation Program, Brotherhood of St Laurence
In response to the isolation of many of the frail elderly, BSL has developed a support service that focuses on the revival of community for the elderly. It focuses on connecting the elderly to their social, recreational and leisure interests as a means of developing and improving their friendship circles and ties with their family.

For more details contact: Christine Morka cmorka@bsl.org.au

 

Alina Families Program, Spiritus
Alina has constantly sought to develop and trial strategies and approaches which will support parents with intellectual difficulties, including low literacy parenting course and pregnancy diary and programs promoting healthy and safe parenting.

For more details contact: Louise Dwyer louise@alinafamilies.org

 

Ongoing Inservice Training Program, Kirami Home for the Aged, Spiritus
Kirami has developed an in-service training program where a ‘buddy’ system nurtures positive relationships between the teachers and their Aged Care Nursing students and creates a positive environment and enthusiasm for learning.

For more details contact: Rosanne Badham rbadham@spiritus.org.au

Partnerships

Gladstone Communities for Children, Anglicare Central Queensland
The Gladstone Communities for Children project is designed to have a positive impact on early child development. Based on research findings, the ‘Pathways to Resilience’ model was adopted to ensure local values, traditions, needs and expectations would be embraced in the program and that local strengths and resources would be utilised leading to an improvement in quality of life for clients and their families.

For more details contact: Kathy Horton khorton@anglicarecq.org.au

 

Frankston Integrated Family Services, Anglicare Victoria
The Frankston Integrated Family Services project was an initiative led by Anglicare Victoria in partnership with state and local government to provide services for vulnerable families. It was designed to provide structure and formal partnerships between government departments and the service provider.

For more details contact: Dennis Sherwell dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au

 

Individual Achievement

Elayne Nicholson, Anglicare SA
Elayne Nicholson is Manager of Ian George Court, Anglicare SA’s facility for socially and financially disadvantaged homeless frail aged. In less than 12 months Elayne has created a culture of respect; resident behaviour and staff retention have both greatly improved.

For more details contact: Judy Oates joates@anglicare-sa.org.au

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