Anglicare Awards 2009

 

In 2009, the tenth year of the awards, nomination were received for the four categories of Innovation, Excellence, Partnership and Individual Achievement. 

 

The theme of this conference is Global Trends, Local Voices.  It is heart warming to hear of the achievements of local groups and individuals.

 

The awards celebrate and affirm the purpose, aims and values that drive the network members of Anglicare Australia.

The 2009 Anglicare Australia Awards were presented at the Top of the Town Room - Hyatt Regency, Auckland, New Zealand on Tuesday 22 September 2009.

 

The ceremony was hosted by Canon Dr Ray Cleary AM, CEO, Anglicare Victoria and presented by Sir Paul Reeves - Former Governor General, New Zealander of the year.

 

 

 

 

Anglicare Australia again acknowledges the sponsorship of Ansvar Insurance for the presentation ceremony and prizes.  We also express our sincere thanks for the time and effort of the judges:

• Mr John Peberdy, Chief Executive Officer, Ansvar Insurance.
• Ms Colleen Geyer, Director of Mission, Blue Care.
• Ms Sam Page, Executive Director, Family Relationship Services Australia &
• Mr Trevor McGlinchey, NZ Council of Christian Social Services.

 

Innovation

 

Winner - Small Organisation:

Next Step - Intensive Transitional Support

St Johns Youth Services

The implementation of the Next Step Project began in March 2009 and is now well under way.

The Next Step Project is an initiative that can give clients a genuine opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness through targeted support and training and assistance in securing sustainable life opportunities.

The next step project aims to reduce the risk of post-placement failure by introducing and supporting clients to the mainstream private housing market.  Young people have more choices armed with a rental history and references.

Judges felt that this represented Promising Practice in a really important area, getting a rental history is vital.

 

(For further information please e-mail Wendy Malycha, St Johns Youth Services, stjohns@stjohnsyouthservices.org.au)

 

Winner - Large Organisation:

Koolangka Keyen Pilot Project - Anglicare Western Australia Organisation

Anglicare WA’s Koolangka Keyen Pilot Project Program has taken content from Anglicare WA’s existing Parenting Orders Program ‘Mums and Dads Forever’ and presented it in a form culturally appropriate for Noongar people, the indigenous people of the South West of Australia.

The program was developed by Noongar staff and utilises Noongar facilitators for the groups.  The cultural elements include the language used in the program literature, the format of the workshop (for example including an Elder Welcome to Country), and the use of Yarning practice.  As such this program is unique.

The judges agreed that this is an excellent effort to help people in a culturally sensitive area.

(For further information please e-mail John Walker, Anglicare WA.,koolangkaheyen@anglicarewa.com.au)

 

Excellence

Highly Commended:

Internal Audit Program - Anglicare South Australia

Anglicare SA has nominated its internal audit program as an outstanding example of accountability, governance and quality improvement.

The internal audit process recognises both managers and staff for the excellent work they do, but also demonstrates Anglicare SA’s commitment to operate with integrity and transparency in quality service to the community.  Internal audits ensure that our services do what the policies say, as well as maintaining their compliance with any external, legal or regulatory requirements.

Judges thought it was wonderful to see the smiling internal audit faces working along with insurance companies to strengthen the organisation.

(For further information please e-mail Andrea Sargent, Anglicare SA.,asargent@anglicare-sa.org.au)

 

 Winner:

Samaritans Outreach Clinic - The Samaritans Foundation

The Samaritans Outreach Clinic commenced in 2007.

For many clients with a disability, their health needs are many, varied and complex, often incorporating a combination of physical, intellectual and mental health issues.  Further to this, communication difficulties can prove a barrier to effective and appropriate health support.

The aim of the project was to enhance healthcare service provision (prevention, intervention and treatment) and to constructively explore and build positive and flexible clinical environments for people with disabilities to overcome identified barriers.

The Clinics provide comprehensive health screening with a focus on 15 World Health Organisation health care targets of people with intellectual disabilities.

The Samaritans Outreach Clinic achieves outcomes which have been significant in several spheres, some examples are;

• Samaritans clients have been able to maintain improved health outcomes. 
• Clients and their families have indicated a high level of satisfaction with this model.

 

Judges felt that health of people with disabilities is a difficult but important area.  Project grew from a community need and recognised that need.

 

(For further information please e-mail Cec Shevels, Samaritans Foundation., cshevels@samaritans.org.au)

 

Partnership

 

Special Mention:

The Early Years Program - St Luke's Anglicare

St Luke’s Anglicare Bendigo has developed an “Early Years Program” in Partnership with Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE.

The program helps vulnerable families by having the parents participate in a TAFE certificate course on child development. 

It also has multiple side benefits such as exposing parents to child care workers and even leads to the confidence to leave children in casual child-care itself a breakthrough for many parents.

Although there was no formal relationship with Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE and St Luke’s prior to this program Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE saw this as an ideal opportunity to assist in a community services capacity.

(For further information please e-mail David Pugh, St Luke's Anglicare, d.pugh@stlukes.org.au)

 

Highly Commended:

Chronic Conditions Self Management Program - Spiritus

 

Spiritus Gold Coast Community and Respite Services has been providing a range of health and support services to the Gold Coast Community since 2000. 

Their Chronic Condition Self Management Project gives clients the tools and support to “Empower and Prepare them to manage their health and health care”, in conjunction with General Practice Gold Coast.

Judges recognised that it’s hard to link across the health area but so necessary for better outcomes.

(Fur further information please e-mail Sue Graham, Spiritus, sgraham@spiritus.org.au)

 

Winner:

"Christian Emergency Relief Wangaratta" - Anglicare Victoria

Anglicare Victoria in Hume Region has a small staff supported by hundreds of volunteers to develop responses to the needs of people in regional, rural and remote communities. 

In response to growing need in Emergency Response relief across the region, they have established partnerships with other local ER providers and other faith communities to pool resources and so provide better outcomes for clients.  This partnership is called Christian Emergency Relief Wangaratta.

 

The judges see this as an excellent example of what groups can achieve working together.

 

(For further information please e-mail Dennis Sherwell, Anglicare Victoria, dennis.sherwell@anglicarevic.org.au)

 

 

Individual Achievement

Winner: (Small Organisation)

Stanley Gough - Parkerville Children and Youth Care Organisation

Stan Gough has spent most of his 68 years with Parkerville Children and Youth Care.

Stan was only four years old after being dropped at Parkerville Children’s Home campus.  Stan spent the next 11 years growing up at the campus until, at the age of 15 years, he left to come an apprentice farmer. 

At 28 years of age, he returned to the campus with his wife and two children and became a cottage parent, looking after 14 Parkerville children.

Stan Gough of Parkerville Youth and Care Centre has given his whole life to helping others.  After growing up at the Parkerville Children’s home, Stan returned to spend from 28 til now providing mentorship, care, and a lifetime of experience to young people living in out of home care.

Stan Gough is an icon for Parkerville Children and Youth Care.

The judges can see that Stan has found a life calling and has made the most of an opportunity to influence large numbers of people at a vulnerable time of their lives.

 

(For further information please e-mail Basil Hanna, Parkerville Children and Youth Care basil@parkerville.org.au)

 

Highly Commended:  (Large Organisation)

Kathleen Flanagan - Anglicare Tasmania

Kathleen Flanagan is a research and policy officer in the Social Action and Research Centre at Anglicare Tasmania.  Kathleen’s research and policy work is of an extraordinarily high standard and holds a credible role as a key advocate for low income and disadvantaged households in the shifting debates around housing policy.

Kathleen has worked for Anglicare for five years and produces reports of PhD length every 12 months.

Kathleen’s work has been invaluable in enabling not just Anglicare, but the State Liberal Opposition, the Tasmanian Greens and the Tasmanian community sector to keep pressure on the Tasmanian Government in this area and has resulted in modest injections of funds into affordable housing developments.

The judges agree that Kathleen’s excellent research and advocacy work has given her an ability to influence and change government policy.

 

(For further information please e-mail The Rt Revd Dr Chris Jones, Anglicare Tasmania Inc., c.jones@anglicare-tas.org.au )

 

Winner:  (Large Organisation)

Lenore Michell - Benetas Organisation

Lenore is a Care Manager at Community Care Seymour – Benetas.

Lenore has a nursing background over many years and across varying sectors within the health field which adds strength and versatility to her outlook on her practice in the aged care field and working with clients in a community setting.

She is an active participant in local networks and groups advocating for the rights and needs of her clients, and works in partnership with local government (Home and Community Care) and the Aged Care Assessment Team to assist in the seamless service delivery for residents and clients.

A number of Lenore’s clients lost their homes in the Marysville fires and she has assisted in relocating and supporting them ensuring that they received the care and services they needed at their new locations.

This took a huge amount of commitment and dedication on her behalf on both a personal and professional level. 

Lenore has shown a remarkable commitment to her clients.

During the period over the black Saturday fires Lenore worked tirelessly and around the clock to support her clients, despite losing her own home in the fires.

Lenore embodies everything – teamwork, exceeding expectations, a truly caring spirit and a willingness to go that extra mile for clients and in everything she does.

The judges were impressed on the part she played in the bushfires despite the fact of losing her own house, came right from the heart.

(For further information please e-mail Sharon McGowan, Benetas, sharon.mcgowan@benetas.com.au)

 

For 2009 only, we had a New Zealand Associate Members award for Excellence/Partnership.

 

New Zealand Category:

Highly Commended:

Gladiators of Change - Anglican Trust for Women and Children

 

The Gladiators for Change programme came of a discussion between the Anglican Trust for Women and Children social workers in schools teams and principals of local schools.

It had long been recognized that Pacific Island students were under achieving at school.  Research and local knowledge clearly showed that without engaging the parents that little change in the student’s behaviour was going to occur.  Pacific Island parents had not engaged in the traditional parenting programmes and it was clear that a new approach was needed.

It was identified that fathers were often missing from their children’s lives and it was felt that if fathers could be encouraged to become more central in the parenting role then again outcomes for their children would improve, especially for their sons.  Flyers were sent home to encourage fathers/grandfathers to attend “The Gladiators for Change programme”.

The programme provided well informed speakers of well known community, entertainment and sporting leaders and participants were provided with a meal and take home material.

Schools have reported that parents who attended the parenting evenings are more involved with their children who are doing better in school.

The Project shows partnerships between Anglican Trust for Women and Children, local schools, media, the presenters and the Pacific Island community with the aim of improving education and welfare outcome for Pacific Island children.

The project has been running for three years with growth in each year.

 

(For further information please e-mail Wilson Irons, Anglican Trust for Women & Children wilson@atwc.org.nz)

 

Winner:

Merivale Whanau Aroha Early Childhood Centre - Waiapu Anglican Action

The success of the Early Childhood Centre was demonstrated by the quick uptake of available places by the local community and the ongoing innovation demonstrated by the Waiapu Anglican action in meeting community needs.

The engagement of the centre with its community is impressive and the way in which the community utilises the centre and its surrounds to come together for mutual support and grass roots education programmes demonstrates it responsiveness to local needs.

The project has been running for 18 months.  It has a long term contract and a newly built centre and is continuing to grow and innovate.

The Merivale Wahanu Aroha Early Childhood Centre has creatively engaged with its targeted community to provide a safe and happy environment for young children.  This has grown to being a community centre for their families and has encompassed meeting other needs.

The daily children’s programme consists of a variety of educational experiences, including sand, water, art and craft, drama, music, messy play, song and dance, cooking, getting ready for reading and writing, puzzles manipulative play, building and construction, carpentry, and gardening.

The Waiapu Anglican Action group has utilised its funded services creatively in order to reach out and meet a greater range of needs and to cement Anglican based social services as a central to the health and well-being of this community.

(For further information please e-mail Liz Andrews, The Anglican Care Network liz@waiapu.com)

 

• Thank you to all the great dedicated nominees & judges time and commitment in accessing the nominees this year.