Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull opened the floodgates of comments when he said that there has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian.

It’s certainly true that there has never been a time where humans have lived for as long and as well. Fewer of us will die violent deaths, fewer of us experience true hunger, and more babies will survive to childhood (and fewer of their mothers will die in childbirth). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has many interesting and uplifting statistics like this.

While this is true for the global population says the WHO, I am going to take a leaf out of the Prime Minister’s book and limit my comments to Australia.

It seems that we are squandering this exciting time. Instead of using it to ensure that we extend this period, we are like the undisciplined child with the lolly jar. We want it all and want it now, and without thought for tomorrow.

Environmentally this is absolutely stark with every indicator, from the increasing threat to biodiversity, habitat being lost at increasing levels and a rapidly growing population using more resources. But socially too this is true, with rising inequity and lowered social mobility. Intergenerational equity is also moving further out of reach, with many pointing out that we have reached the tipping point and, for the first time in human history, future generations may have decreased life expectancy and standards of living.

Taxation policy is a great place to drive equity but the ‘root and branch’ tax reform that we were promised has been pruned and pruned hard, back to a few tinkerings. To have the words ‘exciting’ and ‘tax reform’ in the same article may seem an anathema, but taxes are the mark of a civilisation. They point to the group saving together for the good of the society. It is therefore impossible to think about how we ensure that the good times last without talking about tax.

As Anglicare Australia and others have been saying for some time, the tax system is currently skewed toward benefiting those on higher incomes. Every year our Rental Affordability Snapshot identifies the dearth of affordable housing in the private rental market for those on low incomes. For five years we have been calling for the tax breaks on negative gearing and capital gains tax to be linked to affordable housing. It seems ludicrous to us that the $14 billion lost to the Commonwealth Budget through negative gearing (figures from 2011/12) shouldn’t be put to better use. This is a massive leakage from the public to the private, and with no targeting to public gain. The Grattan Institute estimates that a further $4 billion is lost in the generous capital gains tax concessions on property. This is not play money - $18 billion buys a lot.

Interestingly, over the years we have been advocating for these tax concessions to be linked to housing affordability outcomes, the response from interviewers and public alike has softened. It would seem that negative gearing is no longer the sacred cow - it is being talked about. However, when Bill Shorten announced the ALP’s new policy on negative gearing and capital gains tax, the responses from the vested interests were as fast as they were predictable. Those that make money from these taxes were quick to defend them. The top 2% of income earners currently claims half of the $4 billion in capital gains tax. The government to date though has not released its position. However, it does at least seem like these two unfairest of taxes are still on the table.

If these tax concessions are about housing, then targeting them is both necessary and urgent. Without targeting these concessions, we simply help the already wealthy to minimise the tax they pay, even while they utilise much of the full suite of services bought with everyone’s taxes.

Its true there has never been a more exciting time to be an Australian. Our marvelous good fortune at being alive at this time should be enough to make it our duty to ensure that anyone living anytime into the future can say that. And that those exciting times are not based purely on the high levels of consumer choice as a way to feel good, or at the detriment of the environment or future generations.

Tax reform might be big in the context of a three year political cycle, but it is a small step towards ensuring that all times are the best for everyone (and everything). For ever.

A slightly longer month by a day, February has been busy for the team at Anglicare Australia.

The Anglicare Australia Council meeting was held mid-February and Carers Australia CEO, Ara Cresswell was guest speaker at the council dinner. In discussing the crucial role of carers in Australian society, the importance of involving them in the co-design of services was highlighted. One in eight people will either be, or have, a carer and yet they have some of the poorest indicators of health and wellbeing. Two simple but powerful actions Ara pointed out were to mention carers in all our advocacy and messaging, and work with carers in designing and implementing our programs. She also suggested that as large employers, we should recognise the caring role of employees by signing the Work and Care Charter on their website.

Anglicare Australia Executive Director, Kasy Chambers attended the National Facilitating Group meeting for Anti-Poverty Week and the General Synod Royal Commission working group meeting. She also participated in the South Australian member organisations’ network meeting.

National Policy and Research Director, Sarah Jewell took part in a meeting of the Equality Rights Alliance’s Housing Working Group. The group came together to consider how to address Australia’s housing affordability crisis, with a particular focus on women’s experiences.

Sarah and Deputy Director, Roland Manderson attended SNAICC’s Family Matters Strategic Forum, which brought together a wide ranging stakeholder group in support of a campaign to address the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. SNAICC is the acronym for the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care.

Roland also participated in the Department of Social Services’ Community Services Advisory Group and the two-day National Aged Care Alliance meeting in Canberra.

And in the last week of February, Kasy, Roland, Sarah, National Media & Communications Manager, Skye Owen, and Policy & Research Officer, Coco Ho, participated in the combined Research Network and Media & Communications Network meeting in Hobart.


Members of the Research Network and Media & Communications Network at the combined meeting in Hobart.

Anglicare Australia, together with Australian international aid and community sector agencies, united behind churches across the country in February who opened their doors to asylum seekers facing removal back to offshore detention centres.

The peak bodies urged the Australian government to allow the families and their children to stay in Australia.

On a trip to Hong Kong in February to visit family and celebrate Chinese New Year, Policy and Research Officer, Coco Ho also paid a visit to the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui (Anglican Church) Kei Oi Elderly Centre located in Shamshuipo, an old Kowloon district in which there is a large elderly population. Coco shares her experience.


The corridor leading to the main activity hall is so vibrant you wouldn’t think it is the entrance of an elderly centre. On one side were glass cabinets filled with handcrafts made by centre members, and on the other side were drawings and photos taken in a Chinese New Year celebration event.

The elderly centre operates under the umbrella organisation Hong Kong Shen Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. I was greeted by the Council’s Service Director, Elsa Lee who showed me around the centre and explained its operation.

The centre aims to create an active community for elderly people living in Shamshuipo. Through its activities, including computer classes, gardening, exercise, reading, games and excursions, elderly people are given the chance to develop their interests and potential to lead fulfilling lives.

Every morning there is a news reading session in the common hall, where members, who pay a symbolic membership fee to enjoy the centre facilities, chat and discuss interesting news with hot soups in their hands. There are monthly assemblies alerting members to upcoming activities and important news, such as health and safety information.

Those who enjoy more interactive activities may choose to play a tabletop tile game similar to mah-jong with friends. Quieter members might choose to read a book in the library corner or participate in art therapy sessions where handicrafts made are sold at charity events to support centre activities. Taken together, these activities are providing members with a sense of community, connection, purpose and self-worth, which in turn promotes active ageing and wellbeing.

The centre is also sharing its best practices with other organisations wanting to develop similar programs but who find it hard to get started. When an activity, such as indoor gardening, has confirmed popularity and wellbeing to its members, toolkits containing essential materials to establish an indoor garden patch are developed and distributed to interested organisations at a cost. This way staff and activity coordinators outside the elderly centre can create an indoor garden corner in their own settings, and provide benefits to more elderly people around Hong Kong.

In my role at Anglicare Australia, where I don’t have regular interactions with clients, this visit was insightful as I was able to see elderly services being carried out on the ground. It reminds me of the one of the core values underpinning our advocacy work, which is that everyone has intrinsic potential and when given the opportunities to explore this potential, people shine whatever stages of life they are at.

Elsa has extended her warm invitation to all Anglicare members to visit the Council’s service units—social enterprises, children and youth services, elderly services, to name just a few—when you get the chance to visit Hong Kong.

To improve cognitive functioning without promoting gambling, elderly centre members play a tabletop tile game very similar to Mah-jong.

Anglicare Australia has a new website, on a new platform. Regular users of our website may have noticed a more user-friendly navigation structure and a better Search engine. We have also ensured finding a Service Provider is quicker and easier (by state and by service).

The Latest News and our Twitter feed can still be found on the homepage, and now we have improved content categories and Quick Links to our most popular pages. Ours is a responsive web design, which means the website responds to the screen size of your iPad or tablet, or mobile phone.

Next on our list of IT upgrades is the Members' Area, which will be released in March.

Anglicare Sydney and the local Airds Anglican church have teamed up to provide much needed low cost food for those in need in the community.

Stocked with household pantry items, Anglicare Sydney’s Mobile Community Pantry will be arriving at St Andrews Anglican church every second Wednesday to distribute food.

For a $10 contribution, eligible families on low income will be able to take home a shopping bag full of food worth close to $60.


A NSW-first mobile pantry will hit the road this month. Sustainable Living Anglicare service leader, Teresa Clark and Food and Pantry co-ordinator, Aaron Li. Picture: Melvyn Knipe

AnglicareSA and the Brotherhood of St Laurence are two of 19 organisations announced under the second round of the Transition to Work service, helping young people move into work or continue their education.

Transition to Work will provide young job seekers with intensive one-on-one support from community-based organisations experienced in working with young people who face greater barriers to enter the workforce.

Anglicare NT has been chosen as the successful provider to deliver a Financial Counselling, Capability and Resilience Hub in Nhulunbuy and the East Arnhem region.

Anglicare NT CEO, Dave Pugh said, “we look forward to expanding upon our existing services and applying our vast experience in financial counselling to the region.

“Our Financial Counsellors help people struggling with bills and debts to get back on track. Our Capability Workers assist clients to develop budgeting skills and avoid scams.”

The Financal Hub will operate from 1 February 2016 – 30 June 2017.

New Samaritans Foundation CEO, Peter Gardiner, was welcomed to his position and the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle at a service in Christ Church Cathedral in early February.

Peter brings to the role incredible passion for social justice issues and supporting people to have fulfilling lives within communities of their choosing.

He has worked in human services for over 35 years, beginning his professional career as a social worker before moving into more senior administrative positions in government and the not-for-profit sector. He has a Master of Business Administration at Macquarie Graduate School of Management.

Some will remember Peter from his time at Anglicare Sydney, and we welcome him back to the Anglicare family.



[L-R] The Rev’d Canon Dr Julia Perry, The Very Rev’d Stephen Williams - Dean of Newcastle, Peter Gardiner and The Right Rev’d Bishop Greg Thompson (Bishop of Newcastle).



[L-R] Rob Dawson, The Rev’d Canon Dr Julia Perry, Peter Gardiner, Lynne Graham and John Hamilton.

Anglicare member, Benetas, has strengthened its focus on achieving the best outcomes for older people with the senior appointment of Nicola Reynolds (left) as General Manager Customer, Innovation and Marketing.

Nicola comes to Benetas with extensive experience across diverse industries, including aged care, and education and transport.

She is responsible for a broad portfolio, including the organisation’s advocacy agenda and research projects, customer experience program and Customer Centre, and marketing and communications initiatives.

Benetas to work with CQL

Benetas held a special event at ACMI Federation Square in February to celebrate the beginning of its journey with the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL).

Benetas is the first Australian aged care specific organisation to work with CQL, which will define, measure and improve Benetas’ customers’ quality of life and customer experience.

CQL is dedicated to the definition, measurement, and improvement of personal and community quality of life for people with disabilities, people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders and older adults. CQL predominantly supports people with disabilities, however in recent times have moved into the seniors and mental health space.


[L to R] Mary Kay Rizzolo (CQL President and CEO), Kathy Ficker Terrill (CQL Senior Advisor), Jane Collopy (Benetas Quality and Compliance Manager) and Sandra Hills (Benetas CEO).

Improving resident safety

Benetas will explore the benefits of new technology in residential aged care flooring, thanks to an Australian‐first research project with support from Swinburne University.

The flooring, which will see specific sensor flooring installed under the normal flooring, is set to make life safer and easier for residents at Benetas’ newest aged care development, St Paul’s Terrace Aged Care Apartments in Frankston, which is due to open later this year.

International research suggests this technology could assist in the reduction of injuries experienced by aged care residents, while also giving them a sense of safety and freedom. It could also cut business costs dramatically, as frontline staff will be able to shift their focus to more proactive care, reducing time spent on routine checking.

Through this technology, key staff will be notified immediately if a resident has taken a fall, along with a range of other motions, which will help them to respond quicker, particularly during the night. The system will also help staff identify changes in residents’ behaviour, such as wandering, which will help to ensure they are receiving the best, most appropriate care.



Architect drawing of the new technology used in residential aged care flooring.

Founder of Innovative Resources, Russell Deal OAM, has left after 25 years with the agency.

Russell joined St Luke’s Anglicare (now a division of Anglicare Victoria) in 1984 as Senior Social Worker, then Deputy Director, and Innovative Resources had been his passion since 1992. He was awarded an OAM for services to social work education and the community in 2013.

Anglicare Australia Executive Director, Kasy Chambers was unable to attend Russell’s farewell in late February due to another business commitment, but provided the following farewell message.

We will greatly miss Russell from the Anglicare Australia network. The words Russell and innovation are hard to separate and his work certainly helped put St Luke’s on the map, and cement its reputation as innovative, responsive and creative in the care it offered.

On behalf of the Anglicare Australia network, thank you to Russell for all that he has contributed to St Luke’s, Anglicare Victoria and the larger Anglicare network in terms of our thinking, our creativity and our reputation. We wish him well for the next part of his adventures and hope to hear from him from time to time.

If you would like to keep in touch with Russell, you can contact him via his new venture, Metaphors Ink, 03 5472 4814 or 0408 995 843 or email.

Anglicare WA has welcomed the appointment of Social Ventures Australia WA Director, Jenna Palumbo and McCusker Centre for Citizenship Director, Michelle Scott.

The Anglicare WA Board was drawn to Jenna’s experience with impact investing and social investment bonds, which link investment returns to the delivery of agreed social outcomes, as well as her work in measuring outcomes of community service programs.

Michelle’s extensive understanding of how state and federal governments operated, and her knowledge of how to traverse complexities within the sector across government and service providers was desirable.

Financial counselling consortium

A group of 10 organisations, which includes Anglicare WA, have won a tender to deliver financial counselling services across Perth.

Four fulltime counsellors have been employed to provide free services through Anglicare WA in Joondalup, City of Wanneroo with outreach centres in Alexander Heights and Merriwa, The Spiers Centre in Heathridge with outreach centres in Merriwa, Butler and Joondalup and UnitingCare West in Merriwa.

Anglicare WA General Manager for Service Operations, Mark Glasson said the collaborative approach is breaking new ground in WA, and would allow counsellors to offer clients high quality support.

Anglicare member, Parkerville Children and Youth Care, has launched a new website to provide Western Australian families seeking specialist support services and advice for trauma and child abuse with better access to online support.

The website showcases Parkerville's extensive work in the community and provides a convenient, easy-to-navigate and interactive portal offering support to people of all ages, including children, young people and families.

“The fundraising facility has been set up to allow supporters to easily purchase tickets to Parkerville Children and Youth Care events, such as our popular Annual Charity Lunch and Ladies’ Lunch, while visitors can also create their own campaigns and highlight their efforts at making a difference to children’s lives,” said Parkerville Children and Youth Care’s Chief Executive, Basil Hanna.

Anglicare Australia member in New Zealand, The Selwyn Foundation, has been appointed as Auckland Council’s new community housing partner for its portfolio of homes for older Aucklanders, as a result of a recent Request for Proposal submission to its Housing for Older People Services.

The appointment sees the Foundation partnering with Auckland Council through a jointly owned company, which will offer long-term security for the Council’s existing social housing tenants.

As a community housing provider, the Foundation has been looking at innovative ways to expand its services, in order to help greater numbers of elderly who are isolated and struggling.  This joint approach will enable Selwyn, in the future, to access the NZ government’s Income Related Rent Subsidies scheme available to registered social housing providers, which will help reduce tenants’ rents and so alleviate the financial hardship faced by some elders.

The Selwyn Foundation is a charitable trust which provides residential care, independent living and community services for older people. Chief Executive Officer, Garry Smith, said:

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Selwyn that takes us to the core of our charitable foundation,” Selwyn Foundation CEO, Garry Smith said. “We want to improve how our older people engage with each other and their wider communities by unlocking the existing land and building resources in more innovative ways that better meet their changing needs.

“It’s another very exciting chapter for all at the Foundation, which will allow us to ensure the future of affordable housing for older people in Auckland, create safe, thriving and age-friendly communities, and provide additional wrap-around services for the benefit of those who are most in need.”

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Auckland Council which will allow feasibility work, due diligence and an indicative development programme to be progressed, with a service commencement in the second half of 2016.

The Commonwealth government is calling for public submissions on ways to boost the supply of affordable rental housing through innovative financing models.

Public submissions are open until 11 March 2016.

The working group has published its Terms of Reference and Issues Paper, and provided further information about how to make a submission are available.

Anglicare Australia National Awards sponsor, Telstra, has announced the introduction of a new Charity Award category for the 2016 Telstra Business Awards.

The new Charity Award category will recognise the significant philanthropic achievements and economic contribution charities make to Australian communities.

Eligible organisations will be have DGR status, be registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission registered, have between one and 500 employees and an annual income of between $250,000 and $10,000,000.

Entries can be submitted between 3 February and 23 March 2016.

Welcome to the next in our series of profiles on the winners and highly commended of the Anglicare Australia 2014 National Awards for Innovation and Excellence. These profiles are featured in The Anglicare Australia Review, out now.

 

VOLUNTEER ACHIEVEMENT is for exceptional service by an individual who has made a significant contribution or significantly changed and improved the quality of service to the client or work environment of the agency.

31 YEARS OF DEDICATED VOLUNTEERING

Bronwyn Cooper has notched up more than 31 years of volunteer service at St Saviour’s Long Day Care Centre in Goulburn, NSW.

Run by Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT, the centre welcomed Bronnie, as the staff and children affectionately call her, and her twin sister after they finished Year 10 at Goulburn High School.

Devoted to the centre, Bronnie shows no signs of retiring. Her commitment and dedication, volunteering four mornings a week, has earned her utmost respect among the staff and community.

Bronnie supports the staff in the centre by preparing morning tea and lunch for the children. She takes time to sit with the children and educates them in appropriate table manners and the importance of healthy eating.

Known as ‘Queen of the Kitchen’, Bronnie receives accolades for her commitment to the task and running a high standard kitchen with regards to hygiene and the safe handling of food.

Bronnie’s continuous service with St Saviours means she has provided service to former children who are now parents themselves with children attending the centre. This has enabled her to build relationships with the local families in town over her working life.

Anglicare Australia’s national award judges thought Bronnie was a role model across generations, with a positive impact on so many local families and children.

The centre considers Bronnie integral to the operation of St Saviour’s Long Day Care Centre. During her 22,400 hours of volunteering, she has prepared over 128,000 morning teas and lunches for the children.


Bronnie Cooper at work.

Ask Izzy is an innovative mobile website that connects people who are homeless or at risk with shelter, food, health and other essential support services. Ask Izzy helps people find important information when they need it most.

With almost 80% of people experiencing homelessness owning a smartphone, Ask Izzy allows people to search more than 350,000 services across Australia. The mobile website has been developed in a unique partnership between not-for-profit Infoxchange, Google, realestate.com.au and News Corp Australia.

Ask Izzy provides access to Australia's most comprehensive directory of services so those who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, can find what they need – a meal, legal advice, health services or a bed for the night.

Over one-third of adults and children seeking help from specialist homelessness services in Australia did so for domestic and family violence reasons, according to a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Domestic and family violence and homelessness 2011-12 – 2013-14, is the first of its kind to examine multiple years of homelessness data.

The report shows that around 520,000 Australians accessed homelessness services over the three years to 2013-14, with 187,000 (36%) being adults and children seeking assistance due to domestic and family violence.

Up to one in seven young people could be at risk of homelessness, pointing to the need for more early intervention services to address their issues before they become homeless.

Mission Australia’s Home & Away: Child and Youth Homelessness report used data collected as part of the 2015 Youth Survey to look at a number of factors which may make a young person vulnerable to homelessness.

These included any time spent away from the family home due to feeling unable to return, family’s ability to get along and frequency of moving residence. The report surveyed a diverse cross section of young people from all states and territories and from all walks of life, through independent and government schools, online respondents as well as Mission Australia youth services.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has published a research report it commissioned that explores how children and young people with disability view their safety and safety needs within institutions.

The report, Feeling safe, being safe: What is important to children and young people with disability and high support needs about safety in institutional settings? was undertaken by the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University (SCU).

The study is particularly important as, to date, child sexual abuse research has paid little attention to the perspectives of children and young people with disability. The information gathered will be used to identify characteristics of child safe institutions.

The report found that children and young people expressed being safe as: feeling safe and secure; being protected; not being hurt; not trusting strangers and having some control of their situation. It found that families and professionals seek to build a sense of safety by providing a loving foundation, building capacity and confidence, building networks and taking action on behalf of children and young people.

The Child Protection Toolkit sets out practical advice to help organisations across Australia meet their child protection obligations, and ensure their environment is a safe place for children.

The toolkit is designed to provide practical advice to organisations of all sizes across the country. It includes a rundown on laws and obligations in every state and territory, child-safe volunteer and employee recruitment and screening tips, template policies and codes of conduct, and a checklist to ensure your organisation is meeting its obligations and, if not, knows where to go to get help.

Young people aged 10–17 who were in the child protection system in 2013–14, were more likely to be under youth justice supervision at some time in the same year, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Young people receiving child protection services and under youth justice supervision 2013–14, also shows that young people in out-of-home care were 23 times as likely as the general population to be under youth justice supervision in the same year, while those who were the subject of an investigated child protection notification were 13 times as likely to be under youth justice supervision.

Research has shown for some time that children and young people who have been abused or neglected are at greater risk of engaging in criminal activity and entering the youth justice system.

Each day in Australia, millions of people provide care to a family member, loved one, friend or neighbour who needs help to go about their everyday lives.

Carer Gateway is a new national online and phone service that provides practical information and resources to support carers. The interactive service finder helps carers connect to local support services.

Carer Gateway provides information about the services and support available for people who care for someone with a disability, chronic illness, dementia, mental illness or who are frail aged.

The 8th Closing the Gap Report, tabled by Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull in Parliament in February, outlines the progress being made to address the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in the priority areas of health, education and employment.

Although the report shows that progress against the seven Closing the Gap targets has been mixed, longer term gains provide hope for the future.

The Report highlights progress against each of the seven targets and identifies areas for future focus.

The Productivity Commission released its 21st edition of the Report on Government Services in February.

The report provides information on the equity, effectiveness and efficiency of government services in Australia. It covers 16 separate service areas in seven volumes:
•    A - Approach to performance reporting
•    B - Child care, education and training (Early childhood education and care, schools, vocational education and training)
•    C - Justice (Police, courts and corrective services)
•    D - Emergency management (Fire and ambulance services)
•    E - Health (Primary and community health, public hospitals, mental health)
•    F - Community services (Disability, aged care, child protection and youth justice)
•    G - Housing and homelessness.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has released a guide for charity board members on managing finances and meeting ACNC duties.

The guide, Managing Charity Money, provides insights into good practice in financial management, focusing on practical steps that charities can take to ensure their finances are used appropriately and protected from misuse.

It also explains the obligations that charities have to the ACNC with regard to their finances such as providing financial reports and ensuring that they operate as not-for-profits.

Not-for-profit organisation, GIVIT, has launched the GIVIT Charity app, enabling more than 1000 Australian charities registered with GIVIT to search a virtual warehouse of donated items and request items most needed by vulnerable people in the community.

Australians are great at lending a hand, especially in times of crisis. GIVIT is helping people to help others more effectively. The GIVIT Charity app is an extension of the new-look national online donation website, www.givit.org.au, which has helped over 200,000 people in Australia over the past six years.

Being mobile means support agencies can search a virtual warehouse of donated goods quickly, to help people in urgent need. In particular, during times of disaster, such as bushfires or floods, charity workers will be able to use the app on the frontline to directly help those who have lost their homes or their livelihoods.

GIVIT also has an app available for donors to make it easier for those in the community to find out what items are most needed and enables donors to list items that they have, to donate.

The Older people in hospital website provides clinicians with evidence-based information and simple strategies to minimise the risk of functional decline for older people in hospital. It is underpinned by the principles of person centred practice.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has released a report that provides a broad analysis of the issues raised by elder abuse in the Australian context.

Elder abuse—the physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse or neglect of an older person by another person in a position of trust—presents a range of complex challenges for the Australian community.

Although solid evidence about prevalence in Australia is lacking, the incidence of elder abuse will certainly increase as Australia’s ‘baby boomer’ generation reaches old age, with increased life expectancy meaning that the aged will, in coming years, comprise a greater proportion of the population than ever before.

Elder abuse - Understanding issues, frameworks & responses provides an overview of the issues raised by elder abuse in Australia and draws on international material where relevant.

Expenditure on mental health-related services in Australia has increased in recent years, according to a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The report, Mental Health Services in Australia, shows that over $8 billion was spent nationally on mental health services in 2013–14 in Australia—equivalent to $344 per person across the population. Of this $8 billion funding, 60% was provided by state and territory governments, 36% by the Australian Government and 4% by private health insurance funds. This distribution has remained relatively stable over the past five years.

The largest proportion of this state/territory government recurrent expenditure was spent on public hospital services for admitted patients, followed by expenditure on community mental health care services.

The Australian Indigenous Alcohol and Other Drugs Knowledge Centre has released an Android version of their free mobile phone app, AODconnect, which will support efforts to reduce harmful substance use among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The new Android app provides a national directory of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and can be used by the AOD workforce, and the very wide range of health practitioners working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector.

Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE) has released a report to highlight the importance of collecting alcohol sales data, to recognise the absence of uniform and effective data collection in Australia.

Understanding alcohol sales data also discusses the ideal approach to measuring alcohol consumption at the state and territory level.

FARE’s review of existing practice highlights that while several Australian jurisdictions collect data, practices vary substantially. Governments should be asking wholesalers and producers to disclose specific information regarding the sales of alcohol to them in order to best estimate per capita alcohol consumption at state and local levels. Such actions will enable the analysis of alcohol consumption across different regions, which supports the development and effective evaluation of public health policy measures that can be tailored to different regions and population groups.

Australia Post’s latest Community Grants program is offering one-off cash payments of up to $10,000 to Not for Profit organisations working at the grass root community level.

The Our Neighbourhood Community Grants program recognises the important role smaller charities and community groups across the country play in building connections for people who are excluded or isolated.

By providing funding of up to $10,000 per project, the program gives a helping hand to community organisations working to build a more inclusive and connected society.

Grants are funded from both Australia Post and the Our Neighbourhood Trust. Applications close on Friday 1 April 2016.

The Commonwealth government will lead the development of a national approach to redress for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. The announcement follows consideration of the Redress and Civil Litigation report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The report makes it clear that redress should be about providing recognition for the survivor, not about protecting the institution's interests.

The government will commence discussions with the states and territories to work through the many complex issues to achieve an outcome for survivors as soon as possible. The starting point for these discussions is for governments and non-government institutions to take essential responsibility for the wrongs committed under their care.

The government’s general view is that while substantial responsibility for the operation of the redress process will reside with the jurisdiction in which the offending institution was or is located, it is essential all governments commit to core principles and processes for the assessment and payment of redress. Accordingly, the government will seek the cooperation of the states and territories to develop a nationally consistent approach to redress through an agreed set of national principles.

The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) have partnered to urge banks and other financial service providers to change the way they interact with charities.

Since December 2012, the ACNC has received over 1,000 complaints from charities regarding the way banks and other financial services providers have tried to verify the information charities provide. These were caused by changes to the reporting requirements for charitable companies in December 2012.

Since the establishment of the ACNC in December 2012, charitable companies, which account for around 10% of all registered charities, have been required to report to the ACNC instead. Therefore, anyone wishing to check the details of charitable companies should check the ACNC Charity Register, not the ASIC Companies Register, to ensure that they access current information.

Levels of philanthropy have tapered off in recent years, with Australia now lagging behind other countries.

The Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership has been re-established to bring together leaders from the business and community sectors to promote philanthropic giving and investment in Australia. The Partnership is chaired by the Prime Minister, with the Minister for Social Services as Deputy Chair.

The Partnership’s role is to advise the government on practical strategies to foster a culture of philanthropic giving, volunteering and investment in Australia.

The Partnership’s focus is on priorities such as eliminating institutional barriers to philanthropic giving; considering the potential of innovative investment models; and building research on trends, education and best practice in the sector.

Fundraising Network meeting
Date: 1 March 2016
Venue: Anglicare Victoria
Contact: Trevor Capps


CFO Network meeting
Date: 2-3 March 2016
Venue: Anglicare Victoria
Contact: Chris Baring-Gould


HR Network meeting
Date: 7-8 March 2016
Venue: Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT
Contact: Kasy Chambers


Aged & Community Care Network meeting
Date: 9 March 2016
Canberra
Contact: Roland Manderson


Support Homeless People luncheon (ac.care)
Date: 8 April 2016
Venue: Barn Palais, Nelson Road, Mt Gambier, SA


Chaplaincy, Pastoral Care and Parish Partnerships Network forum
Date: 18-20 May 2016
Location: Ballina, NSW
Contact: Peter Burke


Anglicare Australia National Conference
Date: 4-7 September 2016
Venue: Darwin Convention Centre, NT

The Future of Ageing Convention
Date: 14-15 March 2016
Venue: The Parade Theatre, Randwick, Sydney

Think Outcomes: delivering, measuring & communicating social change
Date: 12-13 April 2016
Venue: RACV City Club, Melbourne

Collaboration for Impact Conference
Date: 4-5 May 2016
Venue: Rydges Hotel, Melbourne

Innovative Business Models for Not For Profits
Date: 11-13 May 2016
Venue: Radisson Blu, Sydney

The New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services - Services for Older People Conference
Date: 12-13 May 2016
Venue: Rendezvous Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand

National Families Week
Date: 15-21 May 2016
National

Australian and New Zealand Addiction Conference
Date: 18-20 May 2016
Venue: Mantra on View Hotel, Gold Coast, QLD

Child Aware Approaches Conference
Date: 23-24 May 2016
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Communities in Control Conference
Date: 30-31 May 2016
Venue: Moonee Ponds, Melbourne

International Dementia Conference
Date: 16-17 June 2016
Venue: Hilton Sydney

International Federation on Ageing 13th Global Conference
Date: 21-23 June 2016
Venue: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

AIFS 2016 Conference
Date: 6-8 July 2016
Venue: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

Active Ageing Conference
Date: 4 August 2016
Venue: Swissôtel, Sydney

RUOK Day
Date: 8 September 2016
National

Anti-Poverty Week
Date: 16-22 October 2016
National