Annual Report MacKillop Family Services - Amazon S3 · MacKillop Family Services MacKillop Family Services 4 Governance Governance Governance How we are constituted: MacKillop Family

Annual Report 2010-2011

MacKillop Family Services

To pRoMoTe JuSTice And To FoSTeRHope

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Our approach

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JuSTice HopecollAboRATion coMpASSionReSpecTP2 Chairman’s Message

P3 CEO Report

P4-5 Governance

P6 Organisation

P7 Organisational Overview

P8 Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry

P9 Policy

P10 Pierre’s Story

P11 Refugee Services

P12 Out-of-Home Care

P13 Kristie’s Story

P14 Out-of-Home Care

P15 MacKillop Kitchen Rules

P16 Phin’s Story

P17 Community Programs Education

P18 Community Programs Family and Community Services

P19 Portland House Foundation and Tuning In To Kids

P20 Community Programs Disability

P21 Freya’s Story

P22 Margaret’s Story

P23 Heritage and Information

P24 New South Wales

P25 Leah’s Story

P26 Workforce and Aboriginal Action Plan Update

P27 Khairy’s Story

P28 Volunteers

P29 Paula’s Story

P30 Executive Team

P31 Organisational Structure

P32-33 Acknowledgement and Thanks

P34 Excellence Awards

P35-39 Financial Summary Report

MacKillop acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Elders in each of the communities where we work.

contents

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Chairman’s Message

chairman’s Message ceo Report

our priority will always be to support vulnerable children, young people and their families to become stronger and safer. our aim is to advocate for these people within our community and provide them with the resources they need, whether it be support, a home or an education.

It takes the full commitment and energy of our workforce, volunteers, therapeutic specialists, donors and our founding orders to meet the high demand on our services. As such, we have implemented strategic directions that will strengthen our core activities and support our growth in new areas.

Our daily tasks frequently involve dealings with issues of injustice and trauma. We also witness many stories of courage, perseverance and resilience. This is what inspires our work. If you were to walk around our many services, you will experience the plethora of activity involved in meeting today’s immediate needs, together with programs for the longer term challenges people face.

The more efficient our organisation is, the more we can focus our finite human and financial resources on these important tasks. We’re building the capacities of MacKillop Family Services through strategic planning, independent quality auditing, improved bid management, clearer structures and updated working environments.

This past year resulted in MacKillop Family Services exceeding several of the objectives set out in our 2010-13 Strategic Plan. For example we have met quality certification across our programs, grown our services by 20 percent and achieved recognition of our specialist education and

therapeutic programs in the Victorian Department of Human Services’ Good Practice Guide.

We’re proud of these achievements, as it means we are better able to help a greater number of children, young people and families in crisis. However, despite these efforts, there are still too many children facing an inability to live safely within the family home, so we have increased advocacy on their behalf.

Our submission to the Victorian Government’s Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry enabled us to outline the key areas in which we believe reform is required to enable services to better respond to the complex and significant needs of this group.

Whilst the asylum seeker debate is in constant flux, MacKillop Family Services remained focused on the plight of unaccompanied children. During the year we established a dedicated team which prepared for the arrival of a number of unaccompanied minors from detention. Appropriate, responsive and sensitive services have since been developed to enable these young people, many who have experienced trauma and torture, to await the outcomes of their refugee visa applications in safety and with support.

In our work, we never lose sight of the importance of our values and beliefs. We have strengthened staff understanding of MacKillop Family Service’s ethos and culture. At the same time, a major theme has been to improve professional development and career opportunities internally.

In 2011 we actively recruited new Board members and Micaela Cronin, our CEO, has invigorated the Executive Team with highly capable individuals. As the incoming Chair I greatly appreciate the counsel of Br Chris Milne, Sr Kath Tierney, Sr Josephine Dubiel and members. Together we will drive a passionate agenda in 2011/12 for service quality and growth.

Finally we have seen the retirement of a number of Board Directors who have served the organisation for many years, including John Hurren (Chair), Patrice Scales, Marilyn Webster, Sr Judy Davey, Sr Kathleen Crameri and David Graham and we take this opportunity to express our lasting gratitude for their commitment and contributions over the years.

My heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers, donors, staff and Board members who make personal sacrifices to walk the journey with our many clients.

Frank Peppard Chairman

How we protect children and support those placed in State care remains a critical social policy area and is a priority for MacKillop Family Services.

It has been assessed that Australian households experience family violence at a rate of approximately one in four, and it is projected that by 2013/14 there will be 24,000 children in Out-of-Home Care in New South Wales and up to 8000 in Victoria.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are nine times more likely to be placed in Out- of-Home Care than those outside these groups.

It is consistently reported that basic health, mental health and educational outcomes are all significantly poorer for children placed in care outside of their families.

It is in this context that in 2010 we established, with extensive consultation, a comprehensive strategy to lead the organisation across the next three years. Today, we can report significant strides in the achievement of our key strategic objectives: Quality, Growth, Influence and Leadership.

Quality

– In Barwon we strengthened our response to young people disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from mainstream schooling by bringing our education programs together as MacKillop Specialist Education Services.

– Site meetings with over 200 of our staff in Victoria and New South Wales were held to discuss our organisational values, ethos and culture.

– An Aboriginal Action Plan was developed to accelerate our move towards Aboriginal cultural competence.

– Our two programs providing specialist education and therapeutic services were recognised in the Victorian Department of Human Services’ Good Practice Guide: a Statewide Snapshot.

Growth

– We grew across 2010/2011 by approximately 20 percent.

– We were successful in our Expression of Interest to Red Cross for the provision of accommodation and support services as part of the Unaccompanied Minors Community Detention program.

– We were awarded the two Victorian pilots of the new Leaving Care Cluster model program in the Southern and Barwon regions.

Influence

– Our participation in the Victorian Government’s Protecting Vulnerable Children’s Inquiry has involved individual and joint presentations in collaboration with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, Anglicare, Berry Street, the Salvation Army and the Centre for Excellence.The panel has also visited our residential homes with our Youth Advisory Council members and met with staff and young people.

– In New South Wales we were a founding partner in the Coalition for Children in Care, a group of community service organisations advocating for improved quality of services for vulnerable young people.

Leadership

– We continued to assist people who, as children, spent time in the homes of our founding congregations and provided supported access to records and facilitated family reunions.

– We demonstrated strong leadership in both Victoria and NSW during this significant period of change in both states in provision of care to vulnerable children and young people.

MacKillop Family Services is proud of everything we have been able to achieve together during the past year – our Board, staff, carers, volunteers, and donors - who give so generously in so many ways. We are beginning to achieve levels of innovation and performance that we are striving for, through our strategic objectives and look forward to the years ahead.

Micaela Cronin Chief Executive Officer

CEO Report

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GovernanceGovernance

Governance

How we are constituted:

MacKillop Family Services Limited is a company limited by guarantee. (ACN 078 299 288, ABN 79 078 299 288).

We trade under the name MacKillop Family Services and are subject to the MacKillop Family Services Act 1998.

ouR pATRonS:We are honoured to enjoy the Patronage of three great Australians:

Lady Gobbo Ms Elizabeth Proust AO Dr Robert Fitzgerald AM

We thank them for their support.

boARdThe Board has overall responsibility for the governance of the organisation. In particular, the Board oversees: the achievements of organisational aims, strategic planning and review, the nurturing of the ethos and spirit of the organisation, compliance and legal obligations, financial planning and performance, risk compliance, agency policy review and endorsement, promotion and fundraising, and provide an accountability function to the members, funding bodies and the community.

The Board, at the members’ direction, employs the Chief Executive Officer to implement its decisions and hold responsibility for the day to day management of the organisation.

The current Board members, their qualifications, skills and experience and their responsibilities are as follows:

cHAiRpeRSon Mr Frank Peppard

BCom, GAICD Director since November 2006 Appointed Chairperson 30 November 2010

Associate Director, Business Development, Consumer and Public Affairs, Auto & General Insurance

Convenor of the Promotions and Capital Appeal Committee and Member of Strategic Plan Steering Committee

conGReGATionAl RepReSenTATiVeS

SiSTeRS oF MeRcYSr Patrice Orchard rsm Mothercraft Nurse, Child Care Certificate, BA Appointed Director 30 November 2010 Member of the Ethics Standing Committee

cHRiSTiAn bRoTHeRS Br Francis Hennessy cfc BA, TSTC Director since July 2002 Cluster Leader, Oceania Province Member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee

SiSTeRS oF ST JoSepHSr Colleen O’Dwyer rsj DipEd Admin Pastoral Care Appointed Director 30 November 2010 Member of the Quality and Advocacy Committee

cHieF eXecuTiVe oFFiceRMs Micaela Cronin BA, BSW, GradDip CD, GDM

coMpAnY SecReTARYMr Graham Boal BCom (Accounting), ASA, FAICD

oRdinARY diRecToRSMs Naomi Brown DipTeach, GradDip Spec Ed, GradDip Business Appointed director on 18 November 2009 Chief Executive Officer, Australasian Fire & Emergency Service Authorities Council Convenor of the Audit and Risk Management Committee

Mr Jarrod Coysh BCom, MBA Appointed Director on 18 November 2008 General Manager, NAB Education and Community Business, Institutional Banking, NAB Member of the Finance and Legal Committee

Mr Alan Curtain BTheol, GradDip Adolescent Health & Welfare, Master of Workplace & Employment Law Appointed Director on 30 November 2010 National Corporate Community Relationships Manager Member of the Ethics Standing Committee

Mr John Gamble Teachers Cert, BEd, GradDip Ed Studies (Religious Ed), MEd Appointed Director on 18 November 2009 Retired Relieving Director, Catholic Education Office Wollongong and Head of Employee Services Convenor of the Community Liaison Committee NSW

Ms Kate Kennedy BA Appointed Director on 30 November 2010 Retired Strategy Director, World Vision Australia

Dr Patricia McNamara BA, DipEd, BSW GradDip FamTher, PhD Appointed Director on 30 November 2010 Academic Member of the Quality and Advocacy Committee

Mr Garry Nolan MBus, FCIS, FAICD, SF Fin, CFTP (Snr) Appointed Director on 30 November 2010 Business Mentor and retired Corporate Executive Member of the Finance and Legal Committee

Ms Anne O’Loughlin LLB (Hons), BA, DipSocSc (Justice) Director since November 2006 Solicitor

Sr Kathleen Crameri rsj Retired 30 November 2010

Sr Judith Davey rsm Retired 30 November 2010

Mr David Graham Retired 30 November 2010

Mr John Hurren Retired Chairperson 30 November 2010

Ms Patrice Scales Retired 30 November 2010

Ms Marilyn Webster Retired 30 November 2010

All quotes are comments made by staff members to reflect how they feel about the values of MacKillop Family Services and how they relate to their work.

Your Board and Members at work.

Justice: “We see justice

when people are treated as equals

and with respect”

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Organisational Overview

MacKillop Family Services is one of the largest providers of special support services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families operating in Victoria and new South Wales.

Organisation

organisational overview

ouR SeRVice deliVeRY iS cHARAcTeRiSed bY SeVen diSTincT THeMeS:

Services for children and young people who cannot live at home

Supporting families raising a child with a disability

Early interventions and post-crisis case management services for young people at risk of disengaging from education, in contact with the juvenile justice system, homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness

Former residents and their families.

Services for asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors

Education and training services for children and young people

Supporting families experiencing disadvantage or crisis

WiTH A clienT bASe oF oVeR 6,000 cHildRen, YounG people And FAMilieS AnnuAllY, MAcKillop FAMilY SeRViceS pRoVided A Wide RAnGe oF SeRViceS in THe lAST YeAR To:

Over 800 people seeking support from the Family Relationship Centre

Over 250 children and young people who cannot live at home

35 young people at risk, and their families in NSW, requiring early intervention and post-crisis case management.

13 young people seeking asylum

440 vulnerable families requiring support assistance

Over 560 families in contact with MacKillop’s Child FIRST service to connect them to community supports

Over 550 former residents and their families requesting information relating to their time in care

Over 1400 children and young people with moderate to severe disabilities and their families

Over 310 children and young people with learning difficulties or behavioural concerns who are provided with alternate education

organisation

Statement of purpose: MacKillop Family Services exists to support, to foster hope and to promote justice for children, young people and their families, particularly those who experience distress, disadvantage and abuse.

ouR FoundinG SToRY:Over 150 years ago the Sisters of Mercy, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph commenced their work in Victoria. Inspired by the charism of their founders, Catherine McAuley, Edmund Rice and Mary MacKillop, the three congregations established homes for children who were orphaned, destitute or neglected and for mothers who were in need of care and support.

Throughout the years, the original model of institutional care evolved into different forms of residential care, foster care, education and family support services.

In 1997, MacKillop Family Services was formed as a refounding of the earlier works providing a range of integrated services to children, young people and their families.

VAlue STATeMenTS:Justice: We believe in the right of all people, regardless of belief or culture, to be treated justly and fairly.

Hope: We commit to creating an atmosphere of hope where people find meaning in their experiences and relationships.

Collaboration: We commit to working in a collaborative spirit through cooperation, coordination and partnership.

Compassion: We commit to creating an attitude of openness to others and to their circumstances.

Respect: We seek to listen and learn from each other and to build relationships with respect.

TodAY:Today MacKillop Family Services is a leading provider of services for children, young people and their families in Melbourne, Geelong, western Sydney and Wollongong. The programs we deliver include home-based and residential care, refugee services, disability services, youth support, education and training, family support and support to women and men who, as children, were in the care of our founding agencies.

Hope: “Belief in positive

change, facilitating a better future

for all”

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protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable children inquiryThis year has delivered a very significant opportunity to improve the way we, as a community, look after our most vulnerable children.

MacKillop Family Services has strongly welcomed the chance to take a leadership role in shaping the future of the service system for vulnerable children in Victoria.

On 31 January 2011 Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu launched the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry.

The Inquiry provides an important opportunity to advocate for positive change to the systems designed to support vulnerable children, young people and their families and we have been active in responding to, and working with, the Inquiry Panel.

The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry focused on:

• Preventative and early intervention services;

• Family services, statutory child protection services and Out-of-Home Care services;

• The interaction and integration of (government and non-government) agencies directly and indirectly involved in supporting vulnerable children, young people and families;

• Possible changes to processes in the Children’s Court;

• Planning to address future demand for service and supports; and

• Oversight and transparency of the systems designed to support vulnerable children, young people and families.

MacKillop Family Services was directly involved in a number of written submissions to the Inquiry Panel and submitted an individual response providing a detailed elaboration of areas relevant to our work. The response drew on interviews with staff, young people in our residential care services and foster carers and included several examples of best practice. We presented seven principles to inform changes to the Out-of-Home Care system, advocating that they be:

• Responsive and act with therapeutic intent in the best interests of children and young people;

• Inclusive of families;

• Intervening at the earliest opportunity to make a positive difference;

• Flexible with the capacity for innovation;

• Cost effective;

• Transparent and accountable; and

• Integrated and facilitating links across systems and services.

Our written response was supported with a presentation at the Public Sitting of the Inquiry in Geelong. The presentation concentrated on two key issues:

1. The need to extend current pilot therapeutic care options to all Out-of-Home Care and

2. The adoption of a flexible learning option framework to improve education outcomes for children and young people placed in Out-of-Home Care.

In addition, we worked with Berry Street, Anglicare Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency, the Salvation Army and the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare to submit a joint response. This response presented a detailed set of priorities to improve the prospects and outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and their families including:

• Strengthening the Victorian legislation to ensure a joint responsibility for protecting vulnerable children and young people;

• Improving early intervention responses;

• Responding more effectively to family violence;

• Moving away from the adversarial approach of the Children’s Court in determining protection applications for vulnerable children and young people;

• Developing improved services to prevent the removal of children and young people from their families;

• Strengthening Out-of-Home Care services; and

• Improving responses to Aboriginal children, young people and their families.

Our advocacy has not been limited to written and verbal presentations. In April three Inquiry Panel members visited two of our residential homes to meet with staff and discuss possible improvements to Out-of-Home Care. The Inquiry Panel also met with our Youth Advisory Council, comprising representatives from our residential homes in the north west metropolitan region, to discuss their experiences of the current care system.

MacKillop Family Services is encouraged by our participation in this Inquiry and the opportunity to continue to foster hope and promote justice for those we work with.

We look forward to continuing to be a key player in driving improvements to the Out-of-Home Care system.

Our submission to the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry is available online at www.mackillop.org.au

Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry

Policy

policy

MacKillop Family Services’ Advocacy and Service development unit continue to play a key role in progressing many of the initiatives included in our operating plan, particularly in the area of external compliance and accreditation, improving service responsiveness and program expansion.

The team supported, oversaw and contributed to a number of developments including:

• Internal assessments of our Out-of-Home Care, family support and ChildFIRST services in Victoria and housing services in New South Wales as part of the ongoing requirements of registration. Each of these services met the requirements of ongoing registration;

• Disability Services, Barwon participated in an external surveillance audit with services assessed as compliant with the Victorian Industry and Outcomes Standards for Disability Services;

• Out-of-Home Care services in NSW underwent a client file audit conducted by the Office of the Children’s Guardian; and

• The formal amalgamation of St Augustine’s and St Helen’s schools into MacKillop Specialist School completed with the Victorian Registration and Qualification Authority.

A review was conducted of our Long Term Specialist Care Residential Units as part of the regular cycle of internal program and service evaluation. The review focused on the quality of stable and therapeutic care provided and the outcomes achieved with children and young people. The review highlighted the success of the service in responding to young people with high needs who had experienced multiple placement breakdowns.

Considerable progress has also been achieved in the development of data and information reporting systems with the production of regular ‘dashboard’ reports of key organisational and operational activities for the Executive Team and a major report on the recruitment, management and retention of home- based caregivers across the organisation.

We have been active in advocacy activities with written responses submitted to:

• The Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee Review of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006;

• The Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry;

• Inquiry into Forced Adoptions;

• The Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Integrated Care Management Project in Out-of-Home Care ;

• The Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth Commissioner for Children and Young People Bill 2010; and

• The draft Family Law Amendment Bill.

We also worked in partnership with peak bodies including Catholic Social Services Australia, the Victorian Council of Social Services, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and Catholic Social Services Victoria in the preparation of responses on a range of issues.

In May 2011 a Senior Policy Officer joined the team to further strengthen our engagement and influence across a range of social policy areas.

We have also participated in a range of research and evaluation projects with La Trobe University, The University of Melbourne, the Esther’s Voice partnership with Jesuit Social Services and Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services, DHS and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute. Projects included examinations of young people’s experience of education services, the availability and accessibility of services to vulnerable populations in emerging growth corridors and the practice of collecting and maintaining identity information for children and young people growing up in Out-of-Home Care.

These various activities and developments have demonstrated our commitment to advocating for positive social change and a just society, and highlight our leadership within the sector in the journey to promoting justice and fostering hope.

Collaboration: “Listening and

supporting people through difficult

situations”

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Refugee Services

Refugee Services

This year MacKillop Family Services embarked on a new and important journey into the provision of services to unaccompanied young asylum seekers.

Throughout this work, the values of our founders have been clearly evident, as these young people continue on their journey to justice and hope.

Following the Australian Government’s announcement on 18 October 2010 that community detention arrangements would be expanded for vulnerable families and unaccompanied minors, MacKillop Family Services, in partnership with Jesuit Social Services and CatholicCare, was contracted by the Australian Red Cross to provide young people with accommodation, case management, transition planning, living skills programs, education and cultural support services while they await the outcomes of their applications for refugee visa status.

This constitutes a markedly more compassionate approach to the processing of vulnerable young asylum seekers’ applications as the government delivers alternatives to detention centre accommodation.

Arriving without parents or any close adult relatives and often fleeing experiences of torture and trauma, unaccompanied asylum seeking minors constitute one of Australia’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups.

Ali’s Story Shortly before his fifteenth birthday, armed men broke down Ali’s family home in the Middle East without warning, beating his mother and dragging his father away.

Ali needed to be safe, so after spending three months in hiding, his cousin arranged for Ali to flee to Indonesia.

“My mother pushed me to leave because it wasn’t safe. She feared the same thing that happened to my father would happen to me. No-one has seen my father since that night.”

Ali hid from authorities in Indonesia for one month before deciding to travel on an old wooden fishing boat filled with 80 people to Ashmore Reef in Australia. “The boat was the hardest journey; we had no food and only two cups of water each day. It was very scary; it was very rough and people were sick.”

“One night I was asleep on the deck when a huge wave came over the boat and almost washed me overboard – I was lucky, someone grabbed me and pulled me back on board and saved my life. When I think about this...” Ali’s voice trails off.

Upon arrival Ali was taken to Christmas Island. “I was in detention for about nine months. No one explained to me why I was in detention – I never expected that this would happen. They sent me to Victoria and the Maribyrnong Immigration Transit Accommodation centre for another two months. When I was in the detention centres, it was very scary - lots of riots and people hurting themselves. People are not normal – they get angry with each other when they are kept for a long time. I was often too scared to call my mother and when I did, I pretended to be someone else and not her son in case the police

were listening. I gave up and told her I wanted to go back to home, that I had lost one and a half years of my life, stolen from me and for what? But she said ‘Ali, you take such a long journey, an ordeal, so many risks to get there, you stay.”

“When I was placed with MacKillop it was like being reborn...I was free to go and walk down the street. I was free!”

Ali has since been advised by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship that he has been found to be a refugee and, subject to character and security checks, is likely to be granted a refugee visa for settlement in Australia. * Ali’s name and some details of his story

have been changed to protect his identity.

Compassion: “Empathy and

understanding of people’s personal

stories and history”

Pierre’s story When Pierre and his family first arrived in Australia as refugees in 2006, he didn’t speak English, didn’t know the rules of his new country and had no money. But today it’s Pierre who is helping those who walk in his footsteps.

Pierre’s journey began in 1993, when his life in Congo was destroyed by civil war. Fleeing torture and trauma with his wife and infant sons, the young family fled by foot to a nearby refugee camp in Zambia. There Pierre spent the next 12 years applying to the United Nations for refugee status for his family.

Pierre applied to the United Nations five times; each time he would complete the

required paperwork and then walk to the UN office daily to await his fate with thousands of other applicants, eyes fixed on a list on the wall declaring who had been successful and who hadn’t. There were no timeframes and no explanations. Finally, one day in 2005, Pierre saw his family’s name on the list.

Arriving in Australia with his wife and children meant leaving behind other family, friends and all that was familiar to Pierre. Navigating his way in his new country was difficult and Pierre and his family were afforded little help. But today, while working with young asylum seekers in MacKillop’s Refugee

Services, Pierre brings a special kind of understanding, compassion, respect and hope.

“I help them with advice… how to cook, how to clean and how to save,” Pierre reflects. “We eat together… we speak together….”

But the most important lesson for these young people to learn Pierre says is respect. “Being respectful of yourself and others is important. It gives you power. Knowing that the other people, my supervisor and the young people respect me means I can be happy.”



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out-of-Home care

MacKillop Family Services provides out-of-Home care in the form of residential care, lead tenant and home-based care to vulnerable young people and children in Victoria.

This work is undertaken in the metropolitan north-west, metropolitan south and Barwon regions and aims to provide young people with the stability, security and support they need to address past trauma, redevelop confidence and advance with hope in their lives.

The last twelve months have seen significant developments in the way these services are provided, with MacKillop Family Services further developing programs based on innovative best practice models while continuing to seek out the most flexible, responsive and effective ways to support young people.

Our Youth Services in Barwon and southern metropolitan regions developed and launched the Leaving Care Cluster Programs which enable workers to support young people at the crucial time of preparing to leave care and transition to independence.

The Cluster Program is based in an innovative purpose built group of homes which accomodates young people preparing to leave care. The program provides them with the opportunity to live semi-independently and gain confidence in developing the living skills they will require when they do leave care.

In addition the young people are linked in with community resources so that their transition into independent living is sustainable and well supported.

In mid 2011 our Alternate Care North West service gained funding for a home-based care house that provides a home-like environment for young people while being supervised and supported by a combination of live-in volunteers, case management and respite staff. This home will be in place by October 2011 and is an example of our commitment to innovation to improve outcomes for young people.

MacKillop Family Services’ commitment to equipping young people with the living skills they require to successfully move to independence has been demonstrated through a number of other initiatives in the last year.

Out-of-Home Care

Respect: “The foundation

of understanding each other’s

values“

Kristie’s Story Despite having experience of working with young people in residential homes, Kristie knew that volunteering as a lead tenant in our Southern Services’ Cluster home in south-eastern Melbourne was going to be a different experience. A cluster is made up of three houses situated on the same property, preparing young people to transition between different levels of supported housing with the aim of preparing to live independently.

“As a live-in volunteer you have to learn to share everything with the young people,” Kristie explains.

“You share the cooking, the cleaning… you’re a role model on how to live like a housemate.”

Kristie credits the program, which prepares young people to leave care and transition to independent living, with helping young people to understand how to balance freedom and responsibility and believes this is because of the continuity of care provided to them.

“The young people learn how to build appropriate relationships and how to develop boundaries which will help them in their adult lives.”

Kristie says her priority is helping the young people in her care to feel as though they’re part of a partnership. “It’s about conflict resolution and negotiation,” she explains. “We want it to feel as normal as possible.”

“We’re sharing life skills with young people that we take for granted,” says Kristie. “It’s a strong model because it sets up young people to believe in themselves and understand that they are capable of changing their lives.”



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our Southern Services continued to build on their “Getting out There” pilot, a leaving care preparation program based on our existing “Way out There” program.

The program provides young people engaged in residential care and lead tenant programs with the opportunities to develop budgeting, cooking, home maintenance, health and safety skills.

Our Youth Services North West continued to build on their existing hands-on and adventure-based life skills programs to launch MacKillop Kitchen Rules, a cooking-based competition designed by the young people in care.

The service’s focus on preparing young people to leave care was also acknowledged with our Journey’s Program being recognised in the 2010 Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Good Practice Guide.

We have been part of the development of a new collaborative approach to training foster carers in the North West Region which will streamline the preparation for foster care and help to improve our recruitment and retention of foster carers.

Our Youth Services in Barwon worked in partnership with DHS to develop a number of wrap around support packages to assist young people with complex needs and their carers to enable placements to be sustained and to thrive. Our Mercy Children’s Services continued to provide innovative support to their carers through the Circle Therapeutic Foster Care Program, while two of their carers, Raeleen and Lindsey Morrison, were nominated for the DHS Aboriginal Carer of the Year Award (2011).

This year also saw the development of the Helen Gray Award, in memory of well-respected MacKillop Foster Care Coordinator Helen Gray who passed away suddenly in early 2010. The Award recognises young people in our care for excellence, improvement or effort in academia, sport or cultural pursuits.

Out-of-Home Care

out-of-Home care

Justice: “Fairness and

equality, and rectifying

the wrong”

MacKillop Kitchen Rules This year saw the introduction of an exciting initiative developed by young people in our care. Aimed at promoting and developing independent living skills, such as cooking and food hygiene, and team work, MacKillop Kitchen Rules brought together the skills and creativity of five residential homes in a competition which resulted in some amazing outcomes and culminated in a Cook Off in front of celebrity guest judges.

Young people in the residential homes were given the brief of creating their own theme, menu and three course meals to be scored by a judging panel made up of a range of staff. Over five weeks the judging panel was amazed by the teamwork displayed by the young people and staff in each residential home along with the delicious meals and creative concepts produced.

MacKillop Kitchen Rules shows how challenge can help young people build

their sense of identity and self esteem while providing them with skills they need to move forward in life. One of the most important roles we can play is to equip young people with the living skills they will need to successfully transition to independent living. Not only has the competition given the young people the opportunity to develop their cooking skills, but it has given them the confidence to work as part of a team, and ultimately feel part of a larger community.

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Our approach

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Community Programs Education

community programs educationMacKillop Family Services has continued to develop its flexible education models, providing learning opportunities and support to primary and secondary age students who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from mainstream education.

These programs, made up of specialist schools and outreach education services across Melbourne and Barwon, provide responsive, holistic and tailored environments for young people and operate with the student as the central focus.

In mid 2011 St Augustine’s and St Helen’s specialist schools, which are co-located in Whittington, amalgamated to become known as MacKillop Specialist School. Along with the Education Mobile Unit (EMU) and the Youth Ed-venture Program (YEP), the services form part of MacKillop Education. This is a very exciting development for the service and aligns with the strategic direction of the organisation.

One of the highlights for the young people at the school in the last year was the completion of the annual ‘Great MacKillop Bike Ride’, a three day bike ride and camping trip for all students. The event gives young people the chance to achieve a significant goal in their lives, with the ride spanning over 100 kilometres from the top of the Otway Ranges to Queenscliff.

Our commitment to supporting young people in residential care, a group who have been identified as having significant educational needs requiring intensive support, has continued with the work of the Western Education Service (WES). WES, which provides specialist education, training and vocational support to children and young people referred by Child Protection or on a statutory order in the north west from a holistic and collaborative framework, worked directly with over 130 students with over 90% of students engaged in education and training on completion of their time in the program.

In addition, WES developed a resource for our residential homes aimed at raising young people’s awareness about their education options and providing them with the opportunity to complete adult education modules. Over the next 12 months WES will work in collaboration with residential homes and other community support services to further develop and implement this resource.

Participants in the Journey’s Program cycle around the Mornington Peninsula as part of their recreation camp.

Hope: “Gives me a sense

of promise for better things”

Phin’s Story At the end of 2009, twelve year old Phin spent his lunch times at school inside alone, not allowed to play with the other children because of the aggressive behaviours he displayed.

Diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, he would regularly throw rocks at cars, retaliate physically when bullied and was disengaged from learning. He remembers: “I had a yucky feeling in my tummy at school.”

Phin was referred to MacKillop Education in Barwon to help him address his behaviours and to learn to fully

participate in his education. While Phin proudly recalls how he learnt to surf the “biggest waves” and do the “biggest BMX jumps” during the recreational components of the program, the emotional tools he learnt during the 12 months he spent at the school are the ones he reminds himself of daily.

“I just remember to be happy... to not worry about what people say,” he says. “I know how to treat people nicely... and how to think things are good.”

Back at his mainstream school in Year 5, Phin reflects on how he has changed.

Whether it be reading out a letter from the then Minister for Education at the launch of our multi-purpose hall in front of media and board members or preparing his special “Fish and Chips Surprise” for his family, Phin is proud of himself and looking forward to his future. Phin is focused on finishing primary school, starting high school and maybe one day becoming a vet. But for now Phin’s dreams are clear: “I’ve got to go... it’s lunch time and I’m going to go out and kick the footy.”





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community programs Family and community ServicesMacKillop Family Services’ commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and families has continued this year with a number of holistic and innovative services being developed and implemented.

Family support, parent education, play groups, specialist services and resources for vulnerable families have been delivered across Melbourne’s west, developed in a manner mindful of the diverse cultural and social backgrounds and needs of the community.

In March, we launched Tuning In To Kids in community languages; an innovative parenting program presented in collaboration with ParentsLink and Mindful at The University of Melbourne. The program was translated into five key community languages to enable it to be delivered to vulnerable families from culturally diverse communities, and is set to be translated into another two in the coming months. ParentsLink continued to provide playgroups, resources and additional parent education.

Managed by MacKillop Family Services in a consortium with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and Relationships Australia, the Family Relationship Centre at Broadmeadows was recognised with an Excellence Award at the Australian Imans Council’s 2010 Iftar Dinner. The award recognises the significant work the Centre does in developing connections and best practice with the Muslim community and demonstrates our commitment to culturally sensitive and responsive practice.

Our Focus on Families program, aimed at supporting children on Supervision Orders living with their families in the west, was piloted with great success, with the service set to recommence in late 2011 for a further 12 months.

During the year our Substance Abuse Family Support service was successful in obtaining federal government funding to continue its work helping families where one or more parents experience alcohol and/or other drug misuse. This extension means that we can continue to respond to the growing need for the service, through the innovative and responsive model of child-focused family therapy.

Community Programs Family and Community Services

19

Collaboration: “Good outcomes

for young people and their families“

Portland House Foundation and Tuning In To KidsWhen Portland House Foundation Executive Director Genevieve Timmons (above left, with Tuning In To Kids coordinator Judy Cain) read about Tuning In To Kids, a collaboration between MacKillop Family Services and Mindful at The University of Melbourne, she was certain it was worth investing in.

Having herself experienced the positive outcome that comes from awareness raising, information sharing and family empowerment, she knew that the program would have a significant impact on the lives of the disadvantaged families participating.

“This program is about parents equipping themselves for their own lives to be more the parents they want to be and need to be with more information. It encourages them to believe in themselves.”

Tuning In To Kids, a 10 week parenting course providing parents with the tools to better understand and respond to the needs of their children, was translated into five community languages from funding received from Portland House.

The community languages modules were launched at a seminar in late 2010, and Genevieve reflects that the success of the day was indicative of how a

small project can propel into a life-changing initiative.

“To see that such a small grant resulted in that big room at the launch being filled with people… peers wanting to learn about the program so that they could go on and teach it…shows the ripple effect of something incredible.”

“With Tuning In To Kids people are being assisted to lead their own advancement and their assets are being recognised… it just shows that money is only of value when well spent.”

Tuning In To Kids is available in Amharic, Arabic, Somali and Vietnamese.





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Community Programs Disability

MacKillop Family Services supports children and young people with disabilities and their families in Melbourne’s west and Barwon through a range of flexible case management and brokerage support, foster care, recreation and respite programs.

The last twelve months have seen significant developments both within MacKillop Family Services and in the wider disability sector, setting the stage for changes which will enable children and young people with a disability to be more holistically supported.

Individual Support Package Plans, a key feature of our work in the west, have been extended and have now been made available to families in Barwon. The plans, known as MyPlans, are offered as a result of the consortium of MacKillop Family Services, Karingal and Gateways and afford families more effective and responsive support and resources.

Our many recreation and respite programs in the west have continued to provide important and innovative support to children and their families. An increase in funding has seen the Inclusive School Holiday Program in Melton, for children aged 6-14 who may or may not have a disability, being expanded to the growth-corridor of Wyndham.

Late 2010 saw the completion of the Transition to Employment Pilot Project in Geelong. This project focused on providing earlier transition planning and provision of information regarding post school supports for students with disabilities. Nine schools in the Geelong region collaborated to develop the project, which saw 34 young people supported to transition from education to employment and training.

Our Disability Services in Barwon (formerly Bayview Disability) successfully completed an external Audit Review in November 2010 while our Disability Services Metro is preparing for an external audit later in 2011.

We have had a strong voice in supporting sector reform and the recommended introduction of a National Disability Insurance Scheme. We continue to advocate for and with families and to support initiatives driven by them such as the Carer Information Connection in Barwon and the Melton Parents Disability Network.

community programs disability

Compassion: “We deeply care

for our team, colleagues and

families”

Freya’s Story When Freya was diagnosed as non-verbal at the age of one, her parents thought they would never see her read and write.

Five years later, after being supported by our Disability Services team in Footscray, Freya happily communicates with her family, friends and teachers at school through the use of an iPad.

The iPad, which allows Freya to develop the cognitive skills she needs, was purchased as part of a one-off package provided to Freya’s parents to enable them to support her in the family home.

As a result of consultation between occupational therapists, Freya’s school and family, the iPad and unique programs available on it were identified as one of the most effective ways of providing Freya with communication support and enabling her to engage with those around her.

The positive impact we have seen since Freya began using the device has been significant.

Neil and Michele, Freya’s parents, have been frequently reporting back noting,

“The efforts of the Disability team have helped Freya achieve some significant milestones... both at school and at home.”

“We’ve been very grateful for the support we’ve received for Freya from MacKillop...she is making such good progress.”

And what does Freya make of her new iPad?

“Freya wanted to say thank you by herself so she did this for you.”

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Heritage and information

The Heritage and information Service has played a significant role in the lives of people who spent time in the Homes of our founding agencies. We provide supported access to records, facilitating reunifications and taking part in significant archival and research projects.

In early 2011 MacKillop Family Services’ collection of historical records and memorabilia was assessed by Museum Victoria as having national historical significance, research significance, significance of place and spiritual significance. While this assessment provided important recognition of the lives of our former residents and the work of our founding congregations, it also assists us to access conservation funding to ensure the preservation of our records and enhance the quality of our service.

We were successful in obtaining a Victoria 175 History Grant, provided by the Victorian Government, which has enabled us to embark on a comprehensive digitisation project. The project has built on the previous digitisation of primary children’s records and has seen the digitisation of Annual Reports from the former St Vincent Boys’ Orphanage spanning almost 150 years as well as the Baptsim Registers from St Joseph’s Broadmeadows. This development in preservation has already allowed a greater understanding of how the homes were run and supported and will become a key feature of MacKillop Family Services’ Heritage Centre on the site of the former St Vincent de Paul’s Boys’ Orphanage due for completion in 2012.

We continued our involvement in the Who Am I project, a joint initiative of The University of Melbourne, government and sector bodies seeking to better understand the process of archiving and releasing records for Forgotten Australians. The project this year recognised our supported release of records as a model of best practice.

The increase in inquiries from former residents and their families following the Federal Government’s apology to Forgotten Australians has continued, especially with the launch of the Pathways web-based directory and the commencement of Open Place.

The Heritage and Information Service will continue to develop in 2012 with the completion of the Heritage Centre which will serve as a space for former residents to access their records and photos and for the wider community to learn more about the histories and stories of Catholic institutional care dating back over 170 years. The MacKillop Family Services Heritage Centre will also provide a space for reflection and education.

“The Annual Picnic given by Mr. T. M Burke to the boys of St Vincent’s Orphanage, South Melbourne, took place on Sunday November 13th. Mornington was the rendezvous, and between ten and eleven o’clock, some 55 motor-cars lined up outside the building ready for the load of expectant youngsters... At half past four an adjournment was made to the beach, and soon the majority of boys were enjoying themselves in the surf.” Source: St Vincent de Paul’s Boys’ Orphanage, Fifty-Third Annual Report, for the year ending 30 June, 1928.

Respect: “Upholding the dignity of every

human being”

Heritage and Information

Margaret’s Story As Margaret Turnbull describes the plans for her 60th birthday party she reveals that this is the first party she has ever held.

Having grown up in St Catherine’s Children’s Home, one of the Homes run by MacKillop’s founders, Margaret’s childhood was spent knowing little about her family and having limited interaction with her siblings, a story that is sadly all too common.

Margaret is just one of hundreds of Forgotten Australians who have been supported by MacKillop’s Heritage and Information Service to access their records and photos from their time in care or to be reunited with family members. This enables them to better understand the experiences in their

past so that they can move ahead with hope for the future.

Having reconnected with her sisters and “filled in some of the gaps”, Margaret spends her time advocating for other Forgotten Australians so that their needs and experiences can be better acknowledged and responded to by government. Margaret also organises reunions for former residents in partnership with MacKillop’s Heritage and Information team. However it is the hope that the Heritage team has helped Margaret see in herself, that enables her to foster hope in others.

“Talking with Jenny from Heritage has helped me see the good in myself,” Margaret reflects. “It’s her warmth, her kindness, her trust. She can just listen.”

It is indeed the Heritage Team’s compassion and empathy that helped Margaret to turn her life around.

“I am empowered now… I can take responsibility. I’m not a victim.”

And Margaret, who with MacKillop’s help is heading to England in 2012 to meet many of her 54 English cousins for the first time, is quick to reveal who is heading up her birthday party guest list.

“The Heritage team are coming,” she explains. “It’s more of a thank you party to people than a birthday for me. They just have such a high level of respect for our stories and us as individuals. Now I have respect for myself.”



24 25

New South Wales Services

new South Wales Services

The last year has seen a number of significant developments within our new South Wales Services which have allowed us to continue to provide high quality support services for vulnerable young people and their families.

In August 2010, we restructured our services in NSW. This was critical to ensure that we were able to support the implementation of the organisation’s new strategic plan and realise our strategic priorities over the next three years and as such several new positions were created and a strong team recruited. We are now well placed to broaden the mix of services provided in NSW.

Six months ago, our Out-of-Home Care service, Eddy’s Place, began implementing a therapeutic approach to residential care. With the support of a highly skilled clinical psychologist, and a focus on recognising underlying trauma and disrupted attachment, we are now able to provide care that is more responsive to each young person’s individual needs, experience and circumstances. This approach has resulted in better outcomes for young people and increased placement stability.

In early 2011, we began preparing for the implementation of a new service delivery model in our Mt Druitt based early intervention service for young people at risk. The new Youth and Family Support model will assist young people to stay connected to family, school and community through the provision of case management support and a new skills development program.

The skills development program is based on the organisation’s successful Education Mobile Unit (EMU) program and will assist young people to develop the life skills they need to make a successful transition to high school, remain engaged with education and manage the challenges of adolescence. We will launch our Youth and Family Support Service in October 2011.

In April 2011, we became a registered Community Housing provider through the NSW Registrar of Community Housing. This was a significant achievement and demonstrated our ability to provide well managed supported accommodation services for young people experiencing homelessness.

In early 2011, we began preparing to implement the Results Based Accountability (RBA) Framework across our NSW Services. This project will allow for the comprehensive measurement of outcomes and will be piloted in the next 12 months. We look forward to using data to improve outcomes for the children and young people in our care and developing services that are more responsive to their needs.

We continued to play an active role in several partnerships and community groups to better advocate for the children, young people and families we work with.

MacKillop Family Services continued its participation in the Coalition for Children in Care (CCC), a body established in the lead-up to the NSW state election to lobby for the transformation of the state Out-of-Home Care system.

The CCC was successful in securing an election commitment from the NSW Liberal and National Parties to transfer the majority of Out-of-Home Care services from government to the non-government sector, and is now working with the Minister for Family and Community Services and the NSW Government to make this a reality.

We have taken a number of actions to prepare for the transition of Out-of-Home Care services including applying for accreditation as a foster care provider in NSW, adopting a more therapeutic approach to Out-of-Home Care, and increasing our capacity to provide high quality services across the Illawarra and Western Sydney regions.

Justice: “Working for the greater

good” Leah’s Story When 19 year old Leah found herself alone, homeless, pregnant with twins and with a two year old daughter, she wasn’t sure where to turn. Having fled domestic violence interstate, Leah had spent much of her pregnancy sleeping in backpacker hostels and on couches. She had no family to rely on and had no idea of where she was going to go next.

Leah was initially referred to the Eddy’s Out West Program in NSW by a hospital social worker to assist her with finding housing. In the months that followed, Leah was connected with a respite child care service, provided with essential

material aid for her and her children and referred to ongoing community supports. Leah also moved into one of our supported independent units.

“It’s nice having someone you know that you can call and knowing that they will call you,” Leah reflects.

When Leah’s twin boys arrived six weeks premature requiring intensive care, Leah knew that she could overcome the challenges that lay ahead.

“Clare (my worker) spent her time with me setting short term goals... having goals each fortnight even though they

were just simple things helped me feel like I was doing something and life was moving along rather than just feeling stuck.”

Now living in a more permanent property with her daughter and healthy twin sons and continuing to receive regular case management from Clare, Leah is positive about her family’s future.

“It was nice knowing that Clare would see me through. She’s helped me set up a new start.”* Leah’s real name has been changed to protect her identity.





26 27

Workforce and Aboriginal Action Plan Update

Workforce and Aboriginal Action plan update MacKillop Family Services’ commitment to developing and maintaining an empowered, innovative and supported workforce was demonstrated over the last year with the rollout of a number of new strategies and flexible training opportunities.

The organisation’s Wellbeing and Safety Strategy 2011-2012 was launched in May and saw a significant focus on the implementation of thorough prevention strategies and planning while providing timely, appropriate and responsive support to staff. As such, we partnered with Employee Assistance Program provider PPC Worldwide to ensure ongoing support to staff and their families through the provision of counselling and wellbeing activities.

Staff continued to have access to a number of preventative health

measures, including Worker Health Checks and influenza vaccinations, with a significant proportion of staff participating in both initiatives.

The organisation highlighted its emphasis on staff involvement with employees from across the organisation participating in the Occupational Health and Safety consultation process. All staff were also asked to provide feedback around mandatory and discretionary training, and continued to access relevant and specialised internally and externally-provided professional development opportunities.

As the organisation grows significantly and the complex nature of our work continues, we look forward to supporting our staff and volunteers through the provision of a high standard of training opportunities and wellbeing strategies which will in turn work to provide the most positive outcomes for the children, young people and families we work with.

in line with the values, ethos and strategic directions of MacKillop Family Services, we are committed to understanding, developing and implementing best practice in working with the Aboriginal children and families in our care.

Over the last few years, we have made steady progress in moving along the continuum towards Aboriginal Cultural Competence, but we acknowledge that there is still significant work to be done.

As such, and in the spirit of collaboration, we have continued our very important partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and Berry Street. Launched in 2006, Building Respectful Partnerships this year saw the development of the Building Respectful Partnerships Practice Guide.

The Guide describes culturally competent and respectful practice across an organisation and aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal

children and families and strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal and mainstream organisations.

This last year has been one of change and planning for the future in the area of Aboriginal partnerships for MacKillop Family Services and a range of activities and training have been undertaken including:

- Aboriginal Cultural training developed and being implemented;

- Annual Audit undertaken in relation to our work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait children, young people and families;

- Communication to all staff in relation to important annual recognition events and activities such as NAIDOC Week, National Reconciliation Week and Sorry Day; and

- Recognition of the Traditional Custodians at worksites and in communications.

Over the next three years, we will continue our journey towards Aboriginal Cultural Competence. The MacKillop Family Services Aboriginal Action Plan has been developed to support and accelerate our development towards this, sets out five strategic projects which we will undertake over the next three years and outlines the ongoing activities aimed at building and maintaining our respectful Aboriginal partnerships.

Khairy’s Story Working in one of Victoria’s most culturally diverse areas, Senior Cultural Advisor at the Family Relationship Centre in Broadmeadows Khairy Majeed knows how important his role is.

Based in Broadmeadows, the Centre is run by a consortium made up of the Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Relationships Australia, and MacKillop, the lead agency and is the only Family Relationship Centre out of 65 in Australia with a dedicated cultural advisor.

Khairy is responsible for increasing awareness of the FRC within the many

varied cultural groups in the area, establishing important links and playing a visible role among key networks.

Responsible for developing and implementing an Arabic Men’s Group and the Parents and Adolescents Relationship Support Service, Khairy is committed to addressing the significant intergenerational conflict occurring in many of the families he works with.

After arriving in Australia from Iraq in 1988 with limited English and little understanding of Australian systems and culture, Khairy now uses his

experience and knowledge across a range of areas.

Spending time providing secondary consultation and training to MacKillop staff across all programs, Khairy is clear about the hope he has for MacKillop’s work in the future.

“Where we help to be proactive in building a harmonious community...where people’s skills are recognised and we continue to work together. Where we demonstrate the values of MacKillop on the ground... justice, hope and respect can be achieved.”



28

Volunteers

Volunteers

MacKillop Family Services relies heavily on the generosity and commitment of volunteers, and values the unique and important contribution they make.

The time, resources and support provided by our 400 volunteers makes a significant difference to the lives of the vulnerable families and young people we work with, and much of our work could not be carried out without them.

Volunteers are engaged across Melbourne, Barwon and New South Wales in a range of roles.

Many of our volunteers provide emergency, short and long term foster care to vulnerable children and young people unable to live at home, while others are involved in lead tenant models or providing supervised childcare activities.

Others provide practical support assisting young people with a disability, families with transport to and from appointments, helping young people with driving skills and working with young people to develop cooking skills or presentation skills. Volunteers also work with our Heritage and Information Service to provide assistance with the archiving of photographs.

The Volunteer Development Coordinator continues to facilitate improved practice across the organisation and has played a key role in providing a centralised intake point for volunteer inquiries, improving assessment and accreditation training and coordinating recognition activities during National Volunteer Week.

MacKillop Family Services provides all volunteers with comprehensive training, support and sincere recognition and appreciation.

The time, resources and

support provided by our 400

volunteers makes a significant

difference

29

Paula’s Story When Paula, a caregiver from our Circle Program, was a child her parents fostered an eight year old for six months. Seeing firsthand the impacts of trauma, displacement and a lack of stability on the life of this young girl, Paula was determined that one day she would make a difference. This opportunity came when she became a foster parent to Tom.

Our Circle Program provides foster carers with the support and skills needed to work with the traumatised children placed in their care.

Based in Barwon, the Circle Program’s therapeutic model of foster care equips

carers to better understand and respond to their foster children.

“The best thing about the Circle Program is the collaboration,” explains Paula. “The MacKillop worker, Department of Human Services worker, psychologist and biological parents meet regularly with us to share information so we can learn more about how to better respond to Tom’s needs and behaviours.”

“Tom always knew the meetings were taking place.... he knew he had a voice.”

This collaborative approach has allowed Tom, who has lived with Paula since the

age of two and a half, to grow into a sensitive, intuitive and happy young boy.

“When I learnt why he was behaving the way he was I could respond better and be a lot more patient.”

“Now Tom can regulate his emotions... every day has a sense of purpose and every day is fun.”

The best day for Tom and his family? When Paula became his permanent carer.

“He couldn’t wait to tell everyone he had a new last name. The same name as me and his relatives. He was part of a bigger family; he really knows that he belongs.”



30 31

Executive Team

executive Team

General Manager – New South Wales Ms Jude Ekerick

Director of Human Resources Ms Gerry McNamara BA, GradDip Ind&ER

Director of Ethos and Culture Sister Mary Davis rsj

Executive Director of Operations Mr Gerard Jones BCom, DipEd

neW iMAGe

Director of Out-of-Home Care Mr Bernard Lamb BA, BEd, BSW

Director of Community Programs Ms Anne Condon BCom, DipSocSc, MSW

Director of Refugee Services Mr David Fox BA, BEd, DipMan

Director of Finance and Business Mr Graham Boal BCom (Accounting), ASA, FAICD

Director of Community Relations Mr Grant Thomas BBus, MSocSc, MBA

Chief Executive Officer Ms Micaela Cronin BA, BSW, GradDip CD, GD Management



Organisational Structure

organisational Structure

diRecToR oF eTHoS & culTuRe

MeMbeRS boARd oF diRecToRS

cHieF eXecuTiVe

oFFiceR

diRecToR oF ReFuGee

SeRViceS

Residents Determination/

Community Care

GeneRAl MAnAGeR

nSW SeRViceS

Youth Homelessness

Residential Care

eXecuTiVe diRecToR oF opeRATionS

AdVocAcY And SeRVice

deVelopMenT

diRecToR oF HuMAn

ReSouRceS

Training & Development

Wellbeing & Safety

diRecToR oF ouT-oF-HoMe

cARe

Home Based Care

Residential Care

Lead Tenant

diRecToR oF coMMuniTY

RelATionS

Heritage & Information

Service

Fundraising

Media & Communications

Business Development

diRecToR oF FinAnce & buSineSS SeRViceS

Finance

Information Technology

Property

diRecToR oF coMMuniTY pRoGRAMS

Disability

Education

Family & Community Services

Dr Vicky Flory was employed as Director of Out-of-Home Care until 3 June 2011.

Mr Gavin Kempin was employed as Director of Advocacy and Service Development until 24 June 2011.

Anita Mueller, Director Ethos and Culture has been on Maternity Leave since December 2010.

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Acknowledgement and Thanks

Acknowledgement and Thanks

Acknowledgement and ThanksWe gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the following donors, trusts and foundations, businesses, municipal councils, community groups and schools. Their support is crucial to the work we carry out and we sincerely thank them.

MacKillop Family Services would like to acknowledge the support of the Uniting Church which has provided properties for our Refugee Services: thanks go to the congregations of Rev Ken Sumner and the Minajalku Centre in Thornbury and Rev David Anderson and the Plenty Valley Uniting Church.

ouR SuppoRTeRSTrusts and Foundations

ANZ Staff Foundation

Australian Communities Foundation - Ballandry Fund

Australian Communities Foundation - Paterson Family Fund

BayNET

Bell Charitable Fund

Bendigo Bank Community Enterprise Foundation

Bennelong Foundation Limited

Beswick Family Fund

Cabrini Health

Catholic Education Office Melbourne

Carers Victoria Respite Connections

Collier Charitable Fund

Equity Trustees - R M Ansett Trust

Estate of the Late Edward Wilson

Fr Kevin Broderick Memorial Trust

Gandel Charitable Trust

Geelong Community Foundation

Give Where You Live

Hilton White Estate

Joe White Bequest

Melton Shire Council/Collingwood FC Community Benefit Program

State Trustees Australia Foundation

The Dimmick Charitable Trust

The Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust

The Good Guys Foundation

The Honda Foundation

The Ian Potter Foundation

The Jack Brockhoff Foundation

The Marian & E H Flack Trust

The Michael & Andrew Buxton Foundation

The Myer Foundation

The Queen’s Fund

The R E Ross Trust

The Walter & Eliza Hall Trust

The William Angliss (Victoria) Charitable Fund

Youth Education Support Inc

GoVeRnMenT Victoria State Government:

Department of Human Services

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development

Department of Health

Victoria 175 Grants Program

New South Wales:

Department of Family and Community Services

Commonwealth Government:

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Department of Health and Ageing

Victoria Local Government:

Shire of Melton

City of Stonnington

Gold cHAMpionS:Bob Stewart of Kew

Liberty International Underwriters

Wallara Asset Management Pty Ltd

cHAMpionS Angela Rutherford Pty Ltd

ANZ - Human Resources Shared Services

Becks Wiggins Stokes Pty Ltd

Brighton Grammar School

CBA Staff Social & Charity Club (Vic) Inc

CO2 Australia Limited

Design Electrical Pty Ltd

Fletcher Jones Support

Geelong JukeBox Rockers Inc

G-Force Recruitment

Haven Licensing Pty Ltd

Hill Consultants

Laurelee Dance Club

Linfox-Coles RDC

Loyola College

MacKillop Catholic Regional College Werribee

Melbourne Artists’ Supplies

Mercy Congregation Centre

National Australia Bank Limited (WorkPlace Giving)

National Gallery of Victoria

Redd HR/IR Consultancy

Riversdale Orthodontists

Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria

Skoolsport Equipment

St Clare Catholic High School Plumpton

St Kevin’s College Toorak

Thomson - GA Thomson & Co (Carlton) Pty Ltd

Toorak Ecumenical Movement and Food for Friends

Toyworld

VECCI

Vodafone Hutchison Australia

Westpac Banking Corporation Business Loan Originations Vic

Westpac Banking Corporation Commercial Banking Vic

Wines by Design

bequeSTSEstate Arthur Lewis

Estate Charles Tutty

Estate Edward O’Connell

Estate Father Leo Hartnett

Estate James McConnell Kerr

Estate James Moloney

Estate John E Taylor

Estate John Michael Toohey

Estate Leo Byrne Halpin

Estate Libuse Frantiska Panik

Estate Margaret Conway

Estate Mary Ann Edwards

Estate of the Late Edward Wilson

The Patrick A Foley Trust

The Patrick J McMahon Trust

Estate Patrick Peter Lacey

Estate of W E & M E Flanagan

Estate William Theobald Hogan

The Phoebe E Jane Lepage Trust

The John Henry Charitable Trust

The William & Mary Ievers & Sons Maintenance Fund from Estate George H Ievers

To donate to MacKillop Family Services visit www.mackillop.org.au

or phone our supporter services team on 1300 218 935

Collaboration: “Achieve more if we work together

towards the same goals”

Hope: “We see hope

when families engage, confidence

grows and when they become

actively involved”

35





34

Financial Summary Report

Financial Summary Report

Excellence Awards

excellence Awards

The excellence Awards are presented to a staff member, volunteers and child, young person or family with whom we work. The following awards were presented at the 2011 Annual public Meeting.

THe cATHeRine McAuleY AWARd FoR eXcellence in VolunTeeRinGJodie Rushton – Journeys of Change Program volunteer

Jodie has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to Journeys as a volunteer, generously offering a significant amount of time and effort to support the young people and staff involved in the Program. She continually goes above and beyond what is expected, showing a high level of empathy for and trust in the young people while engaging them in a number of therapeutic activities and offering practical assistance.

Jodie is committed to instilling hope within the lives of the young people in the program, supporting them to develop self esteem, a sense of identity and the courage to think about their future in a positive way. The values of MacKillop Family Services are reflected in the way Jodie engages with the young people every day as she strives to build empowering, respectful and compassionate relationships to support these young people to change their lives.

Jennie Healy – Southern Home-Based Care Program Foster Carer

Jennie has been an accredited foster carer since 2001 and has provided approximately 35 young people with a loving, stable home following their experiences of abuse or during their time of family breakdown. She has demonstrated herself to be an exceptional carer, with an extensive understanding of trauma and attachment theory and has translated this into a high standard of therapeutic foster care.

Jennie has supported the young people in her care, many of whom have experienced significant placement instability and homelessness, with the skills, confidence and nurture required to move into adulthood. Many of these young adults still involve Jennie in their lives. She possesses an exceptional passion for and belief in young people and is able to look beyond some of the challenging behaviours of the young people in her care to see their vulnerability, and offer them consistency, safety and love.

THe edMund Rice AWARd FoR eXcellence in pRoFeSSionAl pRAcTiceAndrea Herir – Senior Case Manager, Mercy Children’s Services

Andrea is an outstanding member of MacKillop Family Services, and her work with children and young people, their families and program caregivers consistently exemplifies a commitment to the core values of the organisation. She holds an inherent respect for all those she works with and has an innate ability to enable those around her to feel heard and valued.

Andrea has been able to promote creative innovative strategies to ensure the needs of children, young people and their families are addressed despite what at times have been significant systemic barriers to

achieving this. Renowned as a diligent, hardworking and compassionate staff member, Andrea demonstrates excellence in her practice through her ability to empower families to find their own solutions, her commitment to advocating for the needs of her client group and her outstanding contribution to the team and program.

THe MARY MAcKillop AWARd FoR couRAGe in liFeAllan Johns – Lead Tenant, Alternate Care North West

Allan has shown significant commitment, tenacity and courage in his journey through childhood into adulthood. Entering MacKillop’s care as a ten year old, Allan carried with him an extensive history of having experienced severe rejection and emotional and physical abuse. Seeking out many unhelpful coping strategies to deal with his trauma, Allan began to turn his life around when he transitioned to one of the organisation’s lead tenant properties.

After moving into the property as a 17 year old, Allan immediately began developing new strengths and behaviours, and overcame many of the challenges that he had been faced with in his young life. Staff were proud, yet not surprised, that Allan had the courage to achieve his goals. Allan is now studying Information Technology at Victoria University and has moved into student accommodation with his girlfriend and has developed into a friendly, motivated and self sufficient adult.

The financial information presented in this Annual Report has been derived from the audited Financial Report of MacKillop Family Services for the year ended 30 June 2011.

A copy of the full financial report and auditor’s report is available on request, free of charge.

enTiTY oVeRVieWMacKillop Family Services Ltd is a company limited by guarantee and is incorporated and domiciled in Australia.

MacKillop Family Services is responsible for the works previously conducted by the following Founding Agencies:

(i) Christian Brothers’ Child, Youth and Family Services, Footscray which included;

(a) St Augustine’s Adolescent and Family Services Whittington

(b) St Joseph’s Homes for Children, Flemington

(c) St Vincent’s Boys Home, South Melbourne

(ii) Mercy Family Care Centre North Geelong

(iii) St Vincent de Paul Child & Family Services Black Rock

(iv) St Anthony’s Family Service Footscray

(v) St Joseph’s Babies and Family Services Glenroy

Since commencement of operations, MacKillop Family Services’ has become responsible for continuing the works of the following organisation:

(i) Edmund Rice Community Services, NSW.

pRincipAl AcTiViTieS MacKillop Family Services’ principal activities are the provision of Home Based and Residential Care Services, Disability Services, Youth Support and Outreach Services, Educational Services, Family Support and Preservation Services, Refugee Services, Heritage and Information Services for former residents along with Advocacy and Research to vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people and their families, utilising self generated, Federal and State government funding.

GeoGRApHicAl AReAMacKillop Family Services provides services in Melbourne, Sydney, Geelong and Wollongong.

eMploYeeSThe average number of full-time, part-time and casual employees during the financial year ended 30 June 2011 was 542 (2010: 534 employees).

VolunTeeRSDuring the year, MacKillop Family Services had over 400 volunteers assisting with its works.

GReeninGMacKillop Family Services has a ‘Greening Committee’ which continually looks at ways the organisation can reduce its carbon ‘footprint’. During the past year the organisation has continued to downsize its vehicle fleet (large vehicles replaced with smaller vehicles), increased its purchase of green energy, continued to use suitable recycled paper in copiers, used alternate ‘green’ chemicals across all its sites and has used an environmental consultancy firm to assist in incorporating an Environmentally Sustainable Design into the major refurbishment works at 237 Cecil St South Melbourne.

opeRATinG ReSulT FoR THe peRiodThe company recorded a loss from ordinary operating activities of $876,475. Other income from non ordinary activities totals $3,971,953 resulting in a net surplus for the year of $3,095,478. Other income is unbudgeted income received outside of MacKillop Family Services’ normal activities and is of a capital nature. This income is used to fund capital works or is invested to fund the ongoing works of MacKillop Family Services. The reported other comprehensive income in the Statement of Comprehensive Income is the gain in financial assets yet to be realised.

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Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 30 June 2011

Financial Summary Report Continued...

Financial Summary Report continued...

2011 2010

Government grants 78% 85%

Enterprise income 1% 1%

Bequests 0% 2%

Trust funds 1% 1%

Donations/fundraising 1% 1%

Investment income 7% 6%

Other income - includes funds from Founding Congregations and Capital Appeal Fund

12% 4%

ReVenue

EXPENSESREVENUE

2011 2010

Employee benefits expense 72% 71%

Depreciation and amortisation expense 3% 4%

Client expense 10% 10%

Fundraising and volunteer expense 1% 0%

Occupancy expense 3% 3%

Property maintenance and equipment expense 6% 5%

Motor vehicle running expense 1% 2%

Audit and legal expense 0% 0%

Administration expense 3% 4%

Other expenses 1% 1%

eXpenSeS

EXPENSESREVENUE

Statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 30 June 2011

2011 $

2010 $

Revenue and other income

Revenue from operating activities 36,010,687 33,244,590

Revenue from outside operating activities 1,513,348 1,095,607

Revenue and other income 37,524,035 34,340,197

Expenditure

Employee benefits expense 27,590,040 24,658,713

Depreciation and amortisation expense 1,273,828 1,237,064

Client expense 3,718,134 3,692,146

Fundraising and volunteer expense 330,536 134,212

Occupancy expense 1,062,482 898,713

Property maintenance and equipment expense 2,066,976 1,744,823

Motor vehicle running expense 574,659 578,282

Audit and legal expense 53,863 50,435

Administration expense 1,223,474 1,395,041

Other expenses 506,518 404,564

Expenditure 38,400,510 34,793,993

Loss from ordinary activities (876,475) (453,796)

Other income 3,971,953 1,669,901

Net surplus for the year 3,095,478 1,216,105

Other comprehensive income

Net gain on revaluation of financial assets 1,699,339 1,242,237

Other comprehensive income for the year 1,699,339 1,242,237

Total comprehensive income for the year 4,794,817 2,458,342

A reconciliation of the reported surplus consists of the following amounts:

Operating surplus $3,095,478

Non-operating activities:

Bequest Income $134,509

Transfer of funds from the Christian Brothers Victoria $169,710

Transfer of funds from the Sisters of Mercy $3,262,689

Capital Appeal Funds $405,045

Total non operating activities income $3,971,953

Loss from operating activities ($876,475)

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Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2011

Statement of Financial position as at 30 June 2011

2011 $

2010 $

CURRENT ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents 2,758,711 2,528,363

Trade and other receivables 1,373,307 1,014,371

Financial assets 10,000,000 14,000,000

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 14,132,018 17,542,734

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Financial assets 15,770,220 14,136,577

Property, plant and equipment 20,129,159 11,878,139

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 35,899,379 26,014,716

TOTAL ASSETS 50,031,397 43,557,450

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables 2,005,882 1,918,956

Short-term provisions 2,260,747 2,062,325

Other 4,666,001 3,115,632

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 8,932,630 7,096,913

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Long-term provisions 850,302 876,561

Other – 130,328

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES 850,302 1,006,889

TOTAL LIABILITIES 9,782,932 8,103,802

NET ASSETS 40,248,465 35,453,648

FUNDS

Contributed funds reserve 23,481,100 23,481,100

Trust funds reserve 3,714,183 3,714,183

Capital appeal reserve – 381,137

Financial assets reserve 7,036,044 5,336,705

Retained earnings 6,017,138 2,540,523

TOTAL FUNDS 40,248,465 35,453,648

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 30 June 2011

Statement of cash Flows for the year ended 30 June 2011

2011 $

2010 $

inflows (outflows)

inflows (outflows)

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Receipts from government and other 43,213,323 36,822,123

Payments to suppliers and employees (38,749,709) (35,870,784)

Dividends received 48,501 51,109

Interest received 1,027,808 1,148,671

Net cash provided by operating activities 5,539,923 2,151,119

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Payment for property, plant and equipment (10,141,223) (1,999,036)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 765,952 721,504

Net increase in investment funds 4,065,696 (4,500,000)

Net cash used in investing activities (5,309,575) (5,777,532)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 230,348 (3,626,413)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 2,528,363 6,154,776

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 2,758,711 2,528,363

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JuSTice HopecollAboRATion coMpASSionReSpecT



Our approach

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www.mackillop.org.au

Registered Office ABN 79 078 299 288Level 1, 123 Paisley Street, Footscray VIC 3011Telephone (03) 9687 7166

Donation Hotline: 1300 218 935Volunteering Hotline: 1300 791 677

Heritage and Information Service237 Cecil Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205Telephone (03) 9699 9177

ouT-oF-HoMe cAReAlternate Care North West & Youth Services North West9 Victoria Street, Footscray VIC 3011Telephone (03) 8398 6800

Southern Services237 Cecil Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205Telephone (03) 9699 9177

Youth Services Barwon & Mercy Children’s ServicesHelen Street, North Geelong VIC 3215Telephone (03) 5278 9211

coMMuniTY pRoGRAMSDisability Services118 Commercial Road, Footscray VIC 3011Telephone (03) 9680 8444

Helen Street, North Geelong VIC 3215Telephone (03) 5278 9211

Family and Community Services390-392 High Street, Melton VIC 3337Telephone (03) 8746 0500

118 Commercial Road, Footscray VIC 3011Telephone (03) 9680 8444

Family Relationship CentreLevel 1, Building 1, 1100 Pascoe Vale Road, Broadmeadows VIC 3047Telephone (03) 9351 3700

MacKillop Education25-33 Oxford Street, Whittington VIC 3219Telephone (03) 5248 2557

ReFuGee SeRViceS22 Pin Oak Crescent, Flemington VIC 3031Telephone (03) 9381 6999

Helen Street, North Geelong VIC 3215Telephone (03) 5278 9211

neW SouTH WAleS SeRViceSEddy’s Out West & Eddy’s Place15 Henley Road, Homebush West NSW 2140Telephone (02) 9628 3333

HoW To conTAcT uS:

Printed on Nordset an environmentally responsible paper produced from FSC (Mixed Sources) CoC certified pulp from Well Managed Forests, is Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and is made Carbon Neutral.

Documents

Annual Report MacKillop Family Services - Amazon S3 · MacKillop Family Services MacKillop Family Services 4 Governance Governance Governance How we are constituted: MacKillop Family