2013 NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE 4 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Lynette Pengilly - Volunteer Coordinator Judy Barter Kim Cefre Gay Daley Sue Hennessy Gloria Jones Laurel Mackenzie Elizabeth Matthews

ANNUAL REPORT

2013

PARKES NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

MISSION:

To provide services, information,

advocacy and referral to all our

communities focusing on the people who

are vulnerable, isolated or at risk.

VISION:

A safe, connected community, which

celebrates diversity and grows together.

DETAILS

Parkes Neighbourhood Centre

Address: 80-82 Currajong Street

PARKES NSW 2870

Phone: (02) 6862 3757

Fax: (02) 6862 5045

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.pinc.org.au

Management Committee

Chairperson: John Magill

Vice Chairperson: Monica Murray

Treasurer: Graeme Dean

Secretary: Ken Engsmyr

Member: Julie Russell

Member: Terry Job

Member: Barbara Newton

Member: Steven Campbell

Member: Kay Craft

Patron: Alan Somers

About Parkes Neighbourhood Centre

The Centre first opened in 1977, in the Health Centre in Court Street. After several changes of address, the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre finally settled into its current premises in Currajong Street.

Our Centre is overseen by a Voluntary Board of Management and a full-time Centre Manager to oversee the day to day operations of the Centre. Pam Symonds has been the Centre Manager for the past seven years and has worked in the Community Sector for the past twenty years.

The Parkes Neighbourhood Centre is committed to ensuring a high quality of service to its clients and realises that appropriately trained staff (paid and unpaid) is an important element in providing a service of high quality. The Neighbourhood Centre has a culture that promotes opportunities for staff development and encourages staff to expand their knowledge and skills.

This Centre provides numerous opportunities for people to become involved in programs, communicate and liaise with others in the community and contribute to the community.


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

The wonderful story that is Parkes and District Neighbourhood and Community Information Centre Inc. has concluded another successful year servicing the needs of clients in the Lachlan, Forbes and Parkes Shires. We as an organisation look

back with thankfulness that we have been given the privilege of having an input into the lives of so many across our communities thus making their quality of life that little bit better.

This organisation has been going for many years now with great stability and support from both within or outside the organisation. That support is of course still there even though the rate of change seems to be increasing all the time. Over the last few years change has certainly been part of our journey and will continue to be as we adjust to the new funding criteria across all areas of our service to clients.

The role of the board of an organisation like

this is not only to manage the business of the year but to develop a platform and environment that will take it strongly into the future, this is the challenge facing the board in the ensuing year.

The position of Centre Manager is a demanding position and as a board we would thank Pam Symonds for her great expertise in the ever growing role as manager.

Working together with Pam is a wonderful and capable staff – our thanks go to you all for the professional and efficient way you all go about your duties.

Parkes Neighbourhood Centre could not function without our volunteers, thanks to all of you for giving of yourselves so willingly week by week.

Thanks to the whole board for the way in which you bring all your wonderful skills that gives this organisation the ability to function as it does.

John Magill

Chairperson

John Magill

Back Row L to R - Terry Job, John Magill, Ken Engsmyr, Graeme Dean Front Row L to R - Barbara Newton, Kay Craft, Julie Russell, Monica Murray

Inset: Steven Campbell


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

SERVICES & PROGRAMS 2012-2013

Services Provided

Aboriginal Youth Worker

Aboriginal Community Project - Closing the Gap

Community Restaurant

Community Strengthening Project

Community Visitors Scheme

Condobolin Community Transport

Family Support Service

Housebound Library

No-Interest Loans Scheme

Parkes Palliative Care Volunteer Service

Parkes/Forbes Community Transport

Parkes/Forbes Social Support

Parkes/Lachlan Home Modification &

Maintenance Service

Supported Playgroups

Volunteer Referral Agency

Work Development Orders

Other Services Provided

Ageing, Disability & Home Care

Binaal Billa

Camera Club

Children’s Court Clinic

Companions Through Cancer

Compassionate Friends

Consumer Trader & Tenancy Tribunal of NSW

Currajong Street Mental Health Service

Domestic Violence Committee

Embroidery Guild of NSW

Insight Services

Legal Aid NSW - Civil & Family

Lifeline Central West - Gambling Counselling

Look Good Feel Better

Multicultural Group

Parkes Carers Support

Parkes Interagency

Parkes Shire Food Service Inc.

Parkinsons Support Group


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Lynette Pengilly - Volunteer Coordinator

Judy Barter

Kim Cefre

Gay Daley

Sue Hennessy

Gloria Jones

Laurel Mackenzie

Elizabeth Matthews

Sharon O’Malley

Monika Parry

Carol Ramsay

John Short

Brooke Soeder

Margaret Thurn

RECEPTION

VOLUNTEERS

Lynette Pengilly

Gay Daley

Carol Ramsay and

Sue Hennessy

Laurel McKenzie

Gloria Jones

Elizabeth Matthews

Sharon O’Malley

Margaret Thurn

John Short


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

The Parkes

Neighbourhood

Centre is a not-

for-profit

community

organisation

and receives

funding from

the NSW and

Australian Government to provide a variety

of information, advocacy, referral and

support services for the Parkes, Lachlan and

Forbes Local Government Areas. The

Centre is learning to adjust to a rapidly

changing and unfamiliar financial and service

delivery environment. It has already

undertaken some scenario planning and

elected to invest in exploring the

opportunities of this new environment, rather

than simply protect its current role and

function. How the Centre undertakes these

envisaged changes will be the major

challenge of the next financial year.

Services provided

The Centre was successful in securing

grants from the Parkes Services Club and

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

– Caring for Ageing Rural Australians in

March of this year. A unique partnership has

been formed with the Parkes Community

Health Service to form the Parkes Palliative

Care Volunteer Service. This service is to

coordinate and support volunteers to provide

social support for palliative patients and their

carers in the Parkes Community. The

Centre has formed partnership with the Aged

Health Service - Dementia Advisory Service

to provide support and education to

community members

within the Parkes Shire.

Through this program a

Carers Support Group

has been formed and

meets monthly at the

Centre. After

negotiations with Legal

Aid, they have

commenced providing monthly Free Legal

Aid advice through their Outreach Solicitors

for both Civil Law and Family Law. This

service can be utilised by all members of the

community.

A partnership was formed under the

Specialist Integrated Community

Engagement Model (SpICE). Stakeholders

included - Charles Sturt University,

Indigenous Coordination Centre, Community

Based Services, Health and Education. This

project is to implement a new approach to

improving family and community wellbeing

by building capacity and social capital

through a dynamic community of learners.

The aim is to improve the delivery of

specialist services initially targeting speech

therapy in the rural and remote communities.

The No Interest Loan Scheme (NILs) and

TAX HELP facilities continues to grow rapidly

for the disadvantaged members of the

Parkes Shire. The Centre held an Open Day

providing a barbeque and numerous

activities to support the many valued

volunteers of the Centre and younger

members of the Parkes community as well

as facilitated the “Good Neighbour Awards”

in conjunction with the Parkes Rotary Club.

CENTRE MANAGER’S REPORT

L to R - Samantha Radburn, Pam

Symonds, Maria Abbey

Aboriginal Youth Worker

- Rebecca Sanders


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Peak Hill Service Enhancement

The Centre received enhancement funding

to support the Aboriginal Child, Youth and

Family Strategy (ACYFS) at Peak Hill.

Rebecca Sanders is employed as the part-

time Aboriginal Youth Worker based in Peak

Hill and supports the families, parents and

carers of Aboriginal Children. The ACYFS

partnership and network services target

organisations and community capacity

building services for the Peak Hill

community. Funding was received through

Ageing, Disability and Home Care which will

be administered by Transport for NSW to

provide Aboriginal specific transport for

HACC eligible Aboriginal people living in the

Peak Hill area.

New facilities for the Centre

Again this year the access to the Centre has

been improved by gaining funding for the

installation of automatic doors placed at the

back of the Centre. The Parkes Film Society

engaged the Centre for their Film Nights

throughout the year, however unfortunately

due to lack of interest from members of the

Parkes community the Parkes Film Society

folded earlier this year. This was very

disappointing for the association, however

the Film Society have kindly donated their

Multimedia Projector, Electric projection roll

up screen and supporting equipment to the

Centre. These facilities will benefit the

Centre in providing social events for the

vulnerable and socially isolated members of

the Parkes community.

Staffing

I would like to take the opportunity to

acknowledge the staff for their enthusiasm,

dedication and efficiency in providing service

to their targeted clientele. With the

uncertainty of continuing funding there have

been considerable challenges to which all

staff have responded to magnificently. We

also welcome new staff members to our

team, Rowen Pearce – Family Worker for

Family Support, Samantha Radburn -

Administrator, Jenni Field - Administration

Assistant for Parkes Community Transport,

Jacqueline Grallelis – Service Administrator

for Forbes Community Transport and

Christine Anderson – Service Assistant for

Forbes Social Support.

Conclusion

Unfortunately this year we lost a valuable

volunteer Gladys Hoskins who was part of

the initial setup of the Centre in 1977,

volunteered at the front desk for over 20

years and coordinated the Housebound

Library for many years. We were also

saddened by the death of the Chairperson

for the Parkinson Group, Gordon Wright.

Gordon showed such passion and

commitment for the Parkinson Group and will

be sadly missed. I would like to thank the

Board of Management for their leadership

and expertise over the past year. The Board

effectively bears the governance

responsibility for the Centre and has

provided fine direction and guidance. I also

acknowledge the wonderful reception

volunteers who are so loyal and reliable in

providing a welcoming first point of contact

for the clientele who telephone or call into

the Centre for assistance. I also commend

all other volunteers that support the

Neighbourhood Centre, without their

dedication and continued support the Centre

would not run in the smooth manner it does

on a daily basis.

Pam Symonds

Centre Manager

Centre Manager’s Report (continued)


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Parkes Family Support Service is funded by

the Department of Family and Community

Services. We provide 130 hours of service

weekly to the local communities of Parkes,

Forbes, Peak Hill, Trundle and Tullamore.

The Early Intervention and Placement

Prevention (EIPP) model focusses on

providing advice and referral, parenting skills

programs and support to families and local

youth.

Staff

The Service Coordinator position is held by

Tina Nash. Two Family Workers are

employed on a part time basis and these

positions are filled by Noeline Francis and

Rowen Pearce. Our Early Childhood

Professional is Kristy Lamond who is

employed part time. The Community

Support Worker role is filled by Dan

Fredericks. This position is split between

Family Support Service and the

Neighbourhood Centre.

Service Delivery

Supported Playgroups are continuing to be

facilitated in Parkes, Forbes, Trundle and

Tullamore for parents and young children.

The Thursday afternoon Peak Hill Boys

Youth Group is proving to be popular with

numbers regularly increasing.

During the last 12 months the youth at Peak

Hill have had the opportunity to attend and

participate in a variety of free events. The

highlights have been Dubbo Sportsworld for

a day of activities, and the Look Good Feel

Good modelling workshop with a Teen

Supermodel. They were then able to show

off their newly learned modelling skills to the

general public at the Youth Week Fashion

Show.

Sorry Day/Reconciliation Week celebrations

involved a movie and activity night at the

PCYC. In addition Youth Week’s “Rumble in

the Concrete Jungle” was held at Parkes

skate park.

Wednesday morning Peak Hill mums group

have participated in a range of activities

during the year including the “Marang Dhali”

Eating Well cooking program presented in

conjunction with Western NSW Local Health

Network and the Indigenous Triple P

parenting program.

All staff continue to deliver free programs for

families in our local communities. In the

twelve month period, courses offered were:

Triple P

Indigenous Triple P

Keeping Children Safe

Keeping Kids in Mind

FRIENDS

Drumbeat

“LOVE BITES”

PARKES FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE REPORT

L to R - Noeline Francis, Kristy Lamond, Dan Fredericks, Tina Nash, Rowen Pearce


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Networking and Service Promotion

Family Support have continued to work in

partnership with local organisations to meet

the needs of our communities. These

existing partnerships include:

Peak Hill Central School

Parkes High School

Forbes SACC (Schools as Community

Centres)

Tullamore Health Service

Trundle Children’s Centre

Dubbo School of Distance Education

Parkes Shire Aboriginal Project Officer

New partnerships successfully formed

throughout the year have included:

Trundle Central School

Parkes Public School

Centacare

Legal Aid Family Law Early Intervention

Solicitors

Civil Law Solicitor

Family Support staff continue to actively

represent at various meetings including:

Peak Hill Services Meeting

Tullamore Interagency

Parkes Domestic Violence Committee

Forbes Domestic Violence Committee

Parkes Interagency

Parkes Forbes Community Housing

Family Support Regional Meeting

Family Services NSW Regional

Representative Forum

Staff have promoted the service at:

NAIDOC Celebrations

Tullamore Mini-Expo

Parkes Neighbourhood Centre Open

Day

Parkes Shire Careers Roadshow

Youth Week

I would like to thank the team in Family

Support for their continued dedication to local

families.

I would also like to acknowledge the Centre

Manager, Management Committee and

volunteers for their contributions.

Tina Nash Service Coordinator

PARKES FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICE REPORT (continued)


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

PARKES/FORBES COMMUNITY

TRANSPORT REPORT Parkes/Forbes

Community

Transport

Service, under

the auspice of

Parkes &

District

Neighbourhood

& Community

Information Centre Inc. is a not-for-profit

organisation providing transport options to

the Local Government Areas of Parkes,

Forbes and Lachlan Shires. We are funded

by Federal and State governments with

funding administered through Transport for

NSW and Health, Western NSW Local

Health Network. We continue to provide

individual and group transport to the target

population under the various funding

criteria for the frail aged, younger disabled,

carers and those who are transport

disadvantaged through physical, health,

geographic, social or financial

circumstances.

The service has seen continued expansion

this year with the addition of the Forbes

office, vehicle, Service Administrator and

Volunteers. Whilst Parkes, Condobolin and

Forbes offices coordinate transport for their

own clients and vehicle/s, the localities

work together to combine service where it

facilitates cost efficiency.

The bus from Tullamore, Trundle, and

Bogan Gate to Parkes still runs twice

monthly and continues to transport to near

full capacity. We have organised and

contributed to social outings in conjunction

with Parkes/

Forbes Social

Support,

Condobolin Meals

on Wheels and

Parkes Shire

Food Service. A

major three day

social bus trip to

Floriade in September 2012 proved very

successful.

Changes

There have been many changes in our

service this year. Compliments/

Suggestions and Complaint forms have

been placed in all vehicles and we have

had some great feedback through these

forms.

Identification cards were developed and

issued to all service staff and volunteers.

Health and Safety continues to be

paramount, with our Driver Training Officer

Ray Brown being appointed the

Neighbourhood Centre Health and Safety

Representative for all volunteers. Service

perimeter timeframes for volunteer driving

were introduced and are being enforced.

The addition of a budget unit costing tool

and vehicle planner has given greater

insight into expenditure by our service and

will be used to monitor costings on each

trip and vehicle. It will also assist in

planning vehicle replacement costs and

timeframes.

L to R - Jenni Field, Lyn Townsend,

Cheryl Chamberlain

L to R - Jacquie Grallelis,

Rhonda Williamson


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

We now look forward to the next twelve

months which will see changes in driver

requirements, increased CTP funding and

the implementation of a “Spare Capacity”

program which will facilitate vehicles

travelling to regional centres at maximum

client capacity.

Staffing

Forbes Jacquie Grallelis

Condobolin Rhonda Williamson

Parkes Lyn Townsend

Cheryl Chamberlain

Jenni Field

Statistical Information

This financial year we travelled a total of

453,021 kilometres over the Parkes,

Forbes and Lachlan LGAs, and brokered

taxi transport of 43,369 km, making a total

of 496,390 km (up 12% from last year).

Total client trips increased 29% from the

2012 period.

Volunteers

We sadly farewelled voluntary drivers Tony

Parkinson and Fran Barby who both moved

away. We welcome the following new

voluntary drivers to Parkes – Steve Ryan,

Carol Ramsay, Paul Parry, Kevin

Robinson, Geoff Lindsay, and Monika

Parry. New drivers for Condobolin: Maurie

Seaton and Wayne Denyer. New drivers for

Forbes: Vince Roberts, Maurie Westwood,

Tom Edols, Verna Lane, Bill Dolle, June

Dolle, Cyril Sly, Trevor Drury, Linden

Byrne, Robert Parsons, Peter Norris, Terry

Shannon, Wilma Hepburn, Judy Ellis,

Barbara Hoswell and Jean Hodges.

Volunteer drivers and driver support have

all participated in regular driver meetings

throughout the year and received training in

first aid, work health and safety, driver

education and “knowing your boundaries”.

The Service has grown enormously over

the past twelve months with outputs

reflecting that growth. The commitment

given to our service by volunteers and staff

are second to none and we must

acknowledge the dedication they continue

to give in the face of an ever-changing work

environment.

Lyn Townsend Service Coordinator

Below is a breakup of the amount of trips provided to clients from 1st July 2012 to 30th June 2013.

Parkes/Forbes Community Transport Report (continued)

FUNDING STREAM SOCIAL SHOPPING HOSP/MED GP/SPEC TOTAL

Home & Community Care (HACC) 7,896 255 1,664 4,148 13,963

CTP (Community Transport Program for financially, socially or transport disadvantaged clients 2,345 129 130 161

2,765

Dept of Veteran Affairs (DVA) 63 2 167 478 710

Health Related Transport (HRT) 55 33 557 762 1,407

Other Transport provided (Full cost Recovery) 16 4 240 102 362

TOTAL 10,375 423 2,758 5,651 19,207


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

PARKES/FORBES SOCIAL SUPPORT REPORT

Parkes/Forbes Social Support receives funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and complies with the Community Care Common

Standards. Parkes/Forbes Social Support has a long history and has been operational since 1979 initially as a Home Help Pilot Scheme. Our service is a member of NSW Neighbour Aid and Social Support Association and we attend regional network meetings with the West Country forum. The core objective of our service is to enable our consumer group to be engaged with community. We achieve this objective through:

Assisted Shopping Service

Monthly Morning Teas

Fortnightly Knitting Group

Housebound Library

Friendly Visiting

Community Restaurant

Social Outings Staffing The service employs a part-time Coordinator based in Parkes, a part-time Service Assistant based in Forbes and three part-time Field Workers delivering 60 hours of service per week. The service engages casual field staff and utilises a pool of dedicated volunteers, for social morning teas, knitting and chat group, social outings, housebound library, community restaurant and friendly visiting.

Parkes/Forbes Social Support staff and volunteers have travelled approximately 14000 km in providing 5517 hours of social support to an average client grouping of 109 during the July 2012 – June 2013 period. The service continues, as in past years, to operate at capacity levels and is offered to as many eligible service users as possible. Service Activity

Service is predominantly assisted shopping in Parkes and social activities in Forbes. Social outings and the Sports Ability Program have been service highlights this year. Sports Ability is a term used for modified sports or fun activities to enable all participants to compete at the same level. We competed in Wellington in October and Cowra in February, with a group of actively ageing, fun loving, committed participants. During the past year, a total of 35 referrals have been made to the service and 4 ComPacs have also been completed. We have taken 56 clients on various social outings and have embraced the enablement model in order to assist our consumer group.

L to R Kerri Dunn, Barbara Chislett,

Tracey Dumesny

L to R

Christine Anderson

and Emily Moore


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Clients have been referred to the service throughout the year. These referrals have come from the following sources:

During the twelve months, 21 clients have left service due to the following reasons:

Referrals of Social Support clients have been made to other services including Home Care, Community Restaurant, Aged Care Assessment Team, Vital Call, Community Transport, Community Nursing, Australian Hearing, Incontinence Specialists, Forbes Meals on Wheels and Parkes Shire Food Service. The next twelve months will see the service reassess its partnership with Red Cross and develop its own wellbeing phone chat service. We will continue to involve volunteers in order to plan social outings, engage in Sports Ability activities, develop a social calendar of events for both locations, foster existing partnerships and explore any new opportunities. Parkes/Forbes Social Support would like to thank the Board of Management and the Centre Manager for their valued support and look forward to the exciting challenges of another year.

Kerri Dunn

Service Coordinator

Parkes/Forbes Social Support Report (continued)

Reason No. of Clients

Died 4

To Aged Care Package (CACP)

4

To Residential Care 10

Moved out of area 3

No longer requires assistance due to changed needs

0

Source

of referral

No. of Clients

Parkes

No. of Clients

Forbes

Self-referred 6 5

Allied Health 1 2

ACAT 7 1

Home Care 4 1

Other Providers (ComPac) 3 4

Other 0 1


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Under the auspice of the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre, Parkes/Lachlan Home Modification and Maintenance Service received funding from the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) for the Commonwealth Home and Community Care

(HACC) program. This project has been operational since 1991 and during the past 22 years has been able to provide modifications and maintenance to the homes of our target group; frail aged, younger people with a disability and their carers to enable them to continue living safely in their own homes. The service covers the Parkes and Lachlan Shires with a combined population of over 21,000 and a total area of 20,919 km

2.

Staffing

The service employs a part-time Service Coordinator, a builder and a carpenter on a full-time basis, and a part-time administration assistant.

Craig Thornton has now been with the service for 19 years and his experience, knowledge and expertise are valued not only by this service but by Home Modification Services across the state in his role as a Contracted Building Inspector (CBI) for NSW Home Modification and Maintenance Service (HMMS) State

Council. Malcolm Stone continues to provide quality workmanship and service, and he is well respected by our clients.

Dianne Scott (Service Coordinator) Samantha Radburn (Administration) and Carol Ramsay (Administration) manage all aspects of the administration and operation. The service also engages specialised subcontractors for electrical, painting, plastering and plumbing work when required.

Client Information

Over the past 12 months client numbers have decreased. The demand for major bathroom and access modifications continues to remain steady with a number of Level 2/3 modifications completed during the year.

PARKES/LACHLAN HOME MODIFICATION &

MAINTENANCE SERVICE REPORT

Services Provided by Value

(2 Year Comparison)

2011/

12 2012/

13

Jobs under $500 125 127

Jobs between $500-$1000 37 31

Jobs between $1000-$5000 19 15

Jobs over $5000 5 3

L to R - Malcolm Stone, Craig

Thornton, Dianne Scott, Samantha

Radburn, Wally The Dog. Inset

Carol Ramsay

Actual Referrals Received

(5 Year Comparison)

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

Parkes Shire

141 122 131 155 134

Lachlan Shire

57 44 36 47 48

Total 198 166 167 202 182

Type of Referrals (2 Year Comparison)

2011/12 2012/13

Maintenance 26 16

Full Cost 11 7

DVA 46 30

HACC 119 129


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapy continues to dictate the number of jobs received which has reflected on the number of referrals as seen in the tables on the previous page.

Parkes Community Health employs a full time Occupational Therapist (OT) to service Parkes and Forbes clients, a part-time OT (Parkes), and a part-time OT that specialises in palliative care, servicing Parkes, Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham.

The OT position at Condobolin became vacant at the end of June 2013 and at the time of writing Condobolin Health Service was still in the process of recruitment. This vacancy now leaves the clients residing in Condobolin, Trundle, Tullamore and Tottenham vulnerable, at risk and without service.

A Medicare Local/OT based in Hillston was established last year and currently the Lake Cargelligo area is serviced by this position for one day per week.

A private OT is continuing to operate in the Parkes and Lachlan Shires for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) clients.

OT services are also subcontracted periodically by the Aged Care Assessment Team (ACAT) at Parkes Health Service to service Parkes and Forbes clients that only require home modifications.

DoHA HMMS Model Review

Under the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms, DoHA will be undertaking a review of Home Modifications within the next six months. It is still unclear what direction and what the impacts will be after June 2015.

NSW HMMS State Council

NSW HMMS State Council has seen some dramatic changes over the past six months. With significantly reduced funding, the State Council reviewed and restructured its activities and resources, including staffing. The Head Office has been relocated from Lismore to Sydney with most staff choosing not to transfer.

Operating out of Sydney will enable the NSW HMMS State Council to work more closely with related agencies and better support home modification services in their transition to an environment featuring individualised funding and person-centred planning.

The restructure has affected the Quality Assurance (QA) and OT programs, with NSW HMMS State Council awaiting a clear direction from ADHC to advise members of any review or restructure of the programs within the funding that has been allocated.

Advocacy and lobbying for the sector will continue on both a State and National level. It is the NSW HMMS State Council Executive Office Bearers’ intent that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (Disability Care Australia) and the Aged Care reform systems will acknowledge and utilise the experience and expertise of the NSW HMMS provider network to help inform them on quality home modification outcomes for their clients.

Craig, Malcolm, Samantha, Carol and I would like to thank the Board of Management and the Centre Manager for their valued support for this service and we look forward to another successful year.

Dianne Scott Service Coordinator

Parkes/ Lachlan Home Modification & Maintenance Report

(continued)


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

COMMUNITY VISITORS SCHEME REPORT

The Community Visitors Scheme is funded by the Federal Government through Department of Health and Ageing. It was established as a link for people living in Aged Care Nursing Homes and the local community in which they live.

The scheme’s objective is to improve the quality of life of isolated residents who live in Aged Care Nursing Homes, who have limited family and social contact. These residents are often isolated from their community for social or cultural reasons or through disability. The community volunteer visitor befriends a resident in a facility within their area, who may be at risk of being isolated. The requirement for a resident to be visited by a Community Visitor is one who would have no meaningful contact with family or friends. The Community Visitors Scheme has a basis of visiting once a fortnight, although they are able to visit more frequently if desired. The Community Visitors Scheme commenced as a pilot project in Queensland and South Australia in 1990 and has since grown to be a very successful program operating across all States and Territories. The Parkes service covers Condobolin, Forbes, Parkes and Peak Hill. The scheme has volunteers that visit regularly with their matched up friend. These relationships are valued by the

residents in the Nursing Homes. They enjoy their visits and are keen for the next visit knowing that someone is coming in to see them, to listen, talk and share with. A close bond is formed by the visiting volunteer and resident, they are seen as a sincere friend. Both volunteer and resident are rewarded with a friendship that fills an empty space in a residents heart. This period in the life of a Nursing Home resident can be quite lonely, and is often a painful time in the later stage of their journey through life. The volunteers feel that they are helping these people and this in turn helps them. They enjoy the life stories that they hear and find themselves learning valuable lessons, through great conversations. In March, we advertised for volunteers in the school newsletters in the Parkes and Forbes areas. Two residents from Forbes have shown an interest in community visiting. The scheme was advertised in the local Champion Post classifieds, and as a result, three new volunteers came forward. The Community Visitors Scheme celebrated 20 years of service this year. During the year we enjoyed thanking four volunteers who have been active in visiting their resident for their first year in the Community Visitors Scheme. In June, a certificate of appreciation was presented to a volunteer in Forbes who has been visiting for 10 years. The Community Visitors Scheme employs one part-time Coordinator. The service is funded for 18 volunteers.

Val Mann


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Volunteer Activities

Upon induction into service a thank you gift has been given to volunteers

Quarterly newsletters

Phone calls and birthday cards when required

Morning teas and luncheons

Christmas lunch combined with other services

Thank you Christmas gift presented to volunteers

Val Mann Service Coordinator

Nursing Home No. of Volunteers

Niola Nursing Home 4

Rosedurnate Nursing Home 3

Southern Cross Village 3

Jemalong Retirement Village 1

Mater Nursing Home 2

Condobolin Nursing Home 2

Peak Hill Frazer Court 0

Community Visitors Scheme Report (continued)

Service Coordinator Val Mann presenting Joanne McRae a Certificate for 10 years service


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

The Parkes Aboriginal Project Officer role has been designed to support the establishment and development of a Parkes Aboriginal Action Plan for the Parkes Aboriginal

Community Working Party (PACWP) and Advisory Group. The position is a partnership between Parkes Shire Council and Northparkes Mine. This role helps to positively address the human service needs and related issues that have been identified by the local Indigenous community.

The PACWP was formed through the Parkes Shire Aboriginal Community Meetings and continues to advocate on behalf of both Parkes and Peak Hill Aboriginal communities about key issues and initiatives under the Governments Closing the Gap agenda.

Closing the Gap

Part of the role of the Aboriginal Project Officer is to source medical services to outreach in the local area. Since February 2011 the following gaps have been closed:

Orange Aboriginal Medical Service now provide a dental clinic with referrals being made through the Currajong Medical Centre

Bathurst Australian Hearing outreach to Indigenous Communities holding their clinics at Carewest

Wellington Aboriginal Medical Service provides a free eye clinic with appointments being made through the Aboriginal Project Officer based at the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre.

Australian Department of Health and Ageing Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) - provided the Aboriginal Project Officer with support and training to attend the Brien Holden Vision Institute University of NSW in Randwick to be able to coordinate Eye Health Clinics within the Shire.

The Aboriginal Flag erected outside of Parkes Shire Council Library

Parkes Shire Elders’ Advisory Group established

Development of Reconciliation Action Plan with Land Care

Events

The Aboriginal Project Officer coordinated the National Day of Healing at both Parkes and Peak Hill High Schools. The PACWP, the Parkes Reconciliation Group, Parkes Family Support and the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre all worked together in holding a free sausage sizzle lunch for the school children. This included both Indigenous and Non-Indigenous children, bringing them together to talk about the National Day of Healing and what it means to them.

The Aboriginal Project Officer was successful in an application to DEEWR requesting assistance from the NSW State of Origin to host an Indigenous Job Market for the Parkes Shire and surrounding areas. A number of NSW State of Origin legends spent three days in Parkes and also held a charity bowls evening which raised money for a local sporting group. The NSW State of Origin legends held the coaching clinic the day after the job market for the high school students.

ABORIGINAL PROJECT WORKER’S REPORT

Amanda Corcoran


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

In September 2012 the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre funded the NAIDOC Celebrations which were held in Cooke Park. A number of amusement rides, stalls and activities were held on the day including a free concert in the park with Indigenous double Golden Guitar Winner, Amos Morris who performed on the day. Feedback from the community was that NAIDOC Celebrations 2012 was one of the most successful NAIDOCs Parkes has had in many years. Similar preparations for NAIDOC 2013 are now underway.

Youth Week was held in April 2013. The Parkes Family Support and Parkes Neighbourhood Centre held a “Look Good Feel Good” modelling workshop for the local youth with mentor and teen supermodel Michaela Swamy. The Aboriginal Project Officer met with stakeholders to ensure partnerships were formed which included local clothing outlets, hair salons, makeup artists and photographers. A fashion show was held at the Parkes Leagues Club. This event was highly successful and received positive feedback after building confidence in a number of young participants.

In May 2013, in celebration of National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week 2013, the PACWP partnered with the Parkes Reconciliation group and the Parkes PCYC in holding an event titled “A Deadly Flick.” The movie “The Sapphires” was shown on the big screen after holding an afternoon of activities and Aboriginal Trivia. The role of Aboriginal Project Officer was to form partnerships and to assist with coordinating the event with all the parties involved. “A Deadly Flick” was very successful with approximately 67 in attendance which included Parkes Family Support youth groups from Peak Hill travelling to the event by bus to attend.

Amanda Corcoran Aboriginal Project Officer

ABORIGINAL PROJECT WORKER’S REPORT (continued)


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

Housebound Library is a

service to the community

with twenty volunteers

giving their time freely

each fortnight. Books,

CDs and DVDs are

delivered to private homes,

Niola, Rosedurnate and Southern Cross

Village. As well as delivering items to our

recipients, time is taken for a little chat.

This year, the Volunteers of this service

have given 502 hours, travelled 940

kilometres and delivered 3531 items to 1018

clients.

Recently with much assistance from library

staff member Maureen Miller, the deliveries

have been rearranged to make a more even

distribution of the service. Where possible,

two volunteers have equal numbers of

clients to choose items for. Southern Cross

Village still has three volunteers as 12-13

clients often like to have up to eight items.

Attendance at the monthly Morning Tea

varies with both the library and

Neighbourhood Centre hosting them.

Transport to and from each venue is

offered.

Two of our very long serving volunteers Joy

Gillies and Maude Harris retired early in

2013. We do miss them and hope they are

enjoying more leisure time. Should they feel

the need at any time just a telephone call is

all it takes to have this service provided to

them.

We joined with other services from the

Neighbourhood Centre at the Seniors Week

Expo held in March at the Services Club. A

great way to publicise all that is available in

this community.

We thank both the Neighbourhood Centre

and Parkes Shire Library who with their

staff, support us to provide this service. As

volunteers, we take pleasure in helping

others and are happy to assist.

We would like to make special mention of

Mrs Gladys Hoskins who was a volunteer at

the Neighbourhood Centre in 1977. She

agreed to coordinate the Housebound

Library and did so for many years. Sadly

Gladys passed away in July and had been

receiving books until then.

We are grateful for the many volunteers who

give so freely of their time and energy.

Jacqui Abbott, Barbara Donnelly, Leigh

Douglas, Jan Freeman, Doreen Gamble,

Joy Gillies, Maude Harris, Veni Jacobs,

Laurel MacKenzie, Lee Ramsay, John Short

and Miriam Stewart. Our reserves are

Laurie Ashcroft, Margaret Crowley, Henry

Dawson, Judy Magill and Ivy Rooke.

Ivy Rooke

Housebound Library Volunteer Coordinator

HOUSEBOUND LIBRARY REPORT

Ivy Rooke


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

During the first part of this

year, our Chairperson

Gordon Wright,

encouraged the members

to explore the ways and

means by which we could

change the focus of our

meetings. He hoped this

would generate a more relaxed social

gathering and increase membership.

Monthly attendance varies from eight to

fifteen members.

Guest speakers through the year included

Cathy White who spoke on depression, its

causes and the help that is available. Liz

Matthews, who gave a very entertaining

view of her holiday in Africa. The

photographs of the Gorillas of Rwanda

where they are protected was both amusing

and concerning as in some parts of Africa

they are hunted for commercial gain.

Red Bend Year 11 student Lara, who was

writing a paper on Parkinson’s, had many

questions on how to have ‘quality of life’

when dealing with Parkinson’s. Members

were pleased to offer their thoughts on this.

We joined with other services from the

Neighbourhood Centre at the Seniors Week

Expo held at the Services Club. This

helped to increase community awareness

on the support available to Parkinsonians

and their carers.

The inaugural Big Bike

Ride to raise awareness

and funds for Parkinson’s

research took part in May.

A large number of

motorbikes and riders from

Sydney, Wollongong,

Wellington, Parkes, and all

the places in between, made for an

interesting weekend. Entertainment by

Angry Anderson, Marty Rhone and other

musicians made the evening ‘go with a

swing.’ Parkes Rotary Club members

catered to the appetite of all in attendance.

Our compliments for a well organised and

executed service. Several staff members

from Parkinson’s NSW came to Parkes for

this event which gave us an opportunity to

meet with them personally. We are waiting

to hear from Parkinson’s NSW regarding a

possible repeat of this event.

The annual M & D Charity Concert included

the Jack Scoble Memorial Concert on the

Sunday afternoon. We are most

appreciative of the time and efforts that

members of Parkes M & D give to all their

performances and are grateful for their

donation of $2,000 towards Parkinson’s

research. Special thanks also to the ladies

of Parkes Quota Club who prepared and

served the afternoon tea and to the

business houses who supported us.

PARKES PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP REPORT

The late Gordon

Wright

Ivy Rooke


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

We wish to express our appreciation of the

continuing interest and support from Mayor

Ken Keith, Councillors and staff of the

Parkes Shire Council. To Centre Manager

Pam Symonds, all staff and volunteers of

the Parkes Neighbourhood Centre, many

thanks for your constant help.

Sadly our chairperson Gordon Wright

retired before the end of 2012 due to ill

health and passed away earlier this year.

Our thoughts are with his wife Joy and

family. Gordon will not be forgotten.

Since February 2013 I have been privileged

to be chairperson of this group. My thanks

to my hardworking executive and supportive

members who encourage me to continue

with ‘change of focus’ initiated by the late

Gordon Wright.

Ivy Rooke

Chairperson

Parkes Parkinson’s Support Group Report (continued)

Parkes Parkinson’s Group


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2013 ANNUAL REPORT

In the past four months, extensive training

has been given to a group of volunteers.

These men and women are now the

Volunteer Palliative Group. The training

was professionally and sensitively given

over many hours where each volunteer was

encouraged to learn about this work and

assess themselves regarding their

suitability. Registered Nurse Bernadette

Orange, Clinical Nurse Specialist Level 2,

presented the training over many weeks

assisted by the coordinator of the

volunteers, Kittie Dwyer. All of this under

the auspice of the Parkes Community

Health Service and the Parkes

Neighbourhood Centre.

Some of the volunteers have begun to

make use of this training. When a person

is identified by the Clinical Nurse Specialist

and has a terminal diagnosis, they are

offered the services of one of these

volunteers. The coordinator will then select

a volunteer acceptable to the client/carer.

After introduction and both parties are

comfortable with the arrangement the

volunteer will begin to visit on a regular

basis - to walk the journey of the illness

with them whether it be weeks or months.

They are trained to not take over in any

way or to interfere with other services, but

to be there, just be available for that

particular situation. In many situations to sit

quietly beside the person just to be there.

This is very special work, needing

dedication and committed people.

This last week the volunteer palliative team

with Sister Bernadette Orange and Kittie

Dwyer attended the National Palliative Care

Conference in Canberra. They attended

the full Volunteers Day and were absolutely

thrilled to hear the enthusiastic speakers,

some from overseas and to be able to mix

and speak with many highly experienced

palliative care volunteers. This team will

work closely with Sister Orange and will

share monthly meetings, further training

and mutual support and hopefully be of

great comfort and support for clients with

terminal illnesses and their carers/families.

Kittie Dwyer

Coordinator

PARKES PALLIATIVE CARE VOLUNTEER

SERVICE REPORT

Palliative Group Volunteers - Back: Adrianne Brown,

Pauline Gosper, Bernadette Orange, Kittie Dwyer.

Front: Ray Brown, Laurel Mackenzie, Chris DeDobbelaar,

Allan Draper, Jo-Anne Tye, Warwick Wheeldon.

Funding Provided By: Parkes Services Club and the

Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) -

Caring for Ageing Rural Australians (CARA)

Documents

2013 NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE 4 2013 ANNUAL REPORT Lynette Pengilly - Volunteer Coordinator Judy Barter Kim Cefre Gay Daley Sue Hennessy Gloria Jones Laurel Mackenzie Elizabeth Matthews