News

Anglican Community Care in the Riverland was awarded one the prestigious Dr Margaret Tobin Awards for Excellence in Mental Health in Category 5 Aboriginal Award – excellence in the provision of mental health services for those most in need or most at risk.

This award was presented by the Hon Jane Lomax-Smith, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse to Anglican Community Care at a ceremony yesterday at Adelaide Festival Centre.

Anglican Community Care received the award for their Opening Doors program, which works with local Aboriginal young people between the ages of 15 and 25 years living in the Riverland region who are at risk of homelessness and have complex needs. Opening Doors aims to improve housing options and increase independent living skills through culturally appropriate assessment and support. The unique characteristics of the Opening Doors program allow for supporting young people who would not otherwise access services, except in crisis. Opening Doors program is a formal partnership with Anglican Community Care, Department of Families and Communities, Housing SA, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Riverland), Adult Mental Health Services (Riverland), Riverland Regional Health Services

The Dr Margaret Tobin Awards are one of South Australia’s prestigious awards recognising and celebrating the achievements of people and organisations that have made an outstanding contribution to mental health services for individuals and families.

“We’re honoured to have won this prestigious award it’s inspiring to receive recognition for our work. However, our success would be nothing if it weren’t for the young people we have worked with. After all, they are the achievers, they are the ones who tackle challenging issues every day including struggles with their mental health, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs and family conflict.

By winning this award, we hope to encourage other services to be more creative and flexible in providing services to Aboriginal young people.” Kirsty Barnett, Regional Manager, Riverland, Anglican Community Care

Anti-Poverty Week

Seventy-seven percent of Australians believe the gap between rich and poor is widening*. Anti-Poverty Week will be recognised locally on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th October with workshops, food sampling and displays. This two-day event has been organised by Anglican Community Care, Families SA and South East Regional Community Health to promote the health and wellbeing of all South Australians.

Tuesday 14th October 10am – 2pm. A display will be at the Centro Plaza in Mount Gambier and a dietitian from the South East Regional Community Health service will be available to answer any questions on health and nutrition.

Wednesday 15th October 11am – 1pm at the Community Gardens (behind the Old Gaol) “hands on” workshops and food sampling will be available. Costs and health benefits will be compared between home cooked meals versus take-away foods. Scrumptious and nutritious samples of homemade pizzas, hamburgers with the lot, spuds in their jackets and fruit kebabs will be available.

“All members of the community are invited to attend to sample the foods and take home a wealth of information on health and nutrition” said Sue Watt, Anglican Community Care

There will be free goodie bags handed out to the first 100 people on each day.

Anti-Poverty Week was established in Australia as an expansion of the United Nation’s annual International Anti-Poverty Day on October 17. The main aims of Anti-Poverty Week are to:

strengthen public understanding of the causes and consequences of poverty and hardship around the world and in Australia;
encourage research, discussion and action to address these problems, including action by individuals, communities, organisations and governments.

Anglican Community Care, Families SA, South East Regional Community Health have organised this event with support from Mount Gambier City Council, Fishers IGA, Centro Plaza, Baker’s Delight, She’s Apples, Mr Bill Sweet, Collins Court Butchers, Regional Foodbank and the Committee of the Community Gardens.

For further information, please contact Sue Watt, Community Learning Officer, Anglican Community Care, 8724 9211.

END

*’A Fair go for all Australians’ published by Australian Council Social Services. Fact sheets on poverty are available from http://www.antipovertyweek.org.au/info.html

Community’s quiet heroes - Foster Carers

Foster Carers’ Week 3-10 August 2008

Foster Carers’ Week, 3-10 August, celebrates the vital roles of Foster Carers throughout South Australia and is an opportunity to thank them for their commitment to caring for children in our communities.

A decision to become a Foster Carer to a child or children in need could be one of the most important decisions to change the course of a child’s life in a positive way. Foster carers are everyday members of the community who make an extraordinary contribution through their commitment to care for and meet the needs of vulnerable children and young people.

Anglican Community Care will be celebrating foster carers’ week and saying thank you to their foster carers at various functions at Berri, Millicent, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge and Naracoorte

‘Anglican Community Care has been involved with foster care for over 21 years and our foster care recruitment campaign last month was the most successful to date’ said Rob Foggo, CEO. ‘We thank the community for their support during our recruitment campaign’ continued Mr Foggo.

An information session will be held in Naracoorte for the local community who are interested in becoming a Foster Carers. Foster Carers and Anglican Community Care support workers will be available to answer questions at Kincraig Plaza , Wednesday 13th August, 10.30am-12 noon.

Information sessions will be held in the Riverland

Berri Tuesday 5/8/08 1.30 to 3.00pm Berri Anglican Community Care

Barmera Tuesday 5/8/08 6.30pm to 8.00pm Barmera Hotel

Renmark Wednesday 6/8/08 1.30pm to 3.00pm Renmark Hotel

Loxton Thursday 7/8/08 6.30 to 8.00pm Loxton Hotel

Waikerie Friday 8/8/08 1.30pm to 3.00pm Waikerie Anglican Community Care

If members of the community cannot become a Foster Carer they can still help by donating toys, clothes, gifts, pamper packs, restaurants dinners, entertainment tickets, skills, eg, guitar lessons, art lessons for foster children and their carers. The Robe community through their Random Act of Kindness, established by Debra and Richard Mackey, have donated beautiful holiday homes so a foster family can relax for a weekend.

Free Tax Help for people on low incomes

Free Tax Help is available at the Community Support Centre, Ferrers Street, Mount Gambier from 21st July 2008.

Tax Help is an Australian network of community volunteers who provide a free and confidential service to help people complete their tax returns at tax time. These volunteers are people from within the community who give up their time each year. They are not Tax Office staff, but they receive training and support from the Tax Office. Read full media release.

New Family Relationship Centre Opens

A new family relationship service opens 1st July 2008 in the South East. The Mount Gambier Family Relationship Centre will provide information, referral and advice to families experiencing relationship difficulties and assist separated families to work through their parenting issues without involving courts. Read full media release. Visit Family Relationships online.

Local children need local carers -Community call

In the South East we average 200 request for placements a year and currently only have 36 Foster Carers. Information sessions will be held in Mount Gambier and Millicent for the local community who are interested in becoming a Foster Carers and helping children to remain in their community.

Come along to an information session to meet local foster carers and staff and have questions answered (phone (08) 8724 9211)

Mount Gambier-

Wednesday, 11 June - 12.15 to 1.45pm, Leadlight Room, Institute Building, (entry from Cave Garden)

Tuesday, 17 June - 5.15 to 6.45pm City Hall, Watson Terrace, Mount Gambier

Millicent- Tuesday, 17 June - 12.15 to 1.45pmCommunity Club, Davenport St, Millicent

In the last two years, on average, over 200 requests are made for children seeking foster homes yet there are only 36 foster families across the South East of South Australia. Locally, children need foster families for various types of care – family based care for short or long term, emergency and respite stays – or carer couples who reside in the child’s home on a part time basis.

Children need foster care when they are not able to live at home and when care provided by a relative or someone they know is not an option. The current demand for long term foster families is high with the number of children needing care increasing. Australia wide, from 1996-2006, there was a 40% rise in the number of children in care Becoming a foster carer is a valuable and vital step in supporting local children, so they can stay in their communities, where they have existing friends, supports and established routines.,

This community call for more Foster Carers is a joint campaign between Anglican Community Care, who have been providing foster care services for 22 years in the South East and Baptist Community Services, who are new to the South East and providing a different option of residential care.

$190m new funding for child protection - Children in regional and rural areas need protecting too

Anglican Community Care welcomes the State Government’s announcement of $190m of new funding in this week’s Budget to protect children and trusts significant funding will be provided to regional and rural areas for the children in these communities. This will be a positive outcome from the Budget if there are significant new dollars towards children and these dollars flow to regional communities as well as metropolitan. The regions Anglican Community Care provide foster care and family support programmes are the South East, Riverland and Murraylands. These regions need:

Funding for alternative models of care, such as residential care, to meet the needs of children who have challenging needs where traditional foster care is not appropriate.

Increased reimbursements to foster carers to support the valuable volunteer role they play in our communities.

Additional resources to regional Families SA offices to increase support to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relative carers and to support their capacity to meet the increasing demand from the child protection notifications.

Increased funding so the ratio of foster carers to staff member can be decreased, thus providing more time and support to the foster carers.

Increased funding for intensive family support and early intervention programmes aimed at children being able to remain at home safely.

Increased funding for reunification programmes to support families whose children are in care to eventually reunite.

We must not lose sight of the fact that there are still some young people who slip through the child protection safety net and become homeless and we hope this Budget we will be able to address their needs.

‘For 22 years we have been involved in foster care in regional South Australia and we welcome the government’s announcement of increased investment for our children and trust this investment will not be solely metropolitan based but extended to our regions’ said Rob Foggo, CEO, Anglican Community Care and Chairman, CAFWA SA (Child and Adolescent Family. Welfare Association)

Reels @ Wehl supports foster children

A French flavoured event at historic Wehl Street theatre on 22 May 2008, 6pm will make a donation to local foster children and carers. More information is on their blog http://reelsatwehl.blogspot.com/

Federal Budget 200 - a more socially inclusive Australia

Anglican Community care is cautiously optimistic with the new Government’s first budget to realise its stated aim of integrating social and economic participation.

Children in motel rooms

There are increasing numbers of children requiring care yet there not enough foster carers, resulting in the government having to look at options other than foster care to make sure these children are cared for in a safe environment.

Happy Mothers' Day to all foster Mums

Anglican Community Care would like to say Happy Mothers’ day and thank you to all local foster Mums.

‘Mothers' Day is a celebration of the magnificent work mothers do and foster mums should not be forgotten in this celebration' said Rob Foggo, CEO, Anglican Community Care. Every day Foster Mums do something very special by opening their hearts and homes to children in need. All Mums, including foster mums, play important roles in the development of children, along with the rest of the family and the community. Mother’s Day is an opportunity for us all to say thanks Mums and celebrate their achievements.

Any Mums who are interested in becoming foster carers are encouraged to contact Anglican Community Care on 8724 9211 or acc@accinc.org.au

Vintage Widowers club raises $9k for local families

Anglican Community Care in conjunction with Riverland Vintage Widows held a community fundraiser to financially support two Waikerie families (more PDF file download approx 139kb)

Minister congratules on Service Excellence

The Hon. Jay Weatherill, MP, Minister for Families and Communities congratules Anglican Community Care on attaining Award level of Service Excellence (more PDF filel download approx 26kb)

More affordable housing in the South East

Fifty houses from the Blue Lake Housing Cooperative (BLHC) have been amalgamated with Anglican Community Care’s Housing Association (accHA) ensuring affordable rental continues to be available to the community more.

Blue Lake Housing Cooperative members voted to amalgamate their Cooperative with an organisation that has the resources, capacity and commitment to affordable housing. Anglican Community Care is such an organisation that maintains vital links with the local community. more (PDF file download approx 50kb)

20 children homeless or at risk

In the two months of January and February this year Anglican Community Care has received requests for help from 20 children who are homeless. They estimate there are 50 children in the region who are homeless but unseen in our community.

The community is concerned for these children – who range in age from 14 to 17 – and who fall through the gaps of existing support services. As are result of these concerns a working party ‘Safe as Houses’ was established with representatives from Anglican Community Care, City of Mount Gambier, Housing SA, Families SA, SA Police, Tenison Woods College, SE Regional Domestic Violence Service, SE Regional Community Health Service and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. Their main concern over the last four years has been for the children’s safety, as they can be living in volatile situations. more (PDF file download approx 50kb)

Baby bonus changes 19th March 2008

Anglican Community Care has cautiously welcomed the Federal Government’s plan to provide baby bonus payments as vouchers for essential items, rather than cash, to parents who are problem gamblers or drug addicts. more (PDF file download approx 49kb)

Service Excellence Award - internationally recognised

Anglican Community Care Inc has been awarded the top level of customer service from the Service Excellence Program, an award which has internationally-accredited standards. They are the first organisation to receive the highest level ‘Award’ in the region.

There are two levels of achievement in the Service Excellence program: the Certificate level and a more advanced Award level. Anglican Community Care received the Award level.

Department for Families and Communities (DFC) Chief Executive Sue Vardon said it was important to recognise those who went above and beyond in their efforts to help their clients. “The Service Excellence Program encourages organisations to develop a culture of quality and continuous development to benefit the people using services provided by community agencies,” she said. more (PDF file download approx 51kb)

Hey Dad! Parenting workshops for Dads

The role of Dads has changed over the years. This workshop helps to understand what's changed and the role fathers play. Understanding children as they grow, relationships and our children, communication, dealing with strong emotions, new directions in discipline, self-esteem and a workshop 'just for you'.

A 6 week workshop starting Wednesday 16th April 2008 in Mount Gambier

For more info phone 8724 9211 or email acc@accinc.org.au

Course presented by Anglican Community Care Inc, funded by Australian Government Department of Families, Housing. Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Workshop created by Centacare Broken Bay

New Family Relationship Centre in the South East

The federal government announced 25 new Family Relationship Centres throughout Australia. A consortium, led by Anglican Community Care and including Centacare Catholic Family Services and Relationships Australia (SA) has been awarded the tender for the new Family Relationships Centre in Mount Gambier. These Centres provide information and referrals for all types of families at any stage of their relationships, eg, before marriage or partnering, during, separation, divorce. The Centres provide advice on parenting after separation and help parents focus on the needs of their children. They provide dispute resolution to help parents resolve conflict and develop parenting plans for their children.

Fourteen new Post Separation Cooperative Parenting services (PSCP) were also announced by the federal government. Anglican Community Care has been awarded this programme for the South East. This is the first programme of its kind specifically for regional and rural communities in South Australia. The new service is aimed at assisting highly conflicted separated parents to improve child focussed parenting.

The Minister of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, said ‘the new services will be placed in areas of need and be available to anyone requiring assistance with family relationships.’

Ute Herrmann-Bullock, Acting CEO, Anglican Community Care said ‘this is a positive move towards improving the wellbeing of families and children in our community, who will now have ready access to the whole suite of Family Relationship Services Programmes. We are proud to be working in partnership with Centacare Catholic Family Services and Relationships Australia (SA) to establish a Family Relationships Centre in Mount Gambier. We are also excited to have been successful in tendering for the Post Separation Cooperative Parenting programme. The announcement by the Federal government acknowledges our commitment and track record of delivering professional services to regional and rural South Australia.’

Mocha, Ralph, Ged, Sox and Ebony love going to work. Their owners drop them off at the Pooch Haven© doggie crèche, after which the owners walk across to their offices knowing their pets are with their friends and not lonely at home.

Pooch Haven© was an idea conceived by Monica Hart and Ute Hermman-Bullock from Anglican Community Care in Mount Gambier. Monica requested permission to bring Ged to work on the odd day, as he was experiencing being home alone for the first time and not very happy about it. Ute thought her Mocha could keep Ged company and Pooch Haven© then evolved, offering the team at Anglican Community Care a haven for their pets during working hours.

Mocha and Ralph, Ged, Sox and Ebony have since become best mates and excitedly greet each other at Pooch Haven©, which gives a great and sometimes strenuous start to the working day, for pet and owner alike.

‘Instead of being home alone, our teams’ dogs get to play with friends, snooze under pine trees and receive visits from people during a working day’ said Anne Hinkly-Tyler, Marketing Manager, Anglican Community Care. ‘After a web search we couldn’t find other organisations or businesses in Australia offering a doggie crèche on work premises similar to Pooch Haven© ‘ she said.

Local Foster Carers applaud cash boost

Local foster carers, Aboriginal foster carers and relative carers will receive increased payments from 31^st January 2008. The Minister for Families and Communities, Jay Weatherill, announced increases of $4289 a year to $13,089 for the foster carer of a 16 year old; $785 increase to $6724 to care for a 10 year old and $913 to $6052 for a carer looking after a baby.

In the South East there are currently 35 foster carers. Anglican Community Care supported 75 children and young people in foster care January to June 2007. Yearly they average over 200 requests for foster care placements or respite care. Foster carers help with emergency, respite, short and long term care for children and young people between the ages of 0-18. Children require foster placements for various reasons and each situation is different. Foster carers undergo intensive screening, assessment and training and once approved receive ongoing support, advocacy and training from Anglican Community Care.

Rob Foggo, CEO Anglican Community Care and Chairperson of Child and Family Welfare Association of SA (CAFWA - this is the peak body for non-government alternative care/family support service providers) said ‘this is a significant and positive announcement by the Government and is to be applauded. We applaud Minister Weatherill for announcing these additional payments. In rural communities the cost of living is somewhat higher when factoring in fuel and food costs and for current carers and potential new carers this increase will be a more realistic reimbursement of the real costs they incur when looking after other people’s children.’

A local foster carer, who has been fostering for many years said ‘this welcome increase will benefit the children particularly in country areas. We don’t have access to factory outlets and the range of clothing etc they have in the city and it is hard to find good quality items for a reasonable price. The extra money will help with the transportation costs we face in the country to take the children to school, sporting and recreational activities.

I am particularly pleased to see the increase to baby’s subsidy because looking after a baby is quite expensive with nappies, formulas etc , plus they grow so quickly so you have a high turnover of clothing in first couple of years. The increase to the teenagers will help those teenagers in care because in today’s society they need to feel they are one of the group and a lot of times that means wearing the right clothes, having the right accessories and generally fitting in with their peer group.’

Rob Foggo continued ‘whilst carers do not do this for the money, the increase at least reduces the amount of money they have to contribute from their own pockets to care for other people’s children. Some potential carers may not have been able to commit to foster care because they could not afford to cover the gap in costs and this additional payment may well bridge that gap and make it possible for them to become carers.’

‘Foster carers are valuable members of our community and whilst these increases, announced by the government, help financially with someone’s ability to care for other people’s children, the gain is more than financial. The richness gained is more from the experience of caring for a child, contributing to their safety and well being and this type of gain cannot be measured in dollars’ said Rob Foggo.

Please contact Anglican Community Care on 8724 9211 for further information on how to become a foster carer.

Random acts of kindness

On a recent weekend something wonderful happened in Robe. A random act of senseless kindness was committed quietly and without fuss.

A generous group of property investors, businesses and individuals put together a weekend getaway for a deserving Limestone Coast family. Organisers Richard and Debra Mackey worked with the local community and Anglican Community Care to create some “time out” for a foster family.

Debra Mackey said “My family have been in Robe for a long time and as a child I was surrounded by friendly faces, familiar things and beautiful places - not all children are this fortunate. We all cringe when we hear or see of the abuse or neglect of children, however very few of us actually do anything about it. There are a special bunch of people out there who take these children in to their homes and provide them with the care and love every child should be entitled to - they are the community’s foster carers. We wanted to give these people a round of applause so we used our contacts, spread the word and the community of Robe responded.

“Looking at Robe through an outsiders eyes one may see the building developments, cafes, high profile businesses and simply call the community ‘posh’ or ‘self indulgent’. Scratch the surface however and the same generous community who are the first at your door when your family faces illness are still there now and they are happy to give, without promotion, advertising or benefit to themselves”.

“The amount of goodwill we have received means we will be able to give one of these weekends away two or three times a year and the diversity of the accommodation and activities enables us to tailor each weekend to each family”.

Our first family have been fostering for over 2 years and have been caring for two children long term as well as caring for several children for occasional shorter stays. Like all families they have had to deal with many ups and downs throughout this time and have had to juggle fostering with running a household, family life and work commitments. This family received two nights accommodation in a beautiful new villa, a basket of goodies on arrival and the paper delivered each day. Over the weekend they took in a movie (babysitters provided) enjoyed a luxurious alfresco dinner for two and even flew over Robe and braved the aerobatics, on a perfect Saturday afternoon.

Debra said “to all who were involved and to those who have donated for future weekends we would like to say thank you. Our first family were such deserving, wonderful people – and you are doing small but great things and these acts of kindness tend to have a ripple effect”.

Brooke Wilson, from Anglican Community Care’s Alternative Care program said ‘when this was suggested to us by Debra we were that excited we were left speechless and to some extent still are! Foster carers are so valuable to our community yet rarely have the opportunity to be recognised and thanked and we are so grateful to Debra and Richard and the Robe community for their generosity of spirit.”

If you would like more information on Random Acts of Kindness and how to get involved please contact Richard or Debra Mackey on 0403 578 382 or 08 8768 2341. It’s chocolate for the soul.

If you would like to find out how to become a foster carer please contact Anglican Community Care on 8724 9211.

Senator doing homework on homelessness

Senator Anne McEwen will visit Mount Gambier on Monday 17^th December 2007 to learn about homelessness in this region. The Senator will be meeting with representatives from Anglican Community Care, South East Regional Domestic Violence Services and a working party concerned with homeless 14-16 year old children who fall through the gaps of existing services.

In recent weeks Anglican Community Care has had 5 young girls under the age of 16 seeking their services because of either homelessness or their risk of homelessness. The ratio of girls to boys appears to be 60:40 seeking assistance for homeless related issues.

Across the nation each night, one in every two people who requests emergency accommodation is turned away because there are simply no beds available. In the 2001 Census, the total of officially recorded homeless in South Australia was 7,500 people.

Homelessness has severe consequences for the individuals turned away. With no safe place to sleep, a person experiencing homelessness is vulnerable to violence and ill-health, as well as being denied the basic right to shelter that most Australians take for granted.

With political will and adequate funding, this situation can be reversed.

We welcome Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s call for members of his new Government to visit homelessness support services to learn about the issues for people in our community who do not have access to safe shelter.

‘Anglican Community Care have been leading the efforts of a community group to try to get an outcome for vulnerable children at risk of homelessness and we are very pleased Senator McEwen will meet with our staff and with people using our service to learn about homelessness in our community’, said Rob Foggo, CEO of Anglican Community Care.

‘The change of government is an historic opportunity to get the basics right’ said Susie Smith, Executive Officer, South East Regional Domestic Violence Services..

‘We hope that all sides of Parliament will commit to reversing the under-funding of the homeless support sector so that we can ensure there are enough shelter beds and skilled workers in services’, said Simon Smith, spokesperson for Homelessness Australia, the national peak body working to end homelessness.

In addition, we look forward to expanding early intervention programmes that catch people a step away from homelessness and to building more sustainable pathways out of homelessness” said Mr Smith.

Australia's Loudest Shout - NO - to violence against women

On Friday, 23rd November at the inaugural Australia’s Loudest Shout at the Blue Lake, Mount Gambier.

In Mount Gambier an idea was realised to promote White Ribbon Day and raise the awareness of violence against women. ‘Australia’s Loudest Shout’, no to violence against women was quickly launched and its success has ensured it will become an annual event in Mount Gambier.

On Friday, 23rd November at 12.15pm over 100 men and boys from the Limestone Coast Region attended and shouted in unison ‘NO’, demonstrating their intolerance of violence against women, indicating that this is not what they want for their daughters, sisters, mothers, partners or the women in our community. The shout was measured at 100.3 decibels, equivalent to the noise of a jack hammer. Next year we aim to attract 200 men and boys and reach 120 decibels, equivalent to standing next to the speakers at a rock concert.

Blue Ball - celebrating 21 years of community care

On Saturday 20th October people from Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Murray Bridge, Mount Gambier, Millicent and Greece celebrated 21 years of community service with a glittering event with touches of blue in guests' evening attire and superb food and the performance of 9 piece 'caber-rock' Chesterfield Brass. The dance floor was full all evening and $5,000 was raised at the auction. Funds will go towards 14 and 16 year olds who are at risk of being homeless, expanded services for children affected by family breakdown.

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Hairspray raises money for foster kids.

New car seats, cots and high chairs are just some of the items foster carers in the South East need for foster children and staff at Savings & Loans Credit Union are volunteering to raise money for Anglican Community Care to purchase these.

‘This is important local business support for foster carers and children with staff donating money on their casual days and volunteering to organise a movie fundraising night for the opening night of John Travolta’s latest movie, Hairspray, on 13^th September at Oatmill Cinema’ said Anne Hinkly-Tyler, Anglican Community Care’s marketing manager.

‘Our staff are really looking forward to supporting such a worthy cause and Anglican Community Care does fantastic work helping children in the South East who need the support of a foster carer’ said Vinny Cutting acting branch manager Savings & Loans Credit Union .