Brotherhood of St Laurence Annual Report 2014

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

A nn uA l Rep o R t 2 014

BROThERhOOd Of S T L AURENcE

Printed on recycled paper

67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Victoria 3065Ph: (03) 9483 1183

www.bsl.org.au

Our Social Inclusion programs provide social activities and outings for older people.

The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) helps parents prepare their children for school.

We help asylum seekers and refugees develop work skills.

Brotherhood of St Laurence AnnuAl RepoRt 2014 Work placements are part of our Youth Transitions Program.

The Stepping Stones Program helps refugee and migrant women gain skills for setting up and operating small businesses in Australia.

Participants in our Social Inclusion program enjoy community lunches.

Our vision

An Australia free of povertyWe work with others to create an Australia free of poverty for this and future generations: a fair, compassionate and just society where all can fully participate in social and economic life, create and share prosperity and treat each other with dignity and respect. In working for an Australia free of poverty, we recognise the Indigenous custodians of this country.

Our missionOur mission is to research, develop and deliver innovative and high-quality services, practices and policies to drive change that benefits all Australians.

Our valuesThe Brotherhood, inspired by our Christian origins, seeks the common good through compassion, with a generosity of spirit and reliance on evidence.

Our guiding objectives

1 To prevent and reduce poverty and exclusion from the mainstream of societyWe will focus on those people at greatest risk at the four life transition stages considered critical to future wellbeing: the early years, the transition from school to work, the shifts in and out of work, and retirement and ageing.

2 To be a national voice on poverty and exclusionWe will promote integrated social and economic policies and programs that improve the personal capacities and material resources of people and of their communities.

3 To develop innovative policy, programs and practiceWe will develop and gather evidence through research and practice to create innovative policies and programs for implementation by ourselves and others.

Work ing for a n aus tr a l ia free

of pov ert y

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HALIMA’s story

Halima has always had a big vision. One of the few female members of the Somali parliament, she was forced to leave her country after civil war broke out there in 1991. After years spent in various countries she arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2003.

grAeMe’s story

Artist Graeme, now a resident of the Brotherhood’s Sambell Lodge, has lived with schizo-affective disorder for almost 50 years. The illness first hit him at 18, and he has been on medication ever since, spending long periods in hospital when overwhelmed by psychosis.

MICHeLLe’s story

Michelle wasn’t a regular saver before joining Saver Plus. She says, ‘I was always going to put aside that little bit extra but never could’.

JuAnItA’s story

Wagga Wagga resident Juanita appreciates the Brotherhood’s Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY). HIPPY has helped get her son ready for school, and Juanita back into the workforce.

dyLAn’s story

Twenty-year-old Dylan had been looking for work while studying his 12-month course in Information Technology; he looked even while he was at high school. But after he finished his diploma, the situation became urgent.

sHAron’s story

Yorta Yorta woman Sharon understands the challenges faced by the women in the employment program she helps run.

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Brotherhood of St Laurence AnnuAl RepoRt 2014

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Contents

Report from the Chair and the Executive Director 5

Highlights 8

The early years 10

Through school to work 12

In and out of work 14

Retirement and ageing 16

Refugees and inclusion 18

Financial inclusion 20

Chaplaincy 22

Research and Policy Centre 24

Corporate governance 27

Financial Report summary 33

Our community 39

Our social enterprises 40

Thank you 43

Partners and supporters 45

How you can help 48

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Our disability service Nexus provides community-based activities for people with a disability and respite for carers.

Given the Chance assists job seekers into work through intensive support and work placement.


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repor t froM tHe CHAIr And tHe e xeCut Ive d IreC tor

Our Work and Learning Centres train and support job seekers to learn new skills.

Bishop Philip Huggins

Chair, Board of DirectorsBrotherhood of St Laurence

Tony Nicholson

Executive DirectorBrotherhood of St Laurence

We are pleased to introduce the forty-third Annual Report of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. This is the eighty-fourth year since being founded by Father Gerard Tucker, a man who combined his Christian faith with a fierce determination to end social injustice.

Father Tucker brought his fledgling Brotherhood to Melbourne amidst the social carnage reaped by great economic depression of the early 1930s. When Wall Street plummeted, sparking the collapse of the world economy and ushering in the greatest economic depression of the modern age, many young Australian school leavers waited a decade before they were able to land their first job in a resurgent wartime economy. For them, the taste of economic security came late in life in a post-war, closed economy of full employment. Their stories of hardship still resonate in the families of their children and grandchildren today. This history also serves as a cautionary reminder of how the transition from childhood to adult life, difficult enough for most of us at the best of times, can become a life scarring experience. A lesson learnt is that a good start into adult life requires, at the minimum, an opportunity to work and to find purpose and pride.

In the 21st century, our dynamic economy provides many opportunities for our young people but the conundrum is that it also poses many more risks than faced by earlier post-war generations. In an economy unrelentingly shifting to a knowledge and service base and striving to be internationally competitive, employers place a huge premium on qualifications, skills and work experience. And so it is not due to chance – or some perceived failings of young people today – that we find over a quarter of a million 15-to-24-year-olds who are unemployed in our prosperous nation.

Shocks to the economy in recent decades saw youth unemployment spiking but then steadily declining in each aftermath. The 2008 global financial crisis (GFC) repeated the familiar spike but this time there has been no subsequent reversal of fortune. In the six years since the GFC, youth unemployment has continued to escalate to the point that rates of 18 per cent or more occur across the nation. The harsh reality is that the transition from school to work in our modern economy, particularly for the almost 60 per cent of youth who don’t aspire to go on to university, is fraught with difficulty. It is essential therefore that our young people be better supported with good career advice earlier in their secondary school years and provided with opportunities to explore employment paths they or their families may never have thought of previously. They also need vocational training oriented to their capabilities and interests and to emerging labour market opportunities, and work experience placements in real workplaces.

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RePoRt fRom the ChaiR and the e xeCutive diReCtoR

Having successfully piloted a Youth Transition Service with these attributes in youth unemployment ‘hot spots’ we now see the need for such a service at a national scale. Importantly, the success the Brotherhood’s pilot has enjoyed is in large part due to our ability to get local communities fully engaged in the effort of forging pathways into work for their young people. First and foremost this involves local employers happy to provide work experience opportunities, traineeships and ultimately entry level jobs. But it also involves community volunteers willing to act as mentors and to provide practical assistance such as in a young person gaining a drivers licence. And, of course, it involves the young people themselves keeping their part of the deal by being determined to persevere when faced with the high expectations and demands of the service we offer them. They know we are serious. With coaching, encouragement and the occasional firm word our experience is that they keep their side of the deal.

Of course public programs such as a national youth transition service place demands on the public purse. But even when our governments are constrained financially it is important to reflect on the economic and social benefits to be had by investing in the capability of disadvantaged people to be able to participate in the economy. An ageing population and the associated decline in the proportion of people of workforce age gives an urgency to this issue. If we don’t build the personal capacities of disadvantaged people to be able to take their place in the modern economy, we risk the emergence of a scenario of labour shortages co-existing with large numbers of people who are unemployed and unemployable – something no economy or society could sustain.

Like many of our colleague organisations in Australia’s community welfare sector, the challenges we face over the next decade or more when governments are going to feel financially constrained have caused us to pause and reconsider the trajectory our sector appears to be on. Over recent decades our sector has evolved to this stage underpinned by a particular paradigm: at the heart has been the acceptance of the idea that we can continue to meet society’s current and emerging needs by contracting to government, expanding and aggregating organisations, driving for greater efficiency and further professionalising, regulating and circumscribing care. We see this as an approach that is fundamentally flawed and we sense it is sapping the very ethos and moral drive of the sector and, with it, the wider community.

It is unsustainable largely because its tendency to gather paid professional people around the vulnerable will be considered to be prohibitively expensive in coming years.

Another factor at play is the increasing application of crude competition policy by governments when contracting for the provision of services. In doing so, the very assets that organisations like the Brotherhood bring to the table - the ability to rally local community support, to harness voluntary community contribution, to win the trust of those who are vulnerable and dispirited and give them some say over their life circumstances, in short, the ability to strengthen community life – are not valued. In the stark language of the economist, they are treated as externalities. One unfortunate consequence of this approach is the steady loss of the smaller, locally based community organisations that are so rich in these assets.

We believe it is critical at this time for our sector’s organisations to re-imagine their place within, and connection to, the broader community in a way that re-invigorates their mission as vehicles for harnessing the altruism of their local communities. We see that it is time, indeed overdue, to begin putting community back into welfare.

We are blessed that the Brotherhood’s work enjoys such widespread support across all segments of the community. That so many are willing to voluntarily give of their talents, time and material resources not only encourages us greatly, but enables us to be the type of organisation we aspire to be. Of course, at the centre are our dedicated paid staff. The rigour, passion and optimism they bring to this work is imbued in all our programs. We are pleased to be able to report that our fellow Directors continue to conduct their duties with diligence and a generosity of spirit. Throughout the year Christine Edwards resigned from the Board. We thank her for her many contributions and welcome Catherina Toh and Freya Marsden as our newest Directors.

We trust you conclude from the stories, images and data in this report that the Brotherhood is healthy and well placed to continue to pursue its goals with the same faith, doggedness and ‘can do’ attitude that has characterised its first eighty-four years.

ThaT sO maNy are WiLLiNG TO vOLuNTariLy Give Of Their TaLeNTs, Time aNd maTeriaL resOurCes NOT ONLy eNCOuraGes us GreaTLy, buT eNabLes us TO be The Type Of OrGaNisaTiON We aspire TO be.

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A farewell message from retiring Board Chair, Bishop Philip HugginsFinishing his term as Chair, Bishop Philip reflects that his gratitude and affection for the Brotherhood of St Laurence goes back to his earliest years in ministry.

‘It has been there along with the Prayer Book, beautiful choirs, long processions, idiosyncratic clothing, the various benign eccentricities of Anglicanism as well as the endeavour to be in society but also a little on the edge! Mystically and prophetically.

The painter Albert Tucker once said: ‘The place of the priest and the artist is on the margin, which is the place of insight.’

He could have been thinking about our founder, who intentionally placed himself on the margins, with the marginalised, so he could see, speak and act with the insight of a free person, in the spirit and way of Jesus.

As the Brotherhood’s motto says: an “Australia free of poverty” is possible. However, we must continue to insist

our political system delivers this. Vested interests which amplify inequalities must not have the final word.

Australia, of all nations, can do this, given our many strengths. This is the moment when we can be a wonderful civilisation – a microcosm of the human family in our flourishing diversity – the God-given gifts of all our people blossoming through education, durable employment and decent housing in which to live.

A personal blessing of my time has been the enrichment and love received from the splendidly-gifted Board, the Senior Managers and our Executive Director Tony Nicholson.

Amidst the various issues that come and go, I have found the Brotherhood to be a friendly place, focused on always making a better contribution to the common good.

May the divine blessing continue to rest upon you all; may the light of the Risen Jesus keep shining upon next steps and may the Holy Spirit keep giving fresh discernment as we strive to free all people from any kind of poverty.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Chair this past decade.’

program participants at banksia services working in the garden.

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Reconciliation ACTION PLAN 2014–2017

Brotherhood of St Laurence67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065 Australia

Ph: (03) 9483 1183

www.bsl.org.au

Printed on recycLed PAPer

briNGiNG NaTiONaL aTTeNTiON TO yOuTh uNempLOymeNT

Our campaign My Chance, Our Future draws attention to the crisis of youth unemployment in Australia, and has gained strong traction nationally. With youth unemployment rates more than twice that of the overall population, our regular Youth Unemployment Monitor e-newsletters have drawn attention to youth unemployment hot spots around the nation. Apart from analysing key data, the publications have brought the authentic voices of young unemployed people to the fore of the debate. Our policy paper Investing in our future offers detailed analysis of the source of the crisis, and solutions that we believe can help address the problem such as bolstering programs that build work readiness.

earLy ChiLdhOOd prOGram expaNdsOur Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) is doubling in size, with the support of the Australian Government for 50 new sites in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in 2014–15. A free, home-based early learning program that supports parents to become their child’s first teacher, HIPPY has shown remarkable results in getting children ready for school, and building parents’ confidence and skill to be their child’s first teacher.

reCONCiLiaTiON aCTiON pLaNOn 25 June 2014, co-chair of Reconciliation Australia Dr Tom Calma, AO launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan to foster reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians. Our commitments as an organisation include an employment strategy, changes to our procurement policy to encourage relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and a new internship program.

HIgHL IgHts

seCONd yOuTh fOyer OpeNs iTs dOOrs

The second Education First Youth Foyer opened in mid-2014 at Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows. Developed in partnership with Hanover Welfare Services, Kangan Institute and the Victorian Government, the purpose-built facility provides studio accommodation, education and training, and health and wellbeing support to young people who have been at risk of homelessness. Construction of the next Foyer in Shepparton is currently underway.

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heLpiNG peOpLe TO aGe WeLL

‘Every person has the right to live a life they have reason to value’ underpins the Capabilities Approach to delivering Brotherhood aged services. Research and practice teams have joined forces at the Brotherhood to create opportunities for clients to enhance their capabilities, make active choices and live flourishing lives. A training program is being rolled out across our Retirement and Ageing workforce to support this approach.

NeW empLOymeNT prOGram suppOrTs asyLum seekers

Recently arrived refugees and asylum seekers often struggle to find employment because of language barriers, past trauma and long periods of time spent in refugee camps. Our Asylum Seeker Employment Program is a new initiative, made possible by generous philanthropic funding, that supports asylum seekers who have work rights to find employment. We help them navigate the Australian employment system, as well as advising them about how to bring their skills and qualifications up to date.

famiLy ChrONiC sTress aNd disadvaNTaGeThrough our partnership with the University of Melbourne, we developed a new research project titled Family Chronic Stress and Disadvantage. The project, involving researchers Francisco Azpitarte, Eric Dommers, Shelley Mallet and Fatou Ruost (pictured right), from our Research and Policy Centre in collaboration with the university, will examine the impact of chronic stress on children in highly disadvantaged families. The project draws on recent neuroscience and psychology research on the importance of early environmental conditions for children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, and on the particular impact of exposure to chronic stress.

The prOjeCT...WiLL examiNe The impaCT Of ChrONiC sTress ON ChiLdreN iN hiGhLy disadvaNTaGed famiLies

every persON has The riGhT TO Live a Life They have reasON TO vaLue

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ProgramsOur new Parenting Programs are developing parents’ knowledge, skills and confidence in their parenting role. Working with parents in groups, we use the Tuning in to Kids™ and Tuning in to Teens™ programs which teach parents to recognise, understand and respond to children’s emotions in an accepting, supportive way, helping them to manage their feelings and behaviours.

Now in its 13th year, the Breakfast Club gives primary school children a nutritious breakfast, helping them to concentrate and focus on their learning in the classroom. A large team of volunteers from corporations, schools and the community cook breakfast and interact positively with the children.

Our Supported Playgroups ensure children enjoy stimulating activities that help them learn and develop cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically. Our qualified staff support parents in building skills and gaining confidence in their role as their child’s first teacher.

Our Family Day Care program in Melbourne’s outer north provided 220 families with high quality education and care in the homes of our qualified educators. Family Day Care is particularly valued by parents who work evenings and weekends.

Our Integrated Family Services Program assists migrant and refugee families facing challenges in navigating the complexities of parenting in Australia while settling into a new culture. The program operates out of our Ecumenical Migration Centre and is supported

by the Victorian Government. It works with parents of children from diverse cultural backgrounds to address these challenges while helping them build a nurturing home environment that supports children’s wellbeing and healthy development. Our long-standing Refugee Child Outreach Program, which links newly arrived refugee families in inner and western Melbourne to mainstream early years services, expanded to the city’s outer northern suburbs this year. Mama’s Plus, which operates from our African Australian Community Centre, assists isolated African single mothers with large families to connect with services, while strengthening their informal networks and connections to other groups.

During 2014, the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), our Australia-wide early learning program that helps parents prepare their children for school, expanded to 25 new locations, with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. With the support of the Australian Government, over 3100 families participated from disadvantaged urban, regional and rural communities. To better

measure the impact of this work we have introduced to Australia a new customised performance management system known as Efforts to Outcomes. We also revised our curriculum to emphasise children’s activities that encourage thinking, sharing, making and doing.

Shortly, HIPPY will be operating in 100 communities in every state and territory. We believe that organisations with local expertise, connections and trust are best placed to run local services and garner community support for them. This is why we work with more than 50 different organisations to bring the well-researched benefits of HIPPY to communities around the nation.

tHe e ArLy ye Ars

The most important key to ending the cycle of poverty is investment in children and their parents. In the early years, high-quality early learning and childcare programs and helping parents prepare their children for school are crucial elements of this investment.

hippy, Our ausTraLia-Wide earLy LearNiNG prOGram, expaNded TO 25 NeW LOCaTiONs

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Juanita, 30, was introduced to HIPPY when she was looking for work in December 2013. She became a home tutor in the early learning program’s site at Ashmont, a suburb of Wagga Wagga, where it is run by Anglicare.

She was so impressed with HIPPY that she enrolled her own son, four-year-old Kye. Since he started she has noticed that his listening skills have improved and he speaks up much more readily.

Juanita says of her tutoring role, ‘I’m learning how to tutor with other parents and children in my community and it’s great to be able to do this. I think being Aboriginal

helps me relate better to other Aboriginal families’.

She says, ‘A lot of Koorie kids are really shy and this is a bonus for me because I get to work with them on that. Some of the parents aren’t all that confident and that’s where I come in. I help them to gain the confidence to teach their own children with their newly learned knowledge’.

HIPPY tutors help families in communities across Australia by teaching parents, in their own homes, how to be their child’s first teacher.

The program has achieved impressive results in helping

children to prepare for school. Australian research has shown that children who take part in HIPPY generally begin the program with numeracy and literacy skills around 30 per cent behind the Australian average, but after two years in the program they have caught up.

‘HIPPY has really changed my life and my family’s lives in so many ways. I love it. I love working with children and with my community’, says Juanita.

Wagga Wagga resident Juanita appreciates the Brotherhood’s Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY). HIPPY has helped get her son ready for school, and Juanita back into the workforce.

JuAnItA

some of the parents aren’t all that confident and that’s where i come in.

i help them to gain the confidence to teach their own children with their newly learned knowledge.

hippy has helped four-year-old kye get ready for school.

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We are creating new approaches to assist young people to identify and realise their career goals and avoid the lasting personal, social and financial impacts of incomplete schooling and early unemployment. We endeavour to break the cycle of disadvantage to enable young people to become citizens fully involved in our economy and society.

ProgramsThe Youth Transitions Program, which was cited as ‘best practice’ in an OECD report on youth labour market programs, operates in Melbourne’s western and northern fringes. It helps young people by providing career guidance, work placements and links with employers, as well as other assistance. Upon completion of the program each student gains a Certificate II in General Education and 70 per cent of graduates are now in employment or training.

Our after-school Futures Club and Homework Clubs assist young people, mostly from refugee backgrounds, who may not have help, resources or space for study at home. Volunteers who include teachers, other professionals and students from other schools, act as tutors and also informally mentor the students.

The Community Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (CVCAL) program offers an alternative education for Years 10, 11 and 12 in a community setting to young people who are not able to remain in mainstream schools and have become disengaged from education. Our task is to re-engage them. Our attention to wellbeing, vocational guidance, small classes and a flexible curriculum enable them to realise their potential. Since we commenced the delivery of Community VCAL in 2010, 72 per cent of our students have graduated with a Year 12 equivalent Senior VCAL certificate. In 2013, 86 per cent of our senior cohort achieved a Senior VCAL certificate.

Not all young people are able to live at home, supported by family, as they study. Education First Youth Foyers, in partnership with Hanover Welfare Services and the Victorian Government, integrate accommodation, in studio apartments, for young people who are homeless, or

at risk of becoming so, with education and social and other networks. Two Foyers are now operating in Melbourne, at Holmesglen College of TAFE in Glen Waverley and at the Kangan Institute in Broadmeadows. We designed a Certificate I course in Developing Independence to help the students plan and work towards education and career objectives.

Young refugees must deal with the challenges of an unfamiliar society. The Employment Pathways for Young Asylum Seekers Program helps young people in Melbourne’s inner north make informed choices about education and work. Participants undertake exercises that help them identify skills and strengths to include in their résumés and workplace visits. The program is expanding to the city’s outer north-west. The ReSource Refugee Youth Program works to reduce the risk of young people becoming marginalised from society, helping over 300 participants a year to understand Australian education and workplaces, find out how to prepare for employment, undertake volunteer placements and develop their leadership skills.

Our Learning and Earning Project has established local working groups from government agencies, training institutions and employment agencies to encourage better integration of the services young people need. The project also works with participants on training, work experience and other support so they can navigate the services, information sources and networks that will help them succeed in the world of work.

Peninsula Youth Connections, operated with TaskForce, has helped young people to return to education or employment. It is with a great sense of accomplishment that we report that 80 per cent of the young people we helped were able to return to school or made other significant life improvements.

tHrougH sCHooL to work

The transition from school to work is more fraught than in past decades, especially for those 60 per cent of young people who don’t aspire to go to university. Employers now expect experience as well as training and there are fewer entry-level jobs.

We are CreaTiNG NeW apprOaChes TO assisT yOuNG peOpLe TO ideNTify aNd reaLise Their Career GOaLs

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‘No matter where I applied or what I did, I wouldn’t hear back from anyone’, Dylan says. ‘I was trying to get somewhere through Centrelink. I searched online every day. I was at my wits’ end and felt like nothing would ever happen. I was always interested in building computers but, by the time I had been unemployed for two years, I just wanted work – any work.’

’Living at home with no income at all caused stress for everyone’, he says. ‘My parents were paying for me but they couldn’t afford to support me. My sister is still at school and they were desperate for me to work as well.’

Things changed when Dylan opened his local newspaper and

saw an ad for the Brotherhood’s Youth Transitions Program. ‘It basically jumped out at me’, he says. ‘The ad said, ”If you’re constantly searching and can’t find work, call us and we can help”.’

Dylan did call and he found the training and employment program offered a clear strategy. ‘Everything seemed relevant to actually finding work’, he says. ‘I found the coaches were really supportive and gave me confidence and direction. I still refer to all the material. I’ve kept everything – all the worksheets, all the books. It’s all filed.’

After he completed the six-week program, he began two weeks of work experience. ‘We had to organise our own work experience,

using our knowledge to treat it like a job search. I had previously applied five times for a job at Autobarn in Altona [in western Melbourne], so I chose that. Within two days of handing in my new résumé, I was contacted by the manager for an interview.’

Dylan has now worked at the automotive retailer in a full-time position for 18 months and he loves it. ‘There’s a career here’, he says. ‘I’m already half-way through another training certificate with the organisation. Mum and Dad are so pleased now. They never see me anymore because I’m always at work!’

Twenty-year-old Dylan had been looking for work while studying his 12-month course in Information Technology; he looked even while he was at high school. But after he finished his diploma, the situation became urgent.

dyL An

everything seemed relevant to actually finding work.

i found the coaches were really supportive and gave me confidence and direction.

The brotherhood’s youth Transitions program helped dylan to find work.

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We work closely with employers to understand their requirements. We then train, place and support people so they can better participate in the economic and social life of their communities.

Programs Our Work and Learning Centres put community and economic participation at the heart of assistance for job seekers. The Brotherhood, in partnership with the Victorian Government and local community agencies Northern Futures, the Church of All Nations, Gippsland Employment Skills Training, Ballarat Neighbourhood House and Salvation Army Pathways Housing Service, is helping public housing tenants and other highly disadvantaged job seekers to gain employment through Centres in Geelong, Carlton, Moe, Ballarat and Shepparton. Seventeen hundred people have used the Centres since 2012: close to 800 were placed in work and accredited training was completed by 395 people.

Workforce Solutions takes a demand-led approach to employment. To determine their workforce needs we work with employers and ensure we prepare and support our job seekers to meet them. We have placed refugees, asylum seekers, mature-aged job seekers, public housing tenants and young people into jobs with the City of Melbourne, Parks Victoria, Spotless Group, City of Yarra, Australian Unity and others.

Given the Chance at ANZ is one of our longest running and most effective employment support programs. It trains job seekers and workplace supervisors and also provides intensive field support. Focusing on refugees, the program shows they can become highly productive employees with the right support. Over the seven years the program has operated 86 per cent of participants have completed it and of these 91 per cent gained employment.

We are working with ANZ to replicate the model across Australia: not-for-profit community organisation ACCESS Services is piloting Given the

Chance with the bank in Queensland. We are also working with ANZ on a pilot program to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Community Safety and Information Service provides concierge and security services on public housing estates in inner Melbourne. Supported by the Victorian Government, it enables trainees to gain qualifications in security operations while undertaking a traineeship. The program partners with Unified Security Group to ensure that, once qualified, participants get jobs in the industry.

Our new Asylum Seeker Employment Program assists asylum seekers to find work so that they can participate more fully in their community. The program, which has received significant support from a private benefactor, also promotes positive stories about the contribution of asylum seekers to Australia.

Our Skills Gap program helps people who have qualifications but haven’t been able to find work because of poor English or lack of work experience. Skills Gap assists these people to meet industry requirements through training in Australian workplace culture and employer expectations. Ninety-five per cent of participants moved into employment or further training.

In And out of work

Work and learning are key pathways out of poverty. For people who struggle to enter the labour market, such as those who have never worked in Australia or young people seeking their first opportunity, our employment and training programs offer a ‘line of sight’ to a real job.

Our WOrk aNd LearNiNG CeNTres puT COmmuNiTy aNd eCONOmiC parTiCipaTiON aT The hearT Of assisTaNCe fOr jOb seekers

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A single mum, Sharon has had her share of rough times. She’d had limited employment in the past, mostly casual and seasonal, and was at a low ebb when she began volunteering at the Been There Cafe in Shepparton.

Soon after starting at the cafe, Sharon registered at the Work and Learning Centre which is run alongside the cafe and is operated by the Salvation Army in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence. She was assigned an advisor, and together they developed a work and learning pathway plan, which included activities that address personal or vocational barriers to employment.

After discovering that she loved interacting with the customers and

staff at the cafe, Sharon decided to undertake a Certificate IV in Community Services.

Staff at the Work and Learning Centre supported her, including arranging access to transport and computers, liaising with her job agency, mentoring her and finding a work placement at the Centre.

When the Salvation Army’s Pathways into Employment program needed a Women’s Employment Advisor to support disadvantaged women to rejoin the workforce, Sharon was an obvious choice.

‘Having gone through difficult times makes it a lot easier to relate to the ladies in the program’, she says. ‘Sometimes we all need

the support of someone else to say “Yes, you can do it!”’

Sharon is now completing her Diploma in Community Services, and says she feels blessed to have found a role that she enjoys so much. The impact on her family has been profound: her daughter was so happy that she cried when she found out about her mum’s new job.

‘My daughter loves working because she knows that I love work. Also my extended family reckon if Auntie Sharon can do it, anyone can do it.’

Yorta Yorta woman Sharon understands the challenges faced by the women in the employment program she helps run.

sHAron

sharon now works as a Women’s employment advisor and supports other women to rejoin the workforce.

having gone through difficult times makes it a lot easier to relate to the ladies in the program.

sometimes we all need the support of someone else to say “yes, you can do it!”

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We are making every effort to respond to their needs by offering them the choices available to others. This work can only grow as the population ages. We have a particular concern for the disadvantaged among the 320,000 Australians experiencing dementia.

ProgramsSambell Lodge and Sumner House continue not only to accommodate residents, many of whom were formerly homeless and socially isolated, but also to identify and develop their interests and capabilities. The use of iPads has introduced residents to the digital world and helps them to maintain social contacts. We are also trialling ‘eHealth’ with their doctors via Skype. We involve the residents in the community through activities such as the bi-annual Celebration of Life. Organised by Sambell Lodge, this event brings together hundreds of people from aged-care facilities for a festive afternoon of live music and dancing.

We support almost 800 people to live at home with our Home Care Packages funded by the Australian Government and, together with our day and respite services, focus on gaps in current service systems to improve wellbeing and extend the years of living at home and in familiar communities. Our Banksia Services, which support people with dementia and their carers, are an exemplar of our innovation in this area. We have begun a program for people aged under 65 with dementia: the participants themselves have designed the program and are involved in several projects that use their knowledge and skills. One is an

intergenerational media project with school students to produce a DVD on what it is like to have dementia at such a relatively young age.

The Brotherhood’s disability service, Nexus, demonstrates the intersection between the disability and aged-care systems by supporting carers of adult children to develop and run their own program, Breaking Ground, which encourages their child‘s independence. Nexus is also researching the issues around supported employment and the transition into retirement of older people with a disability.

The process of ageing well is enhanced when people have strong social connections. Projects such as Good Food Matters, a social and nutritional service, where staff assist participants to cook at home as an alternative to relying on delivered meals, our Community Transport Assist program, and other elements of our extensive Social Inclusion Program are tackling loneliness among disadvantaged older people. We have partnered with Hume City Council to operate an activity program for older residents, drawing on the strengths of our longstanding Coolibah Centre

which provides opportunities and engagement for disadvantaged older people. The South Sudanese Elders Program, at our African Australian Community Centre, enables community elders to gather together to strengthen social and community links, and to connect with and understand health and aged-care services.

ret IreMent And AgeIng

We want disadvantaged older people to be able to age well. We endeavour to ensure that older Australians who haven’t been able to accumulate assets over their lifetime, and who have limited or no family support, don’t suffer the indignity of poverty and loneliness.

The prOCess Of aGeiNG WeLL is eNhaNCed WheN peOpLe have sTrONG sOCiaL CONNeCTiONs

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Sambell Lodge in inner Melbourne accommodates and cares for disadvantaged older people, many of whom have experienced homelessness, have a mental or physical illness or lack support networks. Despite his illness, Graeme is a prolific artist, and his paintings and drawings feature in the University of Melbourne’s Cunningham Dax collection.

He describes his own art as a passion, a ‘compulsion’ and the thing that has kept him going. ‘If I didn’t have my faith and my work, I’d have nothing to live for’, he says.

Previously, Graeme was living alone in a flat and managing his illness largely on his own. Like many people with a mental illness who are growing older, he was feeling isolated, and was no longer able to look after himself. ‘Sometimes your circumstances overwhelm you and you just can’t do all the things you thought you could’, he says of that time.

Since moving to supported accommodation, Graeme has felt less vulnerable. He is clearly relieved to have the day-to-day support and social interaction that the facility provides.

He has made friends with other residents and connections with other artists and performers: Sambell Lodge encourages all the residents to develop and pursue their interests. Graeme has enormous respect for the staff, whom he describes as ‘ordinary extraordinary Australians’.

Despite the challenges of his illness, his art continues to drive him. ‘I fight for every line I draw’, he says. ‘But I want to do it. I won’t let anything stop me.’

Artist Graeme, now a resident of the Brotherhood’s Sambell Lodge, has lived with schizo-affective disorder for almost 50 years. The illness first hit him at 18, and he has been on medication ever since, spending long periods in hospital when overwhelmed by psychosis.

gr AeMe

sambell Lodge encourages all the residents to develop and pursue their interests.

Graeme has enormous respect for the staff, whom he describes as ‘ordinary extraordinary australians’.

Graeme’s passion for his art has kept him going along with the encouragement and support of the staff at sambell Lodge.

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Refugees now face greater challenges in settling in Australia than did previous arrivals, largely because our modern economy increasingly values qualifications and work experience. So much of our efforts goes to helping refugees take their place in the mainstream economic and social life of our nation.

ProgramsWe have a particular interest in nurturing the economic potential of women who have recently arrived in Australia. Stepping Stones assists women to gain skills and know-how for setting up and operating small businesses in Australia. Training, mentoring and workshops on specific industries improve women’s business skills and plans. Our recent evaluation found that 44 per cent have already established their own enterprises. Others have used the experience gained in finding employment. We have been excited by interest from local governments keen to have a local version of Stepping Stones.

To help overcome the displacement often felt by newly arrived families, our Family Relationship Services for Humanitarian Entrants program, supported by the Australian Government, offers culturally sensitive family counselling and other assistance. Our expertise is deployed more widely through our cross-cultural training and coaching of staff in partner agencies on working with refugee families. Both achieve our aim of strengthening mainstream agencies’ capacity to better serve people from other cultures.

The Brotherhood has a long history of trying new approaches in the areas of settlement and multiculturalism. With the support of the Australian Government we are piloting a Community Proposal program. It allows relatives and other community members to provide resources to help their relatives obtain a visa and settle in Australia. We help lodge visa applications for families seeking to provide refugee protection to relatives.

Just as individual families need help to settle in a new country, emerging communities also need help to build new networks. In partnership with the Anglican Parish of Footscray, we established the African Australian Community Centre and are working towards helping it achieve independence. The Centre runs services for members of the African community, who also use the parish halls for meetings and other gatherings. We are also helping to develop leadership in this community which included running the Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope (C.O.A.C.H.) program. Volunteer mentors within the South Sudanese Christian community are trained and equipped to work alongside struggling families, assisting them to create a brighter future for themselves.

Our community development work with refugee groups also builds leadership skills and knowledge, cultivating confident leaders who can advocate for their community’s needs. The Refugee Action Program works with diverse community groups, supporting them to identify their strengths and address community issues with tailored solutions.

Volunteer mentors play an important part in much of our work to help refugees settle in Australia. Our Brain Bank program matches volunteer mentors with community leaders who need help to develop their own skills and knowledge or strengthen their community’s capacity.

refugees And InCLusIon

The Brotherhood and its Ecumenical Migration Centre have a long history of assisting refugees and immigrants to make a positive start to their new life.

refuGees NOW faCe GreaTer ChaLLeNGes iN seTTLiNG iN ausTraLia ThaN did previOus arrivaLs

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After years spent in various countries, which included teaching herself Arabic in order to educate her four children in the United Arab Emirates, she arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2003.

She now lives in Melbourne’s western suburbs and is an active member of her community, collecting and shipping donated educational and medical goods to needy places in Somalia and creating the Tlitu kitchen which makes healthy school lunches at a local primary school. This hospitality project not only provides Somali women with training and employment, Halima explains, but also helps them support their children’s learning through greater familiarity with the school system.

‘I get energy from working with my community and having this life’, says Halima. ‘I do this work to say ”thank you” for having come here and survived.’

Through Halima’s involvement in the Brotherhood’s Brain Bank program she is generating more opportunities for African-Australian women.

The Brain Bank program matches skilled volunteers from the community with newly arrived refugees and migrants seeking mentoring and/or assistance to develop community projects. The mentors provide support, guidance and encouragement, building long-term relationships that help community members overcome

cultural barriers, isolation, limited skills and a lack of confidence.

In Halima’s case, her mentor Jennifer’s background in business innovation and strategic planning provided knowledge and networks to restructure and grow her social venture. The two clearly enjoy their frequent meetings and Jennifer says she gets ‘great pleasure’ from supporting Halima’s work and vision. ‘In addition to making a new friend, the most important thing l’ve gained from Halima and the Brain Bank program is the destruction of media-based stereotypes about refugees’, says Jennifer.

With Jennifer’s assistance, Halima has incorporated her small organisation, delegated

management of the Tlitu kitchen, structured future training for Tlitu ladies and commenced planning several additional social ventures – kitchens at two more schools, a catering offshoot and a clothing and craft group.

Halima says she feels lucky to have met Jennifer through Brain Bank, and to be able to share resources, understanding and hope. For herself she says, ‘When you are coming from the heart and not expecting anything back, you can achieve so much’.

Halima has always had a big vision. One of the few female members of the Somali parliament, she was forced to leave her country after civil war broke out there in 1991.

HALIMA

halima has been able to further develop her work and vision with the help of jennifer, her brain bank mentor.

i get energy from working with my community and having this life.

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ProgramsSaver Plus completed the third year of its current phase, with more than 14,000 Australians entering the program since 2011. Many had never developed a saving habit previously. The program was developed 11 years ago with the ANZ, which remains a strong partner, and is now also substantially supported by the Australian Government. Our operational partners are Berry Street, The Benevolent Society and The Smith Family. Saver Plus assists participants to better manage their finances. They learn about budgeting and money management, with the incentive that savings up to $500 for educational purposes are matched by ANZ. Eighty-seven per cent report that they continue to save at the same or greater rate 12 months after completing the program.

MoneyMinded, the award-winning ANZ financial literacy course that is a feature of Saver Plus, is delivered by the Brotherhood and other agencies across Australia.

Rising energy bills are a big cost to many households, especially those on a low income. The Home Energy Efficiency Upgrade Program has begun fitting new hot-water systems for households on low incomes because inefficient systems use more energy, generate more greenhouse gases, and cost more to run. The first of the program’s 1400 upgrades were completed in May.

The No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) continues in partnership with Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service and discussions have begun about extending it to the Brotherhood’s

African Australian Community Centre in Melbourne’s western suburbs. The service helps low-income and vulnerable Australians to buy essential household items through a safe credit option. Our data shows that the people who use the service are far less likely to resort to high-interest payday loans.

Research consistently demonstrates that price is a key factor for people considering insurance. We continue to engage the insurance industry in dialogue about how collaboration with not-for-profit organisations might increase insurance coverage among Australians on lower incomes.

We continue to promote the concept of a Stewardship Principle among the financial institutions licensed to operate banking services in Australia. We contend they are responsible for ensuring that financial products and services reasonably meet the needs of everyone, including Australians on low incomes. The rapid growth of high-interest payday loans in recent years strongly suggests these financial institutions are failing to achieve this objective.

fInAnCIAL InCLusIon

The Brotherhood made financial inclusion a key priority in the knowledge that if disadvantaged Australians are to build a good life in the modern economy, like all of us, they need to acquire financial knowledge and easy access to basic financial services at a reasonable price.

peOpLe WhO use The NO iNTeresT LOaNs sCheme are far Less LikeLy TO resOrT TO hiGh-iNTeresT payday LOaNs

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She decided to join Saver Plus, which assists families on low incomes to develop a saving habit, after seeing a flyer about it on a local community noticeboard.

After undertaking the program, with one of her six children, son Layne, now 19, she is passionate about it. Michelle, who lives with her husband and two school-age daughters near Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, recently received a flyer from Saver Plus requesting assistance with promoting the program.

‘So I am going to stand up in assembly when the kids go back to school to talk about it’, Michelle says.

‘We used to live week to week but now we plan ahead’.

Saver Plus was started in 2003 by the Brotherhood and ANZ, and is now available around the country with Australian Government support. Savers make regular deposits towards an educational savings goal over 10 months and attend ANZ’s MoneyMinded workshops to improve their financial management skills. When they reach their goal, ANZ matches the amount – up to $500 – for costs such as textbooks, laptop computers and TAFE expenses.

Michelle and Layne saved for music composition software for his studies. Layne is now studying guitar and composition at the

Queensland Conservatorium of Music. ‘He says the skills have helped him heaps now he’s living in Brisbane – he’s very wise with his money’, says Michelle. ‘Layne sets goals in all aspects of life now.’

‘With Saver Plus you look at the big picture’, she says. ‘Use what you’ve got and make it go further, rather than living week to week.’

The habit of putting a little away regularly has stuck. Michelle now has a saving plan for school expenses such as excursions for her daughters. ‘If you wait for tomorrow it never comes. You need to put a few dollars aside each week and before you know it you’ve saved quite a lot.’

Michelle wasn’t a regular saver before joining Saver Plus. She says, ‘I was always going to put aside that little bit extra but never could’.

MICHeLLe

if you wait for tomorrow it never comes.

you need to put a few dollars aside each week and before you know it you’ve saved quite a lot.

Thanks to the saver plus program michelle and her son Layne were able to save for educational expenses.

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Spirituality, pastoral care and liturgical practice

Developing a strong focus on spirituality in the workplace acknowledges that people are searching for deeper meaning within themselves and in the world that surrounds them. Often this deeper meaning may be found through faith in a higher being, but it may also be in the desire for greater understanding of self or the way in which we understand our connection to the world, both through others and nature. Recognising that which gives us daily meaning and which lies deep within all of us, and how to harness it in caring for others, is central to our Spirituality Program which is offered across the Brotherhood.

In our pastoral care of the organisation we support staff, volunteers and the people who make use of the Brotherhood’s programs. This can include individual and team support, conflict resolution, counselling, visits to staff who are ill, working with clients and their families, support in palliative care and the offering of the sacraments and services of worship.

Schools engagement

Helping young people to better understand social justice and disadvantage and challenging them to make a difference are key components of the Schools Engagement program. During the year we hosted more than 500 young people from Year 6 to Year 12 in schools across Victoria through our Urban Camp and Social Justice Conference projects. The program challenges them to work with us in practical ways and explore ideas on how to address the root causes of poverty in Australia.

Parish partnerships

We continue to build relationships with many Anglican parishes and schools in Melbourne and throughout Victoria, working with them to encourage their practice of care through community development, prayer and financial support.

African Australian Community Centre

Our support continues for the work of the African Australian Community Centre (AACC), in partnership with the Anglican Parish of Footscray. We are leading the development of the Parish Partnership committee of Brotherhood staff and parish representatives which oversees the AACC.

Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope

Chaplaincy also assisted in the introduction of the C.O.A.C.H. program at the African Australian Community Centre. A lay training program, C.O.A.C.H. – Creating Opportunities and Casting Hope – aims to strengthen families socially, economically, physically and spiritually. Each coach is an adult with life experience willing to travel alongside a family or young person to help them achieve their goals.

Training of clergy and lay vocations

We contribute to training, educating and influencing those who are considering ordination into the priesthood or lay ministry and chaplaincy through the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne. In particular, we offer teaching and engagement with the Year of Discernment Program for candidates considering ordination to ministry, participation in ‘Ministry and Mission’ courses for theological students and supervision of ordination candidates through field placements at the Brotherhood.

CHApL A InC y

Building relationships, integrity, respect, collegiality and strong supportive teams through spiritual nurture and pastoral care is at the very heart of the Chaplaincy program. Across the work of the organisation, Chaplaincy seeks to be a contemplative voice, challenging, reflecting, encouraging and supporting staff, volunteers and participants in our programs in their daily work and journey.

The Community vCaL program offers an alternative education for years 10, 11 and 12.

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The brotherhood’s Chaplain (pictured centre) delivers spiritual and pastoral care in the workplace.

urban Camp students work with us in practical ways, such as helping at brotherhood books.

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We listen to people’s experience, research the social and economic issues that affect them, evaluate the services designed to assist them, and propose policies that benefit them. As the largest and oldest social policy research centre in a non-government welfare organisation in Australia, underpinned by a strong partnership with the University of Melbourne, we are well placed for this work.

Three ideas drive our research and policy efforts. First, we hold that social inequality is not inevitable. It is the consequence of decisions made by government, communities and individuals. Second, social inequality does not just affect the unlucky minority. Rather, as a barrier to wealth generation and social cohesion it affects the country as a whole. Accordingly, economic reform that invests in the potential of the most disadvantaged in our community will reap long-term benefits for society and the economy. Finally, research and practice evidence tell us that it is critical to recognise and develop the skills and capabilities of individuals and communities in addressing social inequality. Governments, community agencies and the wider society including business, unions and philanthropic organisations all have a part to play: we endeavour to work in partnership with them.

We have deepened our understanding of the dynamics of social inequality through the publication of a book – Life Chances: Stories of Growing up in Australia. Drawing on our ground-breaking longitudinal study of children born in 1990 in two inner suburbs of Melbourne, the book tells

the life stories of five participants. It focuses on the familial, social and economic issues influencing the life transitions of these young people over the past two decades. It also complements the Brotherhood’s campaign on youth transitions and unemployment in 2014. As part of this work we documented the scope and scale of youth unemployment across the country and contributed to the development of service models that build paths for them to education, training and work.

Life transitionsThe early years

The early years lay the foundations for a healthy and productive life. Strong bonds with parents, early learning, good nutrition, physical activity and a stable home environment are all essential for young children’s health and wellbeing. Without these building blocks children risk a lifetime of poverty and disadvantage. For this reason our early childhood work has focused on increasing the evidence about programs and practices that contribute to healthy lives.

This work has included:

• an evaluation of the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY), which identified strategies for recruitment and retention of families. This will support HIPPY Australia in undertaking its expanded national rollout

• new research, with the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne, which examines the impacts of both family and child stress on children’s development and early learning

• an evaluation, with the First Nations Foundation, of the My Moola Indigenous financial inclusion program in Victoria and Western Australia, which enhances family wellbeing through better financial literacy and budgeting skills

• being a foundation partner in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (Life Course Centre), which aims to identify the drivers of deep and persistent disadvantage and develop solutions to reverse its impact on children and families.

rese ArCH And poLIC y Centre

Influence, innovation, advocacy: these three words capture the essence of the Brotherhood’s work to identify and address poverty and social inequality in Australia. Building robust evidence is critical to this work.

We dOCumeNTed The sCOpe aNd sCaLe Of yOuTh uNempLOymeNT aCrOss The COuNTry aNd CONTribuTed TO The deveLOpmeNT Of serviCe mOdeLs

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Through school to work

How can we enable young people to build healthy, productive adult lives? How can we recognise and improve the capacity of young people who leave school early, face disadvantage and may not have the support of family to study and work? Addressing these questions is at the heart of our research, evaluation and policy effort in the ‘Through school to work’ transition, including:

• a major Australian Research Council funded study on flexible learning options for young people with James Cook University, Victoria University and the Edmund Rice Institute

• a five-year evaluation of the Education First Youth Foyers in partnership with Hanover Welfare Services and funded by the Victorian Government. This study is assessing the outcomes and cost benefits of this innovative approach that involves young people experiencing homelessness in education, training and employment.

In and out of work

What factors shape adults’ ability to get and keep work? What makes some groups of people more vulnerable to unemployment, and what are the most effective policies and programs to re-engage them in work? How can we best support employers to provide and maintain employment opportunities for disadvantaged people? These are some of the questions that shaped our work in the ‘In and out of work’ transition. This included:

• a three-year Australian Research Council funded study,

Understanding and preventing workforce vulnerabilities in midlife and beyond, in partnership with the University of Melbourne, Jobs Australia, the University of Canberra’s National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) and Curtin University

• an evaluation of the Asylum Seekers Employment Program, examining how best to assist asylum seekers into work

• an employer engagement study, funded by the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust and developed with the University of Melbourne’s Business School. It examined ways that employers can be supported to provide opportunities for job seekers experiencing disadvantage.

Retirement and ageing

Older people’s perceptions and experiences of ageing largely depend on the quality and meaning of life that their health, wealth and social connections afford them. In our efforts to improve the lives of older Australians who experience disadvantage we continue to undertake wide-ranging research that takes account of these issues and always emphasises building their personal capabilities.

We have been investigating, with different universities, new approaches to dementia care, vulnerabilities of older workers, quality of life in

residential care, aged care workforce development and influences on older women’s experiences of homelessness. We have joined the Cognitive Decline Partnerships Centre, a national initiative to examine social and health aspects of dementia care.

Across the transitionsEquity in response to climate change

We are concerned about the impact of climate change on disadvantaged people and communities and have long demonstrated leadership on this issue. Our chapter on energy efficiency and climate change in a forthcoming book highlights the risk disadvantaged households face from heatwaves, noting how energy efficiency measures can keep homes cooler in summer. Our study, Fuel poverty, household income and energy spending, demonstrated the need for governments to improve assistance for households in which a member is living with a disability. We have made the case for reform of the energy market to ensure affordability through the Australian Energy Regulator’s Better Regulation Program. And we have led the development and launch of the Home Energy Efficiency Upgrade Project, which will assist 1400 households to install more efficient hot water systems.

Our early childhood programs help to build strong bonds between parents and children.

Our aged-care programs give people the opportunity to connect with others.

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during 2014, the home interaction program for parents and youngsters (hippy) expanded to 25 new locations.

Our social enterprises encourage environmental sustainability through recycling.

saver plus assists participants to better manage their finances.


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Corpor Ate governAnCe

The following principles, practices and structures establish the framework for the governance of the Brotherhood.

Lady Southey AC is Patron of the Brotherhood.

The President of the Brotherhood is the Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne.

Organisational informationThe Brotherhood is incorporated under the Brotherhood of St Laurence (Incorporation) Act 1971, number 8188 of the Victorian Parliament, and is domiciled in Australia. The registered office of the Brotherhood is at 67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Victoria 3065.

The Brotherhood is an income tax exempt charity and has deductible gift recipient status.

The structures, principles and practices that provide the framework for the governance of the Brotherhood are described on the following pages.

Charter MembersMs Joanna Baevski

Ms Diana Batzias

Ms Cath Bradley

Mr David Buxbaum

Prof. Judith Chapman AM

Ms Celia Clarke

The Revd Barbara Colliver

Dr Terry Cutler (to December 2013)

Ms Christine Edwards

The Rt Revd David Farrer (leave of absence)

Mr William Ford

Mr Carrillo Gantner AO (to December 2013)

Mr Stephen Grant

Mr David Green

Ms Sarina Greco (from December 2013)

Ms Susan Gribben (to December 2013)

The Rt Revd Philip Huggins

Mr James Jacoby

Mr Mike James

Mr Roger Johnson

The Revd Dr J. Hugh Kempster

The Hon. Rob Knowles AO

Ms Alison McClelland

Mr John McInnes OAM

Dr Fiona Macdonald

Dr Ian Manning

Ms Freya Marsden (from May 2014)

Mr Tony Nicholson

Dr Apollo Nsubuga-Kyobe

Dr Nouria Salehi OAM

Ms Fiona Smith

The Revd Clemence Taplin

Mr Evan Thornley

Ms Catherina Toh (from December 2013)

Ms Jenny Trethewey

Mr David Triplow APM

The Revd Janet Turpie-Johnstone

Dr Jonathon Welch AM

Mr Trevor Williams

Mr John Wilson

Mr Michael Wilson

Mr Graeme Wise

Ms Caterina Wooden (from December 2013)

Life MembersMr Ernest Barr

The Rt Revd Michael Challen AM

Mr Sandy Clark

Dr Stephen Duckett

Mr Michael Feeney

The Revd Nicolas Frances MBE

Mr Eric Hart

The Rt Revd Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE

The Hon. Professor Brian Howe AO

Ms Elizabeth Loftus

Father James Minchin

Mr Ian Reid

The Rt Revd Andrew St John

Mrs Thelma Tuxen

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CoRPoR ate goveRnanCe

About Charter and Life Members

Up to 40 Charter Members, including the Executive Director, are permitted under the Brotherhood’s Constitution. At least eight of them must be clerics in Holy Orders of the Anglican Church in Australia.

Charter Members receive and adopt the reports of the Board and of the auditors, receive and adopt the annual financial statements, elect Board Directors and fix the remuneration of the auditors, as well as transacting any other business at general meetings.

Life membership has been conferred on a number of members who have given significant service to the Brotherhood. Life Members act as ‘friends of the Brotherhood’, often providing advice and ongoing support to the organisation.

The BoardBishop Philip Huggins MA, BEc (Non-executive Chair from December 2005)

Bishop of the Northern and Western Regions, Diocese of Melbourne. Member of Christian World Service Commission. Member, Board of Centre for Dialogue, La Trobe University. Member, Multi-faith Advisory Group – Office of Multiculturalism and Citizenship. Member, Board of St Laurence Community Services. President, Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School. Member, Brotherhood Nomination and Remuneration committees. Appointed to the Brotherhood Board in November 2004. Appointed Chair in December 2005 and re-appointed in December 2010.

Mr Mike James BCom (Deputy Chair)

Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants. Member, Certified Practising Accountants of Australia. Retired Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Australia. Chair, Social Traders Limited. Chair, Brotherhood Finance Committee. Member, Brotherhood Remuneration Committee. Appointed to the Board in March 2007 and reappointed in December 2013.

Mr Tony Nicholson BA, BSW (Executive Director)

Executive Director, Brotherhood of St Laurence since October 2004. Member, Brotherhood Finance, Audit and Risk Management, Nomination, Remuneration and Social Enterprises Committees. Appointed to the Board in October 2004.

Professor Judith Chapman AM, BA, BEd, EdDd, FACE, FACEA, FWAIEA

Professor of Education, Australian Catholic University (ACU). Previously Dean of Faculty of Education at ACU. Previously Professor of Education and Associate Dean (Teaching & Learning) of the combined faculties of Economics, Commerce, Education and Law at the University of WA. Previously Director of the Centre of School Decision Making and Management, Monash University. Member, Council of St Catherine’s School. Member, Academic Reference Group of the Bishop Perry Institute for parish renewal in the Anglican Church. Appointed to the Board in November 2012.

Ms Celia Clarke BEc, LLB, MBA

Qualified lawyer and accountant with an MBA from the University of Melbourne. Fellow, Chartered Secretaries Australia. Fellow, Leadership Victoria’s Williamson Community Leadership Program (2005). ACLA Australian Government Lawyer of the Year 2004. Member, Brotherhood The Women’s Network Advisory Committee. Member, Brotherhood Audit and Risk Management Committee (to September 2013). Appointed to the Board August 2003 and reappointed in November 2008. Resigned from the Board September 2013.

Ms Christine Edwards BAppSc, Grad Cert P.S.M, MHealthAdmin

Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. Associate Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Management. Member of the Institute of Public

Our Community vCaL program provides students with vocational guidance, small classes and a flexible curriculum.

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Administration Australia. Member Advisory Committee of The Aspiration Initiative. Previously Deputy Chair Prime Minister’s Council on Homelessness. Previously Chief Executive Officer, Myer Foundation and the Sidney Myer Fund. Previously Chief Executive Officer of St George’s Hospital and Bethlehem Hospital. Previously Deputy Chair of the Asia-Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. Appointed to the Board in September 2011. Resigned from the Board March 2014.

Mr Stephen Grant Grad Dip (Marketing), FCA

Chief Executive Officer, Asia Pacific Business Coalition on AIDS (APBCA). Previously Chief Executive Officer, Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC). Previously Chair, Alfred Health. Previously Chair, Victorian Trauma Foundation (VTF). Previously Managing Director, Laura Ashley PLC (UK). Chair, Brotherhood Social Enterprises Committee. Appointed to the Board in April 2009.

Revd Dr J Hugh Kempster BEng, MTheol, PhD, Grad Dip (Education)

Vicar, St Peter’s Eastern Hill. Area Dean, Diocese of Melbourne. Co-director, Kempster Consultants. Previously Senior Chaplain, Geelong Grammar School. Previously Vicar, Parish of St Columba, Auckland, New Zealand. Appointed to the Board in November 2012.

The Hon. Rob Knowles AO

Chair, Mental Health Council of Australia. President, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia. Previously Commissioner, National Health and Hospital Reform Commission. Former Victorian Minister for Health, Aged Care and Housing. Member, Brotherhood Finance Committee. Appointed to the Board in December 2005, took up the position in March 2006, reappointed in December 2010.

Dr Fiona Macdonald BBSc, GradDipCounselPsych, MArts(SocPol), PhD

Research Fellow, Centre for Work + Life, University of South Australia. Previously Executive Director, Equity Research Centre. Previously Director, Victorian Welfare Rights Unit. Previously Director, Wesley Mission Victoria. Appointed to the Board in November 2012.

Ms Freya Marsden BAgResEco (Hons), MCom (Specialising in Economics), GAICD

A policy economist with a strong interest in participation and social inclusion. Consultant, covering governance, strategy, policy and economic issues. Member, Australian Institute of Company Directors. Authority Member, Victorian Government’s Metropolitan Planning Authority. Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair, Victorian Abalone Central Zone Victorian Government’s Interim Board. Non-Executive Director, Ruyton Girls School. Non-Executive Director, Waverley Industries (an Adult Disability Enterprise). Previously Director Policy, Business Council of Australia. Previously DLO Taxation Adviser, Federal Treasurer’s Office. Previously Federal Treasury Economist. Previously Policy Adviser in State Government central and line agency roles and a consultant. Member, Brotherhood Finance Committee (from May 2014). Appointed to the Board in May 2014.

Ms Catherina Toh BA(Hons), LLB(Hons), GAICD Practising Member LIV

A lawyer with her own practice specialising in legal and regulatory compliance in the financial services sector. Member, Audit Committee of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria. Chair, Social Venture Partners Melbourne, The Trustee Board of Public Ancillary Fund and The Social Venture Partners Australia Fund. Previously Director and Chair of Compliance & Risk Committee, Nillumbik Community Health Service. Previously member, Risk & Finance Committee, Jesuit Social Services. Member (Chair to February 2014), Brotherhood Audit and Risk Management Committee. Appointed to the Board in December 2013.

Role of the BoardThe Board is responsible for setting the strategic direction and establishing the policies of the Brotherhood. It is responsible for monitoring the performance of the activities of the Brotherhood and overseeing its financial state on behalf of the Charter and Life Members. It is also responsible for ensuring that risks are adequately managed. The Board meets monthly.

Christmas in july at our disability service Nexus.

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Composition of the BoardThe Brotherhood’s Constitution limits the number of Board Members to 14, including the Executive Director and at least two people who are clerics in Holy Orders of the Anglican Church of Australia. Further, the Chair is required to be a communicant member of the Anglican Church of Australia. Currently there are 10 Directors including the Executive Director.

RemunerationThe Brotherhood Directors volunteer their time and skills to the organisation and as such no remuneration was paid or is payable to the Directors in their capacity as Board Members.

Board sub-committeesAudit and Risk Management Committee

Formed as a committee of the Board, the Audit and Risk Management Committee’s role is to ensure that all significant financial and non-financial risks are identified and properly addressed by management on a timely basis. The committee is made up of Board Members and external members who bring independence and external expertise to the committee. Members during or since the end of the financial year are Catherina Toh (Committee Chair to February 2014), Dana Hlavacek (Committee Chair from March 2014), Roger Johnson, Guy Mendelson, David Errington, Celia Clarke (to September 2013) and Tony Nicholson. The Committee meets quarterly.

Finance Committee

Formed as a committee of the Board, the Finance Committee assists the Board in overseeing the proper financial management of the organisation. The committee members during or since the end of the financial year are Mike James (Committee Chair), Gayle Wilson, Hon. Rob Knowles, Catherine McKean, Freya Marsden (from May 2014) and Tony Nicholson. The Committee meets monthly. The Finance Committee meets as a Finance and Investment Committee at least twice yearly, with Mark Dutton as an additional member.

Nominations Committee

This committee of the Board reviews and recommends nominations for Board membership. The members during or since the end of the financial year are Bishop Philip Huggins (Committee Chair), Christine Edwards (to March 2014),

Sandy Clark and Tony Nicholson. The Committee meets at least annually.

Remuneration Committee

This committee of the Board is responsible for the remuneration policy for senior management of the organisation, and reviewing and approving remuneration packages of senior management. The members during or since the end of the financial year are Bishop Philip Huggins (Committee Chair), Mike James and Tony Nicholson. The Committee meets at least annually.

Social Enterprise Committee

This committee of the Board is responsible for providing strategic advice in relation to social enterprises. The members during or since the end of the financial year are Stephen Grant (Committee Chair), David Errington (from October 2013), Joe Gehrig (from October 2013), Michael Tucker, John Mann and Tony Nicholson. The Committee meets at least three times a year.

Other committees

A number of other committees or workgroups are established by the Board from time to time to oversee a particular task or project. These committees operate only for the period of time required to complete the task or project, and are not ongoing Board sub-committees.

Company secretaryMs Jennifer Grayling LLB

Jenny Grayling has held a range of senior management roles in publicly listed companies in Australia and Asia. Former Non-executive Director of Hanover Welfare Services for five years. Former Non-executive Director of East Ivanhoe Community Bank for three years. Former Non-executive Director of Foodbank Victoria for seven years. Appointed Company Secretary in October 2005.

CoRPoR ate goveRnanCe

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Executive teamThe Executive Director is responsible for the day-to-day management of the activities of the Brotherhood as delegated by the Board. The following management team is responsible for the implementation of organisational strategies, development of policies and management of issues and of the performance of the organisation:

Mr Tony Nicholson, Executive Director

Ms Lyn Amy, General Manager Communications and Development (to July 2013)

Ms Vicky Carmody, General Manager Children, Youth and Families

Ms Katrina Currie, General Manager Work and Learning

Ms Michelle Eunson, General Manager Communications and Development (from October 2013)

Ms Farah Farouque, Senior Advisor Public Affairs and Policy

Ms Jenny Grayling, Group General Manager Organisational Services; Company Secretary

Mr Rob Hudson, Group General Manager Programs and Policy

Mr Jonathan Lee, Chief Financial Officer

Ms Shelley Mallett, General Manager Research and Policy (from May 2014)

Ms Christine Morka, General Manager Retirement and Ageing and Financial Inclusion

Father Jeff O’Hare, General Manager Chaplaincy and Diocesan Partnerships (to February 2014)

Ms Marian Pettit, National Manager HIPPY Australia (from August 2013)

Ms Debra Saffrey-Collins, Acting General Manager Chaplaincy and Diocesan Partnerships (from February 2014)

Professor Paul Smyth, General Manager Research and Policy (to December 2013)

Mr Rodney Weston, General Manager Business Planning and Social Enterprises

Other governance processesPlanning and control

The Brotherhood produces a three-year strategic plan, annual plans and detailed budgets, which are approved and regularly monitored by the Board and its committees.

Risk assessment

The Board, its sub-committees and the Executive Team are responsible for identifying, measuring and assessing business, legal, financial, environmental and other risks in the activities of the Brotherhood. In particular, the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Board consider all significant risks, their implications and strategies, and the Finance Committee oversees the financial affairs of the organisation.

Independent professional advice

The Board, General Managers and senior staff have access to appropriate external professional advice. Legal, risk, investment, and tax and accounting advice is coordinated by the Chief Financial Officer and the Company Secretary through Freehills, M+K Lawyers Pty Ltd, K+L Gates and HWL Ebsworth Lawyers; Deloitte; Deutsche Bank and JBWere; and KPMG, respectively. Some legal advice is provided by Freehills and M+K Lawyers Pty Ltd on a pro bono basis.

Audit and accounts

The Brotherhood’s Constitution requires that proper books of accounts are kept, true and complete accounts are maintained and audited annually by a registered company auditor, and the financial statements and the auditors’ report are laid before the Annual General Meeting. In order that monthly management and annual accounts represent best practice and are of the highest standard, the Brotherhood complies with all applicable accounting standards and guidelines. The Brotherhood’s external auditors are KPMG. In addition, the Brotherhood engages Deloitte for internal audit services.

Performance indicators

Management and the Board monitor the organisation’s performance, from implementation of the mission statement and strategic plan through to the performance of the organisation against operating plans and financial budgets. Performance indicators are reported to the Board on a monthly basis using a Balanced Scorecard approach. This enables Directors to monitor the Brotherhood’s performance in four main areas: strategic priorities, governance, organisational capacity and health, and the impact of our work.

Our Community stores sell quality second-hand goods at low prices.

31

a resident of sambell Lodge plays a game of chess.

moneyminded, a feature of the saver plus program, helps participants learn about budgeting and saving.


32

fInAnCIAL repor t suMMAry

Results for the yearThe surplus for the year is $1.8 million compared to $1.1 million in 2012–13. This improvement is due to an increase in net finance income and bequest income, partly offset by an increase in the deficit from operating activities. The operating deficit is $4.4 million in 2013–14, which is $1.4 million higher than in 2012–13. This increase is largely due to a reduction in net return from Social Enterprises.

Total donations, excluding bequests, were $5.2 million in 2013–14 (2012–13: $5.4 million), including specified funds for designated programs and unspecified discretionary funds.

Sources and uses of operating funds for the current and previous financial years are shown graphically on the next page. The reduction in the return from Social Enterprises is illustrated in a decrease in the percentage of operating funds and a decrease in the percentage of operating expenditure, although this decrease is to a lesser extent. The 5% increase in the use of operating funds by Children, Youth and Families was largely funded by an increase in related government funding.

Review of financial conditionThe total equity of the organisation has increased by $4.5 million from the 2013 financial year end, to $100.1 million as at 30 June 2014. This increase is mainly as a result of the net increase in the fair value of investments held and the surplus generated for the period.

students at the breakfast Club enjoy fun activities as well as a nutritious breakfast.

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finanCial RePoR t summaRy

Where Our OperaTiNG fuNds Were speNT iN 2014

Retirement, ageing and financial inclusion 41%

Work and learning 9%

Other 1%

Fundraising 1%Research and policy 3%

Children, youth and families 30%

Social enterprises 15%

Where Our OperaTiNG fuNds Were speNT iN 2013

Retirement, ageing and financial inclusion 42%

Work and learning 8%

Other 2%

Fundraising 1%Research and policy 3%

Children, youth and families 25%


Where Our OperaTiNG fuNds Came frOm iN 2014

Government funding 67%


Fees 9%Fundraising 6%

Where Our OperaTiNG fuNds Came frOm iN 2013

Government funding 62%


Fees 8%Fundraising 7%

The above charts classify operating funds received on the basis of the specific type of external funding source, rather than by the Brotherhood’s internal service activity, the latter being the basis of revenue classification adopted in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

34


Statement of financial positionAs at 30 June 2014

2014$'000

2013$'000

Assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents 10,717 12,079

Trade and other receivables 6,798 8,870

Inventories 736 648

Investments 46,296 40,232

Assets held for sale 291 -

Total current assets 64,838 61,829

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment 54,267 54,669

Intangible assets 1,720 1,960

Trade and other receivables 6,731 7,198

Total non-current assets 62,718 63,827

Total assets 127,556 125,656

L IAb IL It Ies

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables 2,724 3,684

Auspice and resident funds 2,693 3,038

Employee benefits 5,418 4,680

Deferred income 16,321 18,095

Total current liabilities 27,156 29,497

Non-current liabilities

Employee benefits 325 581

Total non-current liabilities 325 581

Total liabilities 27,481 30,078

Net assets 100,075 95,578

equItyAccumulated surplus 67,702 65,925

Reserves 32,373 29,653

Total equity 100,075 95,578

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finanCial RePoR t summaRy

Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive incomeAs at 30 June 2014

2014$'000

2013$'000

revenueService activities

Work and Learning 4,794 3,880

Retirement, Ageing and Financial Inclusion 28,642 26,785

Children, Youth and Families 18,552 14,048

Research and Policy 497 694

Other activities

Fundraising* 2,341 2,677

Social Enterprises:

– Sales of goods 6,008 5,755

– Services 4,831 7,786

Other revenue and income 437 177

Revenue and other income from operating activities 66,102 61,802

expensesService activities

Work and Learning 6,104 4,926

Retirement, Ageing and Financial Inclusion 28,618 27,175

Children, Youth and Families 20,777 16,352

Research and Policy 2,126 2,110

Other activities

Fundraising 1,053 897

Cost of goods of Social Enterprises sales 1,267 1,061

Social Enterprises expenses 9,569 11,168

Other expenses 996 1,162

Expenses for operating activities 70,510 64,851

deficit from operating activities (4,408) (3,049)

Finance income 4,237 3,499

Finance expenses (225) (700)

Net finance income 4,012 2,799

Bequests income 2,326 1,524

Bequests costs (153) (180)

Net bequests 2,173 1,344

surplus for the year 1,777 1,094

Other comprehensive income

Items that will never be reclassified to profit or loss:

Net change in fair value of property – 971

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:

Net change in fair value of available–for–sale assets 2,720 3,823

Other comprehensive income for the year 2,720 4,794

Total comprehensive income for the year 4,497 5,888

* Total fundraising income is $5,151 thousand (2013 - $5,378 thousand). The above income figure of $2,341 thousand (2013 - $2,677 thousand) represents unspecified fundraising income and excludes specified fundraising income of $2,810 thousand (2013 - $2,701 thousand) which is disclosed within Services Activities income.

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Directors’ declarationIn the opinion of the Directors of the Brotherhood of St Laurence:

(a) the Brotherhood is not publicly accountable;

(b) the financial statements and notes are in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012; including:

(i) giving a true and fair view of the Brotherhood’s financial position as at 30 June 2014 and of its performance, for the year ended on that date;

(ii) complying with Australian Accounting Standards - Reduced Disclosure Regime and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulation 2013; and

(iii) comply with the Brotherhood of St Laurence (Incorporation) Act 1971 (Vic) and the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Constitution; and

(c) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Brotherhood of St Laurence will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of the Directors:

Rt Revd Philip Huggins

Chair, Board of Directors

Tony Nicholson

Executive Director

Dated at Melbourne on this 25th day of September 2014

The Annual Financial Report has been audited by KPMG. They have expressed an unqualified audit opinion. For a better understanding of the scope of their audit, please refer to their audit report in the Annual Financial Report.

For a complete set of financial statements visit www.bsl.org.au or contact the Finance Department by phone (03) 9483 1183.

The brotherhood’s homework Club provides secondary students with a place to study and assistance from tutors.

revenue from our social enterprises helps fund our services.

37

Our banksia services supports people with dementia.

volunteers work across the organisation, including economist robert kerr (right) in our research and policy Centre.


38

our CoMMunIt y

The Brotherhood is blessed with the support it receives from an extraordinary, diverse range of generous people who share our aspirations for enabling the disadvantaged to build a good life for themselves.

Perhaps more than ever we realise that we will not be successful in tackling social ills without strong engagement with the broader community, and, in particular, those communities where we provide services. It is the voluntary community contribution that ensures we are a well-grounded organisation in touch with the needs and aspirations of ordinary Australians and with the capacity for innovation in all we do.

Volunteers Each year 1600 people kindly donate their time, skills, knowledge and energy to the Brotherhood. Our volunteers include young people seeking work experience, retirees offering a lifetime of knowledge, school students, migrants wanting to contribute to their new country, highly skilled professionals and employees of our corporate partners.

SupportersMany thousands of individuals and families regularly support our work by making a monetary gift. Every donation helps those in need come one step closer to achieving their goals. Similarly, we are grateful for the generous help we receive from philanthropic trusts and foundations and from like-minded corporations.

Without this financial support we simply couldn’t do our work and be the type of organisation we are. But, equally, their generosity is a powerful statement that tells us that so many people and organisations believe in those we are seeking to help, and believe in our work.

Women’s Network for ChangeThe Women’s Network for Change funds and supports our programs that directly enhance the lives of marginalised women and girls. Our members are informed individuals, passionate about driving social change in our communities. Thanks to them the Brotherhood continues, through innovative programs, to help women achieve their aspirations.

Reconciliation Action PlanIn 2014 we joined Reconciliation Australia’s program to develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) for the Brotherhood. As an organisation that seeks to tackle poverty and disadvantage, we must play our part in working towards greater economic, social and cultural inclusion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Our first RAP is a blueprint to help the Brotherhood both articulate and take practical action in our sphere of influence to build capacity and promote strong relationships.

We are committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to build mutually respectful relationships. The launch of our RAP is the start, and not the conclusion, of our work towards reconciliation.

sambell Lodge helps residents to identify and develop their interests.

39

our soCIAL enterpr Ises

The Social Enterprises division raises independent income vital for supporting the Brotherhood’s innovative services. The efforts of paid and voluntary staff are visible in our warehouse, 20 Community Stores, and our online bookstore.

The goods we sell satisfy the needs of nearly 10,000 customers a week. In addition to selling well-priced goods and raising funds for Brotherhood services, our businesses help job seekers develop their workplace skills, and provide work experience to a steady stream of students. We host young job seekers from the Brotherhood’s Youth Transitions Programs on work placements in our warehouse.

Within the organisation, we provide a valuable business perspective for the Brotherhood arising from the operation of our commercially focused activities.

We have established our own call centre to manage the 1300 DONATE phone line, which has helped us to form a closer connection with our donors, while providing the opportunity to expand and manage the business more effectively.

We confidently expect the growth in our financial contribution to the Brotherhood services to continue with careful expansion to new retail locations.

Community StoresOur Community Stores sell quality second-hand goods at low prices. They are more popular than ever, with an average of 30,000 customers visiting our stores each week.

Brotherhood BooksBrotherhood Books, Australia’s first charity online bookstore, continues its rapid growth supported by our loyal customers, dedicated volunteers and generous donations of quality books, including rare and collectible volumes. We currently have 73,500 books advertised on our online bookstore at www.brotherhoodbooks.org.au

RecyclingOur Social Enterprises encourage environmental sustainability through recycling: we recycle more than 1,000 tonnes of clothing, homewares, furniture, electrical appliances and whitegoods each year. All electrical goods undergo a safety test and we safely dispose of older fridges that can’t be refurbished, after first removing harmful CFC gases. We also pick up second-hand fridges in Melbourne for free. www.brotherhoodfridges.com

VolunteersWe are particularly grateful for the efforts of our volunteers, who make an enormous contribution at every level of the business – from sorting books to providing business advice on the Social Enterprises Committee that reports to the Board.

We are parTiCuLarLy GraTefuL fOr The effOrTs Of Our vOLuNTeers, WhO make aN eNOrmOus CONTribuTiON

40


Over 100,000 second-hand books are offered on our online bookstore, brotherhood books.

The brotherhood’s Community stores raise much-needed funds for our charity’s work.

41

Our services for older people encourage friendships and staying active.

Community playgroups provide children with stimulating activities that help them learn and develop.

Coolibah Centre members enjoy gardening as well as other activities.


42

tHAnk you

Our deepest appreciation to all who have contributed to the Brotherhood of St Laurence this year.

Much of the work of the Brotherhood of St Laurence is made possible through the generous support of numerous donors, volunteers, businesses and partner organisations.

AmbassadorsOur sincere thanks to our Brotherhood of St Laurence Ambassadors:

The Rt Revd Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBEMs Joanna Baevski

DonorsThe Brotherhood is able to assist so many disadvantaged people thanks to strong support from the community. The financial support from our donors funds our most innovative programs. The ongoing support of our donors is critical to our work and we thank everyone for a shared commitment to our vision.

VolunteersIn the last year, over 1600 volunteers supported our work with their time and expertise in a wide range of roles, in every part of our organisation.

Many corporate volunteers took part in our programs. They include the volunteer educators in charge of the Homework Centre and the people who offer children a healthy breakfast every day of the school year at our Breakfast Club.

Without volunteers, these and other services could not continue. In terms of hours worked, we estimate that last year volunteers provided a contribution worth $6.1 million to help us build better lives for the people in our care. In addition to this, they bring a richness of community goodwill and community connections to our work.

Auxiliary storesWe would like to acknowledge the tremendous support and hard work by all the volunteers who give their time and energy so generously to our auxiliary stores located in Eltham, Glen Huntly, Greensborough, Ivanhoe, Mount Waverley, Northcote, Ormond, Seaford and Watsonia.

PartnersCharities work best when they work together and draw help from businesses and philanthropic bodies. The Brotherhood of St Laurence is no exception. Our work is improved through collaborations with our partners and we thank them all for their involvement in the fight against social disadvantage.

stepping stones trains and mentors refugee and migrant women to help them develop their business skills and plans.

The eradiCaTiON Of pOverTy iN ausTraLia is aChievabLe. iT is simpLy a maTTer Of WiLL.faTher Gerard TuCker, fOuNder Of The brOTherhOOd Of sT LaureNCe

43

The brotherhood is a registered Training Organisation (rTO) and offers training in aged care, community services, retail management and frontline management.

health and wellbeing programs are offered to the residents of sambell Lodge.

The brOTherhOOd ThaNks aLL Our parTNers aNd suppOrTers fOr Their vaLuabLe assisTaNCe ThrOuGhOuT The year


44

pAr tners And suppor ters

CorporateAGLAMPANZ Banking GroupAustralian Hotels Association (Victoria)Australian UnityBunnings (Altona, Caroline Springs and

Werribee)Carlton Football ClubCitrixComplex Security Pty LtdCrownEnergy Efficiency CouncilFederation CentresFun Fashion AccessoriesGHDGroconHerbert Smith FreehillsJAGKtena Knitting MillsLander & Rogers LawyersLanier AustraliaMaddocksMasters Home Improvement (Carrum

Downs)NaturformPitcher PartnersReadings BookshopRecycling is FunRitchies Stores Pty LtdScalzo Food IndustriesSpotless St Vincent’s and Mercy Private

HospitalsThe Chocolate BoxUnified Security GroupVisy Cares Hub

GovernmentBrimbank City CouncilBusiness VictoriaCentrelinkCity of DarebinCity of MelbourneCity of MonashCity of Port Phillip

City of Yarra City of WhittleseaConsumer Affairs VictoriaDepartment of Education (Australian

Government) Department of Education and Early

Childhood Development (State Government of Victoria)

Department of Employment (Australian Government)

Department of Health (State Government of Victoria)

Department of Human Services (State Government of Victoria)

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Australian Government)

Department of Industry (Australian Government)

Department of Justice (State Government of Victoria)

Department of Social Services (Australian Government)

Frankston City CouncilHobsons Bay City CouncilHume City CouncilMaribyrnong City CouncilMelton City CouncilMoreland City CouncilMornington Peninsula Shire CouncilOffice of Environment and Heritage

(State Government of New South Wales)

Office of Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship

Office of the Fire Services Levy Monitor Parks Victoria Victoria Police

EducationAdvanceAustralian Catholic UniversityBraemar CollegeBrimbank/Melton LLENCamberwell Grammar School Carrum Downs Secondary CollegeChrist Church Grammar SchoolCity LLENCraigieburn Secondary School

Collingwood English Language SchoolDjerriwarrh Community and Education

ServicesFrankston Mornington Peninsula LLENGeelong Grammar SchoolGOTAFE SheppartonHolmesglen TAFE CollegeHume/Whittlesea LLENInner Northern LLENIvanhoe Grammar SchoolIvanhoe Girls’ Grammar SchoolKangan TAFE InstituteKorowa Anglican Girls SchoolKurunjang Secondary SchoolLakeview Senior CollegeMelbourne Girls Grammar Mentone Grammar Monash UniversityMonash Sustainability InstituteNepean Industry Edge TrainingNorthern Metropolitan Institute of

TAFEOakwood School Sacred Heart School – FitzroySEDASomerville Secondary CollegeSTEPS AustraliaSt Kilda Youth ServiceThe University of MelbourneVictoria UniversityWoodleigh SchoolYarra Valley Grammar Yipirinya School Council

PhilanthropyAMP FoundationAnglican Development Fund Anna Wearne TrustANZ Trustees Foundation – now

managed by Equity TrusteesAlison Margaret Clark Charitable Trust

– The Warren Clark Bequest – as managed by Equity Trustees

Arno Herpe FoundationAustralian Communities FoundationBarr Family FoundationBell Charitable Fund

45

PaR tneRs and suPPoR teRs

Bennelong FoundationBeverley Jackson FoundationCatherine Gray TrustClara Broadhurst Memorial Charitable

Fund – as managed by Equity Trustees

Coca-Cola Australia FoundationCollier Charitable FundDanks TrustThe Dara FoundationDibbs and Massie FoundationDina Grollo Community Fund (sub-fund

of Australian Communities Foundation)

The Drummond FoundationE C Curwen-Walker Charitable

Trust – Doris Edna and Kathleen Curwen-Walker Memorial Fund – as managed by Equity Trustees

Estate of Amy IC Ostberg – now managed by Equity Trustees

Estate of Danuta RogowskiEstate of Honor Moubray AllfreyEstate of LJ BaldyEstate of Violet Pugh – now managed

by Equity TrusteesThe Flora and Frank Leith Charitable

TrustFonda Family Charitable FoundationFrank Broadhurst Memorial Charitable

Fund – as managed by Equity Trustees

Freeman-Dann Trust – now managed by Equity Trustees

Fred J Cato Charitable FundGandel PhilanthropyThe George Lewin FoundationGregory Joseph and Zig Dickson

Trust – now managed by Equity Trustees

Grosvenor Foundation – as managed by Equity Trustees

The Grenet FoundationThe GW Vowell Foundation LtdH and K Johnston Family FoundationHanlon FoundationHelen Macpherson Smith TrustHugh D T Williamson FoundationThe Ian Potter FoundationThe Invergowrie FoundationJack Dawson Trust – now managed by

Equity TrusteesJoe White BequestJohn Nicol Charitable Trust – as

managed by Equity TrusteesKeila Hinde Charitable Trust – as

managed by Equity Trustees

Leslie Gill Trust – now managed by Equity Trustees

Limb Family FoundationLions Club of NorthcoteLord Mayor’s Charitable FoundationMary Evelyn Bowley Charitable Trust –

as managed by Equity TrusteesThe Muffin FoundationThe Peter Isaacson FoundationPortland House FoundationRainbow CommitteeReadings FoundationReichstein FoundationThe RE Ross TrustThe Ruth Fagg Foundation – now

managed by Equity TrusteesScalzo Family FoundationScanlon FoundationScobie and Claire Mackinnon TrustSidney Myer FundWard-Ambler FoundationWilliam Angliss Charitable FundThe William Mansel Higgins and

Dorothy Higgins Trust – as managed by Equity Trustees

Managed by Perpetual

GD Watson Charitable Trust FundHarold Payne Charitable Trust FundHenry B Smith Charitable TrustIan William Dodd Charitable Trust

Managed by The Trust Company Limited

The Drury TrustEstate of the Late Charles K Edwards

and Keith and Mary Edwards TrustEstate of the Late Thelma SilverFrederick and A Winifred Grassick

Memorial FundIda Maud Webster McDonald TrustKathleen E Gardiner Memorial TrustMadeline Crump and Madeline

Williams TrustPeter James Provelson Trust FundWerge Batters Estate

State Trustees Australia Foundation

Alfred John HuttonAnnie Gladys MatthewsArthur Edwin and Anne Edith Barry

Haydn & Henrietta Williams Memorial Trust

Herbert William HamptonWilliam Arthur Shipperlee

CommunityAdult Learning AustraliaAdult Multicultural Education ServicesAlternative Technology AssociationAlzheimer’s AustraliaAnglican Board of Mission – AustraliaAnglican Community Care IncorporatedAnglican Parish of FootscrayAnglicare AustraliaAnglicare Canberra and GoulburnAnglicare NSWAnglicare NTAnglicare South AustraliaAnglicare TasmaniaAnglicare WAAnglicare VictoriaArmidale Family Support Services IncAsylum Seeker Resource CentreAustralian Association of GerontologyAustralian Council of Social ServiceAustralian Council of Trade UnionsAustralian Red Cross Ballarat Group TrainingBallarat Neighbourhood CentreBarnardos AustraliaBelgium Avenue Neighbourhood

HouseBenetasThe Benevolent SocietyBentleigh Bayside Community HealthBerry StreetBethanyBroadmeadows Disability ServicesBundaberg Baptist Family Day Care

Scheme IncorporatedCarers VictoriaCareWest LimitedCatholicCare Social ServicesCarlton Neighbourhood Learning

Centre Centre for Multicultural YouthCentacare BathurstCentacare BowenfelsCentacare North DubboCentacare TownsvilleCentacare Wilcannia-ForbesChild AustraliaChurch of All Nations, CarltonCHOICE

46


Clean Force Property ServicesThe Climate InstituteClimateWorks AustraliaClothes4U Inc RosebudCohealthCollingwood Neighbourhood HouseColony 47Communities that Care – Mornington

PeninsulaCommunicare IncCommunity Spirit LimitedConsumer Action Law CentreConsumer Utilities Advocacy Centre

LtdCouncil on the AgeingCountry Fire AuthorityCVGT AustraliaDallas Neighbourhood HouseDarebin North-West Uniting ChurchDianella Community Health IncDjerriwarrh Health Services, MeltonDrummond Street ServicesDusseldorp Skills ForumDisability Professionals VictoriaEarly Childhood AustraliaEastern Zone Gujaga Aboriginal

Corporationeconomic Security4Women Family Relationship Centre Melbourne

CityFirst Nations Foundation Fitzroy Learning NetworkFoundation for Young AustraliansFrankston Mornington Peninsula

Medicare LocalFrankston North Community GroupFrankston Youth Resource CentreGateway Community HealthGippsland Employment Skills TrainingGlastonbury Community ServicesGood Beginnings Australia LtdGood Shepherd MicrofinanceGoodstart Early LearningGoolburri Aboriginal Health

Advancement Company LimitedGowrie VictoriaGroup Training AustraliaHanover Welfare ServicesHaven; Home, SafeHeadspace Horticultural Therapy Association

VictoriaInala Indigenous Health ServiceInner East Community Health (Sir Eric

Pearce House)

International Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology

International Federation on Ageing Jesuit Social ServicesJewish CareJobQuestJobs Australia Karingal ConnectionsKentish Regional Clinic IncKildonan UnitingCareKingston East Neighbourhood GroupThe Ladder Project FoundationLaverton Community Centre Leading Age Services AustraliaLearning LinksLentara UnitingCareMaari Ma Health Aboriginal

CorporationMacarthur Diversity Services Initiative

LtdMallee District Aboriginal ServicesMax Employment FrankstonMelbourne Aboriginal Youth, Sport &

RecreationMelbourne City MissionMerri Community Health Services

LimitedMission AustraliaMiyay Birray Youth Services IncMoreland Energy Foundation LimitedNew Hope FoundationNgala Community Services WANorth Melbourne Community Centre

– YMCANorthern Futures auspiced by Norlane

Community CentreNovita Children’s ServicesNowra Family Support Service IncNQ Community Services IncorporatedPeninsula Health Peninsula Transport Assist IncPeninsula Youth and Family ServicesPlaygroup QueenslandPlaygroup VictoriaPort Stephens Family Support Services

IncorporatedRobinvale District Health ServicesRosebud Seawinds Community HubRotary Club of Melbourne IncRural Health Tasmania IncSt Luke’s Anglicare Salvation Army, PathwaysSecondBiteSeniors Rights Victoria Service to Youth Council Inc

Sisterworks IncThe Smith FamilySocial Ventures AustraliaSouth Eastern Region Migrant

Resource Centre IncSPAN Community CentreSpectrum Migrant Resource CentreTamworth Family Support Service Inc Taskforce Community AgencyTimebank TransAccessUnitingCare BurnsideUnitingCare GippslandUnitingCare KippaxUnitingCare Wesley Port Pirie IncUnitingCare Wesley Country South

Australia Victorian Council of Social ServicesThe Victorian Foundation for Survivors

of Torture Inc – Foundation HouseThe Village GlenVolunteering Mornington PeninsulaWestgate Community Initiatives Group

Inc Whittlesea Community Connections

IncWhittlesea Community Leadership

Network IncWomen’s Health in the South EastWomen’s Information and Referral

Exchange IncWunan Foundation IncorporatedWyndham Community and Education

Centre Inc Youth Affairs Council of Victoria IncYMCA Southern Peninsula Youth

ServicesYoorallaYouth ConnectYouth Projects Youth Support + Advocacy Service

47

How you C An HeLp

Financial donationsThe Brotherhood is generously supported by many individuals, organisations and businesses.

Phone: (03) 9483 1301 or 1300 DONATE

Email: [email protected]

Mail: Communications and Development

67 Brunswick Street

Fitzroy Victoria 3065

Website: www.give.bsl.org.au

Clothing and household donations

Proceeds from all sales of donated goods at Brotherhood Community Stores supports the work we do. We are happy to accept good-quality clothing and saleable household items, including books for our online second-hand bookstore, Brotherhood Books. To find the location of your nearest store, call 1300 DONATE or 1300 366 283, or visit our website at www.bsl.org.au.

Furniture donationsWe raise funds to support our work by selling furniture in our Community Stores. If you have good quality furniture and small electrical appliances in working order that you no longer need, you can arrange for them to be picked up anywhere in Melbourne by calling 1300 DONATE or 1300 366 283, or by emailing us at [email protected].

VolunteeringThe Brotherhood believes that the best way to create a fairer, better society is to engage everyone in looking after each other. This means volunteers are central to what we do. If you would like to be part of our efforts to reduce disadvantage by offering your time and expertise to our services or events, please contact our Senior Manager, Volunteer Services on (03) 9483 1390 or visit www.bsl.org.au/Volunteer.

BequestsIf you admire the values and work of the Brotherhood, please consider including a gift to the Brotherhood in your will. To discuss how to leave a lasting legacy contact our team on (03) 9483 1301.

Corporate supportThe Brotherhood of St Laurence relies on the business community to support our work through financial and non-financial support. We have a dedicated team committed to managing each of our corporate relationships.

If you have an enquiry about partnering with the Brotherhood, please contact our Partnership team on (03) 9483 1113.

Learn moreTo understand more about the Brotherhood’s work, or locate up-to-date information about important social issues, view our website: www.bsl.org.au.

To support our campaigns please join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrotherhoodofStLaurence and follow us on Twitter: @Brotherhoodinfo.

Photography: Kit Haselden Photography except for: Page 11 Sue & Darryl’s Photography Page 15 Rita Costa – Source: Work and Learning Centre, Shepparton Page 21 Martin Ingle – Source: ANZ Bank

Graphic Design: Ben Galpin Graphic Design

Cover: The Brotherhood’s Community Playgroup at the Connie Benn Centre ensures children enjoy stimulating activities that help them to learn and develop.

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Our Social Inclusion programs provide social activities and outings for older people.

The Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) helps parents prepare their children for school.

We help asylum seekers and refugees develop work skills.

Brotherhood of St Laurence AnnuAl RepoRt 2014 Work placements are part of our Youth Transitions Program.

The Stepping Stones Program helps refugee and migrant women gain skills for setting up and operating small businesses in Australia.

Participants in our Social Inclusion program enjoy community lunches.

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

A nn uA l Rep o R t 2 014

BROThERhOOd Of S T L AURENcE

Printed on recycled paper

67 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy Victoria 3065Ph: (03) 9483 1183

www.bsl.org.au

Documents

Brotherhood of St Laurence Annual Report 2014