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Documented Community Needs

in the City of Boroondara

Janet Stanley and Paul Read

Monash Sustainability Institute

JUNE 2012

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ISBN: 978-0-9870821-0-7

Report Number: 12/2

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank John Stanley, Bob Birrell, Ernest Healy and NIEIR for their provision of valuable data and maps and Boroondara Council for their staff time and the cover photograph.

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CONTENTS

Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 4

The Project .............................................................................................................................................. 5

Current interventions and scope of Camcare ......................................................................................... 5

Overview of Camcare ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Target of intervention of camcare services ...................................................................................................... 6

Type of interventions undertaken by camcare ............................................................................................... 6

Boroondara’s location and population ................................................................................................... 8

Issues of data interpretation................................................................................................................. 11

The nature of need ............................................................................................................................... 11

Framework for understanding needs .............................................................................................................. 16

Present Unmet Needs in Boroondara ................................................................................................... 17

Some brief perspectives from Camcare ........................................................................................................... 17

Boroondara Council North East Precinct Project Report ......................................................................... 17

Who is in need – overall picture ......................................................................................................................... 17

Who is in need: Specific categories ................................................................................................................... 21

Anticipated trends in Boroondara ........................................................................................................ 33

Population and structural change ...................................................................................................................... 33

Economic Recession ................................................................................................................................................ 34

Climate change ........................................................................................................................................................... 35

Ability to meet need ............................................................................................................................. 36

Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 38

Recommendations about role for Camcare .......................................................................................... 39

References ............................................................................................................................................ 42

Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………46

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SUMMARY The report examines the welfare needs of the residents of Boroondara, using existing

documentation as a resource for Camcare planning for future service provision. Need is a

concept about which data is not formally collected, as it represents two conditions – an absence

of something that is important to the person, and a failure to have resources to address this

absence. This failure may be due to personal issues, such as the presence of mental illness or

societal failures, such as payment which are too low to cover essential requirements.

Boroondara is generally viewed as an area of high socio-economic wellbeing, it having below the

average levels for other areas in Greater Melbourne in terms of disadvantage. However, despite

the comparative lower numbers of households with needs, there are still estimated to be 2,250

households at present who are deemed to be vulnerable in relation to one of the following:

having to miss meals, unable to heat their home, having to pawn or sell something, and/or

needed to obtain material help from a welfare agency. Overall, close to 7,000 households are

calculated to be experiencing unmet needs in Boroondara, in 2012.

The report overviews specific categories of people to understand what is known about their

needs such as, the aged, those with a disability, sole parents, migrants, those experiencing family

violence. While some people are experiencing unmet needs at present, there are others who

may become more vulnerable to having unmet needs when conditions change. These include

population pressures and the accompanying impact on affordable housing; structural change in

the population with increasing numbers of migrants who have settlement needs, and perhaps

some with unresolved trauma. It also includes the risk of an economic downturn and possible

impact on job vacancies and the need to adapt to climate change itself and policy associated

with climate change, such as a carbon price.

While all people have unmet needs, the task is to understand essential or basic needs, social

justice dictating that all people should be able to have these met in Australia. The difficulty is

deciding which needs Camcare should be addressing as a priority. While this report identifies

many needs and makes recommendations, the decision about resource allocation is one for the

organisation and will be based on issues such as history, staff skills, the other organisations

already providing a service to meet specific needs in Boroondara, as well as total and targeted

resources available.

The researchers particularly highlight the following issues:

1. There is a core group of people who are in considerable poverty, particularly due to the

low levels of Government support (such as Newstart), often compounded by high

emotional demands of their circumstances (such as sole parents and refugees). These

people will be in need of Emergency Relief and support to improve their capabilities.

2. The social cost of youth not being in either education or training is very high, both for

the person and for society more generally. There is a need to continue support youth

through Emergency Relief and through work to stabilise their financial position and

build their personal capabilities and job opportunities in Boroondara, either through

supporting job positions or assistance to remain in training.

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3. Counselling and other support services to assist children to overcome trauma, such as

family separation, family violence and child abuse, and loss and grief. This may also

involve a building-up of the services Camcare provides to schools in Boroondara.

4. There are indications that affordable housing is going to become increasingly difficult to

find in Melbourne such that there are likely to be increasing pressures for struggling

families in Boroondara. Emergency Relief, temporary accommodation and assistance

with rental payments in times of additional stress for families are likely to undergo an

increase in demand.

5. There is an opportunity for Camcare to take a greater role in community intervention in

the Ashwood Neighbourhood Renewal site. This would involve community development

work in relation to meeting the many on-going needs in the estate relating to low

income, single parenthood and a poor safety record. In particular, the quality of public

housing in this estate is in need of a considerable up-grade. It is possible that Camcare

could take this up as an issue with Places Victoria and establish the case for re-building,

retrofits and the provision of a wider choice of housing associated with improvements in

open space and environmental amenity. It may be cost effective to consolidate single

storey housing with new, low rise buildings which offer an improved dwelling and more

common space. The land is already owned by government so would not be a cost factor

in the re-building. Costs could also be met by a mix of affordable private and

government-owned housing, the return from the house sales cross-subsidising the

construction of other government rental properties.

THE PROJECT This work was commissioned by the welfare agency, Camcare, to identify current and projected

community needs within the City of Boroondara that fit within the strategic intent of the

business of Camcare. This task was undertaken by:

Identifying existing data and studies that relate to the welfare needs if the citizens of Boroondara

Identify information gaps and unmet needs Make recommendations as to the unmet needs that best fit with Camcare’s vision,

mission and core business.

CURRENT INTERVENTIONS AND SCOPE OF CAMCARE

OVERVIEW OF CAMCARE Camcare is the largest local community agency focused on the City of Boroondara and

participates in a range of local research and service development initiatives. Camcare’s mission

is to provide services to assist those in Boroondara and, to a lesser extent, those in neighbouring

areas who are facing difficult life circumstances. This includes people from low socio-economic

backgrounds, many of whom are Health Care Card holders; and those who, regardless of socio

economic background, experience difficulties which affect their relationships and sense of

wellbeing. Among the latter group are people impacted by mental health issues, drug and

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alcohol abuse, family violence, relationship breakdown and social isolation, due to ageing or

other factors. Many people experience a combination of both forms of need.

Camcare forms partnerships with other agencies and organisations within Boroondara and

neighbouring municipalities in order to extend the scope of their services and better coordinate

service delivery. Camcare’s total revenue for the last financial year was $1.62 million, most of

which came from the City of Boroondara, the state Departments of Justice and Community

services, and the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous

Affairs (FaHCSIA). In 2010-11, government contribution was 83% of revenue, the highest

proportion from the City of Boroondara (42%), followed by the Victorian Government (27%)

and the Australian Government (14%). The remainder came from grants and fund-raising.

Donations of $55,000 ($120,000 the previous year) were received and client fees provided a

contribution of $2,302. Camcare’s large volunteer program, contributed about 15,000 hours

annually, with an estimated value of $345,000.

TARGET OF INTERVENTION OF CAMCARE SERVICES People offered a service by Camcare are mainly families, youth, seniors, and a small number of

new migrants; particularly at present those coming from China, Afghanistan and Sudan.

Camcare provides both targeted services to eligible individuals and families (Family Services,

Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief), as well as generalist services accessible to all

comers (Community Information and Referral, Parent Education).

TYPE OF INTERVENTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY CAMCARE Camcare’s current services include individual (including youth), couple and family counselling;

groups for women and children impacted by family violence, and women at risk of post natal

depression and their infants. Each year the organisation receives School Focused Youth

Services’ funding to work in partnership with several primary and secondary schools on

programs targeting students at risk and improving student wellbeing. Counselling is offered

from both offices at Camberwell and Ashburton and from outreach sites in other parts of the

Boroondara municipality as well as in schools. Camcare undertakes individual and systemic

advocacy on issues identified in casework, particularly in the Financial Counselling program,

where credit practices can lead to unnecessary hardship. This includes work with the Federal

Department of Human Services’ focused on improving services to older people in Boroondara

and a research project identifying older women who are at risk of homelessness and the

antecedents to homelessness.

Camcare describes on their website and Annual Report (2010-11) the services currently

offered, which are briefly outlined below.

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELLING Family Services is offered to families who are referred to Child First (a central sub regional

intake service) because of parenting or household management issues which impact the

wellbeing of their dependent children. This service is primarily delivered in people’s homes and

other community settings and includes extensive case management or coordination of a range

services which support families in the care of their children. Parent education has been

developed based on consultation with women about their needs. Counselling has been extended

to new target groups, including parents of children with a disability, parents of primary

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students or young people, older residents and mothers experiencing, or at risk of, post natal

depression. In 2010-11, 232 people or families received counselling.

FINANCIAL COUNSELLING The Camcare Financial Counselling Service assesses people’s financial situation; provides

information on options available to deal with financial issues and the consequences associated

with the options; information about the law in relation to credit and legal action that may be

taken against a person, outlines entitlements and government assistance available and

negotiates and advocates with creditors and government agencies. Assistance is also given with

organising finances, including budgeting strategies. Increasingly, Camcare is offering these

services to small business owners whose businesses have failed. Over the 2010-11 year,

Camcare extended a brief financial counselling service to 461 clients and an on-going service to

169 clients.

No Interest Loans Scheme The No Interest Loans Scheme enables eligible people on low incomes to obtain a small no

interest loan to purchase essential household items or services, including repairs. Repayments

are tailored to suit individual capacity to repay and can be deducted directly from Centrelink

payments, where applicable.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES Emergency Relief Emergency relief is provided in the form of food parcels, grants, food vouchers, travel and phone

cards, toiletries and swags for homeless people. Over 2010-2011, 878 adults were assisted, with

an average of 69 children being assisted every month. Of those who received assistance, 41%

were in receipt of a disability support pension and 24% were on a Newstart Allowance. This

service is provided by trained volunteer community support workers. A qualified social worker

provides case management for people presenting for Emergency Relief who have mental health

issues and complex needs that require additional assessment, support and referral.

Community information and referral Camcare’s trained community support volunteers provide community information and referral

to people who contact the organisation asking for assistance with a variety of issues. In addition

to information about services in the community, assistance is also provided in linking people to

Camcare's counselling and support services.

Tax Help Camcare has a specialist group of volunteers who are trained by the Australian Tax Office to

provide a free service to Boroondara residents who have an income below $50,000 and require

assistance in lodging an E-Tax Returns. 138 clients were assisted with this service in 2010-

2011, about one-quarter of whom were from non-English speaking backgrounds.

OTHER PROJECTS Neighbourhood Renewal Camcare participated in the Ashburton, Ashwood and Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal

Program. Despite this program terminating at the end of 2011, Camcare remains involved with

the Ashburton Alliance of Service Providers to continue community engagement , advocacy and

provide services responsive to community needs.

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Family violence Camcare offers a service to women and children impacted by family violence in the Counselling,

Family Services and Financial Counselling Programs. Camcare chairs the Boroondara Family

Violence Network of agencies providing services in this area. Camcare partnered with the

Eastern Domestic Violence Service to develop and deliver a supported playgroup for women

and children impacted by family violence. A small research project was undertaken with

women, and service professionals working with family violence, regarding the impact of

women’s financial literacy on their decision-making.

BOROONDARA’S LOCATION AND POPULATION Boroondara is located just east of Melbourne’s CBD (Figure 1). It covers 60 square miles,

comprising 12 suburbs and 10 electoral wards. Figure 2 outlines the four Statistical Local Areas

(SLAs) in Boroondara. Figure 3 offers a more detailed map of Boroondara itself.

Figure 1: Location of Boroondara in relation to Melbourne CBD

The population of Boroondara has been steadily increasing between 2004 and 2010, with

169,507 residents as of 30 June 2010 (Birrell, unpublished). However, the population increase

for Boroondara as a whole has been at a lower rate than for the rest of Melbourne. Between

2004 to 2010, the average annual compound growth rate for Boroondara was 1.1% p.a.,

compared with 2.2% p.a. for the rest of Melbourne. The rate of increase for each of the four

SLA’s, Camberwell North, Camberwell South, Hawthorn and Kew, has remained similar between

2004 and 2010.

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Figure 2: Statistical Local Areas in Boroondara (plus those of Eastern neighbouring LGAs)

1 Boroondara, Camberwell N

2 Boroondara Camberwell S

3 Boroondara Hawthorn

4 Boroondara Kew

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Figure 3: Map of Boroondara

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ISSUES OF DATA INTERPRETATION While Boroondara is the designated area for this study, the boundary of a Local Government

Area (LGA) relates to governance concerns rather than one which reflects community patterns.

For example, the boundary of the LGA of Boroondara may transect an area with particular

characteristics, such as low average income levels, thus artificially dividing what may be a large

area of place-based disadvantage into two or more smaller areas administered by different

LGAs. This may have implications for understanding the extent of need. This is the case between

Ashburton in Boroondara and Ashwood/Chadstone in Monash where both neighbouring areas

were the focus of Neighbourhood Renewal projects under the former State Government.

Similarly, patterns of mobility and activities, community identification and social capital, may

not be restricted to a single LGA. Networks and travel patterns vary in size depending on their

characteristics. For example, playgroup networks tend to encompass a walking distance from

home, while the network of a secondary school student would be more likely to cover a much

larger area. Customers of an agency may come from another LGA into Boroondara for services,

or people living in Boroondara may also receive services in a neighbouring LGA, or further

afield.

Statistics are usually expressed in averages, which has the effect of omitting consideration of

data extremes. This issue is particularly problematical where a location tends to have a

predominance of an extreme, such as with the high income levels commonly found in

Boroondara, as the average will be pulled upwards and poverty will tend to become hidden.

Thus the resultant impression will be that all people have fairly high incomes in Boroondara.

This averaging effect can be seen in the ABS SEIFA scores (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas)

(ABS 2006). The Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (one of three SEIFA indices)

measures relative disadvantage and is derived from attributes such as low income, low

educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. Many

decisions, including federal and state resource distribution for welfare related programs are

allocated on the basis of where the LGA sits on this index, which has Boroondara as the least

disadvantaged LGA in the Greater Melbourne area. However, closer examination of this index at

the Collection District level clearly reveals pockets of disadvantage in Boroondara, this

disadvantage being largely scattered through the region.

THE NATURE OF NEED Human needs were defined by Maslow in 1954 and are often presented as a pyramid (Figure 4).

Maslow defined these needs as physiological – the ability to breathe, have food and water and

sleep; safety - health and freedom from violence; love and belonging - friendship, family and

sexual intimacy; esteem – self-esteem, achievement, confidence and respect; and self-

actualisation - morality, creativity, acceptance and lack of prejudice.

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Figure 4: Maslow’s theory of needs presented as a hierarchy

Other theorists have provided differing lists of needs. Nussbaum outlines what she calls central

capability targets (2005, p. 41). These can be summarised as follows:

Normal length of human life

Physical health

Bodily integrity (freedom from violence, sexual satisfaction and reproduction choice)

Being able to use senses to imagine, think and reason – thus also having access to an

adequate education, freedom of speech and religion,

Being able to express emotions – attachment, being able to experience full emotional

development

Practical reason – being able to form a conception of good and engage in planning of

one’s life

Affiliation – being able to live with others and having the social bases of self-respect and

treated as a dignified human being.

Concern for other species

Control over one’s environment – participation in political choices and material

capacities such as property rights, employment.

Max-Neef (1991) also produced a list of needs which they believe are not hierarchical beyond

subsistence or survival and are common across cultures and over time. The list is as follows:

Subsistence

Protection

Affection

Understanding,

Participation

Leisure

Creation

Identity

Freedom

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Surprisingly, little research has been undertaken on human needs beyond theoretical

perspectives. However, these theoretical approaches commonly include physiological needs, as

well as what could be described as higher, quality of life needs. It is unclear as to which of these

higher needs are essential and ‘how much’ of these higher needs are required. In addition to

these outcome needs, there are also intermediate or process needs, which assist in the

achievement of the outcome goals. For example, a minimum level of income is required to

purchase food and shelter. Another form of process need is the achievement of capabilities to

achieve goals (Sen 1987). These include both personal resources, such as interpersonal skills,

and societal resources, such as the provision of infrastructure. When both of these forms of

resources are in place, people have choice and control over their own wellbeing and can

promote what is of value to them. Finally, the notion of what constitutes a need will also, in part,

vary according to values, beliefs, cultural perspectives and ideology.

Social policy and the welfare structure are organized to both meet needs directly and to

increase the opportunities for individuals, households and communities to meet their own

needs. Early thinking associated with the welfare sector focused almost exclusively on poverty

or lack of income as the facilitator of human needs. Poverty can be viewed as absolute, where a

person is not able to procure basic needs, or relative, where a person does not have the same

resources as others in their community. In Australia, most poverty is relative, although there are

pockets of absolute poverty associated with severe mental illness and fragility through age or

illness. It can also be found in some Indigenous communities, some escaping domestic violence,

new migrants and refugees, and youth experiencing homelessness.

Income is still the major measure used internationally for understanding poverty. Commonly

used presently in Australia, is the half-average income line or half-median income line. The

National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) defines the poverty line as 50%

of the median equivalised household income (Tanton, Harding & McNamara 2007). Using this

measure, an estimated 13.7% of Australians are below the poverty line (2005-06 figures)

(Unkles & Stanley 2008). Boroondara Council reports that 13% of all households in Boroondara

have a weekly income below $500. This places most of these households below the poverty line

which sits for the December quarter of 2011 at $525.30 per week for a couple household where

neither works, according to the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic Research (2012).

The exclusive association between financial resources and wellbeing has now been shown to be

incorrect, as income beyond a certain point does not add to an increase in happiness (Heinberg

2011). It could be said that more money does not lead to the achievement of higher needs of

self-esteem and self-actualization. Indeed, new research is revealing that over-development (too

much income) in some countries is occurring, which is actually reducing the achievement of

fundamental needs, such as length and quality of life (Read et al. 2011).

It became recognised that those with a very low income often also had other disadvantages

present, such as poor education, no work or insecure work, poor health etc. This is known as

multiple disadvantage, where people have poor outcomes across a range of dimensions in life.

Commonly, the experience of multiple disadvantage is also inter-generational. The implication

for intervention is that where multiple disadvantage or many unmet needs are present, it is

often necessary to address each of the needs in order to improve the person’s wellbeing. While

this is understood in principle, it is very difficult to practice, as program funding is usually

disaggregated according to issues rather than the total needs of a person. One way to address

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this would be to move Camcare more towards being less dependent on specific targeted

resources, an issue discussed later in the report.

The term ‘social exclusion’ came to have more common usage as it is considered to facilitate a

broader understanding of the multiple dimensions of poverty. Social exclusion can be described

as the existence of barriers which make it difficult or impossible for people to participate fully in

society (Social Exclusion Unit 2003). Commonly, the barriers are said to relate to five

dimensions: income, employment, political engagement, social support and participation

(Gordon et al., 2000; Burchardt et al. 2002; Stanley 2011). The literature suggests that people

who may be at risk of social exclusion include those on a low income, those who are

unemployed, aged people and youth, new migrants, people who live in isolated areas, single

parents, people with poor health and who have a disability.

Many other factors contribute to whether a person gains ‘sufficient’ achievement in these five

dimensions, such as their education attainment and their experience of racism. Reducing social

exclusion has been an important social policy goal for the past few decades in Australia,

although less so at present. The current Victorian state government gives greater prominence to

ideas of productivity and employment.

The discipline of psychology, particularly ‘positive psychology’ has had a strong interest in

understanding wellbeing, a personal state achieved when needs are met. Considerable empirical

research has gone into measurement and verification of wellbeing. A common way of measuring

wellbeing is for an individual to rate their own state of wellbeing using universal type

statements about how they feel about their life (Diener et al. 1985). The statements in this

Satisfaction with Life scale are:

In most ways my life is close to my ideal The conditions of my life are excellent I am satisfied with life So far I have gotten the important things I want in life If I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing

Another measure of Psychological Well-being (Ryff 1989) is based on six dimensions:

Autonomy- self-determination, regulation of one’s own behaviour and personal

standards

Environmental mastery- competence and mastery to shape surroundings to meet needs

Personal growth - a sense of continued development and potential, making the most of

one’s talents and openness to new experiences

Positive relations with others - affectionate, trusting, empathetic relationships

Purpose in life - a sense of goal directedness and life meaning and the belief in one’s

efforts

Self-acceptance - positive self-attitude while being aware of one’s limitations and an

acknowledgement and acceptance of both good and bad self-qualities.

Recent research based in Victoria has undertaken empirical measurement of social exclusion

and wellbeing, explored the association between these concepts and the precursors for

achievement of a good outcome (Stanley et al. 2011). It was found that there was a strong

statistical association between social inclusion and self-assessed wellbeing, the higher a

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person’s social inclusion, the greater their wellbeing. The most critical precursors which lead to

social inclusion were found to be good social capital, relatively high income and relatively high

trip rates (travelling from their house and back by any means of mobility) and having the

personality characteristic of extraversion. Factors in addition to social inclusion which led to

greater personal assessment of good wellbeing, were environmental mastery, positive relations

with others and self-acceptance, as well as having a positive sense of community.

Thus, this research provides empirical evidence that needs can be met directly through the

provision of physiological requirements and improving personal safety and they can be met

indirectly through providing the means to assist people to better meet their needs, such as

improving financial security, assisting in connecting people to the community and improving

personal relationships. Camcare presently provides services that enable both these aspects. For

example, Camcare offers programs to directly meet the basic physiological needs with their

emergency relief services. Camcare provides for safety and shelter needs. Many of Camcare’s

services assist people to meet their own needs, particularly improved management of financial

resources and community strengthening services. Camcare has the task of deciding which needs

have a priority. Such a decision will be based on both pragmatic decisions (where funding can

be accessed) and where the best opportunities for change lie - based on factors such as staff

skills, partnerships and the needs already being addressed by other local agencies.

Camcare presently provides a direct service to clients in order to meet needs (directly or

indirectly), either on a one to one basis or on a group basis. This intervention is based on the

idea that the person has the deficit and needs assistance to better use or better connect with the

existing structures. This may be the situation, or the failure to have their needs met may be due

to poor social policy, deficits in infrastructures, or in externalities and wider trends. An example

of a deficit in social policy may be that social welfare benefits are providing an income source

which is too low to meet a person’s needs or providing insufficient resources in the housing

sector to meet the demand for low cost housing. Deficits in infrastructure may relate to issues

such as an inadequate provision of community space – buildings and open space, or it may

relate to an inadequate provision of public transport.

Three important external factors which are presently impacting on a person’s ability to meet

their needs, (now and/or in the future) are: high population growth which adds to competition

for scarce resources; climate change and associated policies; and international economic

instability, and the risk of a down-turn or economic recession. These issues are addressed later

in this report.

One further issue particularly influences the needs of the citizens of Boroondara, and that is the

growth of inequality, the greatest discrepancy being in wealth, rather than income, a more

complex measurement and not commonly used. In 2003-04, the poorest quintile in Australia

(20%) received 12.5% of the total household income and their share of total household net

worth was one per cent (ABS 2003-04, Household Expenditure Survey). The richest quintile

(20%) owned 59% of total household net worth and 29.5% of total household income, net

worth being almost 60 times greater than the poorest 20%.

Inequality is particularly marked in Boroondara, which has one of the highest average incomes

in Victoria. This creates a number of difficulties in understanding need (as discussed above).

Income levels in LGAs are commonly the basis for much of the resource distribution to address

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many welfare needs by governments, such as child welfare and community renewal programs.

In fact, work done on the social exclusion of children in Boroondara (Stanley 2004, 2007) found

that the levels of child poverty were similar to the Victorian average (12%), tending to be

scattered through much of the community, as well as clustered in a couple of small locations.

The perception of apparent comprehensive advantage, such as found in Boroondara, also hides

disadvantage from many living in Boroondara and compounds the adverse impact of relative

poverty. The 2004 report found that some children and youth strongly felt the disadvantage in

circumstances such as the inability to compete with job opportunities and extra-curricular

activities associated with schooling. Wilkinson’s work (Wilkinson & Pickett 2010) has drawn

attention to the fact that high inequality not only adversely impacts on those who are

disadvantaged. Many outcome measures of quality of life such as in life expectancy, the extent of

drug addiction, obesity, homicides and mental illness, occur more frequently where the

inequality between people is highest. Thus, if Camcare chooses to concentrate its work in such

areas of severe need, there would also be a generalised benefit to all residents of Boroondara.

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING NEEDS Figure 5 offers a summarized framework for understanding needs. As comprehensive empirical

evidence is still not available for needs (Read et al. 2011), the model provides both the

theoretical basis and some theoretical evidence. In the empirical research done on social

exclusion in Victoria, employment refers to productive activity. Thus, the status of being

employed encompasses those who are engaged in volunteering, carers and retired people.

Figure 5: Framework for understanding needs

High inclusion & high wellbeing

Facilitators:

income

mobility

sense of community

social capital

positive relationship with

others

environmental mastery

self-acceptance

THEORY

Low inclusion & low wellbeing

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Enough income, Political engagement, Participation, Social support, Meaningfully engaged

Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, Self-acceptance

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PRESENT UNMET NEEDS IN BOROONDARA

SOME BRIEF PERSPECTIVES FROM CAMCARE Some discussion held with Camcare staff identified areas of unmet need, where services have

not been delivered or service delivery could be expanded to better address needs. The areas

highlighted include food security, the availability of a range of affordable housing, and improved

financial literacy for people on low or fixed incomes.

Camcare is aware that the pattern of need has altered in the last few years. The demand for

Emergency Relief has increased since the recent economic downturn. The release of asylum

seekers to community detention in Boroondara has also increased the demand for some

Emergency Relief to cover, for example, the costs of public transport. The changes in workforce

patterns and increasing casualization in sections of the workforce has meant less job security

and associated problems of irregular and/or low incomes, with a concomitant rise in financial

problems.

Of concern to Camcare and other local agencies working on the Ashburton public housing

estates are issues affecting residents including the poor state of the housing stock,

neighbourhood conflict, and personal safety concerns. Community engagement strategies are

being developed to identify residents’ concerns and determine a concerted action plan to

address these.

BOROONDARA COUNCIL NORTH EAST PRECINCT PROJECT REPORT A review of services and facilities in the North East precinct of Boroondara, which encompasses

Balwyn and North Balwyn, was undertaken by Boroondara Council and presented to Council

members in July 2010 (Boroondara Council 2010). This area has high cultural diversity, and a

higher proportion of both aged and young people than found elsewhere in Boroondara. The

project identified a need for more services for migrant communities and to better address social

isolation. It found that better localised transport was needed, especially for those with a

disability, as well as a need for better access to counselling services now that the Kew office of

Camcare has been closed. Increased services for youth were needed, including community and

sporting facilities. People with a disability had a ‘critical’ need for more housing, respite care,

holiday and day care placements and transport. These identified needs should be placed into

the mix when Camcare is making decisions about developing or extending services.

WHO IS IN NEED – OVERALL PICTURE Broad-scale surveying, such as is undertaken by ABS or NAPSAN and the work done by Vinson,

does not measure needs. Rather, it measures selected characteristics associated with individuals

that suggest that vulnerability or disadvantage may be present. The basis of the selection of

characteristics is in part a summation of collected research and in part, assumption. However, it

is almost exclusively based on a person or at times a household, excluding positive factors

which may counter or reduce the impact of vulnerabilities and excluding vulnerabilities which

are created by societal failures, such as the poor provision of infrastructure.

National Economics (NIEIR) has examined the extent of disadvantage at LGA level in Greater

Melbourne (unpublished). This section reports their work. While still measuring vulnerability,

the work comes closer to need, as it clusters issues which are likely to lead to unmet needs. It

18

also signals problems which will make it difficult to obtain conditions necessary to meet needs.

Their work was based on four compiled measures of disadvantage, in part derived from work by

Saunders at the Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW and in part derived from work

by NIEIR and Stanley. The measures are:

Financial vulnerability

Potential disadvantage

Socio-economic disadvantage

Serious disadvantage

Overall disadvantage

Financial vulnerability was defined as:

Low liquidity: less than $500 savings per person in a household

Low disposable income: equivalised1 household disposable income of less than $300 per

week)

No household member in paid employment (full or part-time)

Therefore, these households will be financially vulnerable and may at times have unmet

physiological needs (food or adequate place to sleep) due to an unexpected health issue or an

increase in rent. Such households may be reliant on a welfare agency to meet needs or may

resort to a high interest loan. The need to service a high debt will increase their future

vulnerability. They are less likely to be able to meet higher order needs with so few reserves.

Finances are needed to be able to participate in activities such as a school excursion, so an

inability to participate will reduce the ability to satisfy higher order needs such as engagement

with the community and positive relations with others.

Potential disadvantage was derived from cross-referencing with known potential

vulnerabilities, such as young children in the household where no adult is in employment.

A Socio-economic disadvantaged household suffered from three or more of the following

disadvantages due to a lack of funds:

Could not afford a night out

Could not afford a special need

Could not afford to invite people home for a meal

Could not afford a holiday

Could not afford new clothes

Could not afford a hobby or recreation

Thus, the household’s ability to engage in higher order needs is likely to be severely limited.

Serious disadvantage occurs when one or more of the following conditions are present:

Missed meals

Unable to heat their home

Pawned or sold something

1 Equivalised households have been created to standardize household size for comparative purposes.

19

Obtained material help from a welfare agency

Across the LGAs of Greater Melbourne, between 5% and 13% of households experienced Serious

disadvantage in 2006. These seriously disadvantaged households also fail on at least one of the

other measures, and just over half of them also fail on all three of the other measures. Therefore

a summary measure of Overall disadvantage was developed, where households experienced

from one or more of Serious disadvantage, Socio-economic disadvantage or Financial

vulnerability.

This analysis has some limitations in that it measures disadvantage for households with one or

more adults aged 25 to 64, thus excluding households with younger adult/s (predominately

young female sole parents) and senior adults. It also excludes homeless households, group

houses, which would include rooming houses, and households experiencing temporary or short

term difficulties. These omissions would tend to under-estimate the number of disadvantaged

households.

The findings are based on actual data up to 2009.22, and projected data 2009.3 to 2012 based on

impacts arising from macroeconomic drivers of disadvantage. The major influence on outcomes

is the level of unemployment. This is defined for the purposes of the analysis as those who want

paid work but are not able to get it. This definition is a little different to the federal

government’s definition as this analysis takes account of people who have given up looking as

they believe there is little hope of getting work and also accounts for those who have moved to a

disability pension in preference to continual unsuccessful looking for work. Those who have

been unemployed for a long time tend to move to a pension or benefit. This particularly

happens during an economic downturn and therefore the official government figures under-

estimate the true unemployment levels. The extent of youth unemployment also tends to be

under-estimated in the official figures, as their unemployment doesn’t increase the number of

non-earning households, the basis for the rate calculations.

Table 2: Per cent of households experiencing disadvantage in Boroondara for 2008.2 and

2012.2

Measures of disadvantage

% of defined households in Boroondara 2008.2

Projected % (number) of projected defined households Boroondara 2012.2

Projected % of disadvantage in defined households Greater Melbourne and Geelong 2012.2

Socio-economic disadvantage

6.8 6.8 (3,924) 13.2

Serious disadvantage

3.8 3.9 (2,250) 9.7

Financial vulnerability

1.5 0.6 (346) 8.3

Potential disadvantage

5.5 5.7 (3,289) 13.4

Overall disadvantage

12.6 11.7 (6,752) 27.8

2 Note: the number after the date is the quarter of that year.

20

In 2008, 12.6% of households (with one or more adults aged 25 to 65) in Boroondara

experienced Overall disadvantage, 3.8 %, experiencing Serious disadvantage (Table 2). These

figures were projected to change only slightly in Boroondara by 2012 and remain well below

the average rate for each of these measures for Greater Melbourne and Geelong. Indeed,

Stonnington is the only LGA that is lower than Boroondara in 2012 on any of the measures, this

being Socio-economic disadvantage. While Port Phillip is lower on some measures, the figures

for this LGA need to be treated with caution due to high variety in household make-up,

especially the large number of group houses.

Despite the comparative lower numbers of households with financial needs, there are still 2,250

households who are deemed to be vulnerable in relation to the provision of food, unable to heat

their home or had to pawn or sell something or obtained material help from a welfare agency

Nearly 4,000 households will have their higher needs associated with community connections,

and participation curtailed (Socio-economic disadvantage). Close to 7,000 households appear

to be experiencing unmet needs in Boroondara, in 2012.

Despite Boroondara’s relatively good position on average, in relation to Overall disadvantage,

its position was projected to deteriorate from 2008 to 2012, relative to most other LGAs. Over

this period, only six Melbourne LGAs had a rise in Overall Disadvantage, ranging from an

increase of 0.2% to 1.3%. Boroondara had an increase of 0.9% or 271 households.

The percentage of households failing in these measures in 2012 in the LGAs abutting

Boroondara, is shown in Table 3. As noted in Table 2, Boroondara residents experience lower

levels, and at times considerably lower levels of disadvantage, in all measures than do the

neighbouring LGAs. In Whitehorse and Monash, LGAs where Camcare extends some services,

there are far greater needs, with Overall disadvantage being experienced by 21.7% and 21.4%

of the defined households. Serious disadvantage is experienced by 8.2% and 8% of the

households.

Table 3: Per cent of defined households experiencing disadvantage for LGAs abutting

Boroondara as projected for 2012.2

Disadvantage measure

LGA

Socio-economic

%

Serious disadvantage

%

Financial vulnerability

%

Potential disadvantage

%

Overall disadvantage

% Boroondara 6.8 3.9 0.6 5.7 11.7 Manningham 9.5 5.1 3.1 10.1 19.8 Whitehorse 11.4 8.2 4.2 9.7 21.7 Monash 11.9 8.0 4.8 8.7 21.4 Glen Eira 10.1 9.3 8.0 12.3 24.7 Yarra 7.2 8.5 11.7 14.4 24.7 Darebin 11.4 10.5 11.1 15.9 28.8 Banyule 10.5 9.1 3.9 9.7 22.2

21

WHO IS IN NEED: SPECIFIC CATEGORIES

THOSE WITHOUT WORK The present rate of unemployment and the numbers of unemployed people at the SLA level in

Boroondara and some nearby SLAs in the LGAs of Manningham, Whitehorse and Monash, are

shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Rate and actual levels of unemployment at SLA level for Inner Eastern Melbourne3

Map ref. SLA

Unemployment rate (%)

Dec 2011

Number unemployed

Dec 2011

1 Boroondara Camberwell N

3.2 816

2 Boroondara Camberwell S

3.3 1,002

3 Boroondara Hawthorn

3.3 767

4 Boroondara Kew 3.1 562

5 Manningham East 2.6 256

6 Manningham West

4.5 2,555

7 Monash South West

6.9 1,737

8 Monash Waverley East

4.7 1,630

9 Monash Waverley West

4.4 1,619

10 Whitehorse Boxhill

5.6 1,723

11 Whitehorse Nunawading E.

4.7 1,322

12 Whitehorse Nunawading W.

4.9 1,436

Source: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2012 The unemployment rate is defined as the number of unemployed people expressed as a

percentage of the labour force (employed plus unemployed). The (seasonally adjusted)

unemployment rate for Victoria in December 2011 was 5.2%. Thus, Boroondara has a lower

rate of unemployment than the average for Victoria. Monash South West, just south of

Boroondara’s border, has a relatively high unemployment rate of nearly 7%. Thus, Boroondara

has 3.2% of residents, or approximately 3,147 people unemployed at present. Map 1 depicts

unemployed persons aged 25-64 years as a proportion of all persons aged 25-64 years who are

in the labour market and live in Boroondara (2006). The Melbourne average for unemployment

in 2006 was 4% to 5%. It can be seen that levels of unemployment of people who wish to be

employed, is very low across Boroondara, with only two small pockets above with

unemployment between 10% and 15%.

3 The map reference numbers in this figure refer to the SLAs as itemised in Figure 2 of this report.

22

Map 2 shows unemployed youth aged 15-19 years as a proportion of all persons aged 15-19

years who are in the labour market (2006). This presents a different picture to the previous

map. It can be seen that there are many pockets of high youth unemployment levels, but also

pockets of low unemployment, the pattern is scattered. The average level of youth

unemployment for Metropolitan Melbourne was between 10% and 12%, in 2006. In April 2012,

the numbers of unemployed youth (aged 15 to 19) in Victoria were 22.3%, well above the

national rate of 18% (Financial Review 2012).

With the total unemployment rate in Boroondara being lower than the Victorian average, it

would be expected that youth unemployment at present would be lower than 22.3%. This

represents what could be said to be an unacceptable number of unemployed youth. In

December 2011, 63% of all jobs lost were those held by youth (Zappone 2012). It would appear

that there is a structural problem across Melbourne giving rise to these high numbers, in part

relating to weakness in the sectors where youth tend to be employed, retail, construction and

technical trades and hospitality. Many youth not in education or training now have to be content

with part-time jobs, this proportion increasing three times in size, since the mid-1980s. There is

less stability present in youth employment. Among those in the labour force nearly one in five

youth changed their labour force status every month over the past year, compared with one in

ten older workers (Walsh 2011). There also been a doubling of long-term youth unemployment

since 2008.

The need to respond to these trends becomes all the more urgent at a time of global economic

uncertainty. Looking back at the recession of the 1990s, there was an immediate and deep

impact on young people in Australia. There was a long-term slowing of full-time job

opportunities for teenagers and greater fluidity in the take-up of part-time and casual work,

there being a significant difference in the labour force market of young people when compared

with older Australians. These differences relate to both deep structural factors and a flux

brought about by more recent economic instability.

Work by NIEIR suggests that the official unemployment rate is an underestimate of the actual

numbers. This is because the criteria for inclusion in the unemployment rate is that the person

is actively looking for work, thereby excluding those who have become disillusioned and

stopped looking. There is also a trend, as noted, to move some unemployed people to a disability

pension, especially during an economic downturn (NIEIR 2010). In 2010, NIEIR’s adjusted

unemployment rate, which takes into account the movement between the status of

unemployment and disability, for Melbourne East, comprising Boroondara, Box Hill and

Ringwood, was 6.2%, rather than the official figure of 3.6% for this area. The implication here is

that it is likely that there may be quite a few more people unemployed than official figures of

suggest. NIEIR believes that unemployment in general will rise by 2012.2. Some of this will be

derived from a drop in youth employment. Based on economic conditions, however, Boroondara

is one of three LGAs where the number of employed households was predicted to increase by

2012.

Newstart is a payment of $489.70 for a single person and $529.80 for a single person with

dependent children, plus small additional payments under certain circumstances, such as rent

assistance. To receive Newstart a person needs to be looking for paid work. As would be

expected, Boroondara has a considerably lower proportion of people on a Newstart allowance

(aged 25 to 64) (1.7%) than found in Melbourne as a whole (4.1%) (Table 5). The SLAs of

23

Boroondara, consistently have 1.7% of the population, aged 25 to 64, on Newstart. However,

while relatively low, it still represents 1,515 people. This is likely to be an under-estimation as

people can receive Newstart allowance from 22 to 24, an age group not recorded in Table 4.

Table 5: Per cent of population aged 25 to 64 receiving Newstart allowance, 2010

Location Type % pop 25-64

No. of people

Boroondara - Camberwell North SLA 1.7 396

Boroondara - Camberwell South SLA 1.7 474

Boroondara - Hawthorn SLA 1.7 358

Boroondara - Kew SLA 1.7 287

Eastern Middle Melbourne SSD 2.8

Southern Melbourne SSD 2.6

Inner Melbourne SSD 3.8

Melbourne SD SD 4.1

Source: Birrell (unpublished data)

Greater needs occur when people have been on a very low income for an extended time as

reserves of resources (financial, support, goodwill) tend to be used up. Table 6 shows those who

are between 25 and 64 and likely to have high needs. Boroondara had approximately 805

people who were on Newstart for over 12 months, as of 2010.

Table 6: Per cent of population who have been on Newstart for over 12 months, 2010

Location % of total pop.

% pop. 25-64

Boroondara - Camberwell North 0.4 0.9

Boroondara - Camberwell South 0.5 1.0

Boroondara - Hawthorn 0.5 0.9

Boroondara - Kew 0.5 0.9

Eastern Middle Melbourne 0.8 1.5

Southern Melbourne 0.7 1.4

Inner Melbourne 1.4 2.2

Melbourne SD 1.3 2.4

Source: Birrell (unpublished data)

Unemployment has adverse psychological impacts around feelings of self-worth, which often

heighten as the time out of work increases. The structure of a working week is not there, and a

major source of social contact through work is lost. Thus, long term unemployment risks that

24

basic needs may not always be met, it also diminishes a person’s capabilities to meet their own

higher needs through participation and social contacts. It is known that:

Disengagement from work or study can be debilitating, isolating and incur social,

economic and personal costs – to those who are disengaged, the communities in which they

live and to the broader economy (Walsh 2011).

SOLE PARENTS In 2011, almost one in six children under 15 years of age in Victoria (15.5%) lived in a sole

parent family. Approximately 25% of households in Boroondara are sole parent households.

Sole parents are a vulnerable group, especially when there are low financial resources. Eighty-

seven per cent of lone parent families with children under 15 years are headed by mothers in

Australia (2006 figures). Government pensions and allowances are the principle source of

income for many sole parents (61% in 2003-04) (ABS 2009). To receive a maximum parenting

payment, sole parents must have an income of no more than $174.60 per fortnight, plus $24.60

for each additional child. Twenty per cent of sole parent families fall into the category of long-

term joblessness. In 2003-04, 51% of one-parent families reported that they did not receive any

current weekly income from child support or maintenance payments and a further 12%

received less than $10 (ABS 2003-04).

All this suggests that some sole parents are likely to be struggling financially. Many sole parent

households are more likely than couples to report experiencing difficulties in the previous 12

months due to a shortage of money. These difficulties ranged from the relatively common 'could

not pay electricity/gas bills on time' (reported by 51% of sole parents and 20% of couples) to

the least common 'unable to heat home' reported by 8% of sole parents and 2% of couples (ABS

2003–04).

Map 3 shows the rate of sole parents with a gross weekly household income of less than $1,000

expressed as a per cent of all families, in 2006. The Melbourne average in 2006 was 9% to 11%

of families, thus Boroondara has small concentrations of low income sole parents.

Those sole parents who are in receipt of a parenting payment would appear to be in greatest

need, shown in Table 7. Compared to other Melbourne areas, Boroondara has low numbers of

sole parents on a parenting payment. In 2010 there were 430 sole parents on a parenting

payment in Boroondara, the highest concentration being in Camberwell South. This figure

excludes the small number of sole parents on a parenting payment who are aged between 15

and 24 years. These figures suggest this is about six people in Boroondara, what would seem to

be an unusually low number.

25

Table 7: Sole parents receiving a parenting payment in 2010

2010

Location % pop aged 15-19

% pop aged 21-24

% pop 25-64

No. 25-64

Boroondara - Camberwell North 0.5 116

Boroondara - Camberwell South 0.6 167

Boroondara – Hawthorn 0.3 63

Boroondara – Kew 0.5 84

Eastern Middle Melbourne 1.1

Southern Melbourne 1.2

Inner Melbourne 1.1

Melbourne SD 2.2

Melbourne East (Boroondara, Box Hill, Ringwood)

0.02 0.09 0.75

Source: ABS data 2010, except for Melbourne outer East, NIEIR (2010)

CHILDREN Boroondara had 29,117 children resident, aged 0 to 14 years, in 2010. Assuming the same

proportion of children are under five years as were in in 2006 (5.5% of the total population),

1,601 children were under five years, in 2010. Previous work estimated that 12% of all children

in Boroondara were experiencing social exclusion (Stanley et al. 2005). This represents 3,494

children, in 2010, if the proportion has remained the same. It should be noted that this figure is

only an approximation, and social exclusion is defined differently between the 2007 and the

definition used in this report.

The wellbeing of children, in large part, reflects the wellbeing of their parents (Vinson 2009).

Low levels of financial and emotional resources reduce the quality of parenting that is able to be

provided. Economic hardship has been found to be associated with depressed levels of

nurturance, responsiveness and support by parents (Ng 2006). Children raised in jobless

households also increases the chances that the children will also be jobless as an adult

(Whiteford 2009). While it is unclear how many children are in need in Boroondara, it could be

assumed that those children in very low income households, especially when this is associated

with sole parenthood and/or with disability in the household, are likely to have unmet needs.

It is known that children have heightened vulnerability to disadvantage while in their early

years. And that attendance at a pre-school program is especially important for these children. In

Australia, attendance at pre-school is lower for children living in households with the lowest

income quintile, for children from families with non-English speaking backgrounds, children

from households where parents are not in employment, where parents don’t have a post-school

qualification, who are rurally isolated and Indigenous children (AIHW 2005).

Poverty may lead to the exclusion of children from their peers created by the child experiencing

a lack of possessions particularly in a school setting in relation to clothes, school outings and the

receipt of free school meals (van der Hoek 2005, Taylor & Nelms 2008). This issue will be

particularly relevant in Boroondara where there are high levels of inequality and scattered

26

poverty. A report which examined the needs of primary children in Boroondara found a high

need for assistance for children within the school setting (Clausen et al. 2006). While a range of

services was being offered to primary school children, this largely took the form of group

preventative programs around a specific issue, such as bullying. A strong need for counselling

was identified in the report, this being the highest priority identified by the interviewed

primary school representatives.

AGED In 2010, there were 23,633 people 65 years and over living in Boroondara, this representing

14.2% of residents, 2.7% being 85 years and over. There has, however, been a small but steady

growth in older residents for the LGAs of Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood (in Whitehorse

Council) as well as a reduction of residents aged 0 to 19, over the period 1996 to 2011. The

highest number of people 85 years and over can be found in the suburbs of Camberwell,

Canterbury, Ashburton and Balwyn. These higher numbers may reflect the location of nursing

homes in these suburbs. Map 4 shows the more detailed distribution of people 70 years and

over. While again the distribution is scattered, there appears to be slightly higher numbers in

the SLAs of Camberwell North, followed by Camberwell South.

There are a much lower proportion of seniors on an aged pension in Boroondara (42.8%) than

found in Melbourne generally (68%), although the proportion of seniors in the total population

more closely approximates that for Melbourne Greater (Table 8). This suggests that seniors in

Boroondara are more financially secure than the average for Melbourne.

Table 8: Per cent of population on an aged pension in Boroondara SLAs and other

selected areas, 2010.

Location Type % total

pop % pop

65+

Boroondara - Camberwell North SLA 7.0 42.6

Boroondara - Camberwell South SLA 6.6 47.8

Boroondara - Hawthorn SLA 4.6 41.7

Boroondara - Kew SLA 5.5 39.1

Eastern Middle Melbourne SSD 11.2 64.9

Southern Melbourne SSD 8.9 58.0

Inner Melbourne SSD 4.4 46.6

Melbourne SD SD 8.7 68.0

Those who are in receipt of a pension in general tend not to be in need where they own their

own home, except where one or more additional adverse conditions occur, such as illness. Aged

people who are renting may be experiencing unmet needs, although a comparison of Map 4 and

Map 7, which shows the location of private rental property, suggests that commonly, older

people are not private renters in Boroondara. Camcare has undertaken a Co-Design Project with

the Federal Department of Human Services focusing on improving services to older people in

Boroondara. One of the needs identified was timely access to information about services that

can assist the elderly to address their needs and avert a crisis.

27

POOR HEALTH AND DISABILITY When compared with the general population, households where disability is present report

lower incomes, higher levels of housing stress, that they are more likely to be in the rental

market and have lower stocks of assets (Beer & Faulkner 2009). Psychiatric disability was found

to be associated with the highest levels of disability in Victoria, with low levels of employment

and high renting levels, although this may not be such an issue in Boroondara.

Boroondara had approximately 2.7% of the population aged 25 to 64 on a disability pension in

2010, representing lower numbers than other Eastern areas of Melbourne and Melbourne as a

whole (5.5%) (Table 9). With the inclusion of people aged 15 to 25, approximately 2,966 people

were on a disability pension in Boroondara in 2010.

Table 9: Those on a disability pension, Boroondara and wider, 2010

2010

Location % pop % pop 15-25

No. 15-25

% pop 25-64

No. 25-64

Boroondara - Camberwell N. 1.0 2.1 489

Boroondara - Camberwell S. 1.4 2.6 725

Boroondara - Hawthorn 1.6 2.8 589

Boroondara – Kew 1.8 3.3 557

Eastern Middle Melbourne 2.2 4.2

Southern Melbourne 2.2 4.1

Inner Melbourne 2.3 3.6

Melbourne SD 3.0 5.5

Melbourne East (Boroondara, Box Hill, Ringwood)

2.2

Boroondara (assuming rate of 2.2%) 606

Map 5 shows the percentage of persons aged 15 years and over who provided unpaid assistance

to a person with a disability, long term illness or problems related to old age. It includes people

who are in receipt of a Carer Allowance or Carer Payment but not work done through a

voluntary agency. Clusters of fairly high levels of caring (15% to 20% of people aged 15 and

over, can be seen and a large number of clusters where 12% to 15% of the population take on

this task. The average for Greater Melbourne in 2006 was 9% to 12%.

This suggests that the problem of disability is much larger than the figures suggested for those

on a disability pension. However, the extent of care needed is not known, nor if the arrangement

is, or is not, meeting the needs (of both the carer and the person with a disability). Again, the

answer to this will need to be sought through surveying. The pattern of location of disability

carers tends to be scattered but slightly higher caring occurs in the north of Boroondara and a

pocket of low caring around the Swinburne University.

The document, A Social Profile of Boroondara, (2009) provides some information on the extent

of known mental health concerns in Boroondara. Those diseases which provide the greatest

health burden in Boroondara include malignant cancer (accounting for 22% of the health

burden), cardiovascular disease (19%), mental disorders (13%) and chronic respiratory

28

diseases (7%), with suicide accounting for 1.7% of the burden. Depression accounted for the

highest amount of mental disorders in Boroondara, followed by generalized anxiety disorders.

In 2006/7, a mental health issue accounted for 6.4% of all hospital admissions in Boroondara.

On average, about 1,250 received treatment in a community-based mental health service in

Boroondara. It is difficult to estimate current unmet need from these statistics.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS High levels of mortgage and high rents in the private market leave those on a low income

vulnerable to housing stress. Twenty-eight per cent of lower-income households in Australia are

defined as being in housing stress in that they pay more than 30% of their income on housing

costs (ACOSS 2009). In a survey of people using Emergency Relief undertaken by the Salvation

Army, 10% of them were buying their own house and paid 48.8 % of their income in housing

costs. The survey also found that people in the private rental housing market paid 53.5 % of

their income in housing costs (reported in Access Economics 2008). Current housing costs

comprise 27% of total expenditure on goods and services for households in the lowest net

worth quintile but only 11% for households in the highest quintile. Only 4% of households in

the lowest net worth quintile own their own home, compared to 96% in the highest quintile

(ABS 2012).

The annual growth of the mortgage burden on average dwelling purchases in Boroondara, Box

Hill and Ringwood, between 1997 and 2010, was 5.4% (NIEIR 2010). In 2006, Boroondara had a

higher home ownership rate (39.4%) than the average for Melbourne as a whole (33.1%). The

median price for houses in Boroondara is higher than in other comparative LGAs and it has

experienced the greatest price rises between 2004 and 2010, when compared with a range of

other LGAs (Table 10). Units and apartments are more uniformly high across the selected LGAs,

with Bayside and Stonnington having a higher median price than Boroondara, although prices

appear to have risen highest in Boroondara. It is possible that there are a lower number of units

and apartments in Boroondara than found in other areas due to an active opposition to them

being built.

Table 10: House and unit prices in Boroondara and other selected LGAs

Houses Units & apartments

LGA Median price ($) 2011.1

% change 2004-2010

Median price 2011.1 ($)

% change 2004-2010

Boroondara 1,291,500 102 530,000 77

Manningham 743,000 72 520,500 62

Monash 680,000 89 490,000 62

Whitehorse 650,000 88 470,000 70

Bayside 1,150,000 77 625,000 59

Glen Eira 850,000 86 500,000 73

Kingston 590,000 73 420,000 69

Stonnington 1,150,000 91 553,500 60

Melbourne 670,750 78 435,000 46

Port Phillip 1,006,500 83 495,000 59

Yarra 790,750 74 457,000 55

29

Based on 2008-9 figures, the median cost of buying a dwelling in Ashburton, a lower socio-

economic area of Boroondara, is still very high - $730,000 for a house and $638,000 for a unit

or apartment. Thus buying a house in Boroondara is not possible for some, or necessitates a

high mortgage.

Government rentals average 3% to 5% in Victoria, 2006. In Boroondara, government rentals are

particularly concentrated in Asburton, with a couple of other smaller pockets around the LGA

(Map 6). The average rate of private rentals in Greater Melbourne is between 20% and 22%

(2006). Map 7 shows that private rentals appear to be particularly high in Hawthorn and

Hawthorn East, perhaps reflecting the student population around Swinburne University and

also commercial rentals around Camberwell junction.

At present there is a crisis in affordable housing in Greater Melbourne, with a large annual

shortfall of housing stock. This pressure from a shortage of dwellings is likely to continue over

the next decade. In 2010.3, there was an estimated shortage of 7,200 dwellings in Boroondara,

Box Hill and Ringwood. Given a ‘business as usual’ scenario, this is likely to rise to 11,200 in

2015, and 15,100 in 2020 (NIEIR 2010). This will drive up the cost of dwellings. As a result,

people will experience less than satisfactory dwellings and living arrangements. This includes

moving into housing stress, or moving back with their parents, group housing, remaining in an

unsafe arrangement (such as living with domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse)

or move to homelessness, which may include couch surfing, living in caravans or cars or on the

street.

Homelessness in turn leads to children and youth (and adults) being vulnerable to sexual abuse,

substance abuse and other criminal activities, as well as economic exploitation (CROC Report

2005). In 2010.3, 2.4% of the population of Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood were

unsatisfactorily housed. This is projected to rise to 3.6% in 2015.3 and 4.6% in 2020.2. The

estimated level of homelessness in Boroondara (2006) was 495 people, the same as was found

in Frankston.

TRANSPORT NEEDS Housing prices tend to be lower the greater the distance from the CBD. However, as a rule, the

availability of public transport is also lower in the outer Melbourne suburbs. Boroondara would

appear to be comparatively well provided with public transport (Figure 6). From Boroondara,

69.8% of public transport journeys to work are to the CBD, Southbank and Docklands (Shin et

al. 2009). Not many journeys to work by public transport are taken to a workplace within

Boroondara (8.2%) and even less to other LGAs, the highest being Yarra at 5.9%.

Many people travel by car to work (23.3%) within Boroondara. Although 18.9% of people travel

by car to the CBD, there is also a higher scatter of car travel to other suburbs, suggesting that

public transport could be improved for travellers across Melbourne.

When the availability of public transport and status of walkability is compared with social need

- adult without a car, low income, not in the labour force, people on a disability pension and

presence of students, again Boroondara doesn’t feature as an area of concern (Figure 7).

There is a need for closer examination of the issue of transport accessibility in Boroondara

given its importance in facilitating social inclusion, as it is hard to get a clear picture of this.

While Figure 7 suggests a good transport supply is present for many of those who may be

30

experiencing disadvantage in Boroondara, again the picture is only relative and may again

reflect low average levels of social needs, rather than a good local transport supply.

Figure 6: Public transport supply in Greater Melbourne

Source: Currie et al. 2009

Figure 7: Location of the combination of social need, lack of availability of public

transport and poor walkability of area in greater metropolitan Melbourne

Source: Currie 2009

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MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES The 2006 census records that 25.8 % of the population of Boroondara was born overseas, lower

than the 29% for Melbourne as a whole. However, particularly high levels of migrants have

moved to the suburb of Balwyn North (32.4% of the population), and Balwyn (30.5% of the

population).

Boroondara Council reports that these migrants were born in 150 countries, 18.7% of these

being non-English speaking countries. In 2009-10, high numbers of people came into

Boroondara from China and India, most migration being under the skilled or family migration

schemes (DIAC Settlement Database 2010). In total, 953 migrants settled in Boroondara in

2009-2010, and 813 in 2010-2011. Only 10 (2009-10) and 13 (2010-2011) people arrived

under the Humanitarian migrations scheme. Twenty-one per cent of households speak a

language other than English, the most common being Mandarin, Greek, Cantonese and Italian. In

Balwyn and Balwyn North, 13% of residents speak a Chinese language at home. What are the

implications for Camcare’s service provision for these new arrival groups?

A recent forum auspiced by Boroondara Council explored the needs of these new migrant

groups. The forum found that practical integration and orientation services were needed, such

as interpreters, information in the migrant’s language, English classes, orientation to settlement

in the local area, mothers’ groups and other social opportunities. It should be noted that the

intake of refugees is a federal government decision. While some support is offered to migrants

and refugees for their first two years in Australia, they are eligible for the financial support

system. The federal government is very reliant on welfare assistance to support new residents, a

largely unacknowledged issue and not adequately supported by resources to agencies.

FAMILY VIOLENCE Most crimes in Boroondara are related to property, however, there were 630 reported crimes of

violence to a person in 2007-8 (Boroondara Council 2009). Boroondara has the lowest rate of

Family Incident Reports (2007-8) when compared to neighbouring LGAs and the third lowest

across Greater Melbourne. About half of these Family Incident Reports relate to assault and

about one-third result in an Intervention Order. Ashburton is highly represented in these

Reports, as are Hawthorn and Balwyn.

Two-thirds of all reported family violence in Boroondara occurs between current or former

intimate partners and in over three-quarters of cases the perpetrator is male. The next most

common victim of family violence was parents (17.6%), children accounting for 5.7% of known

incidences. Of particular concern is that children were present in 40% of incidents of violence.

A major difficulty associated with understanding the occurrence of family violence is that much

goes unreported, especially non-physical forms of family violence which is not necessarily

associated with disadvantage. Camcare undertook a review of family violence in 2008 and also

noted this concern. The report found that anecdotal findings arising from discussions with

agencies and victims of violence suggests a higher incidence of family violence than suggested in

official figures. It is common for different types of violence to occur concurrently, including

physical, verbal and psychological aggression, personal violence to self (such as suicide threats,

severe drug abuse), violence from an adult to a child and violence between siblings in the

household (Stanley and Goddard 2002). Thus, intervention in these families is often complex

and protracted.

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Intervention in family violence was considered to be ‘not done well’ by agencies in Boroondara,

when they were interviewed in a few years ago (Stanley, Ng and Mestan 2007). While not

specified, it is likely that the problem was a lack of targeted funding to enable work in this area.

It is unlikely that this situation has changed since this time, both in terms of the extent of the

problem and funding shortages.

Community Indicators Victoria, 2007 and surveys conducted by Boroondara Council have found

high levels of beliefs about safety both during the day and night, and that Boroondara residents

were more likely to feel safe or very safe walking alone in their local area at night (76%) than

residents living in other local governments areas. This is not so in the Ashburton Housing

Estates, where family violence and violence in general was reported as being a key concern from

Ashburton residents (Camcare 2008).

SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL It is very hard to get information on sense of community and social capital as they are rarely

measured, and when they are, measured, it is in a form that is not very meaningful. The

Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) has, since 2004, been measuring

aspects of community strength at the LGA level. As discussed earlier in this document, the

boundaries of an LGA does not necessarily equate with a person’s community. Community is

commonly viewed on a much smaller and localized scale.

The DPCD, for example, compares Boroondara with Greater Dandenong on a range of items such

as, easy access to recreational and leisure facilities and good facilities and services like shops,

childcare, schools and libraries. On all 19 indicators, Boroondara comes out better than Greater

Dandenong, but little can be understood from this. It is more likely to measure the significantly

different socio-economic status of the two areas, for example, it is easy to get access to

recreational and leisure facilities when you can drive your car to get there.

The recently released report from the Victorian Auditor-General (2012) notes that:

Safe, secure housing is essential for good health, employment, education and community

wellbeing.

Ashburton is one of three bordering areas, together with Ashwood and Chadstone in Monash,

which was part of a Neighbourhood Renewal program which operated between July 2003 and

the end of 2011. The Social Profile of Boroondara report says that the Ashburton housing estate

was built between 1948 and 1955. In 2006 there were 7,028 residents living in Ashburton, 9.5%

of all dwellings being rented from the State Housing Authority, in a mix of houses and

apartments and units. Ashburton has a large number of sole parent households (17.3% of all

Ashburton households in 2006). Ashburton also has 17% of their households earning less than

$400 per week compared with Boroondara as a whole (13%) (2006 figures).

In the Neighbourhood Renewal area of Ashburton, a 2007 survey found that 40% of the

residents were finding it difficult to manage on their income. Also of concern is the finding that

33% of residents had been a victim of crime in the previous 12 months (Karnilowicz and Herd

2007). This concern with safety continued into the 2009 survey, reflecting a big contrast

between the Renewal site and a neighbouring area (Karnilowicz 2009). For example, most

people felt unsafe walking in the street after dark in the Renewal area, while many people felt

comfortable about this in the neighbouring area.

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On a positive note, the survey findings suggested that residents were willing to contribute to

improving in their neighbourhood and helping others. Pride in their neighbourhood increased

in the subsequent survey two years later (Karnilowicz 2009).

The Neighbourhood Renewal surveys also measured a range of issues, such as housing and the

physical services; transport and services and better government; employment, education and

the local economy; health and wellbeing; personal safety and pride in the community. A range of

positive and negative views were expressed by both the participants in the Neighbourhood

Renewal program and a control group. However, with only a few exceptions, the residents

within the Neighbourhood Renewal program had a less positive perspective than those

questioned in a nearby locality, suggesting there remain widespread issues which still need to

be addressed in the Renewal site.

In Ashburton, there presents a contrasting picture of multiple disadvantage and concern about

personal safety, together with what would appear to be a positive community spirit. Work by

Boroondara Council and Camcare is building on this community strength to facilitate schemes

such as a community vegetable patch.

ANTICIPATED TRENDS IN BOROONDARA Three external factors are impacting on Boroondara and will to a greater extent in the future.

These are population increase and structural change, economic recession and climate change.

POPULATION AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE World population is predicted to reach 9.3 billion people in 2050, moving from 7 billion in

October 2011 (The population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and

Social Affairs 2011). Australia’s growth is expected to be substantial over the next 40 years,

projected to reach 35.9 million by 2050, from the 22.4 million in 2010 (Treasury 2010). Nine

million of this growth is expected to come from net overseas migration and the other five

million from natural increase. While this is somewhat in the future, there will be short-term

pressure to increase the intake of people in Boroondara. The projected increase in migrant

intake for Boroondara in the shorter term can be seen in Figure 8.

The population increase that is occurring at present is not being supported by adequate

increases in infrastructure provisions. This can clearly be seen in the housing affordability crisis

which is presently occurring where there is a significant shortfall in new housing (National

Housing Supply Council 2010). However, when these issues are also combined with climate

change impacts, such as a rise in food prices, the extra needs of these extra people are likely to

become increasingly inherited by welfare agencies, such as Camcare.

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Figure 8: Average net migration inflows in Boroondara, projected to 2020

Source: NIEIR 2010

As an example of infrastructure shortfalls, housing policy in Australia has tended to be

fragmented. Apart from planning regulations it has largely been left to market forces to supply

dwellings for the bulk of the population and has not been a prominent policy area. Only about

5% of households live in public housing, with about 34% of households fully owning their

housing and 35% paying mortgages (Dalton 2009). The present high demand for housing, the

high growth in land price and the high levels of household debt are leading to serious pressures

and concerns about affordable housing. The gap between demand and supply of housing

increases annually and will continue to increase. These trends have resulted in a number of

serious concerns for those at the bottom end of the housing market, such as increases in rental

costs, additional pressure on public housing waiting lists and an increase in homelessness.

ECONOMIC RECESSION In 2008 Australia experienced an economic boom. This was followed by a global recession

which occurred early in 2009, particularly centred in the US, UK, Canada and to a lesser extent

in Australia, where the impact was felt a little later. NIEIR predict that there will be difficulties

again for Victoria, particularly after 2013, although a slight downturn is already present with a

rise in unemployment, especially in Victoria. This is due to issues such as the high Australian

dollar which is adversely impacting on Victoria’s manufacturing base and the high debt ratio

incurred by households. In 2009, household debt was close to 200% of net disposable income,

due in part to the high price of dwellings, relative to income. The high price of housing in

Boroondara may be one reason why Boroondara has been projected to do less well compared to

other LGAs in Overall poverty, from 2008 to 2012.

Most people can withstand a mild recession which is short term. Most will keep their jobs, there

being a tendency in Australia to reduce working hours for employees rather than put staff off, as

has happened in the US, as well as a move towards casualization of the workforce (Access

Economics 2008). However, if the hours and therefore wages are reduced, those already

struggling with a high mortgage or a high rent and those with other disadvantages will struggle

the most in the event of an economic downturn.

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Youth who have never entered the workforce and mothers wishing to return to work will find

greater difficulties in obtaining employment in a recession. Similarly, new migrants, particularly

those who are unskilled are likely to have difficulties finding work. Middle aged and older men

and women who have no post-school qualifications are also vulnerable to unemployment. This

will be especially so in Boroondara, with the very high levels of post school education (Map 8).

Those workers with a disability who are in employment, may experience job loss, as happened

in the UK in the 1993 recession (Bartley and Owen 1996).

Young children in families with disadvantage, particularly sole parent families, are particularly

at risk during a recession because of financial loss which may result in withdrawal from pre-

school education and additional family tensions which may include family violence and family

breakdown (Irwin & Waugh 2007). Those on a pension will be somewhat protected during the

time of a recession, as they will not experience a sudden dip in income, particularly with the

high levels of home ownership in Boroondara. Although living on a generally low income, older

people (66 +) report high levels of wellbeing (Cummins et al. 2006).

An exploration of the literature (Stanley, unpublished) suggests that the longer and deeper a

recession, the greater the adverse social outcomes. These problems may take some time to

manifest and may continue for some time after the economy is in recovery.

CLIMATE CHANGE Both climate change itself and government policy to address climate change will have a greater

adverse impact on those already experiencing unmet needs and disadvantage and may create

needs in new groups of people. Climate change itself will pose additional health risk due to an

increase in temperature, where elderly people may be at risk due to dehydration. Higher

temperatures also lead to greater risks of food spoil and gastroenteritis. Other impacts, such as

reduced rainfall has led to reduced ability to use sporting grounds and loss of vegetation on

public land. Public policy, such as a carbon tax, will lead to higher prices on many goods,

including food and energy. With the proposed carbon tax initially fixed at $23 a tonne, this will

cost poor families about 2.3% of their utility adjusted income, in comparison to a wealthy family

where the utility adjusted proportion is only 0.4%.

While the federal government is planning compensation to lower and middle income

households, it is unlikely that this will fully compensate some low income families. A price rise

on necessities will take a higher proportion of the income of a low income family than for those

with a higher income. Those on a low income are unable to afford to purchase low carbon

appliances, so have to continue with less efficient ones. They also have low energy efficient

houses lacking insulation and good fitting doors and windows which prevent drafts. Commonly,

people experiencing disadvantage have poor access to information about carbon reduction.

They have less ability to negotiate loans to enable them move to lower energy use or buy water

tanks to avoid rising water costs, and where successful, the loan may have a high interest

attached.

While these issues are not present to any great extent in Boroondara, the carbon price is to

commence in July this year, although it is likely prices will rise prior to this introduction as

businesses take advantage of the situation. It is likely that climate change impacts on

disadvantaged people will increase over the next few years and into the future. Thus, those

already struggling financially may experience some additional difficulties and there will be

36

those who were just managing who will be moved below poverty lines. There is likely to be a

higher call on Emergency Relief assistance. Camcare may also find that there are other impacts

which need to be addressed, such as elderly people restricting their use of heating in winter to

save costs and others not attending services and leisure activities in order to reduce transport

costs.

Camcare could consider whether they have a role in microcredit no or low interest loan

schemes to assist people to improve energy efficiency in their home and thus reduce their

energy bills. The National Australia Bank, along with other banks have now backed successful

microcredit scheme over the past few years. Camcare could also consider whether they should

facilitate group buying schemes which reduce the cost of individual items and also schemes

which provide group access to products, such as solar power energy generation and tool lending

schemes to assist people to improve the energy efficiency of their own home.

ABILITY TO MEET NEED Community based organisations have seen themselves as offering something unique, they

are locally run. They engage with the community in a range of ways, and typically adapt to

the specific problems and needs in their community. They are often highly entrepreneurial.

Being tied to a community they have developed ways of surviving through waves of

different funding regimes and winning or losing contracts. They don’t have the option of

simply moving on. Their entrepreneurialism extends to the way in which they see and deal

with local problems… They have the ability to deliver services in a way that takes

advantage of the assets in the local community and they will reinvest in that community to

build those local assets (Fowkes, 2009, pp. 33-40).

Both the strengths and difficulties of the welfare sector are revealed in this quote. The welfare

sector in Australia plays the vital role of supporting those who have reduced capacity to meet

their own needs and government support is inadequate or absent. While some targeted

program support is available to welfare agencies, this is rarely sufficient or comprehensive. For

example, programs rarely supply funds for capital assets and fixed costs. The sector is usually

also reliant on their own resources (such as the use of volunteers) accepting low wages and

finding supporting finances.

Surprisingly, there is little comment on the struggles of the welfare sector to meet need. In a

rather dated report, the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia (CAFWAA) writes:

The sector is passionate and committed, but CAFWAA is gravely concerned about its

ongoing capacity and viability to meet future needs of children, young people and their

families (CAFWAA, 2002, p.45).

Information from 25 local agencies offering welfare and counselling services to Boroondara

residents found that the demand for their services was higher than what they could meet

(Stanley et al 2007). ACOSS (2009) believes that the capacity of the welfare sector will, to a large

extent, determine how well Australia will cope with the three external pressures identified in

this report: population structural change (they particularly mention an aging population),

responding to a global economic crisis and responding to the impact of climate change. The

COAG Reform Council (2009) identified the need to manage population and economic growth,

37

address climate change, improve housing affordability and manage urban congestion (COAG

2009). They say that a better response from government is needed for:

Demographic change – which has implications for housing stock, transport, public

services and labour market participation

Housing affordability, which they say remains an issue of considerable concern

Social inclusion – the spatial implications of which are poorly analysed and understood.

ACOSS suggests that the solution to these issues lie in a ‘re-engineered’ relationship between the

Federal Government and the welfare sector in order to achieve a common purpose and better

understanding about respective roles and responsibilities. The welfare sector also needs

support which better reflects the true cost of delivery, and addresses low pay rates and

underinvestment in capital provisions for the sector.

It is within this context that Camcare’s work is undertaken. This needs to be understood in any

discussion of how to meet unmet needs in Boroondara. All needs cannot be met and difficult

choices need to be made as to whether it is better to stretch resources thinly or concentrate on

particular needs. The decision is ultimately a value judgment based on organizational strengths

and capabilities and judgments about the importance of relative needs. It is clear that work is

needed to be undertaken on the benefit/cost of resource allocation and the value of intervention

for specific needs, as well as on the value of preventative work.

Choices also need to be made about the intervention point. This can be summarized into three

levels: strategic, tactical and operational. The strategic level works at influencing the

government policy and action, the tactical level works on improving the service system through

coordination and understanding coverage of services and the operational level concentrates at

providing the most effective service to the targeted group.

The ability to meet needs also depends on the capacity of an organization to meet need, largely

resources and skills available. A review of other welfare organisations with a similar funding

base would be a useful exercise. For example, Family Services of the North Shore, Vancouver,

Canada, services three municipalities with a total population of 180,000 (Boorondara is about

170,000). Expenditure was $C3.4 million last year, with revenue of $C3.1 million. Government

grants provided about two-thirds of income ($C2 million). The revenue included $C865,000

from fund raising, the $300,000 loss being covered by a transfer from a fund raising Foundation.

The Foundation raises about $C1.5 million annually (varying a bit year by year). Client fees

provided $C136,000, a small but much higher share of revenue than for Camcare. Total

volunteer hours were 14,000, a little less than Boorondara. While the population size of

Vancouver and the numbers of volunteers are similar, Family Services of the North Shore

spends twice as much as Camcare, largely because of its Foundation income stream. Finally,

while the agency promotes the idea of measuring outcomes this is not reflected in its Annual

Report.

It is possible that a number of initiatives could be explored to expand the resource base of

Camcare. This would enable Camcare to better use their local knowledge and experience of

unmet needs and facilitate a better targeting of responses through the ability to develop longer

term planning strategies. At present in the welfare sector, which needs are met is in large part

determined by funding flows. The direction of these resources are commonly established at

central levels of government which are often far removed from a close interface with local

38

communities. It is understood that Camcare receives substantial resources from local

government, a source close to the community, however, ability to tap other funding sources

would also allow an expansion of service provision.

Part of interagency engagement could address the diseconomies of small scale. For example, it

may be possible to share administrative services and capital assets between agencies to

improve cost-effectiveness. At present there is a low reliance on user fees. It should be possible

for Camcare to charge for some of their intervention services such as in the areas of family

counselling where there is a capacity to pay. For example, The Tax Help service provided by

Camcare could charge a sliding scale for people earning over $50,000 pa.

It would be valuable to undertake an exploration of whether there could be greater

coordination of services between regional agencies to better meet needs. This could encompass

a mapping task of available services, accessibility to these services and a re-allocation of service

provision between agencies where improvement is identified. It would also be valuable to

pursue boundaries between particular services (such as school, health and housing) to

understand where the boundary responsibilities lie in relation to client welfare.

CONCLUSIONS Need is a complex concept which includes a range of states that lead to wellbeing being

established in a person’s life. Needs range from fundamental, when talking about food, sleep and

safety, to desirable, when talking about maximizing life qualities. Certain characteristics and

conditions suggest that a person is vulnerable to not having some of their needs met. People

play a strong part in meeting their own needs, where they are able to do this. Society has a

responsibility to facilitate the wellbeing of citizens and may be, in some situations, not

adequately achieving this goal, such as failing to provide transport options and allowing the loss

of green open spaces in an urban setting.

The welfare sector supports people whose needs are not being met and government and society

are reliant on this service. It is vital from the government’s point of view to plug the gaps and

inadequacies in their policies, assist in linking people to their benefits, services and programs,

and identify new unmet needs. While some services receive government funding, the welfare

sector is significantly under-resourced commensurate with the benefits they offer in terms of

meeting individual needs, forestalling future costs which would have been incurred if the needs

hadn’t been met and improving the wellbeing and ‘well- functioning’ of society.

Examination of official statistics suggests that the residents of Boroondara have few unmet

needs. While this is the case for most people, the method of presenting information tends to

overlook those with needs, as needs in Boroondara tend to be scattered, rather than clustered in

one location. There are a couple of small exceptions, such as around the public housing in

Ashburton. Boroondara has evidence of unmet basic needs, those on a very low income, those

who are homeless. There are also groups of people where unmet needs coexist which serve to

compound distress, such as those on a low income caring for a person with a disability and aged

people on a pension who may be living alone and struggling with illness. Young sole parents

who are struggling with few resources- financial and emotional who may not be able to meet all

the needs of their children. The unemployment of youth is of major concern. The consequences

for these young people in terms of the alienation from society and their future wellbeing when

39

anger and/or hopelessness sets in, is an area with high future costs when their present needs

are not met.

Housing stress remains a long term issue which needs to be corrected at the state and federal

government level. High population growth is contributing to the under-supply of housing and

thus raising the housing costs. Camcare offers financial management and emergency relief to

meet the most severe consequences of housing policy failure. There is a strong argument that

such agencies should be far better resourced in order to more effectively be able to meet these

needs significantly caused by the government policy of high migration and structural policy

failures. People immigrating to Australia to live on the streets of Melbourne, is simply not

acceptable.

Camcare, meets needs in a number of ways: through the provision of material goods; through

offering counselling services to assist the individual to make healthier decisions and better

problem solve; through engaging with communities to better meet their needs, such as through

supporting local groups to solve problems and enjoy leisure together. A community garden, for

example, not only has the potential to provide fresh low cost vegetables, but also provides a

wonderful opportunity for communication and support. Camcare could also take on the role of

more active advocacy and intervention at the structural level. For example, Camcare could work

towards the provision of more youth job opportunities in local areas by identifying a business

niche and location to establish a business, or working towards the building of more suitable

housing for Ashburton residents in the government housing estate.

RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ROLE FOR CAMCARE These recommendations need to be viewed as an external perspective, rather than one which

comes from Camcare staff and other agencies working with unmet needs in Boroondara and

from the residents themselves. A more complete understanding would also incorporate the

perspective of these groups.

The judgment about which needs to meet is complex and undertaken in the context of poor

information and other barriers encountered by welfare agencies, including funding

opportunities. A major barrier is that needs, that is the interface between the absence of a

necessary condition and the extent to which this absence is addressed through both formal and

informal intervention, are not measured. In addition, outcomes of activities of welfare agencies

are also largely unmeasured, so it is difficult to understand issues such as value of activity

choices. The sector is very dependent on available resources. The nature of this resource

distribution presents great difficulties for pro-active organizational planning. Government

funding commonly arrives with the target defined, with arduous non-core activities associated

with receipt of funding and with some uncertainty of length of provision of the resources.

Recognising the above mentioned difficulties, the following recommendations could be made:

THOSE WHERE POVERTY IS THE DOMINANT FACTOR There is a core group of people who are in considerable poverty, particularly due to the low

levels of Government support (such as Newstart), often compounded by high emotional

demands of their circumstances (such as sole parents and refugees). There is a need to continue

40

support to these groups of people through emergency relief and through work to stabilise their

financial position and build their personal capabilities.

Some higher needs have been identified in the Hawthorn area associated with students

attending Swinburne University. This would appear to be the responsibility of Swinburne

University which has a duty of care to its student body. However, Camcare could approach

Swinburne to jointly undertake a review of the extent and type of student needs. If the specific

needs have been identified as being in Camcare’s remit, it may be possible to charge Swinburne

for the provision of a service for these students.

YOUTH WITHOUT WORK The high levels of youth unemployment in Victoria represent a group of people with high unmet

needs. The social cost of youth not being in either education or training is very high, both for the

person and for society more generally. Commonly, as the length of unemployment increases and

disillusion sets in the person becomes vulnerable to mental health issues or becomes at greater

risk of exposure to anti-social activities. Such youth will find it even harder to turn their life

around and become re-engaged with mainstream society and thus employment. Financial

support, recreational support, bridging programs and job creation are all services which will

build capabilities and independence. Building pathways for youth from school, through training

to employment prevent unemployment occurring (Marsh & Perkins 2006). Importantly, jobs for

youth need to be created in Boroondara through the development of partnerships with local

employers, with the provision of additional supports to maintain the youth in the position.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY VIOLENCE In the Camcare report on family violence, both the residents and service providers expressed

the importance of offering counselling services for children (2008). This need was reiterated in

two other reports based in Boroondara (Clausen et al. 2006; Stanley et al. 2007). Thus, there is a

strong call for counselling to assist children to overcome trauma, such as family separation,

family violence and child abuse and loss and grief. The reports also referred to pressure that

children may be under to achieve at school, the long hours that some parents work which takes

up family time and conflict over cultural practices associated with some ethnic groups. In most

cases this should be the responsibility of the school to educate parents on parental practices

around education.

AGED While Boroondara has a high proportion of aged people, most appear to not have high needs.

However, there are some indications that some aged people, particularly ethnic Chinese in

Balwyn, are experiencing isolation and struggling financially. There is little information on these

groups at present so an exploration of their needs would be worthwhile. Their living locations

can be identified in Map 4 to facilitate sample selection in any future research undertaken

targeting this group of people to seek their view of their needs.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS The lack of affordable housing and the associated difficulties with meeting mortgage and

particularly rental payments, not only causes financial stress but exacerbates the development

and maintenance of other vulnerabilities. This is a Melbourne-wide issues and one that will not

be resolved for some time as it reflects a long-term build-up of structural problems around

41

imbalances in industry structure and transport connectivity between jobs and the supply of

houses at a low cost. It is likely that this problem is causing a movement of people caught in

housing stress to move out of Boroondara to areas of cheaper housing, but ironically, less

accessibility to work opportunities and other services. Camcare will need to maintain

Emergency Relief and seek to increase short term shelter for homeless people and those

escaping situations of high social stress (such as breakdown of relations with youth and

domestic violence situations). I think there should be provision of a wider range of social

housing to meet the needs of those on low incomes whose connections are in Boroondara. This

has been identified in Boroondara’s project into Homelessness Among Older Women.

TRANSPORT NEEDS Consideration could be given to Camcare hosting a Social Enterprise to meet transport needs.

Transport was identified as a particular problem in the North East precinct project Report

(Boroondara Council 2010). A Social Enterprise is a not-for-profit organisation which is run for

the benefit of the community and which puts any profits back into the organisation.

Participating agencies would become shareholders in the Social Enterprise and select its Board.

The Enterprise would operate as a ‘one-stop-shop’ type of model, providing services and

transport information for all people and perhaps offer other added-value activities, such as job

training. This model is presently being tested in Warrnambool, Victoria. It is recommended that

this model be further investigated and the learning from Warrnambool be reviewed.

MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES There are relatively low numbers of humanitarian refugees moving to Boroondara. The small

number of specific groups of migrants/refugees appear to be known to Camcare and other local

welfare organisations. Previous work in Boroondara and more recent work undertaken by the

Boroondara Council has identified needs in the new migrant groups relating to settlement

issues, such as language, understanding the Australian culture and how to access services. The

Council is establishing both awareness programs for other community members and support

structures to address some of these issues. Thus, from available information, the authors would

suggest that migrants and refugees are not likely to be a priority area for Camcare. The

exception to this may be some aged migrants, as noted above.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL It would seem that an opportunity exists for Camcare to considerably up-scale their work in the

Asburton housing estate. A review of the outcomes from the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme

suggest areas of work which would offer the greatest returns for residents. These may be the

development of employment opportunities, provision of child care and community activities,

improved transport, counselling services and other needs identified by the community in the

community surveys.

The quality of public housing in this estate is in need of a considerable up-grade. It is possible

that Camcare could take this up as an issue and establish the case for re-building, retrofits and

the provision of a wider choice of housing associated with improvements in open space and

environmental amenity. For example, it may be cost effective to consolidate housing with new,

low rise buildings which offer an improved dwelling and more common space. The cost of land

would not need to be factored in, as it is already owned by government, so this would keep costs

down. Costs could also be met by a mix of affordable private and government-owned housing,

42

the return from the house sales cross-subsidising the construction of other government rental

properties.

This proposed up-grade would also address the issue of a lack of affordable housing in

Boroondara and the need for energy efficient housing. Old, run-down dwellings cost the

residents more and will continue to do so as electricity prices rise. This would be an opportunity

to provide residents with highly energy efficient, sustainable housing with the prospect of lower

energy and water bills in the future.

Finally, it should be noted that the choice about meeting needs should be based on Camcare’s

assessment of their priorities, their capacities and skills, if they wish to specialize or remain

generic services, the current roles and future plans of associated agencies in Boroondara and

other close localities and ultimately, a value judgment.

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Appendix: Maps of vulnerability for Boroondara

The maps in this Appendix thematically depict eight selected socio-economic variables for the City of

Boroondara in Melbourne. The data used was from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Basic

Community Profile. Data was extracted at the collection district (200-300 households) level. All

variables are expressed as percentages and the thematic shading used in the mapping is based on

the metropolitan average for the respective variables. In all cases the average is depicted by a shade

of pale grey.

Map 1

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Map 2

48

Map 3

49

Map 4

50

Map 5

51

Map 6

52

Map 7

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Map 8