connections unitingcare annual report 2011

connections.org.au

Annual Report2011

Community

Engagement

Respect l Equity l Responsiveness | Relationship l Learning

Connections UnitingCare

31 Hardner Road Mount Waverley Victoria 3149 AustraliaT 03 9271 0800 F 03 9271 [email protected]

ABN: 90 676 577 035

Edited by Matt Clear, Manager, Community Relations, Kirrilee Torney, Communications Offi cer, Rhiannon Wapling, Resources Administration Offi cer, Connections and Louise Bloxham Proofreading Services.

Designed by Studio Binocular.Photos by Shane Bell.

Published by Connections in November 2011.

Connections aims to reduce our impact on the environment. This Connections publication is printed carbon neutral on recycled paper using vegetable based inks, no isopropyl alcohol and world’s best practice Environmental and Quality Management Systems.

CONTENTS

03 Who Are We?03 What’s Inside?05 Chairperson’s Report06 Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report 09 Community Services10 Bernada’s Story14 Business Services 16 People, Learning and Culture 18 Community Relations

20 Janeen’s Story22 Working With Us23 Cultural Diversity24 Highlights of the Year28 Finance Committee Report 30 Financial Statements 32 Supporters 34 Get Involved 35 Connect with Connections

WHAT’S INSIDE?

WHO ARE WE?

CONNECTIONS UNITINGCARE IS A COMMUNITY ORGANISATION WITH A LONG AND PROUD HISTORY OF SUPPORTING MARGINALISED AND DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES.

WE HAVE A VISION OF EMPOWERED CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES ENJOYING WHOLENESS AND FULLNESS OF LIFE WITHIN SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES.

WE WILL BOLDLY AND SENSITIVELY SEEK OUT AND ACTIVELY ENGAGE CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES EXPERIENCING MARGINALISATION AND DISADVANTAGE TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAFE AND NURTURED LIVING.

BERNADA

‘Having the worker around to build up my confi dence and encourage me to do better for myself only helped when entering into a new phase of my life from being married for twenty years to a solo mother with fi ve children.’

» Find out more about Bernada on page 10

DEAN

‘Connections has a much wider feeling of, and excuse the pun, connectedness with not just our own branches and offi ces, but with our alliance partners and other community groups.’

» Find out more about Dean on page 7

RABIA

‘My experience at Connections has been great. I have had lots of opportunities of professional and personal development and upon refl ection I can see I have grown both professionally and personally.’

» Find out more about Rabia on page 22

JANEEN

‘‘I don’t think you could even put an amount on what Kathleen’s done for me. I mean she’s saved not only my life but three young children and then you look at the pyramid effect from that; my children’s children, my children’s partners. She’s not just come in here and saved one life.’

» Find out more about Janeen on page 20

Main image: From back left: Rosemary Carter, Bronwyn Wellings, Angela Forbes, Fiona Hanlon, Annette Bennet.

Inserts: Solomon Miller, Anne Stewart, Denise Charman.

“ I was drawn to Connections because of the work. I believe the work done by Connections is very important. As a lawyer I hear a lot about the need for law and order and cracking down on offending. But I worry that this is too much after the event and overlooks the importance of working to foster well functioning and supportive communities that facilitate the nurturing of all members and assist them in dealing with day to day challenges as well as achieving long term goals and dreams. The work Connections does with families and children is an important aspect of building and supporting communities.”Fiona HanlonChairperson, Board of Governance

Board of Governance

Fiona Hanlon, Chairperson

Bronwyn Wellings, Deputy Chairperson, Chairperson, Finance Committee

Annette Bennet

Anne Stewart

Denise Charman

Fiona Loveland

Rosemary Carter

Solomon Miller

The theme of this Annual Report is community engagement. This theme is an appropriate one. As an organisation we recognise the need to know and understand the strengths and struggles of the communities in which we work. This knowledge and understanding is important if we are to assist those in the community who rely on us. It is a theme that is also relevant to the achievement of our Strategic Plan and marks Connections as a progressive family services organisation.

Our CEO Angela Forbes and our Strategic Leadership Team have made good progress on this. This past year has been a highly successful year for Connections. It has also been a time of rapid change and development. The staff structural changes that were mentioned in last year’s Chairperson’s report have bedded down well.

Changes have also taken place at Board level over the course of the year.

I would like to pay particular thanks to Adrian Pyle who stepped down as Chairperson in 2010. Adrian made a signifi cant contribution to Connections over many years and a great deal of his vision and thoughts about what Connections is and could be are ever-present in activities

like the Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Awards and the Strategic Plan that refl ects his commitment to a participatory approach. We warmly thank Adrian for his commitment to realising the values of Connections. Adrian remains connected as an adjunct member of the Board’s Community Relations Committee.

Another Board Member, Annette Bennet, will retire at the 2011 AGM after completing nine years service as a member of the Board of Governance. Annette has been a dedicated and valued member of the Board and she will be missed by her colleagues. In recent times Annette has made a particular contribution as the Chair of the Board’s Policy Committee.

This year the Board has paid considerable attention to ensuring that its governance policies and processes are reviewed, are appropriate and address quality assurance requirements. Signifi cant progress has been made. This has meant considerable work for the Policy Committee and I’m grateful to members of that committee for their dedication in seeing this through.

I have also been happy to see the development and strengthening of thework of a number of the Board’s other committees. The Finance, Audit and Risk, Human Resources and Remuneration and

Community Relations committees have also each provided an important depth and rigor to the way the Board operates. I am grateful to Board members who participate and especially to the Board members who Chair these meetings.

I want to especially thank fellow Board Members for their commitment and dedication to the work of Connections for this reporting period. It has been a time of signifi cant change with considerable work at a Governance level. We can all be proud of the organisation that we lead and the work we are doing to support marginalised and disadvantaged members of the community.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Angela Forbes, the Strategic Leadership Team and all staff at Connections for their unwavering commitment to their work. It takes a special group of people to take on the challenges that exist to support people in need and we are indeed very lucky to have such a caring and enriching culture at Connections.

Thank you also to all our contributors and supporters across a wide variety of spheres for supporting Connections. You have all made valuable and valued contributions to our work. I commend this report to you and look forward to the challenges ahead.

This is my fi rst report as Chairperson of Connections. It has been a great pleasure to take this leadership role at such an exciting period for Connections and when the organisation has such an opportunity to realise the aspirations that many people have shared for some time.

FIONA HANLON, CHAIRPERSON, BOARD OF GOVERNANCE

Chairperson’s Report

IT HAS BEEN A TIME OF SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WITH CONSIDERABLE WORK AT A GOVERNANCE LEVEL. WE CAN ALL BE PROUD OF THE ORGANISATION THAT WE LEAD AND THE WORK WE ARE DOING TO SUPPORT MARGINALISED AND DISADVANTAGED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

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The restructure has encouraged leadership at all levels of the organisation. I have been delighted with the high calibre of the team with the following key General Manager appointments: Trish Chapman, Community Services, Vincent Bucci, Business Services, Sharon Hutchinson, People, Learning and Culture, and Matt Clear, Manager, Community Relations. It has been pleasing to see the team develop with their direct reports made up both of internal and external applicants. Succession planning will be important into the future.

The early stages of the new Effective Leadership Forum for all of the senior managers and fi nalisation of the Program Leaders positions following some amalgamation of services has provided the Community Services arm of Connections the potential to better plan and implement client services that meet community needs. It has also allowed for the strengthening of internal services to better support our hard working and dedicated workforce. A focus here around resourcing has been important for our valuable work with families and our ability to meet contractual obligations.

Our desire to continue to outreach into the community in both a proactive and responsive way is driving the way we consult across Connections and into the many partnerships and alliances with which we are involved. In particular the Child

FIRST alliances have provided important partnerships in the community to support families and their children.

I thank our many partners for the collaborative way in which they have allowed Connections to lead and participate in strengthening the service system to vulnerable families. Unfortunately at times demand continues to seriously outstrip our capacity to work with those in need, requiring us to continue to advocate for increased and cohesive services.

With our staff and partners, the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare and others we have at times been consumed with responding to the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry which has the potential to make signifi cant changes to the service system in Victoria. We eagerly await its fi ndings in early 2012 and the role we can play in shaping future services.

Connections has also been actively involved in a benchmarking project with 12 other community services, led by MacKillop Family Services and coordinated by the Nous group. This is one of very few existing projects undertaken to review and understand resourcing issues. The fi ndings from this project will be shared with the sector.

We have continued to experience growth in our program delivery with new pilot programs such as Family Coaching Victoria, new funding to Financial Counselling and self-generated funding for trauma counselling and very excitingly, the Board

of Mission and Resourcing (BOMAR) of the Uniting Church generously funding Connections to establish a Newpin program. We have seen this program work overseas and interstate very successfully with highly vulnerable adults and their children. We look forward to its implementation.

The funding of Newpin is one of many initiatives we have within the Uniting Church, some of which include the celebration of the second anniversary of the Resource Room at Hampton Park Uniting Place, the long standing sponsoring of the emergency relief program with Croydon Uniting Church and our very happy co-location with Blackburn Uniting Church re-established after the disappointment of a fi re destroying part of the building.

At the same time Connections has continued to work with the Synod of the Uniting Church to negotiate the smooth transition of fi ve of our kindergartens that are not in areas of high disadvantage to another part of the Church’s services. This has been a challenging process.

This year we have unfortunately faced the loss of our Agency Minister, Reverend Deacon Sue Barber who contributed signifi cantly to our work for over six years in the areas of social justice, the environment, the pastoral care of both staff and clients and work with the broader church. We wish her well and hope she will return to good health.

ANGELA FORBES, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Chief Executive Offi cer’s Report

OUR DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO OUTREACH INTO THE COMMUNITY IN BOTH A PROACTIVE AND RESPONSIVE WAY IS DRIVING THE WAY WE CONSULT ACROSS CONNECTIONS AND INTO THE MANY PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLIANCES WITH WHICH WE ARE INVOLVED.

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This has been an exciting year for Connections with the fi rst year of implementing the Strategic Plan supported by recruitment to leadership positions and consolidation of the restructure to support the strategic vision and intent of the organisation.

From left, back: Matt Clear Vincent Bucci Trish ChapmanSharon Hutchinson Angela Forbes

Strategic Leadership Team

Angela Forbes, Chief Executive Offi cer

Trish Chapman, General Manager, Community Services

Vincent Bucci, General Manager, Business Services

Sharon Hutchinson, General Manager, People, Learning and Culture

Matt Clear, Manager, Community Relations

“ Connections has a much wider feeling of, and excuse the pun, connectedness with not just our own branches and offi ces but with our alliance partners and other community groups. Ongoing training and secondary consultations with other services make Connections feel like a really well integrated organisation in the everlasting weave of welfare and human service organisations.”DeanConnections Staff Member

I would like to thank the Board of Governance for their ongoing work and courage in decision making, which will see change continue as we look to seek ways of creating an organisation which remains strongly true to its foundation within the Uniting Church and strident in being proactive in advocating for and responding to the needs of vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised Victorians and their communities. I farewell Adrian Pyle as Chairperson and thank him for his

contribution to Connections and his ongoing contribution to the church; and welcome Fiona Hanlon to the position. I am sure her prior Board experiences and legal background will see the Board in good hands.

I would also like to thank our volunteers from all walks of life who share our commitment and provide valuable community connectedness, some of whom we have actively recruited from

the users of our services; and our donors who see value in the work we are doing in trying to make a difference in the community.

I also wish to sincerely thank the staff and leadership of Connections who continue to work with passion and commitment bringing their skills and expertise to bear each day. It is through their endeavours that children, young people and their families will experience a better life.

NEWPIN

Newpin (New Parent and Infant Network) is a preventative, therapeutic program that works intensively with families experiencing potential or actual child protection issues. The aim of Newpin is to provide early intervention within a unique practice model whereby a safe, predictable setting is provided to ‘members’ (clients) which replicates a positive ‘home environment’. Newpin is designed to affect positive change in members’ lives and in their

interpersonal relationships, with an emphasis on personal development through mentoring and therapeutic support groups. Newpin also aims to break the cyclical effect of harmful and negative family patterns, to promote positive parenting and encourage positive parent-child relationships. Newpin is an exciting new opportunity for Connections to deliver services to ‘at risk’ and vulnerable families from both a practical and social inclusion approach.

Comm

unity

Engag

ement

It has been an exciting and challenging year, and I have been immensely impressed by the energy and enthusiasm of Community Services staff. I greatly value the contribution and commitment they make to ensure the delivery of quality and relevant services to our clients and the community.

Community Services continue to have a high focus on training for our staff through an integrated and comprehensive learning and development strategy aimed at ensuring that at all levels of the organisation, professional development remains a high priority. In this

way we can continue to develop skills in our workforce commensurate with the context of our work.

Throughout the year we have reviewed a number of our programs and services, and in addition to new program initiatives we have implemented, we have also made some slight structural changes in order to provide even more responsive and comprehensive services for our clients.

In this regard we were delighted to have achieved the amalgamation of the two clinical arms of the organisation into a combined Clinical Services program. This model

incorporates the Child-Centred, Consultancy, Assessment, Therapeutic and Training Service, the Integrated Counselling Services, the Emergency Recovery Team and the Internship Program, providing services across the Eastern and Southern Regions.

This year we were delighted to have partnered with Monash University to provide placements for 12 medical students in a community setting. These placements have not only provided an understanding of community services, they have also supported a broader understanding for prospective GPs of a whole of life experience for patients.

Family Services in the South partnered with another community organisation to initiate and implement an 8-week healthy eating project which was delivered at the Prahran Mission kitchen. Participants were taken through a hands-on program which focussed on budgeting, shopping and cooking healthy family meals.

Funding through the Communities for Children Plus was secured for three years for Connections to implement a School Attendance Support Project (SASP) in primary schools across the City of Cardinia. The aim of the project is to improve school attendance, school connectedness and community integration. The project worker is based at fi ve schools per year and has worked intensively with the Principals and staff to raise awareness

and develop action plans in relation to non and irregular school attendance.

Family Services in the East saw the Early Childhood Development Pilot Project (ECD) – a DHS funded 18 month project – commence in October 2010 with the appointment of the ECD Coordinators. This project has enhanced our engagement with universal early childhood services, in particular with the development of a ‘Toolkit’ of resources for early childhood practitioners working with vulnerable families.

This collaboration has had a number of positive outcomes for service provision and our engagement with universal early childhood services in the Inner East, including joint participation in the Monash Early Childhood Services Pathways Forum.

This year also saw a catchment wide response to Outer East work demands via Alliance allocation and work distribution processes. This mechanism has assisted in the development and enhancement of effective working relationships between our staff and our partnership agencies.

Our Outer East Integrated Family Services staff have had signifi cant involvement in leading the implementation of the collaboration with Eastern Early Childhood Pilot Project and Migrant Resource Centre in creating a cross-sector professional development initiative focusing on connecting culturally and linguistically diverse communities to mainstream Early Childhood services.

Community Services provides a diverse and extensive suite of services to assist vulnerable children, young people and families. We work in partnership with a range of local communities to support families and children to create opportunities for change.

TRISH CHAPMAN, GENERAL MANAGER, COMMUNITY SERVICES

Community Services

…WE HAVE ALSO MADE SOME SLIGHT STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN ORDER TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE RESPONSIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES FOR OUR CLIENTS.

09 | CONNECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT 2011

FAMILY SERVICES

BERNADA’S STORY

Bernada, 52, came to Australia from Croatia at the age of 20 to live with her uncle.

Her partner when she fi rst arrived in Australia verbally and physically abused her.

‘He used to beat me up, but you don’t have the (skills), if I could speak English and write or do something, I could go out and have a job, I could cook. It was funny, he was a charmer, he could dance, he could sing, he could do all that.’

Later she married Frank, who struggled with a mental illness which placed signifi cant strain on their family and their relationship. They ran a small printing business together which seemed to be running successfully for a while, though their fi nancial situation was not as it seemed. Loan repayments were continually late and they sunk further and further into debt until they lost the business and their home.

‘I started getting letters (and) I started looking into it more, we were being evicted and every time you can feel it that something is not right. “Oh leave it to me, I’m in control, don’t worry I fi x it I fi x it” my husband said. Then we found out we had two weeks to get out of the house.’

Bernada, her husband and fi ve children were evicted from their home and soon after Bernada and her husband separated.

In 2010, Bernada started receiving help from Connections Case Worker Sid who helped her at the time of the separation from her husband. He has been there for her throughout the journey providing court advocacy, housing application assistance and help to understand and fi ll out Centrelink forms as she struggled with English as her second language.

‘Having the worker around to build up my confi dence and encourage me to do better

for myself only helped when entering into a new phase of my life from being married for 20 years to a solo mother with fi ve children.’

For Bernada, the greatest thing Sid provided was his ability to be there for her and to listen to her problems.

‘It was important to me to have a worker who is patient and able to meet the demands brought upon me by losing a marriage, being evicted from our home and then being homeless with my kids, very stressful and emotional time for me.’

Bernada now knows she has someone to turn to if things get tough, she is always welcome at Connections.

‘Despite all the trouble I am so appreciative to have met all those wonderful people at Connections and will encourage others to phone your service should they need similar help like me.’

Photo: Bernada and Connections Case Worker Sid

In addition to our mainstream services, Connections provides a range of additional services such as:

Family Coaching VictoriaThe Family Coaching Victoria Pilot Project was awarded to the Connections Placement Prevention Program which saw six new team members recruited and trained to implement the pilot project. The program has been extremely well received by Child Protection staff and clients alike. An evaluation of the program at six months demonstrated the intensive nature and fl exibility of the program as achieving excellent outcomes, with clients reporting 100% satisfaction with the delivery of the project.

Emergency Recovery Team and Flood Recovery Support ProgramMany will remember that in February 2011, Victorians in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs were affected by a devastating fl ood event. The Emergency Recovery Team provided immediate support to fl ood affected communities at the time. Many people continue to be affected by the aftermath of the fl oods, including individuals and families who are still displaced and/or facing fi nancial and personal struggles due to the natural disaster. In May, Connections was successful in receiving funding of $250,000 to deliver support to these communities, following initial triaging and support by the City of Casey. The program has two full time Flood Recovery Support staff who provide a case co-ordination role.

Monash Chinese Family Services ProjectThere has been a signifi cant increase in access by the Chinese speaking community to the mainstream services. Collaboration between the project and Monash Council’s Youth and Family Services Team has allowed for the successful implementation of two curriculum-based parenting group packages delivered in Mandarin.

Families FirstThe Families First Adolescent Reunifi cation Program, a DHS funded pilot program commenced in May 2010. The program’s intention is to reunify young people residing in the out of home care system with their family or to preserve the placement of a young person within their family home at a time when this placement is at risk of breakdown. Families First currently provide a reunifi cation and preservation service to families subject to Child Protection involvement. The region has developed this service in recognition that a specifi c and tailored response is required when working with adolescents and their families, different to that offered to families with younger children.

Starting OutThe 20-week Peer Support Training Program was completed in November 2010. Of the 16 trainees who commenced the training 15 completed the course. This was quite an achievement as all participants are young parents who have to fi nd childcare for the duration of the training program.

Of these 15 successful graduates, ten applied for the four positions of Peer Support Workers with Starting Out. These Peer Support Workers assist with group work, transport, special events, community education and positive role modelling for clients attending Starting Out. At the same time these young women are given the chance to achieve their goals as workers and are encouraged to engage in further training and to undertake skill development within their roles, with a view to participating in vocational training.

Family ViolenceThe Mother-Safe Child-Safe Project (which includes the New Beginnings and Art groups), which is funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) was extended for a further three years. During the year the newly created Next Step Leadership Course commenced. This 8-week program aims to empower women to take the next step to becoming fi nancially independent. The group also gives women the opportunity to develop skills in leadership. The modules include listening skills, budgeting, computer skills, interview skills, self-care and public speaking. This program is delivered in partnership with the City of Port Phillip.


SPECIALIST SERVICES

With the recognition of the importance of early childhood in establishing strong platforms for children to develop resilience and achieve positive futures for themselves within their communities, our early childhood programs are well positioned to make signifi cant contributions. By taking a collaborative approach with families utilising Early Childhood services we can use our other services in ways which facilitate opportunities for sustainable change for children and their families.

Preschool Field Offi cer program (PSFO)During the year, the Preschool Field Offi cer program collaborated with Community Health staff, Maternal and Child Health Outreach Nurses and staff of a local Kindergarten to develop a comprehensive screening program for children attending the kindergarten who had a high number of children and families with complex needs. The screening included parents completing a survey, the PSFO and Community Health staff conducting a developmental screening and a Maternal and Child Health Nurse undertaking a health check. Through this process children with developmental or health concerns were identifi ed and with parent consent, referred to specialist services at an early stage.

Music TogetherMusic Together provides music therapy programs for families with children under school age to promote the child’s social skills, strengthen the bond between child and parents and facilitate connections within local communities. In partnership with local Uniting Church congregations, 24 groups were offered across 16 church sites by 10 Music Therapists with the support of over 130 volunteers from Uniting Church congregations. These groups operated specifi cally for families facing disadvantage.

To refl ect Connections renewed strategic commitment to quality services, Organisational Development was renamed Quality and Service Enhancement. The revitalised area supports the continuous improvement efforts of Connections’ Community Services and internal organisational support functions.

Part of Quality and Service Enhancement’s focus has been on maintaining our Community Service Organisation registration and QICSA accreditation under HASS (Homelessness Assistance Service Standards) through a systematic and comprehensive self-assessment process. This has involved multiple processes including desktop audit of policy, procedure and program manuals against standards, site audits against standards for cultural competency, accessibility, client fi t, client rights and health and safety. Client fi le audits against standards in relation to upholding privacy, confi dentiality and consent standards have been assessed alongside an examination of client feedback and complaints, appropriate intake, assessment and exit processes. Reports detailing compliance ratings and identifying improvement opportunities have subsequently been used to stimulate and inform consistent system improvement.


EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY AND SERVICE ENHANCEMENT

We will have meaningful interactions with our communities.

To deliver this we will...

» Know and understand the strengths and struggles of the communities in which we work

» Strengthen our advocacy voice; ending silence and making disadvantage visible

» Actively reach out to embrace social inclusion

* From The Connections Strategic Plan 2012-2015. To read complete plan go to connections.org.au/about-us and click on Strategic Direction

These services include a range of important functions namely: fi nancial and management accounting and reporting, payroll, risk management, provision of information technology and telecommunication services, property maintenance and development, fl eet management, procurement and contract negotiations and reviews.

In summarising the many activities carried out by Business Services during the year I am pleased to highlight the following key achievements:

» Major upgrade of the organisations’ Finance One budget and general ledger systems has improved overall functionality by enhancing reporting capability, data capture and transfer.

» Commencement of an exciting three year benchmarking review, conducted by the Nous Consulting Group. This project involves the participation of 12 other community services organisations, and will provide valuable information over the next three years on how we compare with our peers, in terms of both quantitative and qualitative measures across a range of administration and back-offi ce activities.

» Successful development and implementation of a unique client data base for the Adoption and Permanent Care program. This has signifi cantly improved the program’s ability to index and search client records and relationships, which also included major scanning of associated client fi les and documentation.

» The successful rebuilding of our Blackburn Offi ce which was badly destroyed by fi re in early 2010. This project demonstrated Business Services’ ability to project manage and ensure the construction was delivered on time and on budget.

» Tenders were undertaken during the year for electricity services and stationery supplies which resulted in cost savings ranging between 8-25%.

» Introduction of secure and professional offsite storage of agency fi les has enabled enhanced archiving and retrieval of client fi les, in particular Adoption and Permanent Care records, and freed up valuable offi ce space.

» The development of the fi rst stage of the organisational wide Strategic Property Plan was completed during the year, which articulates the property direction and improvements required to satisfy the organisation’s operations and overall business strategy.

» The organisation, through a selective tender process, has appointed BDO to provide internal audit services for the next three years, which will further enhance the organisations risk management practices and facilitate the role of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Board.

» The organisation’s back-up processes for electronic data was also enhanced with the implementation of live data replication to an offsite server, in conjunction with the usual standard daily back-ups, also stored offsite.

» We have begun the process of confi guring and implementing a new Payroll and Human Resources (HR) system to address the need to facilitate HR management and integration with the organisation’s core operating system.

Business Services provides a range of internal services to support and ensure the organisation performs effectively and achieves its key strategic objectives.

VINCENT BUCCI, GENERAL MANAGER, BUSINESS SERVICES

Business Services

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ORGANISATIONAL WIDE STRATEGIC PROPERTY PLAN WAS COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR, WHICH ARTICULATES THE PROPERTY DIRECTION AND IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED TO SATISFY THE ORGANISATION’S OPERATIONS AND OVERALL BUSINESS STRATEGY.


People, Learning and Culture has developed a new model of staff engagement and pro-active strategic projects that will incrementally build on existing human resources processes.

The People, Learning and Culture structure was reviewed to align with the new organisational approach and increased skills in the areas of workforce planning and occupational health and safety have been sourced and developed in the team. Key initiatives over the last year included:

» Working with the CEO and the Strategic Leadership Team to create greater staff engagement processes through the Connections Consultative Committee. The committee will increase opportunities for staff feedback and the regular Staff Forum format chaired by the CEO has moved to a more participatory style.

» Providing support and guidance to the organisation in relation to the Award modernisation process and the establishment of increased rigour in the classifi cation of roles and salaries.

» Reviewing and developing a suite of Human Resources and Occupational Health and Safety policies in support of organisational accreditation.

» Initiating and leading activities that develop leadership capacity around a shared commitment to the achievement of the Connections Strategic Plan 2010-2015. This has been achieved by supporting the CEO in co-ordinating the activities and events associated with the highest three levels of management into a Leadership Forum.

» Increasing the organisation’s reputation and infl uence within the sector with participation in two strategic not-for-profi t sector activities in relation to benchmarking of Human Resources initiatives and workforce planning.

» Improving the People, Learning and Culture reporting by expanding the range of information and indicators provided to the Strategic Leadership Team and the Board on a monthly basis.

» Consolidating learning and development activities within the organisation with the conducting of a training needs analysis, implementing a range of corporate programs, partnering with Community Services in support of Beginning Practice training and establishing a range of strategic professional development systems and processes.

» Building the capacity of the Occupational Health and Safety Leadership team comprising OH&S representatives and Manager representatives through the implementation of WorkSafe week events and a streamlined injury and incident reporting process.

We look forward to fully implementing a strategic service delivery partnership approach and integrating the functions of People, Learning and Culture in the organisation through the development of a 2012-2015 People, Learning and Culture plan.

In the past twelve months, People, Learning and Culture have worked with the CEO and the Strategic Leadership Team to confi rm the organisational culture following the re-structure in 2010.

SHARON HUTCHINSON, GENERAL MANAGER, PEOPLE, LEARNING AND CULTURE

People, Learning and Culture

...PROVIDING SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE TO THE ORGANISATION IN RELATION TO THE AWARD MODERNISATION PROCESS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INCREASED RIGOUR IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF ROLES AND SALARIES.


Community Relations has maintained a focus on profi le-raising for Connections twinned with a focus on community engagement. We have aimed to blend the need and desire to create a greater awareness of who we are and what we do at the same time as pursuing important new initiatives, events and activities that create contacts and connectedness with the people around us.

Community engagement and organisation identity are two important drivers in our Strategic Plan that Community Relations have actively focussed on. Our work in highlighting the 80 year history with 10 years as Connections UnitingCare continued throughout the later part of 2010. We provided an impressive array of presentations utilising our historical display and we were very grateful for community support to make this happen.

As part of this reaching out we conducted a ‘Tour of Connections’ where Board members and other decision-makers were invited to tour our offi ces at Mount Waverley, Croydon and Narre Warren. We were honoured to have Tina, Emma and Thorne who have in some ways become the ‘face of Connections’ present their experiences of accessing and being supported by our services on the sites

in which the programs they accessed are based. We were also able to have staff speak of the issues at each of these sites and it was a very well-received activity.

Other events and activities that had a strong community capacity building element included the highly successful Multicultural Festival where we partnered with bestchance to create an event that worked on a number of levels and gave us an opportunity to speak to our work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. In recognition of a coming together of two important days we also partnered with sister-agency Prahran Mission with an International Women’s Day and Pancake Day breakfast where we heard from Chief Executive Offi cer of McAuley Community Services for Women, Jocelyn Bignold, who spoke of her experiences helping women who have experienced abuse.

Community Relations plays an important role in internal communications and support to our staff. With this in mind we coordinated a number of activities that bring people together including events like the Grand Final Eve Breakfast and the Staff Christmas Party which included the presentation of the Environment Awareness Awards to staff. These Awards recognise the contribution a staff member has made either within the workplace or in their personal life around doing something positive for the environment.

A signifi cant piece of internal resource was the launch in early 2011 of a fully redeveloped staff intranet or Staff Web as it is known. This was a large project and now provides a useful way of sharing information and holding important pieces of information like policies in a uniform and systematic way.

Interesting and engaging work has taken place over the reporting period in the social media space by Connections with our historical images being held and publically available on a new Flickr page as well as updates and conversations happening on the Connections Facebook page. Videos by Connections are held on our YouTube channel and Community Relations staff members have used Twitter to keep people up-to-speed on work related to Connections. The strengthened and improved Connections website continues to be an important way for people to hear about our work and activities and the increasing site visits refl ects our work to promote the website.

Work around creating awareness through positive media stories has been very successful with approximately one story per fortnight featuring the work of Connections in one form or another. We carry all media stories on our website as well as media releases issued and all of this information can be viewed at connections.org.au/media

It has been a very busy year for Connections and the range of activities coordinated by Community Relations.

MATT CLEAR, MANAGER,COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Community Relations

THE STRENGTHENED AND IMPROVED CONNECTIONS WEBSITE CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR ABOUT OUR WORK AND ACTIVITIES AND THE INCREASING SITE VISITS REFLECTS OUR WORK TO PROMOTE THE WEBSITE.


We were successful in receiving a Google Ads Grant to the value of $10,000 per year which allows us to create search related advertisements about our programs and services. This service has generated 1382 clicks directly to our website in four months of operation.

Some of our work around technology-based solutions has been effective for raising individual or program-specifi c awareness, including for programs like Adoption and Permanent Care or Music Together as well as promotion for activities like the Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Awards.

Community Relations was also involved in a number of initiatives including the roll-out of computers in Connections offi ce receptions and child-friendly items with the express aim of creating a resource for clients and visitors. Community Relations coordinated activities across the reporting period, including the Annual WJ Craig Lecture, Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Awards, the Christmas Food & Gift Appeal, the three rounds of allocations from the South Eastern Chances scholarship program and the Uniting Church Parliamentary Forum in the lead-up to the State election.

Community Relations has overseen a number of fundraising initiatives, including a variety of successful grants, developed further the Birthday Blessings and Connections Community Partner regular giving program. We were very grateful to obtain a grant from the Uniting Church’s, Board of Mission and Resourcing (BOMAR) in support of our new program Newpin.

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Janeen, a mother of three, was at the end of her tether when she fi rst came to Connections – fi nancially and emotionally.

Destructive relationships took their toll on Janeen and her children. Her husband abused alcohol and drifted in and out of her children’s lives following their separation, and her next partner was very controlling and tried to continuously rein in her outgoing ways.

Janeen sought happiness by opening a shop. When the business failed and her relationship with her partner ended, he claimed half of the house and her half went towards paying off her debts. She found another job yet she was paid irregularly, depending on how well the business was doing, which placed a huge strain on her family.

‘I was there working all day everyday and not being paid because there was no money coming in and it got to a point where I began to get very depressed.

‘I would walk in the door after work, and go straight to my room and shut the door. I’d be on my computer working most of the night and my kids wouldn’t get anything out of me. At the last minute they’d go “Mum, I’m hungry” and I would say to them “Go make yourself something for dinner.” I convinced myself that I was trying to make my children independent.’

Janeen fi rst came into contact with Connections through the Child FIRST program. Her initial fear was that she was going to lose her children, but she found the staff to be wonderfully supportive and helpful. She reduced her working hours to work around her children and she was put into contact with her caseworker Kathleen.

‘She has really just shown me that I’m not on my own, even though I thought I was at the time. She showed me that there are many other places out there that can help me, and she pointed me in the right direction because I just couldn’t get myself together to think outside the square I was living in at the time.

‘She put a lot of things into place for me that I just couldn’t cope with and because she removed a lot of the negativity and excessive worries from my head, I was able to fi nd myself again and slowly come in and start taking responsibility. How she guided me through every step was really amazing, and it was just wonderful to begin to feel a small amount of peace come my way.’

Kathleen visited Janeen in her home and provided her with step-by-step parenting tools and skills that she is now able to put in place in her family. She has seen the effects fi lter down to her three children too.

‘I don’t think you could even put an amount on what Kathleen’s done for me. I mean

she’s saved not only my life but three young children and then you look at the pyramid effect from that; my children’s children, my children’s partners. She’s not just come in here and saved one life.’

Kathleen helped Janeen to access a range of resources in the community which allowed her to receive food vouchers and her boys to attend a sports clinic over the school holidays which was an excellent way for them to keep out of trouble, and she also helped out with a number of situations that have arisen within the school where her children attend. More than anything, Kathleen helped Janeen gain strength and confi dence again.

‘Connections’ support has helped me to fi nd myself again and I seriously owe my life, and my children’s lives, to you. It is amazing what the kind of support of one person can do to breathe confi dence back into your life.

‘If you make this kind of difference to even 5% of the people you visit, then you all deserve a medal of honour. You can all stand up and be counted for the amazing work that you do.

‘Once again thank you for saving my life, there are no words to describe how grateful I am to be able to hold my head up high once again, and thank you for the ongoing support from Connections.’

JANEEN’S STORY

“ Connections’ support has helped me to fi nd myself again and I seriously owe my life, and my children’s lives, to you.”Janeen


Child FIRST aims to provide support to families by improving their ability and resources to cope with diffi cult times.

How does Child FIRST work?

The primary purpose of Child FIRST is to ensure that children, young people and their families are linked effectively into all relevant services.

When you call Child FIRST, you can expect to receive:

» A single telephone number for family services

» Appropriate information and advice over the phone

» A referral to services that meet your needs

» Assistance in identifying the needs of you and your children; and the support in identifying goals that will meet those needs

» A worker that can attend your home to assist you towards achieving your goals

» A worker that can come to your home to assist with strengthening and improving your parenting skills

» Information about groups that are available for you to attend (for example, young mums, single parents, grandparents and carers, etc).

Janeen accessed Connections Child FIRST program.

Photo: Janeen and Connections Case Worker Kathleen

Rabia, Connections staff member, tells us more about what it’s like working with us...

What is your specifi c job title?My specifi c job title is Intake and Assessment Worker within the Child FIRST team. Child FIRST aims to provide support to families by improving their ability and resources to cope with diffi cult times.

How long have you worked at Connections for?I have worked at Connections for 15 months now (as of October 2011).

What has your experience at Connections been like? My experience at Connections has been great. I have had loads of opportunities for professional and personal development and upon refl ection I can see I have grown both personally and professionally. I have learnt a lot from my Team Leader who has been a great mentor and has assisted me in overcoming my weaknesses and turning them into strengths. I feel like a valued member of my team and Connections.

What drew you to work for an organisation like Connections?I had heard that Connections was a very supportive organisation and that staff were treated well and I wanted to work in an organisation where I could have the opportunities to learn and grow professionally.

What are some of the key aspects of your role? Child FIRST is a centralised intake point for family services. The key focus of my role within this team is to ensure that families, children and young people are linked into appropriate services in a timely manner. Child FIRST work is based on the Best Interest Principles as per the Children Youth and Families Act 2005 and Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005.

What are the most challenging aspects of your role?Some of the challenges faced as a Child FIRST worker is trying to engage at risk families. Child FIRST is a voluntary service and sometimes families decide that they are not in need of services. Engaging these families and trying to link them into appropriate services is a challenge. However it is also quite rewarding when I am able to link these families by using various creative engagement strategies.

In your opinion, what sets Connections apart from other similar organisations?I believe that Connections is different from other organisations because Connections actually implements organisational values and provides a very supportive environment to all staff.

We provide a range of innovative and early intervention programs and services, confi dently challenging decision makers when funding or policy settings do not meet the high standards our clients need. Hand-in-hand as staff with our supporters and the community, we are forging the future for child, youth and family services.

Working With Us

CONNECTIONS IS PROUD TO BE A PROGRESSIVE AND INNOVATIVE LEADER IN THE FAMILY SERVICES SECTOR.


Photo: Rabia

You can sign up for job alerts and fi nd out more about working with us at connections.org.au

One way in which we were able to achieve this was by partnering with another community organisation in the coordination of a multicultural festival showcasing multicultural food, services, performances and culture within the City of Monash.

The bestchance Multicultural Festival in partnership with Connections UnitingCare was celebrated on Sunday 27 March in Glen Waverley as part of broader Cultural Diversity Week celebrations.

Highlights of the day included the many local acts who proudly represented their culture as part of a jam-packed program of performances. Acts included a Bollywood dance group, who along with a Polynesian cultural group invited the crowd onto the stage as part of a dancing workshop, a traditional Greek choir, a Chinese Lion Dance and a Sri Lankan Traditional Kandyan dance that included one of the youngest performers on the day at the age of just 7.

There were many activities for children including a petting farm and jumping castle as well as a special children’s activity tent where they were taught how to make traditional Chinese lanterns and paint Boomerangs.

Cooking demonstrations from different cultures, a henna artist, art and craft stalls as well a Chinese Brush painting demonstration were just some of the other activities available for the adults to enjoy while the children were kept entertained.

Connections’ Manager, Community Relations, Matt Clear, believes the festival was a great success for not only the agencies involved in organising it but also for the wider Monash community.

‘The festival was a great way for the some 30 different cultures that live in the City of Monash to come together through food, activities and performances with the same common goal,’ Matt said.

‘Connections is always looking at ways in which we can embrace and celebrate the many cultures that our staff work directly with each day.’

Connections own Monash Chinese Family Services Project also proved to be very popular on the day with many children enjoying the art and craft activities that were organised by Coordinator Joseph Jin and Playgroup Coordinator Jenny Zhang.

We are forging and building partnerships to ensure that we can be guided and can improve our understanding, responsiveness and work with culturally and linguistically diverse people including Aboriginal families and communities.

Cultural Diversity


CONNECTIONS HAS A STRONG COMMITMENT TO DEVELOP CULTURALLY APPROPRIATE SERVICES.

Photo includes: Jenny Zhang, Graham Williams and Joseph Jin

Connections was honoured to have Yorta Yorta woman and Chief Executive Offi cer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) Muriel Bamblett presenting the 24th Annual WJ Craig Lecture. In her speech entitled, Just Terms and Fair Treatment: Towards a New National Story for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous Australia, Muriel spoke about the continual hardships that face Indigenous Australians stating that ‘any attempts to address disadvantage without understanding and protecting Indigenous rights and addressing foundational issues are likely to continue to be unsuccessful.’

In her thought provoking and moving speech, Muriel spoke about the need for a renewed treaty between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to ensure that each Australian has the right to social inclusion. Muriel said ‘…I believe that the answer for our children does lie in self-determination and in our continued ability to maintain our cultural connection.’

The Annual WJ Craig Lecture honours Connections’ history and the philanthropic legacy of William John Craig (1839-1899) and his family that endures in the work of Connections to this day.

The 2010 Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Award was presented to main recipient Michael D’Rosario for his work in founding the Nexus Foundation. The Nexus Foundation focusses on the redress of poverty with the goal of supporting community organisations. Nexus’ most recent project has been developing low cost computing solutions to be sent to developing nations.

As part of the Nexus Foundation, Michael was instrumental in setting up the Hope Scholars program that funds the tertiary education of some of the poorest students in South East Asia and Australia.

‘With the support of Connections UnitingCare and other supporting agencies, we’re going to be able to mobilise around 300 smart book devices into Africa. It is a drop in the ocean I will acknowledge that... I am nonetheless still proud of what has been afforded to us and what we will hopefully be able to do down the track,’ Michael said.

Encouragement Awards were also presented to Fraser Goff, Hayley French and Kumari Middleton for their outstanding work in poverty-related issues.

Highlights of the Year

THE 24TH ANNUAL WJ CRAIG LECTURE, CONNECTIONS UNITINGCARE ANTI-POVERTY AWARDS, HAMPTON PARK RESOURCE ROOM 2ND BIRTHDAY, CONNECTIONS CHRISTMAS FOOD & GIFT APPEAL


The 24th Annual WJ Craig Lecture

Connections UnitingCare Anti-Poverty Awards

From left to right: Kumari Middleton, Fraser Goff, Hayley French, Michael D’Rosario

Photo: Muriel Bamblett

The Hampton Park Family Resource Room celebrated its second birthday on June 30th and recognised another year of signifi cant growth in community need.

The Family Resource Room is located at Hampton Park Uniting Place and is a joint resource for Connections clients and the local Hampton Park community. The delicious food for the day was made by Uniting Place volunteers and was enjoyed by 50 attendees, including many children who participate in the local Music Together group.

In its second year of operation, the Family Resource Room provided 476 items of clothing and 1228 food items – close to three times the amount provided in its fi rst year. Such data indicates the diffi culty facing many families and highlights both the need and positive relationship between Connections, Hampton Park Uniting Place and the greater community of Hampton Park.

The 2010 Connections Christmas Food & Gift Appeal supplied close to 3000 gifts and food hampers to over 1300 families and individuals in need.

With the generosity of the many schools, churches, individuals and organisations including Target stores and their customers, we were given over $85,000 worth of gifts.

With the support of Connections case workers, clients were able to access the appeal and receive essential items right up until to Christmas Eve.

Connections’ was also fortunate enough to be able to support two other agencies by providing them with food and gifts after they found themselves without their main source of donations.

Doncare Community Services, an agency that Connections works in partnership with as part of the Inner East Integrated Family Services Alliance and Hampton Park Uniting Place were supplied food and gifts from Connections so that their clients could also experience some Christmas cheer.

Hampton Park Resource Room 2nd Birthday

Connections Christmas Food & Gift Appeal

Highlights of the Year

BLACKBURN OFFICE RE-OPENING, FINANCIAL COUNSELLING


Connections was thrilled to have the Minister for Mental Health, Women’s Affairs and Community Services, the Hon. Mary Wooldridge MP on hand to offi cially re-open our Blackburn offi ce after it was severely affected by a fi re.

Speaking at the re-opening, Connections Chief Executive Offi cer, Angela Forbes said that it was a testament to all those involved, particularly our staff, that there was minimal disruption to any of the services offered to clients throughout the whole process.

The event also noted the importance of the relationship with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and the important work done by Aboriginal Liaison Workers in the co-location arrangement between Connections and VACCA being realised at the Blackburn offi ce.

Connections unveiled a piece of Aboriginal art created by Jodie Cadd from VACCA that features an image that has a partnership perspective with a young child at the centre of the work we do. This painting is now proudly on display in the reception area of the Blackburn offi ce.

Connections fi nancial counselling program was successful in receiving a $20,000 grant from Financial Counselling Australia to establish an assessment tool for fi nancial counsellors to identify fi nancial and other forms of abuse.

It is anticipated that the tool will be widely circulated amongst Financial Counsellors throughout Australia and will benefi t clients who may seek the help of a fi nancial counsellor as a fi rst point of contact to address the impact of fi nancial diffi culties caused as a result of fi nancial abuse.

The assessment tool will give fi nancial counsellors the confi dence to ask clients if they are affected by family violence and to assist them to seek help. This will enhance service delivery to vulnerable women experiencing fi nancial abuse and other forms of violence.

Connections Financial Counselling provides information and support to people who are experiencing fi nancial diffi culties for individuals and families living in the local government areas of Glen Eira, Port Phillip and Stonnington.

Blackburn Offi ce Re-Opening

Financial Counselling

From left: Angela Forbes, Fiona Hanlon, The Hon. Mary Wooldridge MP and Dee Ryall MP

Finance Committee Report

OVERALL, AS A RESULT OF SOUND AND EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE AND OPERATIONAL MANAGEMENT, CONNECTIONS CONTINUES TO PERFORM WELL FINANCIALLY, WHICH WILL ENABLE US TO SUSTAIN AND GROW VITAL SERVICES FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.


Connections recorded a strong net operating surplus of $852,541 for the fi nancial year ending 30 June 2011. Signifi cantly, this result was achieved while ensuring Connections client targets and service delivery commitments, as per respective State and Federal funding agreements, were satisfactorily met.

Total income received for the year of $21.6 million, rose by 11.9% when compared to last year’s fi gure of $19.3 million. This increase was largely driven by the annual indexation of total funding provided by both the State and Federal Governments and additional Government funding to support new program initiatives, which have further enhanced our range of social services for children, young people and families.

Of the $21.6 million of income received this year, $17.7 million (or 81.9%) was provided by the State Government under a range of funding and service agreements.

To successfully deliver effective client-focussed services, Connections very much depends on a dedicated and committed work force. As such, total employee costs for Connections this year were $15.4 million, which represented 74.3% of our total expenditure. Compared to last year’s cost of $13.9 million, this represented an increase of $1.7 million. This resulted

primarily from the gradual increase in staff numbers to support new program initiatives and greater stability in staffi ng levels due to lower than anticipated staff turnover compared to previous years.

In order to deliver a range of community services effectively, Connections also relies on a network of offi ces situated within the inner and outer eastern and southern metropolitan suburban regions of Melbourne. Accordingly, expenses to service and maintain these offi ces represented our second largest cost and totalled $1.4 million, or 6.8% of total expenditure.

Other expenses, covering items such as staff training, publicity, fundraising, corporate levies and information technology, was our next largest category at 4.7% of total expenses.

Other major expenditure, particularly the direct assistance of clients having diffi culties meeting everyday living costs (such as rental payments, gas and electricity bills, food and clothing), totalled $643,348 for the year. This represented 3.1% of total expenditure and an increase of 6.6% on the previous year’s payment of $546,664.

Appropriate risk management controls and policies underpins the governance of Connections fi nancial position, which has further strengthened this fi nancial year as a result of growth in services and improved operating performance.

During the year Connections cash and fi nancial investment holdings (represented as “cash and cash equivalents” and “other fi nancial assets” within the Statement of Financial Position) grew from $12.0 million to $14.0 million, while our net asset position increased by $1.2 million from $13.8 million last year to $15.0 million as at 30 June 2011.

Overall, as a result of sound and effective governance and operational management, Connections continues to perform well fi nancially, which will enable us to sustain and grow vital services for the communities we serve, now and into the future.

Bronwyn Wellings Chairperson, Finance Committee

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE FINANCIAL POSITION

ASSETS Current Assets

Cash and Cash Equivalents 138,339 365,885

Trade and Other Receivables 193,211 233,722

Other Financial Assets 13,899,312 11,674,911

Other Assets 234,213 240,889

Total Current Assets 14,465,075 12,515,417

Non-Current Assets

Land 924,125 924,125

Buildings 4,261,346 4,252,420

Plant and Equipment 317,576 426,413

Motor Vehicles 1,349,604 1,244,202

Software 135,773 47,334

Total Non-Current Assets 6,988,424 6,894,494

TOTAL ASSETS 21,453,499 19,409,911

LIABILITIES

Current Liabilities

Trade and Other Payables 1,613,827 1,333,474

Other Financial Liabilities 2,267,732 1,957,804

Borrowings 614,774 -

Provisions 1,381,587 1,182,963

Total Current Liabilities 5,263,146 4,474,241

Non-Current Liabilities

Borrowings - 614,774

Provisions 599,065 552,634

Total Non-Current Liabilities 1,213,839 1,167,408

TOTAL LIABILITIES 6,476,985 5,641,649

NET ASSETS 14,976,514 13,768,262

EQUITY

Contributed Equity 983,768 983,768

Reserves 12,347,681 11,991,970

Retained Earnings 1,645,065 792,524

TOTAL EQUITY 14,976,514 13,768,262

INCOME State Government Grants 17,705,535 15,887,832

Commenwealth Government Grants 1,090,326 1,062,861

Local Government Grants 94,001 63,707

Other Grants 591,887 461,648

Fees 905,089 882,305

Donations and Bequets 66,828 134,145

Fundraising 85,928 72,613

Interest 726,711 558,464

Other Income 319,732 153,530

Total Income 21,586,037 19,277,105

EXPENDITURE

Employee Entitlements 15,407,127 13,934,203

Clients Costs 643,348 546,664

Property Costs 1,421,972 1,068,718

Motor Vehicle Expenditure 466,209 445,668

Administrative Expenses 882,281 923,056

Subcontractors Costs 174,964 361,194

Other Expenditure 975,742 911,152

Depreciation and Amortisation 761,853 835,168

Total Expenses 20,733,496 19,025,823

(Defi cit)/Surplus for the year 852,541 251,282

This is a summarised Income Statement, which is consistent

with fully externally audited fi nancial statements.

This is a summarised Statement of Financial position, which is consistent with fully externally audited fi nancial statements.

2011 ($) 2010 ($) 2011 ($) 2010 ($)


Statement of Financial Position

SPECIAL PURPOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2011

Statement of Comprehensive Income



Summarised Financial Report


Notes to the Summarised Financial Report for the Year Ended 30 June 2011

Note 1: Statement of Signifi cant Accounting Policies

The summarised Financial Report has been derived from the full fi nancial report of Connections UnitingCare for the year ended 30 June 2011. A copy of the full fi nancial report and auditor’s report are available to members upon request.

All amounts are presented in Australian dollars.

A full description of the accounting policies adopted by the Agency is provided in Note 3 of the fi nancial statements for the year ended 30 June 2011, which form part of the full fi nancial report.

Amount $000 %

State Government Grants 17,706 82.03%

Commonwealth Government Grants 1,090 5.05%

Local Government Grants 94 0.44%

Other Grants 592 2.74%

Fees 905 4.19%

Other Income 1,199 5.55%

21,586 100.00%

Amount $000 %

Employee Entitlements 15,407 74.31%

Client Costs 643 3.10%

Administration Expenses 882 4.25%

Subcontractors Expenses 175 0.84%

Property Costs 1,422 6.86%

Motor Vehicles Expenses 466 2.25%

Depreciation and Amortisation 762 3.68%

Other Expenses 976 4.71%

20,733 100.00%

State Government 82%

Other Income 6%

Fees 4%

Local Goverment Grants .4%

Other Grants 2%

Commonwealth Government Grants 5%

Employee Entitlements 74%

Other Expenses 4%

Depreciation and Amortisation 3%

Motor Vehicles Expenses 2%

Property Costs 6%

Subcontractors Expenses .8%

Administration Expenses 4%

Client Costs 3%

Source of Income 2010/11 Application of Funds 2010/11


ConnectionsSupporters

Government

» City of Casey » City of Cardinia (Youth Services) » City of Glen Eira » City of Melbourne » City of Monash » City of Port Philip » Consumer Affairs Victoria » Department of Education, Employment

and Work Place Relations (DEEWR) » Department of Housing, Community

Services, and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

» Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD)

» Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS)

» Victorian Department of Justice

Corporate

» Clemenger BBDO » Citywide » Donnellons Body Works » ESP Pty Ltd (Etiko Fairtrade

and Jinta Sport) » Fort Knox » Global Talk » Hydrafi lta » Klein Business Furniture » Lock King » Offi cemax » Optus » Pink Healthcare » Ringwood Magistrates Court » Ritchies’ Stores Pty Ltd » Roller City Bayswater » Service Stream Pty Ltd » Shane Bell Photography » SingTel Optus Pty Ltd » Target Stores Australia » TechnologyOne Pty Ltd » The Order of the Eastern Star

and the Prahran Chapter no.89 » The Reject Shop and Staff » Toshiba Australia » Toyota » Trumble Print » UCA Funds Management » Village Roadshow » Workspace Commercial Furniture

Community (Partners and Collaborators)

» Anglicare » Bayside Community Information and

Support Service (BayCISS) » Bentleigh Bayside Community Health

Service » Berry Street Victoria » bestchance Child Family Care » Bethany Community Support » Big Brothers Big Sisters » Broadmeadows UnitingCare » Camcare » CatholicCare » Centre for Excellence in Family Welfare » Centre for Multicultural Youth » Children’s Protection Society » Commission for Mission - Uniting Church

of Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

» Dandenong and District Aboriginal Co-Operative Limited

» Dingley Village Community Advice Bureau » Doncare » Family Life » Glastonbury Child and Family Services » Good Beginnings Australia » Good Shepherd Youth & Family Services » Hanover Welfare Services » Headspace » Inner South Community Health » Jesuit Social Services » Jewish Care » KU Children’s Services » Lighthouse Foundation

WE CAN’T DO WHAT WE DO WITHOUT SUPPORT. THANK YOU TO OUR FUNDERS, DONORS, SUPPORTERS AND LIKE-MINDED ORGANISATIONS THAT HAVE WORKED WITH US AS PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS.

» MacKillop Family Services » Melbourne City Mission » Narre Community Learning Centre » New Hope Refugee and Migrant Service » Odyssey Family Services » OzChild » Parentzone » Pendap » Playgroup Victoria » Prahran Mission » SCOPE - Eastern Specialist Services » SHARE Community Appeal » Shire of Cardinia Youth Services » South East Local Learning & Employment

Network (SELLEN) » South East Migrant Resource Centre » Southern Health » Springvale Indo-Chinese Mutual

Assistance Association (SICMAA) » St Luke’s Anglicare » The Salvation Army » UnitingCare East Burwood Centre » The Smith Family » Victoria Police » Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency » Wesley Mission Melbourne » Windermere Child and Family Services » YWCA

Philanthropic Support

» ANZ Trustees » Bell Charitable Fund » David Taylor Galt Charitable Trust » Equity Trustees » Joseph Thornton Tweedle » Perpetual Trustees » Public Record Offi ce of Victoria » Swinburne Philanthropy Alumni (SPA)

Trust » SHARE Community Appeal » Victorian Community Foundation - The

Ruth Fagg Foundation » Walter and Eliza Hall Trust, The

Schools

» Beaconshill College » Billanook College » Clayton North Primary School » Cranbourne West Primary School » Ewing Kindergarten » Dandenong Secondary College » Haileybury College (Berwick Campus) » Methodist Ladies College » Wesley College » Woorana Park Primary School

Donors

» Angeline Ting » Anne & Neil Pollock » Blue Scope Lysaght » Bronwyn Wellings » Cora H Harris » Dandenong Admin Group

» Donald Martin » Dr Barbara Sawyer » Eastern Emergency Relief » Headmasters Academy » Kate O’Donnell » Knit One Give One » Laurence Mann » Micropay Pty Ltd » Mrs Iris M Thomas » Oceania Bikes » Pemara Labels » Ray White Dandenong » Rob and Bev Aitkien » Ross Barker » St John’s Uniting Church Op Shop » Suzi Chen » Toorak Uniting Church

Bequests

The Estate of the late Harry Halliwell

We acknowledge the wonderful support and productive relationships with Uniting Church friends across our catchment area.

We sincerely thank supporters who have opted to be a Connections Community Partner making their regular pledge of support. As well as the regular support provided through contributions from those that opt to be a Connections Community Partner we warmly thank Donors who have made a contribution to us.

You know that Connections provides a range of innovative and early intervention programs that support children, young people and their families giving them a better chance in life now and in the future, but we can’t do it without you. Would you like to get involved? Here are some options...

Complete the Connect with Connections form or go to connections.org.au for more options.

Keep up-to-date with what’s happening at Connections. You have the choice of signing up to receive our seasonal hard-copy newsletter or be placed on our email list to receive the Connections E-News.

Make a donation in support of the work of Connections. Complete the attached form to make your donation or visit our website to fi nd out more and donate online.

CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER OR E-NEWS

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LIKE WHAT YOU’VE READ? HAVE YOU BEEN INSPIRED BY THE WORK OF CONNECTIONS – THE STORIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES WHO HAVE DIFFICULTIES BUT ARE BUILDING ON THEIR STRENGTHS AND WORKING TO OVERCOME THEIR ISSUES?

GET INVOLVED

MAKE A CONNECTION WITH US. WE’RE HAPPY TO PLACE YOU ON OUR HARD-COPY OR EMAIL BASED LISTS TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON THE WORK OF CONNECTIONS. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION HELPING US PROVIDE A RANGE OF INNOVATIVE AND EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT MARGINALISED CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES.

CONNECT WITH CONNECTIONS

Connections UnitingCare Direct Debit Request

By returning this form you request Connections UnitingCare to arrange for funds to be debited from your account at the fi nancial institution identifi ed. We will endeavour to debit the funds on the fi rst day of each month (or as close to that as possible). If you wish to change or cancel any aspect to this arrangement please call 03 9271 0800 and ask to speak to Community Relations.

Both signatures required if joint account

Signature Date / /

Signature Date / /

PRIVACY POLICY: Connections acknowledges and respects the privacy of all individuals. The agency will comply with the Privacy Principles contained in the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000 (Commonwealth), the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic) and the Health Records Act 2001 (Vic). You can ask to see our Privacy Policy. If you have any questions call 03 9271 0800 and ask to speak to Community Relations.

Name (Ms/Mrs/Miss/Mr)

Address

Suburb Postcode

Phone Mobile

Email

Date of Birth / /

I want to become a Connections Community Partner, by donating each month(all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible).

$20 $30 $50 Other $

I want to make a one-off donation of (complete credit card details below or cheques should be made payable to Connections UnitingCare)

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Post this coupon to Community Relations, Connections UnitingCare, Reply Paid 2240, Mount Waverley Victoria 3149.

Fax this coupon to 03 9271 0888

Email this coupon to [email protected]

Or you can call 03 9271 0800 and ask to speak to Community Relations to discuss options.

Thank you for your support.

SEND THIS NOW

CONNECTIONS ANNUAL REPORT 2011

Connections UnitingCare31 Hardner Road Mount WaverleyVictoria 3149 Australia

T 03 9271 0800 F 03 9271 [email protected]

The cover image is of Bernada and her Case Worker Sid. Our work and the way we do it is all about community engagement. To fulfi l our role we aim to have meaningful interactions and to know and understand the strengths and struggles of people we work with.

‘Having the worker around to build up my confi dence and encourage me to do better for myself only helped when entering into a new phase of my life...’

» Find out more about Bernada on page 10

connections.org.au

connections unitingcare annual report 2011

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