The Morelander Edition 23, 2020-21

Bulletin of the Rotary Club of Moreland

EDITION 23|3 MARCH 2021

THE MORELANDER

YHOP - HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THOUGH LIFE'S

Wendy Caspar from Youth Projects tells us about this unique youth program in the northern suburbs

Pages 3 and 4

Award of Excellence for Club Bulletin 2018-2019

MAZE

Moreland Rotary acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the eastern Kulin Nations on whose unceded lands we conduct our business. Moreland Rotary respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging. Moreland Rotary also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

Cover photo courtesy of Youth Projects THE MORELANDER

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HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE THOUGH THE MAZE OF LIFE - WENDY CASPAR AND YHOP

Young people can find it very hard to work their way though the “system” to get the sort of help that may lead them to a more secure and happier future. They may have many issues to deal with, stranded between home and school, mental and physical health, poverty, homelessness and more. Whatever the case, they often need a lot of help to understand the many different services out there and where they can get the help they need to build their lives.

Youth Projects in Glenroy has, since 2018, experimented successfully with a service to help young people in the City of Hume find the right sort of help. It is called Youth in Hume Outreach Program or YHOP for short but forget the name and acronym, the important thing is that its youth workers talk to young people having difficulties to help them get the critical personal services they need and to understand how the complex “system works”.

There are many good organisations and people out there but often they don't talk to each other or even know each other let alone them work together and young people don't know about them. YHOP holds the hands of these young people, builds positive relationships and helps them find their way by connecting them with these services. Its youth workers go out into the community meeting young people and becoming known and trusted by them.

The case study of a young woman on the next page shows you a really good example of how YHOP can work to support a young person. Knowledge is a powerful thing and the more these young people have, the better their prospects.

THE MORELANDER

Our club through our Youth Mental Health Forums became aware that many of the young people YHOP was seeing came from the Moreland area.

Moreland City Council Youth Services were also aware of this and that this was meeting an important need so we agreed that there should be funding for a pilot in Moreland which would hopefully lead to an extension of YHOP into the area. Around $20,000 is needed for a part time youth worker to get it going in Moreland.

Consideration of this continues and other sources of funding are being sought but our club decided to offer some modest support to the program especially given that other key Rotary youth programs have taken a back seat during the pandemic. We were therefore glad to contribute $1,000.YHOP claims to be unique in Australia for the type of service it offers young people.

Wendy Caspar who oversees this program on behalf of Youth Projects was our guest last week so it was our pleasure to both welcome her and to announce our club's contribution. Our Assistant Governor and Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) Senior Leader Emma Davis was present last week took the opportunity to promote Rotary leadership programs such as RYLA to Wendy as another opportunity for the young people she meets.

If you would like to know more about YHOP or how you may financially support it in Moreland, please ring Wendy Caspar on 03 9304 9100 TEXT: DAVID REDFEARN | IMAGES: DAVID REDFEARN AND YOUTH PROJECTS

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CASE STUDY: "JESSICA"*, 19 YEARS OF AGE "Jessica" engaged with YHOP in July 2020 just one day after her 19th birthday. She stated that she was extremely frustrated with her situation and was motivated to ‘fix her life up’. At that time, "Jessica" was living unstably between her friend’s house and her aunt’s house, had no employment, no mental health support and was worried about committing an offence while she was on probation before her court case in February as even a minor offence like Jay walking would cause reprimand. She elaborated on her frustration to YHOP stating that she was ‘really annoyed’ that all the services she had called had not helped her. Whether it was housing, job applications or mental health support she was receiving nothing and was upset about it.

"Jessica" spoke to YHOP about some of the goals she wishes to accomplish. Her goals were: Stable housing Mend relationship with Aunty Attain housing, mental health support Create safety plan Not committing any crimes Employment As Covid-19 restrictions were in place, YHOP and "Jessica" communicated via various technology weekly. Whether it was over the phone or on zoom, she was completely engaged in working with YHOP to achieve her goals.

Throughout the time with working with YHOP, "Jessica" had multiple opportunities to attain housing through Hope Street and she was very appreciative of that. However, through the support she was receiving as well as her new employment opportunity, "Jessica" had mended her relationship with her aunty and her housing situation was very stable and she was very grateful for that. She understood that if she ever needed housing support it would be available to her and she did not feel disempowered because of the support she had received.

"Jessica" with assistance from YHOP was able to find a psychologist to help her with her mental health.

Through her own initiative, determination and commitment to ‘fixing her life’ along with support from YHOP and other various impactful services, "Jessica" was able to achieve her all her goals that she had set out to accomplish with YHOP. Her biggest goal of housing was achieved twofold: Through her being able to have a case worker that provides options for different types of housing (as before working with YHOP, "Jessica" was frustrated that no one was helping her) Mending her relationship with her aunty to the point that she can call her housing stable and enjoy where she is living!

Initially YHOP worked with "Jessica" to get her connected with housing support. She was not hopeful in finding a service that could provide continued case management and support her with what she needs. Within the first month of working with YHOP, "Jessica" was referred to, and started working with a housing support service that she was comfortable with (Hope Street). This service provided continuous case management and housing support counselling. Along with YHOP and other services at Youth Projects (DES and TTW), "Jessica" also found suitable employment, working at a call Centre 5 days a week. The engagement with YHOP, Hope Street as well as finding employment helped "Jessica" keep busy and she mentioned how it felt good to have a direction to go in her life.

After a few months "Jessica" was feeling empowered to start calling services that may benefit her again. YHOP notified her of services that could help her and that they can refer her to those services if she wishes. "Jessica" however, wanted to make a selfreferral and call these services on her own, demonstrating real determination and motivation. Through her efforts, "Jessica" was able to enter an 8-week mental health program provided by Orygen as well as continued mental health support after the program concluded. *Name has been changed to protect anonymity

THE MORELANDER

TEXT: WENDY CASPAR | IMAGES COURTESY OF Y0UTH PROJECTS

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About Rotary District Governor's Newsletter "Bruce's Bulletin" is the monthly newsletter of District Governor Bruce Anderson. There is a lot of information about the many Rotary projects and events across our District.

Simply click here to read the latest edition Members of Rotary are part of a diverse group of community and professional leaders working to address community and international service needs and to promote peace and understanding throughout the world.

Rotary districts are a way of grouping a number of clubs in a particular geographic area. The area covered quite often crosses state and even international boundaries.

Rotary District 9790 encompasses the northern Rotary clubs receive a charter suburbs of Melbourne and from the worldwide organisation - stretches north and north east of Rotary International.

Victoria to the Murray River and up into parts of NSW. A Rotarian belongs to a particular Rotary Club often near his/her For more information about home or work or sometimes Rotary District 9790, click here because of the club meeting time.

THE MORELANDER

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Rotary Leadership 2020-21

Rotary International: President: Holger Knaack (Susanne) , Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenberg-Mölln (Germany) District Governor: Bruce Anderson (Marilyn), Rotary Club of Strathmore Assistant Governor Group 2: Emma Davis, Rotary Club of Moreland Rotary Club of Moreland President: David Redfearn (Deanna)

Club Service Roles 2020-21

President Secretary Treasurer Club Service Community Service Vocational Services International Service and Assistant Bulletin Editor Membership and Rotary Foundation Local Environment Youth and Assistant Secretary Club Administration Bulletin Editor Australian Rotary Health Public Relations Club History Valued members Honorary Members

David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman John Hoffmann Brian Bennett David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett Trevor Moyle Trevor Moyle Jo Connellan Silvana De Pretto Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Rosemary Freeman Russell Stuckey Nino Galgano Richard McCarthy, Elly Gardner, Lee Garwood. Emma Davis The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Helen Bailey, John Awler

District 9790 /Multi District Roles 2020-21

Assistant Governor, Group 2 District Community Service Chair and Australian Rotary Health District Legal Officer District Bulletin Editor and Peter Toomey Community Police Award Shine On Awards

Emma Davis Rosemary Freeman Nino Galgano David Redfearn OAM Brian Bennett

WHEN AND WHERE WE MEET: Moreland Rotary Club meets most Wednesdays at 7.30 for a 7.40 am start.

We meet at the Sorrento Bar, 801 Sydney Road, Brunswick, 3056 HOW TO GET A COPY OF THE MORELANDER: If you would like to receive our bulletin via email each week, email our editor at: dredfearn@vtown.com.au WHERE TO SEND FORMAL CORRESPONDENCE: Attention: The Secretary, Moreland Rotary Club, PO Box 219, Coburg, Victoria, 3058

Chartered 14 August 1996 - Sponsor Club Coburg Rotary Club | Incorporated 13 August 2019 Designed using Canva - www.canva.com

THE MORELANDER

Images by David Redfearn and logos from rotary.org unless otherwise specified.

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Upcoming events and meetings A standing invitation exists for all readers of The Morelander to attend Moreland Rotary Club meetings and some of our other events. Please let us know if you intend to join us by ringing David Redfearn on 0448 852 747 or emailing on dredfearn@vtown.com.au (click on email address).

Upcoming speakers/events 3 March: Michael Carney, Coburg Harriers Chair: Emma Davis 10 March: Monthly Board meeting Chair: President David Redfearn 17March: TBA Chair: Nino Galgano 24 March: TBA Chair: John Hoffmann

Our Guest Speakers Moreland Rotary Club invites speakers to our club both from our local community and further afield. They come from a wide range of backgrounds and are invited because they hopefully inform and stimulate our members and guests. We feel that this is of value in fostering a deeper understanding of our diverse community and even providing guidance as to the types of activites and projects our club may engage in.

However the opinions expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect any official viewpoint of Moreland Rotary nor those of individual club members. Irrespective of this we always offer a warm Rotary welcome to all of our speakers.

click here @RotaryMoreland THE MORELANDER

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During the pandemic we have been meeting via Zoom on Wednesday mornings from 7.30-8.30 am and we have had some great guest speakers.

You now may be able to join us in person at our usual venue which is listed on page 8. Numbers are presently restricted so an RSVP is essential. You can still join us on Zoom though and the link is below.

Why not join us one morning? Simply ring David on 0448 852 747 the day before to RSVP and then go to: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87077765173 just before the meeting to join in.