All the individuals who make up our organisation, respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country on which we live and work. We especially acknowledge the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people, and other peoples of the Kulin nation on whose ancestral lands Family Life provides services to the community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge their living culture and centuries of custodianship of these lands, which were never ceded. We acknowledge that the land on which we stand always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
At Family Life, our focus is to eliminate discrimination in the service we deliver and the workplace we provide. We welcome, embrace and encourage the diversity of all of our staff, volunteers, clients and community.
WHO WE ARE
For over 50 years, Family Life has proudly walked alongside families as they navigate life’s challenging moments.
Every family deserves to live in a safe and supportive community.
Everything we do supports this through our family and individual support services, community strengthening programs, a network of Community Op Shops, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff.
We strive to develop innovative solutions to achieve our vision of capable communities, strong families and thriving children.
We are proudly purpose-driven, independent and not for profit.
Living within a safe and supportive community shouldn’t be reserved for the few, but possible for the many, and at Family Life, we strive to ensure that’s a reality for all children and families.
OUR VALUES
RESPECT
Family Life embraces diversity and the rights of all people.
INCLUSION COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
Family Life supports individuals and families to participate in their communities.
We understand that Family Life exists as part of a network of relationships and interactions vital to everyone’s health and wellbeing.
OUR VISION
Family Life enables individuals, families and communities to make connections and achieve change.
Adults, young people and children learn and participate within supportive communities.
Families experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful relationships.
Children and young people experience optimal development and are safe from harm.
CEO Report
Proudly part of the community since 1970, we at Family Life have long played an important role in the lives of our local communities.
Over the past 54 years, Family Life has woven itself into the rich tapestry of the communities we serve. This has given us a profound understanding of local families, children, and individuals, along with the unique challenges they face. Building, maintaining, and investing in these connections are essential to understanding what our community needs from us, and directly shapes the integrated responses we provide to all who reach out for support.
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of our Community Bubs program, I am filled with pride and gratitude. This program provides a safe and supportive space for parents, carers and their babies, helping them navigate one of life’s most challenging and precious times. Community Bubs holds a special place in the hearts of everyone at Family Life and within our local community. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our ongoing supporters, Cybec Foundation, whose generous funding and support over the past 20 years have been instrumental in making this program a success.
This year, extensive media coverage of the challenges associated with family violence has driven significant engagement with various levels of government and decision makers. This engagement has focused on brainstorming and co-designing innovative solutions to this critical issue.
We have successfully harnessed our place based understanding of local challenges to inform and influence funders’ perspectives and decision making.
Addressing this ever-evolving issue requires a dual focus: recognising each family member as an individual and supporting the family unit as a whole to foster healthier relationships. Employing a trauma capable, human centred approach is essential for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all family members. We believe that a solutions focused, collaborative approach with local communities, partner organisations, funders, and government entities is crucial to realising our vision of thriving children, strong families, and capable communities.
As we reflect on a highly productive and challenging year, I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated staff, volunteers, and board members for their unwavering commitment and resilience. I also extend my sincere thanks to our donors, funders, and partners for their vital support, which has enabled us to create and deliver programmes that are critically needed.
Allison Wainwright CEO
Chairperson Report
Offering a glimpse into the incredible achievements, progress and impact made by Family Life over the last year, I am immensely proud to share the 2023/24 Annual Report with you.
Innovation has always been at the heart of Family Life, and this financial year is no exception. In the following report, you’ll read how our programs have evolved to meet the ever-changing needs of the community. We are especially proud that our efforts in conducting community listening tours across five local government areas have been recognised by the Financial Review BOSS Most Innovative Companies for 2023. As a top 10 finalist in the Government, Education & Not for Profit category for internal innovation, this recognition reaffirms our dedication to authentic listening in order to respond to our community’s needs.
We have made significant progress against the five key focus areas outlined in our 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. Entering the final year of our plan, we are well placed to meet our strategic objectives, which includes the focus on our people, our community connection, best practice and quality in the services that we provide, and an expansion in impact.
This year, our programs have provided essential support to thousands of individuals and families. Our extensive range of services includes individual mental health support, family law assistance, and interventions designed to disrupt the cycle of family violence, reflecting both our broad reach and ongoing growth. An area of focus has been family violence and the profound and widespread impact it has on families and communities. In response to this growing need, Family Life has expanded its
men’s services to ensure that those who have, or are currently using family violence are given the tools they need to make positive life changes. Alongside this important work are the crucial support programs for those who have been exposed to or victims of family violence. Family Life focuses on providing evidence based wraparound services that help victims work through trauma and mitigate its long term impact.
Over the last year, three of our board members, Aneesha Varghese, Emily Darnett and Claire Harris, moved on from Family Life and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication and service to our organisation. We will miss the invaluable knowledge and skills brought to the board by all departing members. We wish Aneesha, Emily and Claire all the very best for the future.
All of the incredible work undertaken by Family Life over the past 12 months would not be possible without the passionate leadership of our CEO Allison Wainwright and the Executive Team, our committed staff and dedicated volunteers. On behalf of the board, I would like to say a sincere “thank you” to all those who step up every day to deliver positive outcomes for our community.
Steve Walsh Chair
Snapshot of Our Services
Early intervention is crucial in achieving positive outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families. That’s why our trauma capable services focus on reaching those struggling as quickly as possible.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Children’s Contact Services
Parenting Orders Program
Individual and Family Counselling
Family Relationship Centre
The Orange Door Intake
Family Dispute Resolution
Financial Counselling
Property Dispute Resolution
FAMILY SAFETY & WELLBEING
Women & Children’s Family Violence Counselling
Strength2Strength (specialist therapeutic support for women & children)
Children’s Groups (for children impacted by family violence)
SHINE Program (family mental health support)
Connect Program (mental health peer support)
FAMILIES & COMMUNITY
Family Preservation and Reunification Program
Integrated Family Services (IFS)
Integrated Family Services Plus (IFS+ intensive support)
Community Bubs
Brief Intervention
Early Help Program
Heartlinks Counselling
At Family Life, we don’t just believe in wraparound support, we know it leads to the best outcomes. Our services are designed to not only assist the individual but also provide support for the entire family and the broader community they belong to.
MEN’S SUPPORT SERVICES
Court Mandated Counselling Orders Program
Mens Behaviour Change Program
Dads in Focus Program
Perpetrator Case Management Program
Stepping Forward (Post Participation Program)
Home in Focus
Talk4Change (Individual and Group sessions)
COMMUNITY ACTIVATION
Creating Capable Communities
School Focused Youth Service
Young Leaders for Change
Creating Capable Leaders
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
Community Op Shops
Volunteering Program
Employment Pathways
Social Inclusion Programs
Corporate Partnerships
12,343 members of our community were supported by Family Life services including:
3,659 clients accessed individual therapeutic services 1,950 families accessed therapeutic family support
2,295 people attended more than 341 group programs 1,290 students across 30 schools supported through the School Focused Youth Service program
399 people volunteered with Family Life providing
2
New Community Op
Shops
(Beaumaris & Mount Eliza)
45,533 hours of service
170,598 customer purchases made in Family Life’s Community Op Shops Family Life engaged clients from 264 Victorian postcodes and from more than 60 LGAs across Australia
Accomplishments
This year, our dedication to helping families thrive is reflected in the enhancement of our programs, ongoing community consultations, and the flexibility of our service delivery.
Family Life embarked on our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) journey. Throughout the 2023/24 financial year, our working group made significant progress through consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in the community, as well as with Bunurong artist Adam Magennis. Published October 2024, our first RAP is available on our website, familylife.com.au
We have integrated our women’s and children’s family violence services to ensure clients experience a smooth transition between programs, providing a more personalised, client centred experience. This has enabled a trauma capable approach that allows for a more intensive, and where appropriate, longer continuum of care.
Our School Focused Youth Service program supported students at risk of disengagement from school, facilitated the delivery of 32 intervention programs to 1,290 students and 29 capacity building programs to
536
staff from 30 primary and secondary schools across the Frankston, Bayside and Kingston areas.
Our Family and Relationship Services (FaRS) program, now in its 18th year, continues to offer early intervention and prevention services, focusing on at-risk families. This includes families at risk of breakdown, children at risk of abuse or neglect, and those experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability. The services provided include information and referral, support, and high-quality counselling for families, couples, and young people.
Family Life’s Connect program partnered with two local organisations to run three Connect wellbeing groups this year. These groups, led by peer support workers, served
70 participants from 13 ethnicities
focusing on mental and physical health through nutrition, exercise, and social connection.
Our Community Op Shops footprint once again expanded, with two exciting new stores opened in Mount Eliza and Beaumaris, and the relocation of our Distribution Centre. We also welcomed
179 new volunteers, boosting our total to 289.
Family Life commenced delivery of our new What About Me? group for children. This group supports primary school aged children who have experienced family separation and/or reside with only one of their parents. The program aims to address the impact of separation and parental conflict and provides support to children in a safe environment.
Men’s Services has been a significant growth area for Family Life. We have designed and launched a pilot program,Talk4Change, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of Mens Behaviour Change programs by providing an individual therapeutic intervention alongside group sessions.
This year has also seen the introduction of intensive workshops to support men to complete their behaviour change programs.
1,571 men
have been supported through our Men’s Support Services during the period.
We have established a new Family Safety Advocate team to enhance the wider Family Violence Therapeutic services. This has enabled us to extend our reach to more victim survivors, assess their level of risk, and work with them to ensure they remain safe from further family violence.
Over the last financial year, Family life has supported over 375
women and children who had experienced
family violence.
The Community Activation team engaged with over 1,650 community members by hosting events for Children and Families Weeks.
They collaborated with community houses and hubs to raise awareness about local services and participated in local networks to foster organisational collaboration and reduce barriers to engagement for individuals and families.
During the year, our Orange Door team has successfully embedded process changes to address the significant demand for services. Towards the end of the period, the Orange Door also opened a new location in Bentleigh to better support the local community.
Over the past year, generous support from the Frank and Flora Leith Charitable Trust and City of Kingston have allowed Heartlinks (our fee for service counselling service) to offer free counselling packages to children and families residing across the Bayside Peninsula catchment. Heartlinks is predicting further growth in 2025, with additional clinician recruitment underway.
Our Parent Child Mother Goose program at Mahogany Rise Primary School concluded at the end of the financial year with a joyful Teddy Bears Picnic, showcasing the strengthened bonds and playful learning experienced by families.
The Children’s Contact Service (CCS) continued to deliver new Intensive Support Packages, offering specialist support to complex families referred by Child Protection. The CCS model sees increased collaboration between Parenting Orders Program specialist practitioners, Children’s Contact Service workers and other co-located services.
Since its inception in 2022, the demand for our Integrated Family Services+ program has continued to grow, prompting DFFH to commit to its ongoing funding last year. The program effectively addresses a gap in services by supporting high risk families. Efforts are continuing to secure additional funding to further enhance the program’s impactful work.
ANNIVERS A RY S P ECIAL 20 years Community Bubs
The Community Bubs program exemplifies Family Life’s commitment to empowering parents and carers and enriching children’s experiences through community support and connection. I take great pride in our 20 year history of success with this program, which has supported countless parents and carers in making positive changes in their families’ lives.
Our wraparound approach, focusing on both the family and the community, is demonstrated in our Community Bubs practice. We believe that for children to truly thrive, the community must play an active and supportive role. By building a strong foundation of connection and safety in a child’s life, we can foster lasting positive change that benefits both the family and the broader community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our ongoing supporters, including the Cybec Foundation, whose generous funding and support over the past 20 years have been crucial to the success of this program.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to Community Bubs over the past two decades.
Allison Wainwright CEO
About the Program
Community Bubs helps families develop essential parenting skills, build self confidence and supports parents and carers in meeting their child’s developmental needs. It equips them with the skills needed to ensure their baby thrives in a safe and nurturing home environment. The program can begin as early as the last trimester of pregnancy to when a child is six months old, providing support for the family for up to nine months.
We provide support to a diverse range of families and welcome referrals for parents and carers of all genders, abilities, religions and cultural backgrounds. The program caters to all families navigating the transition after their baby’s birth and provides guidance and support tailored to unique needs and experiences.
We work with families to:
• Build parenting skills and confidence
• Understand infant development
• Strengthen attachment to their baby
• Implement family routines
• Recognise their baby’s cues and needs
• Create links and connection within their community
As an outreach program, Community Bubs Practitioners work collaboratively with parents/ carers to identify and work towards their parenting goals. Practitioners are highly skilled and draw from a trauma capable and strengths based approach to practice. Additionally, the program helps families connect with a range of community based supports through a case management model.
Community Bubs aims to create a lasting legacy of change, ensuring the continued wellbeing of both the infant and parent/carer even after the program’s services conclude.
Impact Snapshot
History, Funders and Community Bubs Today
Community Bubs is a privately funded initiative made possible through the ongoing philanthropic generosity of the Cybec Foundation, and support from Cabrini Health and the Barr Family Foundation. Originally launched in late 2003 as a three year demonstration project, the program aimed to trial an intensive, community centred support model for parents, carers, and infants with high needs.
The program has undergone regular reviews, integrating contemporary knowledge and trauma informed practices. This includes a 2014 qualitative study involving alumni from the first cohort, who, after a decade, demonstrated significant transformational change. This progress was bolstered by supportive communities that empowered families and helped their children to thrive.
The success of the program is driven by our dedicated practitioners, who consistently pursue professional development and training. In 2024, Community Bubs practitioners completed Newborn Observation Training and Tweddle Sleep Settling Training to ensure their expertise remains current and grounded in evidence-based practices.
Community Bubs continues to meet the community needs identified and supported by our committed funders 20 years ago. In 2024, we have already assisted 24 families, including 15 new to the program, following the support of 32 families in 2023. Today, Community Bubs remains dedicated to applying evidence-based research and best practices to support parents and carers during the final stages of pregnancy and the early stages of their baby’s life.
We took a snapshot of 20 parent/carer and baby self assessments taken from before and after receiving support from the Community Bubs program*: 90% showed stable or improved self reported mental and emotional health 85% showed stable or improved physical health 90% reported a stable or improved connection with their baby.
*snapshot
Case Studies
CASE STUDY
Tori, Dylan & Violet
At 20, ‘Tori’, a first time mum to ‘Violet’, was referred to the Community Bubs program when Violet was 14 weeks old.
At the time, Tori had recently separated from Violet’s father, ‘Dylan’, and was living with her father and two siblings. The home’s overcrowding affected Violet’s sleep, as Tori was co-sleeping with her on a foldout bed in the lounge.
Tori faced emotional and verbal abuse from her father and siblings, impacting her confidence in her parenting abilities. The practitioner supported Tori to recognise the family violence occurring, slowly build confidence, and eventually find a private rental for herself and Violet.
The Community Bubs practitioner supported Tori and Violet to connect with their new local community. With support and gradual exposure, Tori was able to begin to recover from her anxiety in social situations. By the end of the support period, Tori had gained enough confidence to join a
group fitness class, where she befriended another mum. They even celebrated Violet’s first birthday together!
Tori found alternative employment with more suitable working hours, and also enrolled at university to study Education. The Community Bubs practitioner assisted Tori to enrol Violet in child care, which allowed Tori to balance work, study, and motherhood effectively.
The Practitioner also facilitated sessions with Dylan to improve his confidence, parenting skills and strengthen his bond with Violet. Violet was then able to safely be cared for by both her father and mother, as her parents began their co-parenting journey after separation. Violet thrived in this safe environment and developed into a playful, active and sociable baby.
“The activities I was referred to and the welcoming feeling [the worker] put out to me after feeling so isolated for months was just exactly what I needed. The mental health decline was honestly made better just by having someone there for me.”
CASE STUDY
Kate & Chloe
‘Kate’ was referred to Family Life’s Brief Support program while pregnant and living in a refuge without family support.
Worried about the upcoming birth and raising her baby, Kate worked with the practitioner to prioritise and obtain essential items for childbirth and the initial months, including a cot, nappies and play mat.
Seeking longer term support, Kate was then referred by the Brief Support Practitioner to Family Life’s Community Bubs program. After giving birth to her baby girl, ‘Chloe’, Kate expressed a desire to improve her knowledge and skills in parenting and infant development, as well as to increase her confidence in independently caring for Chloe. The Community Bubs practitioner collaborated with Kate’s Enhanced Maternal Child Health Nurse to establish a care team for the family.
“I loved the practitioner coming to my house and helping me with my new baby. I am so sad that our Community Bubs time has ended.”
As Kate became more confident in caring for Chloe, she developed skills to support Chloe’s development and establish effective routines. Despite initial hesitation, Kate began exploring community activities for herself and Chloe with support of the practitioner.
Throughout the service period, Kate and the Community Bubs practitioner developed a strong rapport, and Kate became comfortable discussing her trauma history. Feeling ready to seek counselling, Kate received support from the practitioner to self refer to a free counselling service. By the end of the service period, Kate and Chloe were actively participating in a supported playgroup, and Chloe had been enrolled in swimming lessons.
CASE STUDY
Patricia, Carlos & Marco
‘Patricia’ and ‘Carlos’, first time parents of 3 month old ‘Marco’, self referred to the Community Bubs program due to challenges with Marco’s sleep patterns.
They were concerned about safe sleeping practices and Marco’s frequent night wakings, which led to co-sleeping.
A Community Bubs practitioner conducted weekly home visits, focusing on improving the parents’ understanding of Marco’s sleep cues and implementing responsive settling techniques. The practitioner introduced the Newborn Behavioral Observations (NBO) tool to highlight Marco’s competencies, challenges and individuality, aiming to foster a positive parent-infant relationship. They also recommended transitioning from a play-feedsleep to a feed-play-sleep routine to reduce Marco’s reliance on feeding for sleep and to improve feeding duration.
By the end of the program, Marco, now seven months old, was napping 1.5-2 hours during the day and waking once overnight. He was sleeping in his cot, and Patricia and Carlos felt confident in maintaining the new sleep routine and strategies. The parents identified that it was empowering to see that the strategies discussed with the Community Bubs practitioner were working.
“[Practitioner name] was an amazing practitioner. She always had handouts and had prepared ahead for her visits.”
“In person meetings at home were great with little babies.”
“The open communication was helpful and the kindness and understanding of the workers allowed me to access support easier, especially around anxiety. The referrals and opportunities were endlessly helpful, often to services I struggled to find myself.”
“Very significant help for our lives.”
“[The Practitioner] is professional, empathetic and friendly and always willing to help and give advice.”
“I had an amazing experience and this program was exactly what I needed to help me. I went from living in a toxic situation that I thought I’d never get out of with my new born baby… to now studying, living in mine and my baby’s own space, daily exercise and my bond and connection with my baby is so strong.”
“[The Practitioner] helped me especially to overcome anxiety and made me happy during my transition to motherhood.”
20 Years of Support
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cybec Foundation for their unwavering support over the past 20 years. The Foundation’s dedication has been instrumental in the success of Community Bubs. Their generous contributions have made a meaningful difference in countless lives, fostering an environment for both parents, carers and children to thrive. Thank you for being a steadfast partner and your commitment to strengthening our community.
Family Life is guided by
Our vision: to create capable communities, thriving children, and strong families. At first glance, these outcomes might appear distinct, but they are deeply interconnected and must be addressed holistically to achieve the best possible results for families, individuals and children.
Family Life adopts an all of family approach, focusing on the entire family and community to build resilience and foster healthy relationships. We are dedicated to enhancing responses to child vulnerability and family violence by addressing each individual’s needs for safety, healing, and recovery. Over the past financial year, we have supported more than 375 women and children affected by family violence through our Women and Children’s Counselling Service, children’s groups and the Strength2Strength program.
In the past year, over 1,570 men accessed our Men’s Support Services, highlighting the concerning prevalence of family violence. This issue affects every member of the family unit, including the person using violence, their partner, and any children who may witness or experience it. To provide effective assistance to families dealing with such complex trauma, the services offered by Family Life must be as comprehensive and extensive as the trauma itself.
Family Life’s Family Law programs deliver targeted services to improve the wellbeing of families, particularly those with children who are separated or separating and who have experienced family violence, with 850 families receiving support this year. These services help families navigate the family law system during separation and create
and maintain sustainable parenting arrangements. Every family engaged in our Family Law services is provided with support that prioritises the psychological and physical wellbeing of parents, carers and children.
Along with holistic, wraparound support, a strong, capable community is critical in order for our families to thrive. Our Community Op Shops often serve as hubs or meeting places for those experiencing social anxiety, loneliness, or isolation. Whether visiting, shopping, or volunteering at our Op Shops, people form and nurture connections. For many, these interactions may be their primary or sole social engagement each week.
New parents, facing the challenges of caring for an infant or young child, are another frequently isolated group. Over the past year, our familyfocused teams worked closely with 1,950 families, providing supportive sessions to equip them with the tools needed to navigate one of life’s most precious and demanding periods. Family Life’s Early Help initiative continues to demonstrate the benefits of providing support early, introducing community level support and referrals before the need for more intensive services arises.
Strength2Strength Program
Strength2Strength (S2S) is a government funded program supporting women and children who have experienced family violence.
‘Taya’ initially came to Family Life for short term Family Violence Counselling. However, it soon became clear that she needed longer term support to heal from trauma. Taya was referred to Family Life’s Strength2Strength program, which offered ongoing therapy. This program allowed Taya to work with the same therapist across both services, providing consistent care.
After this support, Taya saw improvements in many areas of her life. When she faced new challenges, she reached out to Family Life again for short term help to set and achieve new goals. We were able to reconnect her with the same therapist, who was
familiar with her cultural background. Taya found this continuity and understanding very helpful for her progress.
“[MyStrength2Stength worker] is very professional, approachable, caring, supportive and awesome at her job. I feel like I achieved so much more than anticipated before starting with this service. I have been able to heal past traumas and mend an important relationship because of the counselling approach for which I am incredibly grateful for. Will definitely be recommending this service!”
Mens Behaviour Change Program
The Mens Behaviour Change Program is a 20 week group program for men using family violence, with a focus on promoting family safety, respect and equality. Program delivery is available both online and in person.
‘Benito’, a father of two, was being emotionally abusive towards his wife and a Family Violence Intervention Order with limited conditions was put in place prohibiting him from using family violence (allowing him to remain living in the home). Benito was mandated to attend a Mens Behavioural Change Program (MBCP) at Family Life. Both he and his wife also participated in family therapy.
Initially, Benito felt like a victim and thought others would criticise him. Over time, he saw the benefits of the group and realised that everyone, including himself, was learning from each other. He came to understand that his behaviour was unacceptable and how his actions affected his wife and daughters.
Benito used to yell so much that he would lose his voice, but now he and his wife communicate more effectively. His wife also noted an improvement in their relationship. Additionally, the therapist and parents spoke with their children (ages 10 and 12) about what Benito learned in the MBCP and his commitment to ending family violence.
The Mens Behaviour Change Program and practitioner support Benito received were instrumental in creating a healthier environment for all family members.
‘This Bunurong designed art piece represents the season of Bareep (Spring). Bareep is an important Bunurong Cultural Season where Bunurong plants are in flower, showcasing the diversity of medicine, fibre, food and resource plants throughout Bunurong Biik (Country). During Bareep, plants naturally flower and self seed, replenishing Bunurong Biik for the next Bareep annual season. Bunurong insects also replenish Bunurong Biik via the natural germination and pollination process. This piece of art shows a local Lilly Flower being germinated and pollinated by an insect design, that hybridises together the physical characteristics of a Hover Fly and Blue Banded Bee. These two insects provide an important contribution to Bareep’.
Artist Adam Magennis
Our People
As an employer of choice, Family Life celebrates a rich and diverse workplace culture and client community. Family Life provides a thriving employee experience to staff, where a ‘people focus’ is central to leadership, strategy and culture.
Family Life’s employee value proposition is modern, progressive and constantly evolving; workplace flexibility, health and wellbeing and a commitment to The Family Life Way enables the organisation to attract, retain and grow a competent workforce whilst providing exceptional value as an employee experience.
At Family Life, we are committed to education and training through a supportive Learning and Development (L&D) strategy. By investing in providing a multifaceted L&D approach, Family Life is able to develop workforce capability to support the achievement of our Strategic Plan, and provide employees with career growth and succession pathways.
Operating in a competitive market for talent attraction, Family Life uses an externally benchmarked and informed remuneration framework for non-award based roles. This approach is directly linked to our annual performance goal setting and review process,
which enables Family Life to drive and reward high performance.
We are committed to providing a safe working environment for all employees, volunteers, contractors, visitors and clients. The utmost value is placed on the safety, health and wellbeing of the Family Life team and we uphold our legal, ethical and moral responsibility to prevent workplace injury and illness. Health, Safety and Wellbeing are shared responsibilities across all roles within the organisation, with key accountabilities defined in our Health and Safety Management System.
Family Life has bold aspirations for innovation, impact, and success through 2025 and beyond. We will continue to foster an employee experience and workplace culture that enhances motivation and satisfaction. By maintaining our focus on a peoplecentred culture, we aim to be recognised as an employer of choice and advance towards achieving our vision of Capable Communities, Strong Families, and Thriving Children.
Photo taken at Family Life All-Staff Flamingle event
Volunteer
SUMMARY
Every week our dedicated volunteers contribute over 870 hours connecting with the community in our stores, sorting donations and assisting individuals through challenging times. Volunteers are the cornerstone of Family Life and we are deeply grateful for their time, energy and commitment to our organisation.
of volunteers would recommend volunteering at Family Life to a friend
of volunteers feel valued by Family Life
Over the past year, our network of Community Op Shops has grown from eight to ten, along with an expansion in our incredible volunteer team. We are proud to announce that 179 new volunteers have joined our organisation in the last 12 months, many of whom are motivated by a strong desire to support those facing hardship.
Every new recruit receives a warm welcome from our Volunteer Engagement team, who go the extra mile to ensure that volunteers feel appreciated and supported. This team also celebrates volunteer milestones and achievements,and organises events for volunteers to connect as a group.
of volunteers are motivated to volunteer to give back to their community
of volunteers felt that by volunteering they create a safe space for their community
A highlight was the National Volunteer Week (NVW) lunch at Sandy By The Bay, which was attended by 125 volunteers. It was a wonderful opportunity to come together, connect, and celebrate our collective achievements.
Building on the success of last year, we are continuing to expand our corporate volunteering program. Generous support from companies such as ANZ, Origin Energy, and Deloitte has enabled their teams to volunteer in our stores and Distribution Centre. The overwhelmingly positive feedback from these sessions highlights a strong community spirit and a shared desire to give back.
A big thank you to this year’s corporate volunteers:
Volunteer
LOU BAULSOM
Lou Baulsom, finalist in Volunteering Victoria 2024
We’re excited to share that our wonderful volunteer, Lou Baulsom, was a finalist in the Volunteering Victoria awards!
Lou has spent 24 years volunteering at Family Life, contributing her time and talents across many areas of the organisation. Her passion for supporting those in need is inspiring, and her can-do attitude is infectious. She truly makes a difference.
In Lou’s words...
Awards!
Lou was nominated for the Volunteer Commitment Award which pays tribute to dedicated and passionate individuals with a sustained and substantial record of commitment to people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria. Nominees are long-serving volunteers and reliable hard workers whose significant contribution and enthusiasm for volunteering is an inspiration to others.
Lou’s unwavering commitment to supporting her local community and Family Life’s work is an inspiration, making this recognition so well deserved.
“I have somewhere to go where I am needed and welcomed. To help and be helped at the same time gives me joy.”
Photo taken of Lou at Family Life National Volunteer Week Lunch
Social Enterprise
Our Social Enterprise team has had an exceptionally busy 12 months, opening new Community Op Shops, engaging with our community, pursuing environmental outcomes, and generating crucial funds for our community programs.
With great enthusiasm, we ended 2023 by launching our two newest stores in Mount Eliza and Beaumaris just before Christmas. The Mount Eliza store, our third on the Mornington Peninsula, has further established Family Life’s role as a community hub in the area. Meanwhile, our Beaumaris location marks a return to our origins.
Family Life’s first ‘home’ and services centre opened in Beaumaris in 1970, and we are thrilled to share that, 54 years later, the Beaumaris community has warmly embraced their very own Family Life community store.
To accommodate the growing needs of our Community Op Shops, our Distribution Centre relocated to a larger facility in Moorabbin in July 2023. This new space enables our volunteers and team members to comfortably sort and store the generous donations we receive. The site also hosts our popular monthly warehouse clearance sales. We were also delighted to be recognised at the inaugural City of Kingston’s Sustainable Business Awards gala in late October. Our Senior Manager of Social Enterprise, Liz Thomas, attended the event where Family Life was a finalist in two categories: Waste Reduction and Circular Economy, and Ethical Sourcing and Procurement.
Social Enterprise Highlights
170,598 customers purchased
600 tonnes of goods diverted from landfill
2 New Stores
- Beaumaris and Mount Eliza Distribution Centre Relocation
Our Beaumaris History
Family Life, formerly Southern Family Life, was founded by a group of concerned community volunteers in 1970 to ‘support families and prevent family breakdown’.
Family Life’s first “home” was rented professional rooms owned by Mrs Marion Wilson in Reserve Road, Beaumaris. Mrs Wilson herself was a volunteer receptionist at the agency for many years.
After 54 years, we are proud to have returned to our roots in Beaumaris with the opening of our Beaumaris Community Op Shop in early 2024.
We believe our Op Shops are much more than stores. They play an integral role in the community, building sustainable neighbourhoods, promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability, and fostering social cohesion.
Board
Family Life is a not for profit company limited by guarantee, governed by a voluntary Board. The Family Life Board of Directors is a multidisciplinary group with a diverse range of experiences dedicated to continuing the work of Family Life for years to come.
Chair of the Board and Director
Steve Walsh
Vice Chairs and Directors
Judy Pridmore
David Stewart
Treasurer and Director
Jeff Phillips
Company Secretary and Director
Carmel O’Brien OAM
Directors
Aneesha Varghese (Retired March 2024)
Catherine Parisi
Claire Harris (Retired March 2024)
Emily Darnett (Retired April 2024)
Michael Laps
Patrons
Malcolm Parks OAM
Len Gill
Heather Spooner
2024 Donor and Supporter Acknowledgements
Family Life gratefully acknowledges the financial grants received from federal, state and local governments as well as funding support from philanthropic trusts, businesses, service clubs, community groups, schools and individuals. We would also like to acknowledge the pro-bono support of our professional services partners.
4th Brighton Brownies and 5th Brighton Guides
Alan A. Curtis
Alan Grisdale
ANZ
Attorney Generals
Department
Aurora Apartments
St Kilda
Australia Post Community Foundation
Australian Department of Social Services
Bayside City Council
Bayside Community
Emergency Relief
Bayside Playhouse and Occasional Care
Bendigo Bank
Sandringham
Black Rock Uniting Church
Brad Rowswell MP
Brian M Davis Charitable Foundation
Brighton Lions Club
Brighton North
Rotary Club
Cabrini Health
Cabrini Health Brighton
Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Charitable Reuse
Australia
Christine Richardson and Andrew Booth
City of Casey Council
City of Kingston
Claire Harris
Corrections Victoria
Court Services Victoria
CWA Mentone
Cybec Foundation
Deloitte
Department of Education
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
Department of Social Services
Derrimut Weelam
Gathering Place
EACH
Family and Relationship
Services Australia
Family Safety Victoria
Federal Member for Goldstein
Frankston City Council
Frankston City Council
Fred and Monica Hofmann
Freemasons Community Relief
Freemasons Community Relief
G.P. & M.D. Farrell Foundation
Glen Education
Good Start Early
Learning Centres
Gordon Street Pre-School
Graham Ludecke
Handled with Care
Harris Carlson
Heather Spooner
Helloworld Travel
Holy Trinity
Kindergarten Hampton
Jardan
Jeff Phillips
K&L Gates
Kingston City Council
Knox Private Hospital
Leigh Fisher
Len Gill
Magistrates Court
Victoria
Malcam Investments
Malcolm Parks OAM
mecwacare
Mondelez Au
Mornington Peninsula Shire
Mums Supporting Families In Need
Nairm Marr Djambana
- Gathering by the Bay Frankston Vic
Nepean Health Care
No To Violence
Officeworks Highett
Origin Energy
Ozsale
Peninsula Grammar
Peninsula Kingswood
Community Foundation
Philanthropy Australia
Ray White Cheltenham
Rotary Club of Bentleigh
Moorabbin Central
Safe and Equal
Sandringham Lions Club
Sandringham Lions Club
Sean Webb
South Eastern Melbourne
Primary Health Network (SEMPHN)
Spotlight
St Kilda Mums
St Martin’s Beaumaris
Uniting Church
Steve Walsh
Tamarack Institute
The Estate of Elaine Bryant
The Flora & Frank Leith
Charitable Trust
The Leonard Family Foundation
The Sandringham Club
Time To Get Sorted
Trevor West Menswear
Vauna Jaensch
Victoria Golf Club
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS)
Victorian Government
Volunteering Australia
Volunteering Victoria
Wallaroo Community Centre (Good Shepherd
Australia New Zealand)
We Sort You
Wendy May
Willum Warrain
Aboriginal Association
Incorporated
Woolworths Hampton
Yeihia Ali
Treasurer’s Report
For the 2023/24 financial year Family Life completed external audits and achieved compliance with governance and management standards.
In addition, we closely monitored recommendations from the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, to ensure our future readiness as a social purpose organisation. Management has successfully promoted Family Life innovations to support government reform directions delivering expansion of our service footprint and revenue growth. This is reflected in our end of year surplus of $228,097, down from a surplus of $455,921 in 2022/23.
Planned capacity building investments across the organisation have continued in the past year, building on the substantial investment made in prior years. Responding to the growing complexity of the community Family Life supports and the work we undertake, we have focused our investment on improving practice quality. This investment has included staff training and upgrades of our client management systems which has been pivotal in our ability to respond to the expansion of our work in the family violence sector. Another area of investment has been the strategic growth in Social Enterprise, with the opening of two new stores. This investment has seen positive impacts on our surplus.
Government funding has increased by $2.446m during the financial year, up 12% on last year, largely driven by the increase in funding from Department of Family Fairness and Housing and Court Services Victoria supporting our growth in services responding to families facing family violence. We project further income growth in the coming financial year via increased funding to support our work with men who have perpetrated family violence, making us one of the largest providers of men’s services in Victoria.
Continued strategic investment has occurred in social enterprise, with the opening of two new stores and improved operational performance resulting in an increase in sales of $0.9m, an increase of 36% from the prior year. In addition to providing Family Life with a diversified income source, this growth in sales has enabled significant growth in social impact. Our stores are deeply connected to the community, providing opportunities for our volunteers and local community to find connection and purpose, in addition to providing pathways to employment and diversion of waste from landfill.
2023/24 has continued to be a challenging environment for attracting charitable donations. To respond to this Family Life continues to prioritise generating income to fund innovation and support the community. We work to translate research into practice, allowing opportunities to intervene early where social needs are identified and work with the community to reduce and prevent social problems.
Financially, this strategic approach to invest for the future and grow our impact is reflected in our expenditure of $26m, an increase of 15%. The Board and management have maintained a strong cash flow and balance sheet for Family Life.
Family Life was solvent as at 30 June 2024 and the Board expects this trend to continue. We invite you to share in our meaningful work by making a personal tax deductible donation.
Jeff Phillips Treasurer
Financials
STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024
Supporting notes
A complete copy of the Family Life Limited audited financial statements are distributed at our AGM and available on our Website.
Financials
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2024
Support us
GET INVOLVED
Whether you choose to volunteer your time, make a donation or raise awareness, your support makes a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable members of the community.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT FAMILY LIFE
Make a Donation
One off and recurring donations are greatly appreciated and can be made through our website.
Dedicate a Gift
Instead of a physical gift, ask for a donation in honour of your next milestone or celebration.
Host an Event
Organise a fundraising initiative in your community or workplace to raise funds for Family Life.
Leave a Bequest
Create a meaningful legacy by leaving a bequest to Family Life in your will.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
Volunteer in our Op Shops
Volunteer in our Community Op Shops or take part in our corporate
Create Corporate Partnerships
Connect Family Life with local corporations to facilitate collaborations
Other ways you can help:
Facilitate Student Placements
Consider student placement partnership opportunities for education providers
• Support our Community Christmas Appeal by donating food, toys or vouchers.
• Hear our latest news by following us on social media @FamilyLifeAU
• Stay up to date by subscribing to our eNewsletter.
• Donate your preloved items to our Community Op Shops.
• Connect us to organisations open to donating goods to our Op Shops.
Take Part in Friendship Day
Connect Family Life to your local school for participation in our Friendship Day initiative.
