2015-2016 Annual Report Innovation for Community Benefit
Providing quality services in local communities Transforming lives across the generations
About Us
Who We Are
Family Life is an independent, entrepreneurial community service organisation, offering a range of evidence-informed services, support and community building initiatives. Family Life delivers high-impact outcomes for vulnerable families, children and young people and is acknowledged at all government levels for its innovation, impact and whole-of-community approach. Family Life has a vision for every child to grow up safely in their family. We are committed to the safety of all children and young people; including Aboriginal children and young people; culturally and/or linguistically diverse children and young people; gender and sexually diverse children and young people; and children and young people with a disability. Family Life is a centre of research, knowledge and innovation delivering measurable social change and impact. We contribute to national and international knowledge through our reputation for changing lives by effective connection, care and transformation.
Purpose
Transforming lives for stronger communities.
Vision
Capable communities, strong families, thriving children.
Mission
Through effective services, support and connections, enable children, young people and families to thrive in caring communities.
Values Respect
Inclusion Community Empowerment
What drives us
We believe that every child has the right to grow up safely in the care of their families with the support of a caring community.
Since its foundation in 1970, volunteers and community supporters have played a crucial role in the success of the organisation.
Stories in this Annual Report have been modified to protect the identity of the families; however, the essence of the stories is accurate. Please note: the client feedback statistics are based on the number of clients who responded and in some instances are derived from small samples. Some figures may also include double counting of clients due to individuals receiving support via multiple service areas. Indigenous Acknowledgement Family Life and all the individuals who make up our organisation respectfully acknowledge all Aboriginal people and their ancient and ongoing connections to culture and country. In particular we wish to acknowledge the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung-Wurundjeri people of the larger Kulin nation in whose ancestral lands Family Life provides services to the Melbourne community.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
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Our Mission in Action
Family Life has a whole of community approach to supporting children, young people and families. At the heart of our services is the wellbeing of children.
Government Partners Business
Social Enterprise Research Evaluation and Impact Analysis
Communities
Philanthropy
Families
Children and Young People
Community Houses and Outreach
Volunteers Community Engagement and Leadership
Research Institutes and Universities
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Service Centres
Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Donors
Our Values in Action
At the heart of our community organisation is the authentic grass-roots relationship with the people we help and the people in our community.
Respect
Family Life embraces diversity and the rights of all people. Workhua moved to Australia as a refugee more than 12 years ago. With no extended family in Australia to support her with two young children, she found connections and belonging at the Keith Street Community House and Family Life’s Creating Capable Communities program. She was welcomed and included as a member of the community and has progressed to paid employment.
Inclusion
Family Life supports individuals and families to participate in their communities. Marie was committed to advocating for her adult son with a disability to ensure his future quality of life. She completed Family Life’s Creating Capable Leaders program and with her new skills and confidence she led a local campaign to secure state and federal government funding, Bendigo Bank support and parent contributions for the development of Cloverleaf Supported Accommodation in Rosebud. Marie pictured with The Hon. Martin Foley Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing.
Community
We understand that Family Life exists as part of a network of relationships and interactions vital to everyone’s health and wellbeing. Family Life Community Worker Margie coordinated the 2016 Rosebud Neighbour Day, facilitating community meetings and engaging volunteers, local schools, agencies and businesses. Neighbour Day is an internationally recognised celebration that brings together people, resources and organisations to grow stronger, well connected communities. In recognition of her outstanding community work, Margie received a Mayoral Commendation Award from Mornington Peninsula Shire.
Empowerment
Family Life enables individuals, families and communities to make connections and achieve change. After finishing high school, Amy’s lack of work experience and shy personality was a barrier to her gaining employment. Amy volunteered at Family Life’s Chelsea Opportunity Shop, where she was mentored and became more confident. Amy then participated in the PeopleWorx retail training program, and received a Rotary Youth Leadership Award, thanks to the support of Brighton North Rotary. The training and support empowered Amy for success and she is now employed in a sales and administration role with a local company.
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Family Life’s Theory of Change - A whole of community approach
Capable Communities
Strong Families
Adults, young people and children learn and participate within supportive communities
Families experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful relationships
Individuals are connected to their culture and community and feel a sense of belonging
Individuals experience optimal individual functioning
Individuals are participating through employment, training, education and volunteering
Individuals have healthy relationships
Children and young people are achieving educational milestones Individuals actively contribute to strengthening their community
Individuals are connected through a mutual support network of friends, family and neighbours and by participating in community activities Individuals recognise when they need help and know how to find and access support services Individuals are work-ready and motivated to engage in employment and training opportunities Children and young people are engaged in school and learning with support from their parents Individuals have the skills and support needed to volunteer in their community
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Individuals and families experience reduced conflict and violence Individuals utilise their personal strengths in times of adversity
Individuals recognise their health and wellbeing needs and make positive choices and decisions to address them Individuals develop healthy relationships with family, friends, peers and intimate partners Individuals understand the dynamics and effects of conflict and violence Individuals develop their ability to manage individual and family challenges
Family Life has a vision for every child to grow up safely in their family. At the heart of our services is the wellbeing of children. Watch Family Life’s Theory of Change video via the link below to find out more about our unique approach and why it’s working. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSG4PKsch6g
Thriving Children Children and young people experience optimal development and are safe from harm Parents provide care that optimises their children’s physical, mental, emotional and social development Children and young people have a secure and positive attachment to their parents Children and young people live, learn and play in an environment that is free from violence and conflict Children and young people have a positive sense of self
Parents understand how to manage their children’s behaviour and meet their developmental needs Parents have the ability to create a safe, stable and nurturing environment for their children Children and young people use prosocial strategies and behaviours to express themselves and have their needs met
To accurately measure and report value creation and the social and economic return of our whole of community effort is, like the problems we seek to solve, a complex, multifaceted issue. However, the experience and evidence of successful Family Life innovations has been a powerful motivator to embrace the challenge to more effectively document and communicate those results. We know from the consistent outcomes of our community-based programs that the lives of vulnerable families, children and young people are changed for the better: that together we transform lives for stronger communities. We know that whole school communities are improved and neighbourhoods become more inclusive and residents more supportive of each other. We know that local leaders can be developed and empowered to address local concerns. Local leaders become the role models for others to become engaged and the impact and benefits grow. We also know that through our social enterprise businesses we can engage the goodwill of the surrounding community to create jobs and make the business successful. By providing a work place where those struggling to engage with employment can receive training and social support to achieve their aspirations and goals.
Children and young people develop self-awareness and self-esteem
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In this Report
About Us.......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Our Mission in Action..................................................................................................................................4 Our Values in Action..................................................................................................................................... 5 Family Life’s Theory of Change - A whole of community approach.................................................6 In this Report..................................................................................................................................................8 Welcome from the Chairperson.................................................................................................................9 Message from the CEO............................................................................................................................... 10 Our Highlights..............................................................................................................................................12 Strategic Pillars............................................................................................................................................ 14 Be Remembered by Your Community.................................................................................................... 16 Thriving Children........................................................................................................................................ 18 Community Bubs......................................................................................................................................................................................... 19
SHINE Mental Health Program.............................................................................................................................................................. 22 School Focused Youth Services............................................................................................................................................................... 24 Map Your World............................................................................................................................................................................................ 25
Family Violence Services.......................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Family Life L17 Response Model.............................................................................................................................................................30 Casey Integrated Family Violence Initiative......................................................................................................................................31 Family Relationships & Family Law Services................................................................................................................................... 32 Family Matters Program............................................................................................................................................................................33 Social Enterprise Services......................................................................................................................................................................... 34 Bayside Children’s Contact Service........................................................................................................................................................35 Relationship Review and Renew Pilot..................................................................................................................................................37
Tootgarook Group for Men....................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Collective Impact.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 42 Together We Can..........................................................................................................................................................................................44 Social Enterprise Retail.............................................................................................................................................................................. 45 PeopleWorx....................................................................................................................................................................................................46
Our Staff..........................................................................................................................................................................................................49 Volunteers.......................................................................................................................................................................................................50 Patrons..............................................................................................................................................................................................................51 Board Members.............................................................................................................................................................................................51
Strong Families............................................................................................................................................26 Family Support Services............................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Capable Communities................................................................................................................................38 Creating Capable Communities.............................................................................................................................................................39
Our People..................................................................................................................................................... 47 Our Organisation Map...............................................................................................................................................................................48
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Thank You..................................................................................................................................................... 52 Message from the Treasurer..................................................................................................................... 53 Financials......................................................................................................................................................54 Service Map...................................................................................................................................................56
Welcome from the Chairperson
On behalf of the Board, I have great pleasure presenting this report on Family Life’s work and achievements for the financial year 2015/16. The agency has continued to make a significant difference to the lives of many people and I’m proud of what we have achieved. Among the many highlights is the innovative ‘Together We Can’ community initiative in Cardinia, which successfully engaged a wide range of community partners who are working together to prevent and end family violence and change root causes, including learnt behaviours. Our Bayside Children’s Contact Service continued to help parents in conflict achieve change and cooperative agreements for the benefit of their children, as well as reduce demands and costs for the Family Court. In May this year we were announced in the top 10 innovative not-for-profits in Australia in a landmark study launched by GiveEasy, Australia Post and Westpac. This recognition validates our approach to be an independent, agile and innovative organisation focused on developing and piloting new approaches for transformational social outcomes. Our social enterprise opportunity shops continued to perform well. This year we opened a pop-up shop in Black Rock, which generated significant income and increased awareness of Family Life in the community. Our PeopleWorx program has diversified to include more young people and adults with disabilities. We generated a small surplus despite a drop in government funding and challenging financial projections. Sadly, we had to close the de-funded children’s programs and support stringent cost control by our CEO Jo Cavanagh and her executive leadership team. However,
new funding for other strategic initiatives has being secured during the year. The agency is pursuing an number of exciting initiatives, with a major focus being the redevelopment of the Bluff Road precinct, in partnership with our neighbours and aligned organisations, into a new integrated service model and centre for research and innovation. Bayside Council granted us a 50-year lease for the land at 197 Bluff Rd, reflecting their recognition of Family Life’s vital and important work in the community and allowing us to pursue this important project. On behalf of the Board, I thank our visionary and ever energetic CEO Jo Cavanagh who continues to drive the agency forward, keeping it connected with leading-edge thinking and, importantly, sharing our learnings with others. I would also like to thank: - our dedicated and skilled executive leadership team, and every Family Life staff member for their achievements and ongoing care of vulnerable clients - the 320+ volunteers who add enormous value to the agency’s work and community reach - everyone who has supported the agency during the year, through financial and inkind donations and by participating in our fundraising events - Balfe and Webb, K&L Gates, Malcolm Parks, Herbert Smith Freehills and CE Family Lawyers, who provided pro-bono services In closing, I thank Family Life’s Board members for their invaluable contributions and support. Family Life is well-positioned to continue to transform lives for stronger communities. Len Gill Chairperson
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Message from the CEO
Over the past year our teams at Family Life have continued to deliver high quality services for families, children and young people, funded by federal, state and local governments, meeting all contract and audit requirements. As governments seek to reduce budgets, we grow our advocacy and remain agile in seeking alternative sources of income and applying new knowledge and technologies to enable effectiveness and efficiency. Importantly, the Family Life model has always required the locating of specialist expertise within a network of volunteer and community support. And as today’s experts like Dr. Bruce Perry from the ChildTrauma Academy in the USA tell us, these layers of support are essential to progressing from trauma and problems to resilience and wellbeing, and critical to enabling children to heal from trauma experiences to meet their developmental milestones. Consistent with our strive for excellence, service teams at Family Life are now accredited with Dr Perry’s Academy to integrate this additional expertise into our evidence informed interventions to empower change. For our most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and parents, those involved with courts and statutory services, our highly qualified practitioners lead care teams, managing risks and enabling planned change towards safety and wellbeing. These services are provided at our centres in Sandringham, Cheltenham, Frankston and Cranbourne, and in homes, schools and community settings across the wider southern region from Port Phillip to the Mornington Peninsula, Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Where appropriate, trained volunteers support the care team and families, helping them to develop skills and routines and connect with resources in the community for support and friendship. We are driven by the fundamental question of “what does any child need to thrive?” and “what does any parent need to be the best they can be?” The answers to these questions require healthy relationships and people in the neighbourhood who see you and take an interest in your wellbeing. Hence our community houses at Bluff Road, Keith Street and Tootgarook, and work embedded in schools like Doveton College, are effective ways to draw together the formal and informal services and supports to increase the possibilities for change. We continue to build our capacity for tracking performance and measuring the outcomes and impact of our work with internal research and evaluation and a new client data system. This investment helps us to build rigorous evidence for advocacy for funding programs which do empower change. Creating Capable Leaders is a powerful example. From an 8-week community leadership training program, we consistently achieve community graduates who go on to lead projects for the benefit of their own communities: school lunch programs, meeting places for newly arrived refugee families, Aboriginal community leaders providing cultural healing centres, and a recent parent who has achieved federal funding to build new supported accommodation for aging parents who have an adult child with disabilities. Outstanding!
In addition, at least 25% of graduates go on to further learning or become employed and 80% become community volunteers. This is the kind of community leadership and change we must fund if we want to promote the wellbeing of our communities and reduce health and welfare costs. These social inclusion and social cohesion efforts are essential to progress government policy goals for reducing violence, strengthening families and advancing the growth and development of our children. It is a constant challenge to find funding for these effective long term community change activities that benefit our most vulnerable members and the whole community. So over the past year, we have pressed forward with new knowledge for trauma informed services, expanded university partnerships for research, evaluation and innovation, developed leadership expertise for collaboration and the Collective Impact approach to social change, and piloted new technology for working with children and young people. This progresses our values and purpose for helping people and transforming lives for stronger communities. In the pages which follow, with more detail and full audited financial statements available on our website, we hope you will feel inspired that Family Life, with your support and investment, delivers bountiful returns and valuable community benefits. Jo Cavanagh OAM Chief Executive Officer
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Our Highlights
Ranked 10
2088
Family Dispute Resolution
in the Australian Not For Profit 2016 GiveEasy Innovation Index (supported by Australia Post and Westpac)
family members engaged
Creating Capable Communities
2044 1000+
Together We Can received Australian Government Building Safer Communities for Women & Children grant
individuals participated
community members attended Mornington Peninsula Neighbour Day event led by Family Life Integrated Family Services assisted
836 families
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Relationship Renew and Review pilot completed for the Australian Government
SHINE children’s mental health program helped
794
children and their families
338
Community Bubs received a “Play Your Part�
Award
police L17 reports received towards an innovative specialist Family Violence response 320 Volunteers gave
69,670
as part of National Child Protection Week
Leading family violence service innovation design in the City of Casey
hours of community service Australian partner of
Map Your World
people including families, children and young people
Work experience and job pathways for
64
14,008
This year we helped approximately
PeopleWorx participants
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Shared knowledge at domestic conferences, international conferences, and in journal articles
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Strategic Pillars
What we are achieving Community Impact Growing our community-building expertise into leadership for applying the Collective Impact approach for grassroots change: - to prevent family violence - to intervene early and effectively for change when family violence has occurred - to grow social inclusion and cohesion for vulnerable community members - to encourage everyone to participate in creating community wellbeing Tracking and measuring our performance through outcome measurement and evaluation, and our partnerships with universities and experts. Integrating neuroscience knowledge into practice for trauma informed and healing practice to empower individual and family change. Prioritising partnerships and collaborations to meet community needs and achieve innovation for impact.
Influencing Policy Submissions made to Royal Commissions, Productivity Commission, Federal and State Government reviews and reform proposals. Engagement with cross sector opportunities to find common ground for policy advocacy with community, education, police, housing and health organisations. Workforce training and progressive implementation of Theory of Change and all program alignment to the Family Life Outcomes Framework. Goal to engage all staff in assessing and reporting impact for practice and policy improvements to strengthen families and prevent social problems.
Engaging Stakeholders Working from a place based, local area perspective to consult with community about needs and resources for change. Building our online communication skills to diversify service delivery and enable feedback. Empowering the voices of children and young people through technology to inform adult and community change. Partnership with Map Your World USA for implementation in Australia. Staff Engagement Surveys delivering 70% or above participation and engagement in workplace development.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Operational Excellence 100% compliance with internal and external quality and financial audits. Review our ICT strategy and capability to meet new opportunities for efficiency and effectiveness. Refine our Constitution to enable best practice as a Company Limited by Guarantee and ensure Board performance and succession planning.
Financial Security Income generation strategy implemented to align evidence informed practice and innovations to funding. Continued growth of social enterprise strategy to deliver on mission and financial sustainability. Upskilling leadership across agency for budgeting and financial management. Expanded engagement with impact investment products for outcomes based funding. Donor development.
Cultural Development Engage all staff with innovation culture to translate ideas to implementation in response to needs and evidence for impact. Continued growth of workforce diversity and workplace flexibility to support personal wellbeing and family commitments. Workplace audit and training for service accessibility and safety for people from all identities and cultures. Strengthened an organisational culture of learning and evidence-informed practice.
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Be Remembered by Your Community
Make a gift in your Will and give local children a chance.
By making a gift to Family Life in your Will, you’ll be giving vulnerable children a chance to have a better life. Every child should have a chance to thrive. Society has a duty to provide a safe and secure place where all of our children can grow up cared for, nourished and educated. Since 1970, Family Life has been working to ensure vulnerable children in the local communities have a chance to do well in life. Our expert teams of staff and volunteers have
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
helped thousands of families and their children to access the skills and support they need. This important work needs to continue; to do this we need your help. A gift to Family Life in your Will is a sound social and financial investment - for children, for parents and for your community.
Why we have made a gift to Family Life in our Wills. Christina Morianos
Jeff Phillips
“I had a good experience as a volunteer at Family Life. The people were understanding and not judgemental. I have left a gift to Family Life in my Will so they can keep up with their work helping children to be mentally healthy.”
“I have decided to make a bequest to Family Life because I believe in the great work the organisation does and the difference that work makes to people in need. My commitment will mean Family Life can reach more people and continue to be at the forefront of innovative agencies who are looking to make society a better place for us all.”
How can I make a gift to Family Life in my Will? Family Life has prepared an information booklet to help you learn more about Wills: ‘My Personal Information and Will Preparation Kit’. Get your Free Copy today - call 8599 5433 or visit www.familylife.com.au Together with their sister-in-law Pam Allison, David and Alice Allison were founders of Family Life. David and Alice each gave a gift to Family Life in their Wills and on her passing, Pam’s family made a gift to Family Life in her name. Their gifts have helped vulnerable families get important help and assistance at critical times in their lives.
David and Alice Allison.
Pam Allison.
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Thriving Children
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Thriving Children
Family Life recognises that for children to thrive, their physical, mental, emotional and social needs must be met. When parents are skilled and confident, they form a warm and secure bond with their children and meet their developmental needs. Parents create a nurturing environment for their children to grow up in that is free from violence. Children and young people achieve developmental milestones, feel good about themselves, and have a strong sense of self-identity.
Community Bubs Community Bubs is a community centred support model for high risk infants that includes focused case management from as early as the last trimester of pregnancy through to when the infant is 18 months old. A Family Life innovation, Community Bubs applies the evidence and best-practice research to work intensively with parents that may be at-risk of child protection removing children from their care. Community Bubs aims to: - Enhance parenting and community capability and efficacy through targeted, client-centred, interventions; - Enable wellbeing for children by intervening earlier; - Establish a community (staff, volunteers and community networks) in bi-directional tiers of support around each family to mitigate trauma experience and facilitate repair; - Facilitate trauma-informed, communitycentred and care team approaches to family support with onward referrals as needed. Through the philanthropic support of the Cybec Foundation, Cabrini Health and the Barr Family Foundation, Family Life has been able to provide intensive support to over 200 families (14 families per year) in Tootgarook, Kingston and Bayside communities to ensure vulnerable babies thrive and develop in a safe and supportive environment.
Jo Cavanagh OAM (right) accepting the NAPCAN award from The Hon. Jenny Mikakos MLC, Minister for Families and Children.
In September 2015 Community Bubs was announced as a winner of the 2015 NAPCAN Play Your Part Awards, which acknowledge individuals, communities and organisations that carry out inspiring initiatives promoting child safety and wellbeing throughout Australia. NAPCAN is a national ‘for purpose’ organisation focusing on the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Australia. We are working on the Mornington Peninsula to expand the program for Indigenous families. Seed funding has been granted by Cabrini Health, the Farrell Foundation and the Brown Family Foundation. In partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Association (VACCA), an approved Aboriginal family support organisation, the development of a culturally appropriate perinatal and post-natal support program is under way. An evaluation will track performance to achieve an effective model to scale to benefit Aboriginal families across Australia.
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Thriving Children
Community Bubs:
100%
of participants recommended Community Bubs to other parents
91%
of clients said they would come back to Family Life if they needed help or support
75%
indicated they had learnt new skills to use in the future
Parents felt more confident after participating in Community Bubs, with an average increase in confidence of 50%. Family Life’s trained volunteers and caring members of the community are critical to the success of Community Bubs. Volunteers provide support, guidance and assist by visiting families in their homes, taking families shopping and to appointments, and generally being there as an additional support person, helping parents to believe in themselves and to envisage a bright future. Having a Volunteer involved in the program: “For me it was having someone impartial to speak to every week; it also made me feel supported.” “It helped me gain confidence in my abilities as a parent and really helped me get on my feet.”
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Case Study: Reuniting a family The Community Bubs team received a referral from DHHS Child Protection for a mother who was in her last trimester of pregnancy. Her 3-year-old child was in out-of-home care due to a history of parental alcohol abuse, a chaotic home environment, family violence perpetrated by the father and concerns about parenting capacity. The mother was hesitant to engage with the Community Bubs practitioner because of previous negative experiences with other services. Time spent building a relationship and trust between the parents and the specialist Community Bubs practitioner created the opportunity to work effectively with the family for 12 months. A professional care team was established for the family, including the local enhanced maternal child health nurse, antenatal care at the hospital and the child protection worker.
During the 12 months, the parents learned how to prioritise the baby’s needs, provide appropriate care, keep the family safe from family violence, and make use of a range of community services and support. With both children remaining in the parent’s full-time care, supported by new friends and networks in the community, DHHS Child Protection closed the case. If we do nothing for vulnerable parents, problems can escalate and create long-term risk and service system dependency. This specialist community-based intervention for infant safety and wellbeing is our preferred approach for preventing the burden of health and welfare costs that would otherwise be incurred.
The Community Bubs practitioner and parents set goals for achieving change towards safety and wellbeing, guided by a trauma informed intervention. Watch Family Life’s Community Bubs video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ywdkrHcpw
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Thriving Children
Support Help Information Networks & Education
SHINE Mental Health Program
The SHINE Mental Health Program is an early intervention initiative for children and parents, which supports vulnerable children aged 5 to 18 who are at risk of mental illness or have a parent with a mental illness. Established in 2008, SHINE offers community education and interventions to strengthen children’s resilience and coping skills to reduce their risk of developing a mental health problem. Currently, Family Life receives Commonwealth funding to deliver this program in Casey and Greater Dandenong. This year, the SHINE team provided more services to children and young people who had experienced family violence.
Promoting trauma repair
This year, the SHINE team received additional training to respond to the trauma impact of family violence on children. A range of evidenceinformed strategies to promote trauma repair and self-regulation have been implemented. This has been extended to marginalised communities through direct work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander referral agencies and co-location with migrant, refugee and asylum seeking support agencies. Through this work and in partnership with the Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre, we have helped to build knowledge in culturally and linguistically diverse communities about children’s mental health, the impact of trauma and helping them to strengthen their resilience and coping skills.
Community partnerships
SHINE has developed partnerships with schools, corporations and organisations in the community so that professionals and parents can work together to strengthen children’s mental health and prevent adolescent mental illness. The team have provided holistic and integrated support, targeted to marginalised communities including
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
those with limited English, young people who identify as GLBTI and young people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. SHINE continues to be embedded within the community education hub, Doveton College and innovatively engage volunteers to diversify and sustain models of support for young people in school. As an intervention service for early stage mental illness, SHINE is increasingly developing services to mitigate the impact of family violence on young people.
New support hub for Casey
Family Life is co-designing a new multi agency hub in the City of Casey to support parents and children affected by family violence. This model will deliver a 3-year early-intervention family violence pilot program (2016-2019) that responds to the best interests of the child by engaging and supporting parents with a holistic wraparound service that maintains the parent-child relationship and keeps women and children safe from harm. The new innovative model of practice aims to address and mitigate the impact of violence on the family, implementing international best practice, customised to the Australian context. A key role for the SHINE team will be to advocate for children who enter the service, link them to other referral pathways and design a recovery model for them.
Case Study: Business–community partnership a winner Last year, Family Life was approached by the Wolfdene Foundation. They were keen to collaborate with us to help children and young people thrive by actively strengthening their physical and emotional wellbeing. Through this partnership, the Wolfdene Foundation is funding SHINE activities and projects, enhancing Family Life’s specialist case management service. For example, the Foundation supported a Fun Yoga pilot program in a local school. A trained yoga teacher provided free lessons to Prep students to help grow their self-regulation and emotional wellbeing. Students were introduced to mindfulness and techniques for age-appropriate impulse control, taking turns, coordination, calmness, and self-control. The program was so successful that it has already been replicated in another school. By working together, we’ve seen wider community involvement in SHINE. We are grateful to the Wolfdene Foundation for their support and proud of the business–community partnership we have established in the southern growth corridor of Melbourne. What the Preps had to say about Yoga: “Breathing gave me energy.” “Yoga made me relax and I can be calm.” “I enjoyed it very much, it made me feel good.”
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Thriving Children
100% felt listened to
100% felt respected
100% felt supported
School Focused Youth Services
School Focused Youth Services (SFYS) is an initiative of the Victorian Government. Funded by the Department of Education and Training, it brings together schools and services to support at-risk students. Family Life is the managing agency for SFYS in Bayside, Kingston and Frankston. Under this initiative, innovative projects are developed to support students aged 10 to 18 to stay in school, complementing existing work being undertaken by schools. Below are just a few examples of the innovative programs that Family Life uses, in collaboration with local support agencies and service providers, to assist students dealing with personal, social and emotional issues to help improve the wellbeing of students and subsequently school attendance rates.
Online youth and child directory
Family Life was instrumental in identifying the need for school wellbeing teams to have access to a centralised online resource when seeking community support services for children and young people. A partnership between SFYS, auspiced by Family Life, and the City of Stonnington and Bayside Medicare Local resulted in the creation of an online directory, which has helped community members and service providers to navigate the child, youth and family service landscape. The online Child and Youth Directory (http://childandyouthdirectory.com.au/) covers the cities of Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Port Phillip and Stonnington. It brings local service-level information together in one place and provides comprehensive details about who the services are for, and how, when and where they can be accessed. The initiative was a finalist in the State Government’s 2015 Victorian Early Years Awards in the category of Better Access to Child and
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Family Support, Health Services, Schools and Early Education and Care Services. A Mornington Peninsula version of the directory (http://mpchildandyouthdirectory.com.au/) was launched in June 2016.
Trauma-informed school communities
In line with new SFYS guidelines, Family Life will be targeting the 20% of young people aged 10 to 18 in Frankston, Bayside and Kingston who are most at-risk of disengaging from school. To this end, SFYS coordinators are undertaking training in Dr Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Education and will be sharing this knowledge with local schools via a tailored ‘trainthe trainer’ program. If teachers have a better understanding of the neurological impacts that trauma can have on a child’s brain development, they will be better equipped to teach, support and respond to this vulnerable cohort.
Map Your World
Reflecting our innovative approach, SFYS will incorporate Map Your World digital technologies (see page opposite) to engage students through a flexible curriculum-based approach. Map Your World has been proven to be an excellent way to engage young people, giving them a ‘voice’ and helping them to create positive change. As change agents, students will explore issues around student disengagement, creating online surveys and mapping their findings.
Map Your World
Map Your World is a curriculum and digital platform, empowering young people to have a positive impact in their local communities as they connect nationally and globally with a worldwide movement of next generation changemakers and leaders. With hardware sponsored by Google, Map Your World puts the power of digital technology into the hands of young change agents. The customisable curriculum has been developed by Map Your World founders in partnership with the John W. Gardner Center for Youth and Their Communities, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley. Map Your World was inspired by the documentary “The Revolutionary Optimists” filmed in Kolkata, India, where young people continue to have a profound effect in their neighbourhood. In July 2016 Family Life signed an MOU with the U.S. developers of Map Your World as the Australian partner. Map Your World’s unique online social mapping model Map It, Track It, Change It, Share It provides a framework for young people to lead change at the local level. Through a strengths based approach, young people are encouraged to talk through the advantages and challenges of living in their community and identify what, within their circle of influence, they would like to change. Carefully developed curriculum engages young participants to take leadership in the planning and delivery of Map Your World. Family Life has piloted Map Your World in three schools, Tootgarook Primary School, Doveton Community College and Mordialloc College. At Tootgarook the collective voices of over 160 children provoked positive action by the school community, who introduced a free lunch initiative to ensure all children at the school have access to a nutritious lunch.
At Doveton, young CALD students were successfully engaged, conducting surveys with over 100 young people asking them questions about ‘safety’ in their community. The program enabled the school community to reflect on safety and what it means to be safe in Doveton with results fed into the school leadership and follow-up continuing. Map Your World enhances the prosocial approach of Family Life, promoting resilience and providing a ‘voice’ for young people. Outcomes:
- Young people develop self awareness and self esteem, through civic and social participation. - Young people are confident to voice their thoughts, feelings and opinions to have their needs met. - Young people actively contribute in strengthening their community.
- Young people are able to contribute towards and participate in community and social planning, as key guiders and decision makers.
- Young people develop leadership skills as active participants in positive social change.
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Strong Families
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Strong Families
Family Life recognises the importance strong families, which ensure children thrive and communities are capable. Family Life also understands the positive impact of individual health on families. When individuals are healthy and resilient they can lead a full life and overcome personal challenges. Individuals are safe and conflict and violence is reduced.
Family Support Services Family Life supports healthy communities, families and individuals through our Strong Families model. We recognise the trauma that families in our communities face and provide trauma-informed responses. Family Life is a listed agency within the Bayside Peninsula Family Solutions alliance. This sees Family Life working alongside other family support agencies and specialist agencies which aim to provide consultation, advice and services, where appropriate, for all families including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, refugee and asylum seeker families, families from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities and families involved in kinship care. All referrals into the family support program are received by Child FIRST and Family Life has staff within the Child FIRST team contributing to, amongst other interventions, innovative ways to respond to family violence referrals.
and to respond to recommendations of the Family Violence sector reform and the roadmap to reform for early intervention. We have developed specialist teams who support families with high risk infants, children and young people. This means that staff recruitment, supervision and professional development can target developmentally appropriate interventions. Over the past 12 months the Integrated Family Support (IFS) team have developed a model to respond to police referrals following incidents of family violence (see page 30) and through staff training with Dr. Bruce Perry, have reviewed intervention planning to ensure they are trauma informed. This has involved the direct injection of the Creating Capable Communities program into IFS to provide for local area intake, early intervention and prevention, demand management, community leadership and to build therapeutic webs around all clients who access services through Family Life.
Family Life’s approach in delivering integrated family support services incorporates the strategies and interventions identified in the Best Interest Practice Model, The Strategic Framework for Family Services ‘Every Child Every Chance Practice Guides’, Aboriginal and Cultural Competence Framework, Whole of Community Model and the Child Safe Standards. Family Life draws upon theory including trauma, systems, attachment, feminist and strengths based to provide evidence informed, client centred and holistic case management support
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Strong Families
Family Violence Services
Family Life works across State Child Protection and Commonwealth Family Law jurisdictions. We have a specialist family violence service based at Frankston and a suite of family violence services for men, women and children and families at our Sandringham and Cheltenham service centres. Family Life commenced our first family violence groups in 1986, with continuous service evolution since that time. We were an inaugural member of the Federal Partnerships Against Domestic Violence, chairing the Business Approach working group which delivered the first national conference for employers: Breaking Point. Our innovative whole of family approach for working with family violence was recognised with an Australian Heads of Government Award in 1999, and our practice initiatives have been included in various reports and publications. Family Life is a member of No to Violence Male Family Violence and Prevention Association and the Men’s Referral Service, Active Referral Service, Family Relationship Services Australia and Victorian Council of Social Services. At the State and Southern district levels we provide leadership and consultation for high risk panels, research projects and committees. We contribute to knowledge building and advocacy for practice and systems change to improve outcomes and safety for families and children. Our policy and practice response covers all forms of violence including economic, emotional and psychological abuse, sexual, spiritual, physical, property damage and behaviour that is threatening, coercive and controlling. Family Life continues to provide quality evidence based programs including: the Men’s Behavioural Change Program for men who have used violence against their family members; the Making Choices Group for Women who have experienced family violence; Children’s groups; and counselling across the age spectrum for men, women and children.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Family Life understands that not all clients who use or experience violence can attend a centre based service and provides outreach services to enhance safety and wellbeing for community members where needed. In addition, Family Life ensures staff members are culturally competent and use interpreters where necessary to ensure accessibility for all community members. Family Life has responded to the Royal Commission into Family Violence recommendations by setting up working groups across the agency to enhance services and identify and address service gaps. We have: - Ensured a safety for women and children’s lens is in place across all services - Developed a response in Family Law and Adolescent violence services,
- Ensured services across the agency are trauma informed, - Expanded our early intervention services for men at risk of using violence against family members, and
- Advocated to expand individual services for men who present with a range of complex issues and levels of risk to their family members. In addition, with support from the Besen Foundation, we are developing a family violence specific Map Your World program for children and young people as part of the Together We Can initiative in the Cardinia/Casey area. This technology based program is for children and young people to map their world, track the progress and become change agents to motivate adult change for safety and community wellbeing.
Elevating the voice of children as change makers adds a unique and engaging approach to the challenge of preventing family and community violence.
Family Life has grown significantly over the past 15 years as an enterprising, high impact community organisation and responding to family violence continues as a core area of specialist expertise across government funded family services.
Case Study: Supporting a family in need Dave and Kate have 3 children aged between 6 and 13. They first came to Family Life when their 20 year marriage began to struggle following the disclosure of an affair. They attended six Relationship Review and Renew (RRR) sessions, with joint and individual counselling to work out the path they wanted to take. Following intensive exploration of the couple’s conflict styles, communication, values and goals, they decided that the best option for their family was to separate. As the counsellor had identified a level of fear expressed by Kate, and some controlling and abusive behaviours as part of Dave’s conflict style, he was recommended to attend Family Life’s 16-week Men’s Behaviour Change program to develop respectful and safe ways of connecting with his family. Kate was referred to the partner contact program, as well as continuing to stay engaged with the counselling practitioner for individual work. With shared business interests and the need to parent after separation, the couple had regular interaction. Kate’s safety was continually monitored through the partner contact service and counselling. Dave’s participation in the behaviour change group helped him to develop an in-depth understanding of the nature of family violence. He was also encouraged to develop accountability for his abuse, learn strategies to manage this behaviour and learn to communicate respectfully and safely with his family members. Upon finishing the program, Dave realised that he still had a long way to go. This had also been reflected by Kate who was continuing to feel controlled and disrespected. Feeling she needed further support, Kate joined the Family Life Making Choices Group – a 10-week group for women who have or are experiencing family violence. She engaged in psycho-educational and therapeutic activities that encourages self-empowerment and awareness. The additional benefit is the deep connection between the women in the group, which grows through the painful experiences shared in a safe and supportive environment. Kate reported that she had greatly valued this experience and would continue to stay in touch with some of the other participants. Dave attended individual counselling to continue to work on issues that he had begun to address in the Men’s Group including understanding respectful behaviour and growing the self-awareness needed to begin behavioural change.
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Strong Families
Family Life L17 Response Model Within our Child FIRST and Integrated Family Support suite of services Family Life has designed a focused intake and early intervention service to vulnerable families impacted by family violence within the Bayside and Mornington Peninsula regions. This model is run in close partnership with Family Violence Women’s services and Victoria Police. Families are referred into the model via the Police L17 and E-referral response system when they have attended an incident of family violence or when an individual seeks police assistance. Family Life works alongside affected family members, the police and specialist women’s services to ensure that children, the often unseen victim of family violence, are made central to interventions for their caregivers.
This brief intervention response includes:
In March 2015 Family Life (while managing the Child FIRST Inner Middle Program) in conjunction with the Salvation Army developed an enhanced triage model of screening, intake, assessment of, and response to L17 referrals. This model is run by a Specialist Family Violence Support team, spread across Family Life’s Integrated Family Support teams who provide brief support and intake as part of the regional Child FIRST response. In addition a Family Life Men’s Worker has been allocated to provide support to fathers using violence and a Family Violence Counsellor has been allocated to provide additional therapeutic services as required.
- Support with Intervention Order applications and hearings
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
- Safety planning
- Advice and referral to other services - Crisis management
- Outreach home visits
- Collaborative work with other Specialist Family Violence Agencies including Victoria Police and Taskforce Alexis and DHHS Child Protection
- Culturally sensitive approach
- Assessment and referral for longer-term case management Since March 2015 the Specialist Family Violence Support Team has responded to 338 referrals.
Casey Integrated Family Violence Initiative Family Life was approached by Victoria Police early in 2015 to assist with developing an earlier response for men identified as responsible for violence in their families and living in the Casey local government area. Family Life proposed an innovative response including services such as Children’s Contact Services, Parenting Orders Program, SHINE and Specialist Family Violence services (all federally funded). This response would ensure safety whilst promoting work with men as parents and partners as a practical and therapeutic intervention to motivate change. The model under design will be delivered from a new integrated, co-located service site, in Cranbourne provided by the City of Casey. Family Life has been leading the planning with Police, family support, child protection and specialist family violence service.
The model applies learning from international research for an innovative service model for working with families affected by family violence: - Multidisciplinary assessment of the whole family affected by family violence, including children where it is safe to do so.
- Direct safety planning and activation of policing and justice support to reduce the risk to victims of family violence. - Referral to advocacy services, legal support, counselling and therapeutic and support groups for men and women. - Referral to Child FIRST to facilitate the referral of women and children into integrated family support services.
- Referral of the family to a family violence assessment followed by referral into the Men’s Behaviour Change program, partner contact, men’s counselling, case management/outreach and Women’s Anger Management program. - Referral to Family and Relationship services for pre-couples counselling, individual counselling for relationship issues and relationship counselling. - Agency funded Men’s family violence counselling, case management and outreach. - Referral for ongoing trauma specific services.
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Strong Families
Family Relationships & Family Law Services Family Life is an approved organisation for Australian Government funding and our practitioners are accredited with the Australian Attorney General’s Department to support separated families. This year, Family Life continued to provide a range of services to support separated families to reduce conflict, improve their post-separation parenting and remain focused on the best interests of their children. Our suite of services ‘wrap around’ families when they need it most. The family law system encourages parents to agree on arrangements for their children without having to go to court. The Family Relationship Centre continued to provides family dispute resolution services to separating families in a practical, less stressful and inexpensive way. Specialist practitioners helped families to discuss issues, look at options and work out how best to reach parenting agreements. Parents engaged in information and education sessions that include tools and strategies to manage conflict and improve communication. The voice of children is also supported in the process by the
child-inclusive practitioners to ensure the parents remain focused on the rights of their child. Parents were also referred to our Family and Relationships Service to work through complex issues such as grief, loss and family violence and managing children’s behaviour. Assistance is aimed at achieving and maintaining positive relationships. This year, our ‘Parenting after Separation’ group was also accessed by parents seeking support after separation or divorce. “Family Life helped to reunite me with my daughter after two very painful years apart. Thank youfor your persistence and patience.” “I am grateful to Family Life for taking my call on the day. They were professional and helped me through a very dark period.”
69%
of parents reported acquiring new skills and knowledge through the family dispute resolution process
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Family Matters Program The Family Matters Program provides opportunities for children to spend time with separated family members in a safe, friendly and neutral environment. This year Family Matters continued to support families to move from high levels of conflict around their post-separation parenting arrangements to insightful, sensitive and competent parenting, focusing on their children at all times. Family Matters comprises the Children’s Contact Service (CCS) and Parenting Orders Program (POP). These are designed specifically for families involved in Family Law Court proceedings and these families may be Court ordered to attend. However, all separated families who are dealing with complex issues around their co-parenting and the time their child spends with each parent can also attend these programs.
Children’s Contact Service
This service helps children to develop positive relationships with their family members following separation. The service provides child-friendly venues such as Good Start Early Learning Centres where children’s exposure to conflict is minimised while interacting with their family member(s). The families are also linked into POP for therapeutic support.
Parenting Orders Program
The Parenting Orders Program is a child-inclusive program that ensures a child’s voice is heard. The program helps children develop and strengthen positive relationships with both parents following separation; supports families and children to move from high levels of conflict to workable, child-focused parenting arrangements;
listens to the child’s voice and assists families to be guided by this in their post-separation decision making; and works with families to meet their Family Law Court orders. This is achieved via individual counselling sessions for parents and for children, therapeutic parent/child/family sessions and the Children’s Contact Services; providing intergrated service support in the best interests of the child.
Stand By Me
‘Stand By Me’ is a post-separation parenting course, recognised by the Family Court. Its aim is to equip parents to remain child-focused and reduce conflict. Family life facilitators use a psycho-educative and therapeutic model to explore topics including the cycle of relationships, grief and loss, post-separation communication styles and the impact of separation and conflict on children. The course has been successful in developing parents’ skills to communicate more effectively with each other and negotiate post-separation coparenting arrangements. Participants say that the course has been invaluable in helping them after separation.
THRIVE Children’s Group
THRIVE provides children with a safe, friendly, neutral group environment for them to know they are not alone, meet other children going through a similar situation and to talk to someone who will understand how they are feeling.
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Strong Families
Social Enterprise Services Social Enterprise Services are Family Life’s ‘profit-with-purpose’ services that extend our professional, quality assured expertise to a wider community who are able to contribute to the cost of the service, generating income that Family Life reinvests into unfunded innovative programs to meet community needs. Everyone can experience times of vulnerability and internal and external pressures on the family unit, no matter who they are or where they live. As an independent community organisation Family Life remains focused on the vision of our founders - caring community members who want to help vulnerable families. With this is mind Family Life’s future focus is on providing whole of family support, that wraps around the family enabling them to access all the services they need in the one place. Family Life is committed to delivering social change and continues to seek out service innovations where there are needs and gaps in the community. Bayside Children’s Contact Service and Bayside Counselling Service are examples of
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Family Life’s social enterprise service approach that can benefit the community in multiple ways and provide a revenue stream to assist Family Life to deliver our mission. In line with changes in government policy (like the National Disabilities Insurance Scheme) Family Life is innovating in readiness for consumers making service purchasing decisions. By purchasing services locally consumers are also supporting the community in which they live. By opting for a social enterprise service, there is a ripple effect in the community, as our ‘profitwith purpose’ proceeds are invested back into local programs which are transforming the lives of children, young people and families in our community.
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Bayside Children’s Contact Service Since early 2014, the 199 Bluff Road Community House has been the home of Family Life’s Bayside Children’s Contact Service. Family Life spent time planning for and trialling this social enterprise service based on the evidence of need from long waiting lists at our government funded services and the service gap between Richmond and Frankston. This meant families in the wider bayside community were disadvantaged by lack of access to a local service. Since opening the doors, Family Life has continuously innovated to ensure we are best responding to community needs. Over the past year service enhancements have resulted in increased registrations and access to services, in part through the extension of week day services. We have been able to offer families a holistic service including access to counselling and parenting support programs to promote positive change wherever possible and progression towards cooperative parenting arrangements and self-management. The success of the service has also been recognised by the Family Court with an increase in direct referrals. The service has also been replicated by another Victorian organisation.
At a time of incredible reform and change, Family Life is responding and adapting our resources and services to continue to meet the needs of local families, whilst focusing on outcomes and the benefits to the wider community. We are well positioned for outcomes-based funding and client-directed packages, which is how individuals and families will access services in the future. “Always informative, keep me up to date. Supervisors were great and managed well.” “Nice staff and a good setup that allows for variety and quality time.”
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Strong Families
Case Study: Rebuilding a relationship Mark and Sarah met and married after 12 months and whilst on their honeymoon Mark became physically abusive and more controlling behaviours emerged. Sarah fell pregnant shortly after, which was unplanned. Mark became clingy during the pregnancy and would not allow Sarah to have friends and also limited her contact with family members. After the birth of the baby, Mark would dictate to Sarah when the baby should be fed or when the baby should sleep and wake. Mark was constantly critical of Sarah’s parenting skills and would verbally and physically abuse her whilst holding or feeding the baby. Sarah decided she needed to leave the relationship as she had become extremely isolated and felt that both she and the baby were in danger. Sarah put a Safety Plan in place and whilst Mark was at work moved to a Women’s Refuge with the baby and had an intervention order put in place and appointed a lawyer. For a period of 3 months Mark utilised the Bayside Children’s Contact Service to undertake twice weekly visits with his son to rebuild their relationship. During this time Mark self referred to participate in Family Life Men’s Behaviour Change Group and also the Parenting Orders Program. The Bayside Children’s Contact Service also supplied a Court Report. During Court, the Judge ruled for Unsupervised Time. The family benefitted from Family Life’s ‘wrap-around’ services which helped to support better outcomes for all.
20
Families have engaged with the Bayside service in the past 12 months
150
supervised contact visits have occurred at the Bayside service in the past 12 months
75%
of parents reported that the BCCS environment allowed them to enjoy time with their children
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
91%
were satisfied with the service they received
100%
agree that BCCS provides a safe environment
Relationship Review and Renew Pilot Relationship Review and Renew (RRR) was developed by Family Life at the request of the Department of Social Services in response to research suggesting that there is a gap in family support services for couples whose relationship difficulties have brought them to, or close to, separation but whose issues might be overcome with timely assistance. RRR was modelled on Dr William Doherty’s Couples on the Brink program that was mandated in Minnesota USA for couples prior to seeking divorce. Family Life further developed Dr Doherty’s program to suit the Australian context. Monash University completed the program evaluation in partnership with Family Life’s Research and Evaluation Unit. The aim of the pilot program was to assist couples, with the aid of a trained family/ relationship counsellor to assess the status of their relationship, resolve their relationship issues and, where possible, move them toward a stronger, healthier relationship. It also aimed to assist couples to decide whether to separate, where this was seen as the most appropriate outcome by the partners in that relationship, in a manner that remained amicable and that minimised the impact on any children. The program assists individuals to gain insight into their own histories and patterns of relationship behaviour. It encourages deeper self-awareness which results in individuals taking more responsibility for how they have contributed towards the issues within their relationship. A recent evaluation of the pilot program shows that it has been successful in strengthening families and relationships and reducing conflict during separation. In total, 100 couples participated in the pilot. Nearly 80% decided to re-commit to their relationship, with 60% deciding to stay together and seek further help. Almost all of those who were originally ambivalent about maintaining their
relationship decided to stay in it. The participants spoke highly about the content and structure of the program, and noted that the counsellors were particularly good at tuning in to their issues and problems, building trust and adapting strategies and solutions to their individual needs. The delivery of the RRR pilot highlighted the gap in relationship services for couples where ambivalence exists regarding the future of their relationship. It also assisted clients to clarify what issues were impacting negatively on the relationship. RRR provided an innovative approach that allowed clients to explore their issues and options in a supportive environment, and in a structured, timely manner. The Family Life Family and Relationship Services (FaRS) Team will continue to deliver RRR as part of their suite of practices for strengthening families as will the Family Life Social Enterprise Service based in Sandringham. “It made me realise how to make staying in the relationship work.” “It gave me another perspective. Lots of deep conversation and questions. Lots more thought provoking things I never thought about before.” “It got us talking and understanding.”
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Capable Communities
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Capable Communities
Family Life works in partnership with communities to understand and address place-based needs. When communities work together, families are strengthened, communities are connected and inclusive, and individuals have a positive sense of culture and belonging. Community members support each other and participate in work, education and volunteering. Children and young people grow up in safe and supportive neighbourhoods.
Creating Capable Communities Family Life’s holistic approach is provided through a whole of family, whole of community model. This means Family Support and Family Violence Services are integrated with our Creating Capable Communities suite of programs, PeopleWorx social enterprise employment support program, counselling services, financial inclusion support, and mental health services. Creating Capable Communities (CCC) is a trauma informed, family and community strengthening suite of integrated programs that supports the most vulnerable families in our community. CCC adopts a whole of community approach which is grounded in volunteerism and volunteers critically support repair as connectors to a community of support. As a result, our CCC program is effective in repairing the impact of trauma, by creating connections through safe, stable neighbourhood spaces for vulnerable families and children to overcome isolation and experience felt security. Family Life understands the prevalence of trauma in disadvantaged communities and
embeds trauma informed practice into all programs within the CCC model. This program is place based, service user driven, family centred, flexible and focused on prevention and early intervention. CCC assists people from all walks of life and with different cultural backgrounds. It focuses on effective community engagement of vulnerable families for participation in integrated programs including Community Bubs, Creating Capable Leaders, Young Leaders for Change, community houses, breakfast club, men’s groups, playgroups and parenting programs.
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Capable Communities
100%
of participants reported feeling more connected to their community
95%
of participants reported increased confidence to ask for help when they need to
Outcomes / Objectives Social aspect: 1.
Identify vulnerability earlier than traditional models of child protection;
3.
Create spaces of visibility for vulnerable children and families, on the periphery of mainstream services;
5.
Be packaged as part of visibility plans for children and families;
2.
4. 6. 7.
Provide spaces for low risk intake;
Monitor changes and support families as risk levels escalate and de-escalate;
Operate as soft entrance and exit points for vulnerable families, into and out of traditional welfare systems; Create a sense of “felt security� for vulnerable families and children.
Economic inclusion aspect: 1.
Develop the social infrastructure in vulnerable communities through empowerment strategies towards local solutions to local problems;
3.
Improve employment pathways for participants.
2.
Strengthen participant’s social networks, overcoming social exclusion and strengthening community;
Having delivered Creating Capable Communities for 7 years, Family Life can comfortably predict around 40% of graduates will go on to employment, volunteering or study. The program gives all graduates new insight into how they can get involved leading community action projects within their community. Family Life knows that for long term sustainability, the communities that we work in need to have their own leadership and that the talents and capabilities only need the support, opportunities and encouragement to surface and thrive.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Case Study: Lunch for Everyone Vulnerable and disadvantaged children are most at risk of missing meals, which can have a negative impact on their learning ability and academic results and overall harmony in classrooms. Lunch For Everyone feeds dozens of Tootgarook Primary School students each week. The project is a product of Family Life’s Creating Capable Leaders (CCL) training that was delivered to parents at the school. The parents identified that some students were attending school without any lunch. Tootgarook Primary School leadership students identified the same concern when they received Map Your World training from Family Life. To help establish the project, CCL graduate Imelda, who is running a similar project at Banyan Fields Primary School, gave the volunteer parents some guidance and recipe inspiration. The project received financial support from Mornington Peninsula Shire and food donations from Second Bite. Local businesses also support the initiative, offering special prices on groceries. Local families are supporting the initiative by donating ingredients and making gold coin contributions. Currently seven volunteer parents are supporting the project and the feedback from teachers is overwhelmingly positive: “When children eat breakfast and lunch they are able to concentrate in class and are well behaved.�
Photo features the volunteer parents from Tootgarook Primary, Imelda from Banyan Fields Primary (centre), Councillor Antonella Celi from Mornington Peninsula Shire (third from left) and Margie Renwick from Family Life (second from right).
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Capable Communities
Tootgarook Group for Men Frog Dreaming is for men who feel alone and isolated or are seeking more positive ways to interact with their partners, children and/or family and friends. Held weekly at the Family Life Community House in Tootgarook, this group has supported more than 50 men from the local community since its inception 2 years ago. Men who are isolated and disconnected from their community come together in a safe environment to explore topics like anxiety and relationships. They are
able to talk freely about what’s on their mind and participate in group discussions. Individual counselling with a qualified practitioner is available after each session, as well as referrals to other agencies and services, such as fathers’ parenting groups and employment agencies.
Collective Impact Collective Impact is an innovative approach to tackling large-scale, complex social problems. Bringing together a broad range of stakeholders at all levels of a community, and through strong collaboration, Collective Impact aims to move beyond isolated impact, to achieve large-scale, long-lasting systems change. A Collective Impact initiative is a bold and longterm approach that strives for sustainable impact and is based around the following five key principles: - A common agenda for change
- Shared measurement for tracking progress of the initiative - Mutually reinforcing activities aligned to the common agenda and led by the community - Continuous communication throughout the initiative, between all partners and stakeholders
- A backbone organisation that provides effective coordination and support for the initiative
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Collective Impact is a community engagement approach that uses the will, skill, knowledge and ability of the whole community to create lasting social and cultural change. Whole of community includes: government institutions; community support services; early-years, primary, secondary and tertiary education; health; sport, recreation and service clubs; faith and cultural groups; media; philanthropy; workplaces; residents; young people and children. “Community shapes our identity, quenches our thirst for belonging and bolsters our physical, mental, emotional and economic health”, Paul Born, President of Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement (Canada).
Research shows that addressing a complex sociocultural issue such as family violence requires a comprehensive and holistic approach, over many years, that is built on interdependent strategies between prevention, early intervention and response initiatives. Collective Impact offers an effective framework for addressing such issues through its flexible and iterative approach. However, the change framework that is developed
must be responsive to emerging environmental factors, such as changes in broader community attitudes and policy announcements stemming from major events such as the Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria. Family Life is using the Collective Impact model in its Together We Can initiative to stop family violence in Cardinia Shire. See next page.
Image from Family Life and Cardinia Shire Council Collective Impact Initiative video available on Family Life’s website.
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Capable Communities
Together We Can Together We Can is a large scale Collective Impact model that aims to create long term community action and social change to end family violence in Cardinia Shire. Cardinia Shire has the second highest rate of reported family violence incidents in the Southern Metropolitan Region with one report every 75 minutes. Together We Can aims to seed and nourish normative change to prevent and end violence in homes, schools and neighbourhoods across Cardinia Shire - the places where adults must ensure safety and wellbeing for children and young people. The project started in January 2015 as a catalyst aiming to transform the community in Cardinia to a stronger, more capable community by December 2018. The first three years is focused on building cross sector collaboration, developing community owned outcomes, shared measurement strategies and engaging the community - in particular using the voice of children and young people as a motivator for adult behavioural change. Family Life is the Backbone Organisation, guiding the Cardinia Shire community and sustaining the integrity of this innovative approach for social change. In April 2016, around 370 community members joined together to start increasing local awareness of the high rates of family violence in Cardinia Shire. Around 60 community leaders also met to develop a year of action towards ending family violence.
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Funded as a joint initiative between Cardinia Shire Council, Family Life, The University of Melbourne, Victoria Police and the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services, Together We Can gives the Cardinia Shire people the chance to design their own plan to change the unacceptable rate of family violence that is occurring across the shire. Family Life has also formed an international coaching partnership with The Tamarack Institute in Canada. Together We Can celebrates the work that intervention services provide, joins the community to stop, prevent and end family violence occurring, and works with the community to build and maintain more respectful relationships. Together We Can is an alignment of a community who declare that violence is never ok and that all women and children are valued citizens, with equal rights of men to live, work, learn and play in healthy and safe environments. Visit the below link to watch our 90 second video launched at the 2015 Child Aware Conference, which explains our vision and approach to drive community level change towards a safer Cardinia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCVlUX3JDV4
Social Enterprise Retail Family Life social enterprise businesses provide more than goods and services. They are part of our service response to the community, supporting the local economy and helping those who are vulnerable and less fortunate. Family Life has four social enterprise opportunity shops – Black Rock, Chelsea, Cheltenham and Highett – all run by the community for the community. They are vibrant, busy stores, filled with community spirit and camaraderie. The demographics, customers, volunteers, staff and the physical space make each store unique. Last financial year, sales exceeded $1.1 million. This income has enabled us to expand our services to volunteer programs and the wider community, as well as establish an internal Research and Evaluation Unit in order to build and strengthen our organisation’s research, outcome measurement and evaluation capability and culture.
Family Life thanks the hard-working volunteers, generous donors of pre-loved goods and the loyal customers for all their support, which has ensured the ongoing success of these enterprises. Black Rock (pop-up shop): Opened November 2015; very successful so far; looking for permanent premises. Chelsea: Hosted a fashion parade in October 2015, featuring local ‘models’ (volunteers, staff and their families). Cheltenham: Another year of record sales. Highett: Now in its second year; going from strength to strength with its team of very experienced volunteers. Moorabbin warehouse: Now open 4 days a week, thanks to extra volunteers.
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Capable Communities
PeopleWorx Family Life’s PeopleWorx program helps people get the skills, support and work experience they need to get a job, go back to school and become active members of society. Young people can experience a range of problems that cause them to disengage from school or leave early, such as mental health problems, learning difficulties, low self-esteem, insufficient support from their family or family violence. They often feel anxious or lack confidence and struggle to enter mainstream employment without additional training, mentoring and support. PeopleWorx is all about job creation and social inclusion. Initiated in 2003 in response to youth unemployment, PeopleWorx it is self-funded by income from Family Life’s opportunity shops, which have a $1 million annual turnover. PeopleWorx participants develop vital skills and confidence through work experience in the shops and warehouse; classroom training with a focus on retail and customer service; as well as warehousing and furniture restoration. Volunteer mentors provide care and encouragement so that participants feel better able to cope with the employment process, as well as and taking care of their general wellbeing.
Over the years, more than 1000 disadvantaged young people have participated in PeopleWorx with most moving to a job, further education and volunteering. This financial year, PeopleWorx provided work experience and job pathways for 64 participants. Highlights include: - ‘Intro 2 Work’, which focused on supporting young people with learning difficulties. - Partnering with Beyond the School Gates to support students from schools throughout the region who would be transitioning from school at the end of the year. - Offering work experience to participants from Bayley House (which supports adults with an intellectual disability). - Students working towards hosting a ‘pop-in’ shop at the Family Life warehouse: an invaluable opportunity to use their customer service and money-handling skills, while selling their pre-loved upcycled items. There are plans to expand activities for social and financial growth. Watch Family Life’s PeopleWorx video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6z19KPwNlxU
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Our People
As a community organisation, people are at the centre of everything we do at Family Life. Our high quality service is underpinned by our commitment to staff wellbeing, performance and community. Our workforce is future focused and nimble, supporting practice innovations in community driven early intervention and responses to vulnerable families.
81%
of staff feel their contribution is valued by Family Life
94%
of staff say that Family Life recognises the importance of being mentally healthy
93%
of staff are proud to tell others they work at Family Life
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Our Organisation Map
Social Enterprises
Children
Community Bubs
Volunteers
Child FIRST
Bayside Counselling Service
SHINE Children’s Mental Health Program
Opportunity Shops
School Focused Youth Services
Bayside Children’s Contact Service PeopleWorx
Family
Family Law Services
Volunteers
Family Support
Family and Relationship Counselling Family Violence Services
Community
CEO/Board
Collective Impact
Community Development
Research
Corporate Support
Service Innovation
Business Development
Research, Outcome, Measurement & Evaluation
Volunteers
Bequests & Major Donors Finance & Operations
Information & Communications Technology (ICT)
Volunteers
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Marketing & Fundraising People, Culture & Quality
Our Staff
Family Life engages multidisciplinary, professional staff from the fields of social work, psychology and management, and the disciplines of counselling and community development. Our workforce is future focused and nimble, supporting practice innovations in communitydriven early intervention and responses to vulnerable families. We are committed to staff wellbeing, performance and community.
Learning and development
To further strengthen the skills and capabilities of staff, Family Life promotes both formal and informal learning opportunities and initiatives. In 2015, Family Life laid the foundations to become accredited in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics through the ChildTrauma Academy. Through trauma-informed practice we will be able to provide a specialist, evidenceinformed approach to assessment and intervention with clients. In 2016 we introduced evidence-based Leadership Training Needs Analysis, which will result in individually tailored management learning and development being rolled out in 2016/17.
In addition, we have promoted high-calibre staff through a merit-based selection process and nurtured new talent by offering ‘acting’ opportunities and secondments. Staff are also committed to self improvement through ongoing study and professional development. The Executive Leadership Team are either studying for or have already completed Masters level qualifications.
Quality certification
Family Life is proud of its exemplary history as a provider of quality services. A successful surveillance audit in 2016 has ensured that Family Life has continued to be certified to both ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems and the Victorian Department of Human Services Standards for all programs funded by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services. This certification provides the users of our services with confidence that Family Life has effective management systems in place that are regularly reviewed, and demonstrates Family Life’s commitment to quality of care and service.
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Our People
Volunteers Family Life was founded in 1970 by a caring and concerned group of citizens who wanted to ease the growing pressures on families. Volunteering grows social capital and builds strong communities. With this support Family Life is able to leverage government and philanthropic investment to strengthen communities and build civil society together. The current group of Family Life volunteers (320+) provide vital support across the organisation, from mentoring young people and providing family support alongside specialist staff, to administrative office duties and assisting in our opportunity shops and warehouse. These volunteers make a significant contribution to our work with families, children and young people. Their generous spirit has helped to grow Family Life to become the vibrant and hugely successful organisation that it is today.
94%
of volunteers feel valued by Family Life
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
Some Family Life volunteers have been with us since 1971; others have been the beneficiary of our services and want to give back. For many, volunteering provides them with a sense of belonging to the community, helping them to settle into a new community or a new country and develop lasting friendships. “Turning up each week to volunteer gives me a sense of connection with my community and a way to reconnect with the workforce.” “I have found that my life has been enriched by my time as a volunteer.” “Very satisfying, very inclusive, very much like how I remember society used to be.”
83%
volunteer to give back to the community
96%
recommend volunteering at Family Life
Patrons Dr Roger Riordan AM
Mr Graeme Disney OAM
Following a successful career developing and marketing the Vet antiviral software, in 2002 Roger and his second wife the late Patricia Riordan set up the Cybec Foundation as a Charitable Fund. The Foundation has established scholarships in a variety of fields of study, and has funded a number of major charitable and environmental projects. In 2012, Roger was made a Fellow of Trinity College at The University of Melbourne. Family Life is grateful to Roger for his extraordinary support of our Community Bubs program and commitment to the power of community to achieve change.
Graeme is a former Mayor of Bayside and his contributions and service to our community have been recognised by many awards including the Attorney-General’s Department Award for his voluntary work as a Justice of the Peace and in 2002, the Federation Medal. In 2006, Graeme was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for his service to the community of Sandringham, contributing to a range of local government, yachting, church and local history organisations.
Board Members Family Life is a not-for-profit incorporated company limited by guarantee, governed by a voluntary Board. Mr Len Gill – Chairperson and Company Secretary - Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Professional non-executive director.
Mr John Dickinson – Bachelor of Management Studies, Chartered Accountant and a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms Lesley Coleman – Deputy Chairperson Master of Administration and Bachelor of Arts.
Mr Grant Douglas – Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Engineering. 30 years management experience in a variety of industries including Management Consulting, Mining, Quarrying, Mines Rescue, Banking and Transport.
Mr Mark Vassella – Deputy Chairperson Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce and has completed Australian Institute of Company Directors course. Chief Executive, BlueScope Australia and New Zealand. Mr Jeff Phillips – Treasurer - Bachelor of Economics and a Chartered Accountant. Chief Financial Officer of Bennelong Funds Management. Ms Georgina Cohen – Company Secretary Master of Management (Technology), Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Technology and Bachelor of Arts. Manager Retail Systems Program, Australia Post.
Ms Karilyn Fazio – Master of Organisational Coaching, Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Education. Executive Coach, specialising in leadership development. Mr Richard Ruth – Director of Client Sales Exec – Australia, ShoreTel. Ms Heather Spooner LLB – Bachelor of Laws. In 1987 was appointed a Magistrate and more recently worked as a Coroner until her retirement in 2014. Mr Stephen Tickell – Diploma of Teaching, Certificate of Business and a Licenced Estate Agent. Director of the Hocking Stuart Real Estate Franchise Group.
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Thank You
During the year we engaged with government, businesses, trusts, foundations, donors, health services and corporate volunteers. Thanks to their support we were able to expand our services in high-need communities and help more families. The full list of supporters can be found on our website. This list demonstrates the breadth of our relationships: Australian Government - Department of Social Services Victorian Government - Department of Health and Human Services - Department Education and Training Balfe and Webb Barr Family Foundation Bayside Community Hub Bennelong Funds Management Besen Family Foundation Cabrini Health – Malvern and Brighton Cardinia Shire Council CE Family Lawyers City of Casey Cope Industries Cybec Foundation Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Doveton College Dr Roger Riordan AM EACH Social and Community Health Foundation 59 Good Start Early Learning Centres Herbert Smith Freehills HWL Ebsworth Intimo Lingerie (Intimo Aware, Domestic Violence Awareness program)
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
K&L Gates Kingston Council Lions Clubs Lowe Construction and family Monash University Mornington Peninsula Shire Council Mr Edward Ong Mr Malcolm Parks Ms Christine Richardson Myer Community Fund Pratt Foundation Rotary Clubs Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre (SMRC) Swinburne University The Good Guys Foundation The G.P. & M.D. Farrell Foundation The R.E. Ross Trust The Royal Children’s Hospital The Toni Kaye Foundation The University of Melbourne Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) Victoria Golf Club Victoria Police Woodlands Golf Club
Message from the Treasurer
In the past 12 months, Family Life has focused on capacity building to ensure that we can respond with agility to external challenges. Despite a reduction in revenue of 12.6% from $10 million (14/15) to $8.8 million (15/16), Family Life was still able to achieve a surplus and build financial resilience through its strengthened social enterprise activities. Our strategic innovations have also resulted in a return to growth budget projection for 2016/17.
Performance Family Life’s surplus from all ordinary operating activities was $35,180 (14/15 surplus of $62,508). This was a good result considering all the challenges in the sector and the reduction in income resulting from government program cuts to the SHINE Children’s Mental Health Service and Family Support. Government funding reduced by $1.2 million, down 15% on last year. The Board and management expect revenues from government will rebound in 16/17 with government investments to combat family violence and our leadership and expertise to support the reform directions . Family Life’s reputation and whole of community approach have also rewarded us an excellent opportunity to expand our non-government funded services. The revenues generated from our social enterprise increased by 19% on last year to $1.1 million. The increased net surplus from the enterprise enabled us to continue our high impact and efficient solutions such as Creating Capable Communities and PeopleWorx for growing social inclusion and creating better employment pathways for disadvantaged people. Management have exercised their financial prudency in managing the challenging budget this year. The requirement to reduce services was achieved with care and consideration for affected clients and staff and maintaining relationships in our communities, whilst decreasing
expenditure by $1.2 million, down 12.5% on last year in line with the reduction in income.
Investment Our investment in systems last year enabled Family Life to continue staff training and development efficiently this year. Future investment expenditures will continue to focus on research and innovation in order to respond with evidence informed solutions to government reforms. The Board will continue to support investing discretionary income in our communities through our community houses, social enterprises and collective impact social change initiatives.
Outlook The demand for our services and complexity of family needs continue to grow together with the need for skilled and well supported staff to meet those needs. Additional funds will be essential to meet these growing needs and work within the pressures of inflation and wage growth from Fair Work Australia. The Board and management ensure we work together effectively to retain a strong cash flow and balance sheet for Family Life. Family Life was solvent as at 30 June 2016 and the Board expect this trend will continue. It is important for Family Life to be agile and innovative so that we can stay on mission to help the most vulnerable in our community efficiently and effectively. Your support and tax deductible donations for Family Life are invited at http://familylife.com.au/donate/ Jeff Phillips Treasurer
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Financials
Family Life Limited Statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income for the year ended 30 June 2016. Income from Operating Activities
Federal Government funding State Government funding Local Government funding
$ 2016
3,975,136
2,739,008
128,666
Non-Government grants
344,933
Voluntary contributions
91,490
Donations
Public fundraising Social enterprises Service income
Membership subscriptions Interest
Other income
TOTAL REVENUE Expenditure from Operating Activities Depreciation of fixed assets Audit and accounting fees Bank charges
Finance costs
Staffing expenses
Program expenses
Operating expenses
$ 2015
5,101,983
2,804,822 143,087
483,813
129,362
280,538
29,773
96,854
68,357
1,089,604
913,573
148,540
92,068
82,253
113,385
8,835,281
10,116,701
282,798
239,908
13,807
12,956
6,576,202
7,526,495
226,746
257,268
70
76,446
27,960
25,410
519,628
90
18,131
27,277
33,576
769,982
Property expenses
1,127,550
1,186,731
TOTAL EXPENSES
8,800,101
10,054,193
35,180
62,508
-
(13,971)
35,180
48,537
894
2,023
36,074
50,560
Surplus Before Non-operating Items Non-operating Activities Other expenses Total
Net Surplus for the Year
Other Comprehensive Income Other comprehensive income Total
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR
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Family Life 2015-2016 Annual Report
-
894
(13,971)
2,023
Family Life Limited Statement of financial position as at 30 June 2016. CURRENT ASSETS
Cash & Cash Equivalents
Held-to-Maturity Investments
Available-for-Sale Investments Receivables - Trade & Other Other Current Assets
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Property, Plant and Equipment
$ 2016
348,050
2,545,595 29,685
46,028
137,858
$ 2015
1,231,070
2,200,000 28,791
73,663
118,082
3,107,216
3,651,606
3,105,479
3,370,613
6,212,695
7,022,219
3,105,479
3,370,613
Trade & Other Payables
199,544
363,442
Unearned Income
288,967
Provision for Employee Entitlements
380,539
413,970
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
1,432,175
2,104,025
Interest Bearing Loan
373,327
537,611
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
406,814
580,562
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS TOTAL ASSETS
CURRENT LIABILITIES Accrued Expenses
Interest Bearing Loan
Provision for Employee Entitlements - LSL
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Provision for Employee Entitlements - LSL
247,272
438,036
13,715
48,414
302,138
33,487
561,418
278,745
42,951
1,838,989
2,684,587
Accumulated Funds
3,738,240
3,782,108
TOTAL MEMBERS’ FUNDS
4,373,706
4,337,632
TOTAL LIABILITIES NET ASSETS
MEMBERS’ FUNDS Reserves
4,373,706
635,466
4,337,632
555,524
The accompanying notes form part of this financial report. A complete copy of Family Life Limited audited financial statements are distributed at our AGM. Our Annual Audited Financial Report - For the Year Ended 30 June 2016 is available on our website with the detailed financials. This is the report Family Life Limited submit to our regulatory bodies (i.e. ACNC and ASIC).
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In relation to Victorian Government Departmen of Health and Human Services funded programs:
SERVICE
ISO 9001
Family Life delivers services across the southern region of Melbourne in 10 Local Government Areas, with national and international partnerships for knowledge sharing, advocacy and policy advice. Melbourne
Ringwood
Hampton East Highett Moorabbin Sandringham Black Rock Cheltenham
Dandenong
Doveton
Children’s Contact Services
Chelsea Berwick
Community House Opportunity Shop
Cranbourne Frankston
Outreach Partnership
Cardinia
Service Centre Warehouse
info@familylife.com.au
Hastings
Tootgarook Design: grizzledesign.com.au Photos supplied by Family Life staff and volunteer photographers Peter Riordan and Gary Sissons.
www.familylife.com.au Family Life Limited ABN: 37 712 782 209 ACN: 606 542 590 Copyright Š Family Life 2016