Documented community needs in the City of Boroondara

Documented Community Needs in the City of Boroondara

Janet Stanley and Paul Read Monash Sustainability Institute

JUNE 2012

1

ISBN: 978-0-9870821-0-7

Report Number: 12/2 Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank John Stanley, Bob Birrell, Ernest Healy and NIEIR for their provision of valuable data and maps and Boroondara Council for their staff time and the cover photograph.

2

CONTENTS Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 4 The Project .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Current interventions and scope of Camcare ......................................................................................... 5 Overview of Camcare ................................................................................................................................................. 5 Target of intervention of camcare services ...................................................................................................... 6 Type of interventions undertaken by camcare ............................................................................................... 6 Boroondara’s location and population ................................................................................................... 8 Issues of data interpretation................................................................................................................. 11 The nature of need ............................................................................................................................... 11 Framework for understanding needs .............................................................................................................. 16 Present Unmet Needs in Boroondara ................................................................................................... 17 Some brief perspectives from Camcare ........................................................................................................... 17 Boroondara Council North East Precinct Project Report ......................................................................... 17 Who is in need – overall picture ......................................................................................................................... 17 Who is in need: Specific categories ................................................................................................................... 21 Anticipated trends in Boroondara ........................................................................................................ 33 Population and structural change...................................................................................................................... 33 Economic Recession ................................................................................................................................................ 34 Climate change ........................................................................................................................................................... 35 Ability to meet need ............................................................................................................................. 36 Conclusions ........................................................................................................................................... 38 Recommendations about role for Camcare.......................................................................................... 39 References ............................................................................................................................................ 42 Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………46

3

SUMMARY The report examines the welfare needs of the residents of Boroondara, using existing documentation as a resource for Camcare planning for future service provision. Need is a concept about which data is not formally collected, as it represents two conditions – an absence of something that is important to the person, and a failure to have resources to address this absence. This failure may be due to personal issues, such as the presence of mental illness or societal failures, such as payment which are too low to cover essential requirements.

Boroondara is generally viewed as an area of high socio-economic wellbeing, it having below the average levels for other areas in Greater Melbourne in terms of disadvantage. However, despite the comparative lower numbers of households with needs, there are still estimated to be 2,250 households at present who are deemed to be vulnerable in relation to one of the following: having to miss meals, unable to heat their home, having to pawn or sell something, and/or needed to obtain material help from a welfare agency. Overall, close to 7,000 households are calculated to be experiencing unmet needs in Boroondara, in 2012.

The report overviews specific categories of people to understand what is known about their needs such as, the aged, those with a disability, sole parents, migrants, those experiencing family violence. While some people are experiencing unmet needs at present, there are others who may become more vulnerable to having unmet needs when conditions change. These include population pressures and the accompanying impact on affordable housing; structural change in the population with increasing numbers of migrants who have settlement needs, and perhaps some with unresolved trauma. It also includes the risk of an economic downturn and possible impact on job vacancies and the need to adapt to climate change itself and policy associated with climate change, such as a carbon price.

While all people have unmet needs, the task is to understand essential or basic needs, social justice dictating that all people should be able to have these met in Australia. The difficulty is deciding which needs Camcare should be addressing as a priority. While this report identifies many needs and makes recommendations, the decision about resource allocation is one for the organisation and will be based on issues such as history, staff skills, the other organisations already providing a service to meet specific needs in Boroondara, as well as total and targeted resources available.

The researchers particularly highlight the following issues: 1. There is a core group of people who are in considerable poverty, particularly due to the low levels of Government support (such as Newstart), often compounded by high emotional demands of their circumstances (such as sole parents and refugees). These people will be in need of Emergency Relief and support to improve their capabilities.

2. The social cost of youth not being in either education or training is very high, both for the person and for society more generally. There is a need to continue support youth through Emergency Relief and through work to stabilise their financial position and build their personal capabilities and job opportunities in Boroondara, either through supporting job positions or assistance to remain in training.

4

3. Counselling and other support services to assist children to overcome trauma, such as family separation, family violence and child abuse, and loss and grief. This may also involve a building-up of the services Camcare provides to schools in Boroondara.

4. There are indications that affordable housing is going to become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne such that there are likely to be increasing pressures for struggling families in Boroondara. Emergency Relief, temporary accommodation and assistance with rental payments in times of additional stress for families are likely to undergo an increase in demand.

5. There is an opportunity for Camcare to take a greater role in community intervention in the Ashwood Neighbourhood Renewal site. This would involve community development work in relation to meeting the many on-going needs in the estate relating to low income, single parenthood and a poor safety record. In particular, the quality of public housing in this estate is in need of a considerable up-grade. It is possible that Camcare could take this up as an issue with Places Victoria and establish the case for re-building, retrofits and the provision of a wider choice of housing associated with improvements in open space and environmental amenity. It may be cost effective to consolidate single storey housing with new, low rise buildings which offer an improved dwelling and more common space. The land is already owned by government so would not be a cost factor in the re-building. Costs could also be met by a mix of affordable private and government-owned housing, the return from the house sales cross-subsidising the construction of other government rental properties.

THE PROJECT This work was commissioned by the welfare agency, Camcare, to identify current and projected community needs within the City of Boroondara that fit within the strategic intent of the business of Camcare. This task was undertaken by:   

Identifying existing data and studies that relate to the welfare needs if the citizens of Boroondara Identify information gaps and unmet needs Make recommendations as to the unmet needs that best fit with Camcare’s vision, mission and core business.

CURRENT INTERVENTIONS AND SCOPE OF CAMCARE OVERVIEW OF CAMCARE Camcare is the largest local community agency focused on the City of Boroondara and participates in a range of local research and service development initiatives. Camcare’s mission is to provide services to assist those in Boroondara and, to a lesser extent, those in neighbouring areas who are facing difficult life circumstances. This includes people from low socio-economic backgrounds, many of whom are Health Care Card holders; and those who, regardless of socio economic background, experience difficulties which affect their relationships and sense of wellbeing. Among the latter group are people impacted by mental health issues, drug and

5

alcohol abuse, family violence, relationship breakdown and social isolation, due to ageing or other factors. Many people experience a combination of both forms of need.

Camcare forms partnerships with other agencies and organisations within Boroondara and neighbouring municipalities in order to extend the scope of their services and better coordinate service delivery. Camcare’s total revenue for the last financial year was $1.62 million, most of which came from the City of Boroondara, the state Departments of Justice and Community services, and the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA). In 2010-11, government contribution was 83% of revenue, the highest proportion from the City of Boroondara (42%), followed by the Victorian Government (27%) and the Australian Government (14%). The remainder came from grants and fund-raising.

Donations of $55,000 ($120,000 the previous year) were received and client fees provided a contribution of $2,302. Camcare’s large volunteer program, contributed about 15,000 hours annually, with an estimated value of $345,000.

TARGET OF INTERVENTION OF CAMCARE SERVICES People offered a service by Camcare are mainly families, youth, seniors, and a small number of new migrants; particularly at present those coming from China, Afghanistan and Sudan.

Camcare provides both targeted services to eligible individuals and families (Family Services, Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief), as well as generalist services accessible to all comers (Community Information and Referral, Parent Education).

TYPE OF INTERVENTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY CAMCARE Camcare’s current services include individual (including youth), couple and family counselling; groups for women and children impacted by family violence, and women at risk of post natal depression and their infants. Each year the organisation receives School Focused Youth Services’ funding to work in partnership with several primary and secondary schools on programs targeting students at risk and improving student wellbeing. Counselling is offered from both offices at Camberwell and Ashburton and from outreach sites in other parts of the Boroondara municipality as well as in schools. Camcare undertakes individual and systemic advocacy on issues identified in casework, particularly in the Financial Counselling program, where credit practices can lead to unnecessary hardship. This includes work with the Federal Department of Human Services’ focused on improving services to older people in Boroondara and a research project identifying older women who are at risk of homelessness and the antecedents to homelessness.

Camcare describes on their website and Annual Report (2010-11) the services currently offered, which are briefly outlined below.

INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELLING Family Services is offered to families who are referred to Child First (a central sub regional intake service) because of parenting or household management issues which impact the wellbeing of their dependent children. This service is primarily delivered in people’s homes and other community settings and includes extensive case management or coordination of a range services which support families in the care of their children. Parent education has been developed based on consultation with women about their needs. Counselling has been extended to new target groups, including parents of children with a disability, parents of primary

6

students or young people, older residents and mothers experiencing, or at risk of, post natal depression. In 2010-11, 232 people or families received counselling.

FINANCIAL COUNSELLING The Camcare Financial Counselling Service assesses people’s financial situation; provides information on options available to deal with financial issues and the consequences associated with the options; information about the law in relation to credit and legal action that may be taken against a person, outlines entitlements and government assistance available and negotiates and advocates with creditors and government agencies. Assistance is also given with organising finances, including budgeting strategies. Increasingly, Camcare is offering these services to small business owners whose businesses have failed. Over the 2010-11 year, Camcare extended a brief financial counselling service to 461 clients and an on-going service to 169 clients.

No Interest Loans Scheme The No Interest Loans Scheme enables eligible people on low incomes to obtain a small no interest loan to purchase essential household items or services, including repairs. Repayments are tailored to suit individual capacity to repay and can be deducted directly from Centrelink payments, where applicable.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES Emergency Relief Emergency relief is provided in the form of food parcels, grants, food vouchers, travel and phone cards, toiletries and swags for homeless people. Over 2010-2011, 878 adults were assisted, with an average of 69 children being assisted every month. Of those who received assistance, 41% were in receipt of a disability support pension and 24% were on a Newstart Allowance. This service is provided by trained volunteer community support workers. A qualified social worker provides case management for people presenting for Emergency Relief who have mental health issues and complex needs that require additional assessment, support and referral.

Community information and referral Camcare’s trained community support volunteers provide community information and referral to people who contact the organisation asking for assistance with a variety of issues. In addition to information about services in the community, assistance is also provided in linking people to Camcare's counselling and support services.

Tax Help Camcare has a specialist group of volunteers who are trained by the Australian Tax Office to provide a free service to Boroondara residents who have an income below $50,000 and require assistance in lodging an E-Tax Returns. 138 clients were assisted with this service in 20102011, about one-quarter of whom were from non-English speaking backgrounds.

OTHER PROJECTS Neighbourhood Renewal Camcare participated in the Ashburton, Ashwood and Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal Program. Despite this program terminating at the end of 2011, Camcare remains involved with the Ashburton Alliance of Service Providers to continue community engagement , advocacy and provide services responsive to community needs.

7

Family violence Camcare offers a service to women and children impacted by family violence in the Counselling, Family Services and Financial Counselling Programs. Camcare chairs the Boroondara Family Violence Network of agencies providing services in this area. Camcare partnered with the Eastern Domestic Violence Service to develop and deliver a supported playgroup for women and children impacted by family violence. A small research project was undertaken with women, and service professionals working with family violence, regarding the impact of women’s financial literacy on their decision-making.

BOROONDARA’S LOCATION AND POPULATION Boroondara is located just east of Melbourne’s CBD (Figure 1). It covers 60 square miles, comprising 12 suburbs and 10 electoral wards. Figure 2 outlines the four Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) in Boroondara. Figure 3 offers a more detailed map of Boroondara itself.

Figure 1: Location of Boroondara in relation to Melbourne CBD

The population of Boroondara has been steadily increasing between 2004 and 2010, with 169,507 residents as of 30 June 2010 (Birrell, unpublished). However, the population increase for Boroondara as a whole has been at a lower rate than for the rest of Melbourne. Between 2004 to 2010, the average annual compound growth rate for Boroondara was 1.1% p.a., compared with 2.2% p.a. for the rest of Melbourne. The rate of increase for each of the four SLA’s, Camberwell North, Camberwell South, Hawthorn and Kew, has remained similar between 2004 and 2010.

8

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

1 2 3 4

Boroondara, Camberwell N Boroondara Camberwell S Boroondara Hawthorn Boroondara Kew

9

Figure 3: Map of Boroondara

10

ISSUES OF DATA INTERPRETATION While Boroondara is the designated area for this study, the boundary of a Local Government Area (LGA) relates to governance concerns rather than one which reflects community patterns.

For example, the boundary of the LGA of Boroondara may transect an area with particular characteristics, such as low average income levels, thus artificially dividing what may be a large area of place-based disadvantage into two or more smaller areas administered by different LGAs. This may have implications for understanding the extent of need. This is the case between Ashburton in Boroondara and Ashwood/Chadstone in Monash where both neighbouring areas were the focus of Neighbourhood Renewal projects under the former State Government.

Similarly, patterns of mobility and activities, community identification and social capital, may not be restricted to a single LGA. Networks and travel patterns vary in size depending on their characteristics. For example, playgroup networks tend to encompass a walking distance from home, while the network of a secondary school student would be more likely to cover a much larger area. Customers of an agency may come from another LGA into Boroondara for services, or people living in Boroondara may also receive services in a neighbouring LGA, or further afield.

Statistics are usually expressed in averages, which has the effect of omitting consideration of data extremes. This issue is particularly problematical where a location tends to have a predominance of an extreme, such as with the high income levels commonly found in Boroondara, as the average will be pulled upwards and poverty will tend to become hidden.

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

This averaging effect can be seen in the ABS SEIFA scores (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas) (ABS 2006). The Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage (one of three SEIFA indices) measures relative disadvantage and is derived from attributes such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations. Many decisions, including federal and state resource distribution for welfare related programs are allocated on the basis of where the LGA sits on this index, which has Boroondara as the least disadvantaged LGA in the Greater Melbourne area. However, closer examination of this index at the Collection District level clearly reveals pockets of disadvantage in Boroondara, this disadvantage being largely scattered through the region.

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

Maslow defined these needs as physiological – the ability to breathe, have food and water and sleep; safety - health and freedom from violence; love and belonging - friendship, family and sexual intimacy; esteem – self-esteem, achievement, confidence and respect; and selfactualisation - morality, creativity, acceptance and lack of prejudice.

11

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

Other theorists have provided differing lists of needs. Nussbaum outlines what she calls central capability targets (2005, p. 41). These can be summarised as follows:         

Normal length of human life Physical health Bodily integrity (freedom from violence, sexual satisfaction and reproduction choice) Being able to use senses to imagine, think and reason – thus also having access to an adequate education, freedom of speech and religion, Being able to express emotions – attachment, being able to experience full emotional development Practical reason – being able to form a conception of good and engage in planning of one’s life Affiliation – being able to live with others and having the social bases of self-respect and treated as a dignified human being.

Concern for other species Control over one’s environment – participation in political choices and material capacities such as property rights, employment.

Max-Neef (1991) also produced a list of needs which they believe are not hierarchical beyond subsistence or survival and are common across cultures and over time. The list is as follows:         

Subsistence Protection Affection Understanding, Participation Leisure Creation Identity Freedom

12

Surprisingly, little research has been undertaken on human needs beyond theoretical perspectives. However, these theoretical approaches commonly include physiological needs, as well as what could be described as higher, quality of life needs. It is unclear as to which of these higher needs are essential and ‘how much’ of these higher needs are required. In addition to these outcome needs, there are also intermediate or process needs, which assist in the achievement of the outcome goals. For example, a minimum level of income is required to purchase food and shelter. Another form of process need is the achievement of capabilities to achieve goals (Sen 1987). These include both personal resources, such as interpersonal skills, and societal resources, such as the provision of infrastructure. When both of these forms of resources are in place, people have choice and control over their own wellbeing and can promote what is of value to them. Finally, the notion of what constitutes a need will also, in part, vary according to values, beliefs, cultural perspectives and ideology.

Social policy and the welfare structure are organized to both meet needs directly and to increase the opportunities for individuals, households and communities to meet their own needs. Early thinking associated with the welfare sector focused almost exclusively on poverty or lack of income as the facilitator of human needs. Poverty can be viewed as absolute, where a person is not able to procure basic needs, or relative, where a person does not have the same resources as others in their community. In Australia, most poverty is relative, although there are pockets of absolute poverty associated with severe mental illness and fragility through age or illness. It can also be found in some Indigenous communities, some escaping domestic violence, new migrants and refugees, and youth experiencing homelessness.

Income is still the major measure used internationally for understanding poverty. Commonly used presently in Australia, is the half-average income line or half-median income line. The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM) defines the poverty line as 50% of the median equivalised household income (Tanton, Harding & McNamara 2007). Using this measure, an estimated 13.7% of Australians are below the poverty line (2005-06 figures) (Unkles & Stanley 2008). Boroondara Council reports that 13% of all households in Boroondara have a weekly income below $500. This places most of these households below the poverty line which sits for the December quarter of 2011 at $525.30 per week for a couple household where neither works, according to the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic Research (2012).

The exclusive association between financial resources and wellbeing has now been shown to be incorrect, as income beyond a certain point does not add to an increase in happiness (Heinberg 2011). It could be said that more money does not lead to the achievement of higher needs of self-esteem and self-actualization. Indeed, new research is revealing that over-development (too much income) in some countries is occurring, which is actually reducing the achievement of fundamental needs, such as length and quality of life (Read et al. 2011).

It became recognised that those with a very low income often also had other disadvantages present, such as poor education, no work or insecure work, poor health etc. This is known as multiple disadvantage, where people have poor outcomes across a range of dimensions in life.

Commonly, the experience of multiple disadvantage is also inter-generational. The implication for intervention is that where multiple disadvantage or many unmet needs are present, it is often necessary to address each of the needs in order to improve the person’s wellbeing. While this is understood in principle, it is very difficult to practice, as program funding is usually disaggregated according to issues rather than the total needs of a person. One way to address 13

this would be to move Camcare more towards being less dependent on specific targeted resources, an issue discussed later in the report.

The term ‘social exclusion’ came to have more common usage as it is considered to facilitate a broader understanding of the multiple dimensions of poverty. Social exclusion can be described as the existence of barriers which make it difficult or impossible for people to participate fully in society (Social Exclusion Unit 2003). Commonly, the barriers are said to relate to five dimensions: income, employment, political engagement, social support and participation (Gordon et al., 2000; Burchardt et al. 2002; Stanley 2011). The literature suggests that people who may be at risk of social exclusion include those on a low income, those who are unemployed, aged people and youth, new migrants, people who live in isolated areas, single parents, people with poor health and who have a disability.

Many other factors contribute to whether a person gains ‘sufficient’ achievement in these five dimensions, such as their education attainment and their experience of racism. Reducing social exclusion has been an important social policy goal for the past few decades in Australia, although less so at present. The current Victorian state government gives greater prominence to ideas of productivity and employment.

The discipline of psychology, particularly ‘positive psychology’ has had a strong interest in understanding wellbeing, a personal state achieved when needs are met. Considerable empirical research has gone into measurement and verification of wellbeing. A common way of measuring wellbeing is for an individual to rate their own state of wellbeing using universal type statements about how they feel about their life (Diener et al. 1985). The statements in this Satisfaction with Life scale are:     

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

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

Autonomy- self-determination, regulation of one’s own behaviour and personal standards Environmental mastery- competence and mastery to shape surroundings to meet needs Personal growth - a sense of continued development and potential, making the most of one’s talents and openness to new experiences Positive relations with others - affectionate, trusting, empathetic relationships Purpose in life - a sense of goal directedness and life meaning and the belief in one’s efforts Self-acceptance - positive self-attitude while being aware of one’s limitations and an acknowledgement and acceptance of both good and bad self-qualities.

Recent research based in Victoria has undertaken empirical measurement of social exclusion and wellbeing, explored the association between these concepts and the precursors for achievement of a good outcome (Stanley et al. 2011). It was found that there was a strong statistical association between social inclusion and self-assessed wellbeing, the higher a 14

person’s social inclusion, the greater their wellbeing. The most critical precursors which lead to social inclusion were found to be good social capital, relatively high income and relatively high trip rates (travelling from their house and back by any means of mobility) and having the personality characteristic of extraversion. Factors in addition to social inclusion which led to greater personal assessment of good wellbeing, were environmental mastery, positive relations with others and self-acceptance, as well as having a positive sense of community.

Thus, this research provides empirical evidence that needs can be met directly through the provision of physiological requirements and improving personal safety and they can be met indirectly through providing the means to assist people to better meet their needs, such as improving financial security, assisting in connecting people to the community and improving personal relationships. Camcare presently provides services that enable both these aspects. For example, Camcare offers programs to directly meet the basic physiological needs with their emergency relief services. Camcare provides for safety and shelter needs. Many of Camcare’s services assist people to meet their own needs, particularly improved management of financial resources and community strengthening services. Camcare has the task of deciding which needs have a priority. Such a decision will be based on both pragmatic decisions (where funding can be accessed) and where the best opportunities for change lie - based on factors such as staff skills, partnerships and the needs already being addressed by other local agencies.

Camcare presently provides a direct service to clients in order to meet needs (directly or indirectly), either on a one to one basis or on a group basis. This intervention is based on the idea that the person has the deficit and needs assistance to better use or better connect with the existing structures. This may be the situation, or the failure to have their needs met may be due to poor social policy, deficits in infrastructures, or in externalities and wider trends. An example of a deficit in social policy may be that social welfare benefits are providing an income source which is too low to meet a person’s needs or providing insufficient resources in the housing sector to meet the demand for low cost housing. Deficits in infrastructure may relate to issues such as an inadequate provision of community space – buildings and open space, or it may relate to an inadequate provision of public transport.

Three important external factors which are presently impacting on a person’s ability to meet their needs, (now and/or in the future) are: high population growth which adds to competition for scarce resources; climate change and associated policies; and international economic instability, and the risk of a down-turn or economic recession. These issues are addressed later in this report.

One further issue particularly influences the needs of the citizens of Boroondara, and that is the growth of inequality, the greatest discrepancy being in wealth, rather than income, a more complex measurement and not commonly used. In 2003-04, the poorest quintile in Australia (20%) received 12.5% of the total household income and their share of total household net worth was one per cent (ABS 2003-04, Household Expenditure Survey). The richest quintile (20%) owned 59% of total household net worth and 29.5% of total household income, net worth being almost 60 times greater than the poorest 20%.

Inequality is particularly marked in Boroondara, which has one of the highest average incomes in Victoria. This creates a number of difficulties in understanding need (as discussed above).

Income levels in LGAs are commonly the basis for much of the resource distribution to address 15

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

In fact, work done on the social exclusion of children in Boroondara (Stanley 2004, 2007) found that the levels of child poverty were similar to the Victorian average (12%), tending to be scattered through much of the community, as well as clustered in a couple of small locations.

The perception of apparent comprehensive advantage, such as found in Boroondara, also hides disadvantage from many living in Boroondara and compounds the adverse impact of relative poverty. The 2004 report found that some children and youth strongly felt the disadvantage in circumstances such as the inability to compete with job opportunities and extra-curricular activities associated with schooling. Wilkinson’s work (Wilkinson & Pickett 2010) has drawn attention to the fact that high inequality not only adversely impacts on those who are disadvantaged. Many outcome measures of quality of life such as in life expectancy, the extent of drug addiction, obesity, homicides and mental illness, occur more frequently where the inequality between people is highest. Thus, if Camcare chooses to concentrate its work in such areas of severe need, there would also be a generalised benefit to all residents of Boroondara.

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING NEEDS Figure 5 offers a summarized framework for understanding needs. As comprehensive empirical evidence is still not available for needs (Read et al. 2011), the model provides both the theoretical basis and some theoretical evidence. In the empirical research done on social exclusion in Victoria, employment refers to productive activity. Thus, the status of being employed encompasses those who are engaged in volunteering, carers and retired people.

Figure 5: Framework for understanding needs Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, Self-acceptance

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

High inclusion & high wellbeing Facilitators:  income  mobility  sense of community  social capital  positive relationship with others  environmental mastery  self-acceptance Low inclusion & low wellbeing

EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

THEORY 16

PRESENT UNMET NEEDS IN BOROONDARA SOME BRIEF PERSPECTIVES FROM CAMCARE Some discussion held with Camcare staff identified areas of unmet need, where services have not been delivered or service delivery could be expanded to better address needs. The areas highlighted include food security, the availability of a range of affordable housing, and improved financial literacy for people on low or fixed incomes.

Camcare is aware that the pattern of need has altered in the last few years. The demand for Emergency Relief has increased since the recent economic downturn. The release of asylum seekers to community detention in Boroondara has also increased the demand for some Emergency Relief to cover, for example, the costs of public transport. The changes in workforce patterns and increasing casualization in sections of the workforce has meant less job security and associated problems of irregular and/or low incomes, with a concomitant rise in financial problems.

Of concern to Camcare and other local agencies working on the Ashburton public housing estates are issues affecting residents including the poor state of the housing stock, neighbourhood conflict, and personal safety concerns. Community engagement strategies are being developed to identify residents’ concerns and determine a concerted action plan to address these.

BOROONDARA COUNCIL NORTH EAST PRECINCT PROJECT REPORT A review of services and facilities in the North East precinct of Boroondara, which encompasses Balwyn and North Balwyn, was undertaken by Boroondara Council and presented to Council members in July 2010 (Boroondara Council 2010). This area has high cultural diversity, and a higher proportion of both aged and young people than found elsewhere in Boroondara. The project identified a need for more services for migrant communities and to better address social isolation. It found that better localised transport was needed, especially for those with a disability, as well as a need for better access to counselling services now that the Kew office of Camcare has been closed. Increased services for youth were needed, including community and sporting facilities. People with a disability had a ‘critical’ need for more housing, respite care, holiday and day care placements and transport. These identified needs should be placed into the mix when Camcare is making decisions about developing or extending services.

WHO IS IN NEED – OVERALL PICTURE Broad-scale surveying, such as is undertaken by ABS or NAPSAN and the work done by Vinson, does not measure needs. Rather, it measures selected characteristics associated with individuals that suggest that vulnerability or disadvantage may be present. The basis of the selection of characteristics is in part a summation of collected research and in part, assumption. However, it is almost exclusively based on a person or at times a household, excluding positive factors which may counter or reduce the impact of vulnerabilities and excluding vulnerabilities which are created by societal failures, such as the poor provision of infrastructure.

National Economics (NIEIR) has examined the extent of disadvantage at LGA level in Greater Melbourne (unpublished). This section reports their work. While still measuring vulnerability, the work comes closer to need, as it clusters issues which are likely to lead to unmet needs. It 17

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

Their work was based on four compiled measures of disadvantage, in part derived from work by Saunders at the Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW and in part derived from work

by NIEIR and Stanley. The measures are:     

Financial vulnerability Potential disadvantage Socio-economic disadvantage Serious disadvantage Overall disadvantage

Financial vulnerability was defined as:   

Low liquidity: less than $500 savings per person in a household Low disposable income: equivalised1 household disposable income of less than $300 per week) No household member in paid employment (full or part-time)

Therefore, these households will be financially vulnerable and may at times have unmet physiological needs (food or adequate place to sleep) due to an unexpected health issue or an increase in rent. Such households may be reliant on a welfare agency to meet needs or may resort to a high interest loan. The need to service a high debt will increase their future vulnerability. They are less likely to be able to meet higher order needs with so few reserves.

Finances are needed to be able to participate in activities such as a school excursion, so an inability to participate will reduce the ability to satisfy higher order needs such as engagement with the community and positive relations with others.

Potential disadvantage was derived from cross-referencing with known potential vulnerabilities, such as young children in the household where no adult is in employment.

A Socio-economic disadvantaged household suffered from three or more of the following disadvantages due to a lack of funds:      

Could not afford a night out Could not afford a special need Could not afford to invite people home for a meal Could not afford a holiday Could not afford new clothes Could not afford a hobby or recreation

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

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

1

Missed meals Unable to heat their home Pawned or sold something

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

18



Obtained material help from a welfare agency

Across the LGAs of Greater Melbourne, between 5% and 13% of households experienced Serious disadvantage in 2006. These seriously disadvantaged households also fail on at least one of the other measures, and just over half of them also fail on all three of the other measures. Therefore a summary measure of Overall disadvantage was developed, where households experienced from one or more of Serious disadvantage, Socio-economic disadvantage or Financial vulnerability.

This analysis has some limitations in that it measures disadvantage for households with one or more adults aged 25 to 64, thus excluding households with younger adult/s (predominately young female sole parents) and senior adults. It also excludes homeless households, group houses, which would include rooming houses, and households experiencing temporary or short term difficulties. These omissions would tend to under-estimate the number of disadvantaged households.

The findings are based on actual data up to 2009.22, and projected data 2009.3 to 2012 based on impacts arising from macroeconomic drivers of disadvantage. The major influence on outcomes is the level of unemployment. This is defined for the purposes of the analysis as those who want paid work but are not able to get it. This definition is a little different to the federal government’s definition as this analysis takes account of people who have given up looking as they believe there is little hope of getting work and also accounts for those who have moved to a disability pension in preference to continual unsuccessful looking for work. Those who have been unemployed for a long time tend to move to a pension or benefit. This particularly happens during an economic downturn and therefore the official government figures underestimate the true unemployment levels. The extent of youth unemployment also tends to be under-estimated in the official figures, as their unemployment doesn’t increase the number of non-earning households, the basis for the rate calculations.

Table 2: Per cent of households experiencing disadvantage in Boroondara for 2008.2 and 2012.2 Measures of disadvantage

Socio-economic disadvantage Serious disadvantage Financial vulnerability Potential disadvantage Overall disadvantage 2

% of defined households in Boroondara 2008.2 6.8

Projected % (number) of projected defined households Boroondara 2012.2 6.8 (3,924)

Projected % of disadvantage in defined households Greater Melbourne and Geelong 2012.2 13.2

3.8

3.9 (2,250)

9.7

1.5

0.6 (346)

8.3

5.5

5.7 (3,289)

13.4

12.6

11.7 (6,752)

27.8

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

19

In 2008, 12.6% of households (with one or more adults aged 25 to 65) in Boroondara experienced Overall disadvantage, 3.8 %, experiencing Serious disadvantage (Table 2). These figures were projected to change only slightly in Boroondara by 2012 and remain well below the average rate for each of these measures for Greater Melbourne and Geelong. Indeed, Stonnington is the only LGA that is lower than Boroondara in 2012 on any of the measures, this being Socio-economic disadvantage. While Port Phillip is lower on some measures, the figures for this LGA need to be treated with caution due to high variety in household make-up, especially the large number of group houses.

Despite the comparative lower numbers of households with financial needs, there are still 2,250 households who are deemed to be vulnerable in relation to the provision of food, unable to heat their home or had to pawn or sell something or obtained material help from a welfare agency Nearly 4,000 households will have their higher needs associated with community connections, and participation curtailed (Socio-economic disadvantage). Close to 7,000 households appear to be experiencing unmet needs in Boroondara, in 2012.

Despite Boroondara’s relatively good position on average, in relation to Overall disadvantage, its position was projected to deteriorate from 2008 to 2012, relative to most other LGAs. Over this period, only six Melbourne LGAs had a rise in Overall Disadvantage, ranging from an increase of 0.2% to 1.3%. Boroondara had an increase of 0.9% or 271 households.

The percentage of households failing in these measures in 2012 in the LGAs abutting Boroondara, is shown in Table 3. As noted in Table 2, Boroondara residents experience lower levels, and at times considerably lower levels of disadvantage, in all measures than do the neighbouring LGAs. In Whitehorse and Monash, LGAs where Camcare extends some services, there are far greater needs, with Overall disadvantage being experienced by 21.7% and 21.4% of the defined households. Serious disadvantage is experienced by 8.2% and 8% of the households.

Table 3: Per cent of defined households experiencing disadvantage for LGAs abutting Boroondara as projected for 2012.2 Disadvantage measure LGA Boroondara Manningham Whitehorse Monash Glen Eira Yarra Darebin Banyule

Socioeconomic % 6.8 9.5 11.4 11.9 10.1 7.2 11.4 10.5

Serious Financial Potential Overall disadvantage vulnerability disadvantage disadvantage % % % % 3.9 0.6 5.7 11.7 5.1 3.1 10.1 19.8 8.2 4.2 9.7 21.7 8.0 4.8 8.7 21.4 9.3 8.0 12.3 24.7 8.5 11.7 14.4 24.7 10.5 11.1 15.9 28.8 9.1 3.9 9.7 22.2

20

WHO IS IN NEED: SPECIFIC CATEGORIES THOSE WITHOUT WORK The present rate of unemployment and the numbers of unemployed people at the SLA level in Boroondara and some nearby SLAs in the LGAs of Manningham, Whitehorse and Monash, are shown in Table 4.

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

Map ref.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

SLA Boroondara Camberwell N Boroondara Camberwell S Boroondara Hawthorn Boroondara Kew Manningham East Manningham West Monash South West Monash Waverley East Monash Waverley West Whitehorse Boxhill Whitehorse Nunawading E. Whitehorse Nunawading W.

Unemployment rate (%) Dec 2011

Number unemployed Dec 2011

3.2

816

3.3

1,002

3.3

767

3.1 2.6

562 256

4.5

2,555

6.9

1,737

4.7

1,630

4.4

1,619

5.6

1,723

4.7

1,322

4.9

1,436

Source: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2012 The unemployment rate is defined as the number of unemployed people expressed as a percentage of the labour force (employed plus unemployed). The (seasonally adjusted) unemployment rate for Victoria in December 2011 was 5.2%. Thus, Boroondara has a lower rate of unemployment than the average for Victoria. Monash South West, just south of Boroondara’s border, has a relatively high unemployment rate of nearly 7%. Thus, Boroondara has 3.2% of residents, or approximately 3,147 people unemployed at present. Map 1 depicts unemployed persons aged 25-64 years as a proportion of all persons aged 25-64 years who are in the labour market and live in Boroondara (2006). The Melbourne average for unemployment in 2006 was 4% to 5%. It can be seen that levels of unemployment of people who wish to be employed, is very low across Boroondara, with only two small pockets above with unemployment between 10% and 15%.

3

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

21

Map 2 shows unemployed youth aged 15-19 years as a proportion of all persons aged 15-19 years who are in the labour market (2006). This presents a different picture to the previous map. It can be seen that there are many pockets of high youth unemployment levels, but also pockets of low unemployment, the pattern is scattered. The average level of youth unemployment for Metropolitan Melbourne was between 10% and 12%, in 2006. In April 2012, the numbers of unemployed youth (aged 15 to 19) in Victoria were 22.3%, well above the national rate of 18% (Financial Review 2012).

With the total unemployment rate in Boroondara being lower than the Victorian average, it would be expected that youth unemployment at present would be lower than 22.3%. This represents what could be said to be an unacceptable number of unemployed youth. In December 2011, 63% of all jobs lost were those held by youth (Zappone 2012). It would appear that there is a structural problem across Melbourne giving rise to these high numbers, in part relating to weakness in the sectors where youth tend to be employed, retail, construction and technical trades and hospitality. Many youth not in education or training now have to be content with part-time jobs, this proportion increasing three times in size, since the mid-1980s. There is less stability present in youth employment. Among those in the labour force nearly one in five youth changed their labour force status every month over the past year, compared with one in ten older workers (Walsh 2011). There also been a doubling of long-term youth unemployment since 2008.

The need to respond to these trends becomes all the more urgent at a time of global economic uncertainty. Looking back at the recession of the 1990s, there was an immediate and deep impact on young people in Australia. There was a long-term slowing of full-time job opportunities for teenagers and greater fluidity in the take-up of part-time and casual work, there being a significant difference in the labour force market of young people when compared with older Australians. These differences relate to both deep structural factors and a flux brought about by more recent economic instability.

Work by NIEIR suggests that the official unemployment rate is an underestimate of the actual numbers. This is because the criteria for inclusion in the unemployment rate is that the person is actively looking for work, thereby excluding those who have become disillusioned and stopped looking. There is also a trend, as noted, to move some unemployed people to a disability pension, especially during an economic downturn (NIEIR 2010). In 2010, NIEIR’s adjusted unemployment rate, which takes into account the movement between the status of unemployment and disability, for Melbourne East, comprising Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood, was 6.2%, rather than the official figure of 3.6% for this area. The implication here is that it is likely that there may be quite a few more people unemployed than official figures of suggest. NIEIR believes that unemployment in general will rise by 2012.2. Some of this will be derived from a drop in youth employment. Based on economic conditions, however, Boroondara is one of three LGAs where the number of employed households was predicted to increase by 2012.

Newstart is a payment of $489.70 for a single person and $529.80 for a single person with dependent children, plus small additional payments under certain circumstances, such as rent assistance. To receive Newstart a person needs to be looking for paid work. As would be expected, Boroondara has a considerably lower proportion of people on a Newstart allowance (aged 25 to 64) (1.7%) than found in Melbourne as a whole (4.1%) (Table 5). The SLAs of 22

Boroondara, consistently have 1.7% of the population, aged 25 to 64, on Newstart. However, while relatively low, it still represents 1,515 people. This is likely to be an under-estimation as people can receive Newstart allowance from 22 to 24, an age group not recorded in Table 4.

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

Type

% pop 25-64

No. of people

Boroondara - Camberwell North

SLA

1.7

396

Boroondara - Camberwell South

SLA

1.7

474

Boroondara - Hawthorn

SLA

1.7

358

Boroondara - Kew

SLA

1.7

287

Eastern Middle Melbourne

SSD

2.8

Southern Melbourne

SSD

2.6

Inner Melbourne

SSD

3.8

Melbourne SD

SD

4.1

Source: Birrell (unpublished data) Greater needs occur when people have been on a very low income for an extended time as reserves of resources (financial, support, goodwill) tend to be used up. Table 6 shows those who are between 25 and 64 and likely to have high needs. Boroondara had approximately 805 people who were on Newstart for over 12 months, as of 2010.

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

Boroondara - Camberwell North

% of total pop.

0.4

Boroondara - Camberwell South

0.5

1.0

Boroondara - Hawthorn

0.5

0.9

Boroondara - Kew

0.5

0.9

Eastern Middle Melbourne

0.8

1.5

Southern Melbourne

0.7

1.4

Inner Melbourne

1.4

2.2

Melbourne SD

1.3

2.4

Location

% pop.

25-64 0.9

Source: Birrell (unpublished data) Unemployment has adverse psychological impacts around feelings of self-worth, which often heighten as the time out of work increases. The structure of a working week is not there, and a major source of social contact through work is lost. Thus, long term unemployment risks that

23

basic needs may not always be met, it also diminishes a person’s capabilities to meet their own higher needs through participation and social contacts. It is known that: Disengagement from work or study can be debilitating, isolating and incur social, economic and personal costs – to those who are disengaged, the communities in which they live and to the broader economy (Walsh 2011).

SOLE PARENTS In 2011, almost one in six children under 15 years of age in Victoria (15.5%) lived in a sole parent family. Approximately 25% of households in Boroondara are sole parent households.

Sole parents are a vulnerable group, especially when there are low financial resources. Eightyseven per cent of lone parent families with children under 15 years are headed by mothers in Australia (2006 figures). Government pensions and allowances are the principle source of income for many sole parents (61% in 2003-04) (ABS 2009). To receive a maximum parenting payment, sole parents must have an income of no more than $174.60 per fortnight, plus $24.60 for each additional child. Twenty per cent of sole parent families fall into the category of longterm joblessness. In 2003-04, 51% of one-parent families reported that they did not receive any current weekly income from child support or maintenance payments and a further 12% received less than $10 (ABS 2003-04).

All this suggests that some sole parents are likely to be struggling financially. Many sole parent households are more likely than couples to report experiencing difficulties in the previous 12 months due to a shortage of money. These difficulties ranged from the relatively common 'could not pay electricity/gas bills on time' (reported by 51% of sole parents and 20% of couples) to the least common 'unable to heat home' reported by 8% of sole parents and 2% of couples (ABS 2003–04).

Map 3 shows the rate of sole parents with a gross weekly household income of less than $1,000 expressed as a per cent of all families, in 2006. The Melbourne average in 2006 was 9% to 11% of families, thus Boroondara has small concentrations of low income sole parents.

Those sole parents who are in receipt of a parenting payment would appear to be in greatest need, shown in Table 7. Compared to other Melbourne areas, Boroondara has low numbers of sole parents on a parenting payment. In 2010 there were 430 sole parents on a parenting payment in Boroondara, the highest concentration being in Camberwell South. This figure excludes the small number of sole parents on a parenting payment who are aged between 15 and 24 years. These figures suggest this is about six people in Boroondara, what would seem to be an unusually low number.

24

Table 7: Sole parents receiving a parenting payment in 2010 2010 % pop aged 15-19

% pop aged 21-24

% pop 25-64

No. 2564

Boroondara - Camberwell North

0.5

116

Boroondara - Camberwell South

0.6

167

Boroondara – Hawthorn

0.3

63

Boroondara – Kew

0.5

84

Eastern Middle Melbourne

1.1

Southern Melbourne

1.2

Inner Melbourne

1.1

Melbourne SD Melbourne East (Boroondara, Box Hill, Ringwood)

2.2

Location

0.02

0.09

0.75

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

CHILDREN Boroondara had 29,117 children resident, aged 0 to 14 years, in 2010. Assuming the same proportion of children are under five years as were in in 2006 (5.5% of the total population), 1,601 children were under five years, in 2010. Previous work estimated that 12% of all children in Boroondara were experiencing social exclusion (Stanley et al. 2005). This represents 3,494 children, in 2010, if the proportion has remained the same. It should be noted that this figure is only an approximation, and social exclusion is defined differently between the 2007 and the definition used in this report.

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

Low levels of financial and emotional resources reduce the quality of parenting that is able to be provided. Economic hardship has been found to be associated with depressed levels of nurturance, responsiveness and support by parents (Ng 2006). Children raised in jobless households also increases the chances that the children will also be jobless as an adult (Whiteford 2009). While it is unclear how many children are in need in Boroondara, it could be assumed that those children in very low income households, especially when this is associated with sole parenthood and/or with disability in the household, are likely to have unmet needs.

It is known that children have heightened vulnerability to disadvantage while in their early years. And that attendance at a pre-school program is especially important for these children. In Australia, attendance at pre-school is lower for children living in households with the lowest income quintile, for children from families with non-English speaking backgrounds, children from households where parents are not in employment, where parents don’t have a post-school qualification, who are rurally isolated and Indigenous children (AIHW 2005).

Poverty may lead to the exclusion of children from their peers created by the child experiencing a lack of possessions particularly in a school setting in relation to clothes, school outings and the receipt of free school meals (van der Hoek 2005, Taylor & Nelms 2008). This issue will be particularly relevant in Boroondara where there are high levels of inequality and scattered 25

poverty. A report which examined the needs of primary children in Boroondara found a high need for assistance for children within the school setting (Clausen et al. 2006). While a range of services was being offered to primary school children, this largely took the form of group preventative programs around a specific issue, such as bullying. A strong need for counselling was identified in the report, this being the highest priority identified by the interviewed primary school representatives.

AGED In 2010, there were 23,633 people 65 years and over living in Boroondara, this representing 14.2% of residents, 2.7% being 85 years and over. There has, however, been a small but steady growth in older residents for the LGAs of Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood (in Whitehorse Council) as well as a reduction of residents aged 0 to 19, over the period 1996 to 2011. The highest number of people 85 years and over can be found in the suburbs of Camberwell, Canterbury, Ashburton and Balwyn. These higher numbers may reflect the location of nursing homes in these suburbs. Map 4 shows the more detailed distribution of people 70 years and over. While again the distribution is scattered, there appears to be slightly higher numbers in the SLAs of Camberwell North, followed by Camberwell South.

There are a much lower proportion of seniors on an aged pension in Boroondara (42.8%) than found in Melbourne generally (68%), although the proportion of seniors in the total population more closely approximates that for Melbourne Greater (Table 8). This suggests that seniors in Boroondara are more financially secure than the average for Melbourne.

Table 8: Per cent of population on an aged pension in Boroondara SLAs and other selected areas, 2010.

Boroondara - Camberwell North

SLA

% total pop 7.0

Boroondara - Camberwell South

SLA

6.6

47.8

Boroondara - Hawthorn

SLA

4.6

41.7

Boroondara - Kew

SLA

5.5

39.1

Eastern Middle Melbourne

SSD

11.2

64.9

Southern Melbourne

SSD

8.9

58.0

Inner Melbourne

SSD

4.4

46.6

Melbourne SD

SD

8.7

68.0

Location

Type

% pop 65+ 42.6

Those who are in receipt of a pension in general tend not to be in need where they own their own home, except where one or more additional adverse conditions occur, such as illness. Aged people who are renting may be experiencing unmet needs, although a comparison of Map 4 and Map 7, which shows the location of private rental property, suggests that commonly, older people are not private renters in Boroondara. Camcare has undertaken a Co-Design Project with the Federal Department of Human Services focusing on improving services to older people in Boroondara. One of the needs identified was timely access to information about services that can assist the elderly to address their needs and avert a crisis.

26

POOR HEALTH AND DISABILITY When compared with the general population, households where disability is present report lower incomes, higher levels of housing stress, that they are more likely to be in the rental market and have lower stocks of assets (Beer & Faulkner 2009). Psychiatric disability was found to be associated with the highest levels of disability in Victoria, with low levels of employment and high renting levels, although this may not be such an issue in Boroondara.

Boroondara had approximately 2.7% of the population aged 25 to 64 on a disability pension in 2010, representing lower numbers than other Eastern areas of Melbourne and Melbourne as a whole (5.5%) (Table 9). With the inclusion of people aged 15 to 25, approximately 2,966 people were on a disability pension in Boroondara in 2010.

Table 9: Those on a disability pension, Boroondara and wider, 2010 2010 No. 15-25

Boroondara - Camberwell N.

1.0

% pop 25-64 2.1

Boroondara - Camberwell S.

1.4

2.6

Boroondara - Hawthorn

1.6

2.8

Boroondara – Kew

1.8

3.3

Eastern Middle Melbourne

2.2

4.2

Southern Melbourne

2.2

4.1

Inner Melbourne

2.3

3.6

Melbourne SD Melbourne East (Boroondara, Box Hill, Ringwood)

3.0

5.5

Location

% pop

% pop 15-25

No. 25-64

489 725 589 557

2.2 606

Boroondara (assuming rate of 2.2%)

Map 5 shows the percentage of persons aged 15 years and over who provided unpaid assistance to a person with a disability, long term illness or problems related to old age. It includes people who are in receipt of a Carer Allowance or Carer Payment but not work done through a voluntary agency. Clusters of fairly high levels of caring (15% to 20% of people aged 15 and over, can be seen and a large number of clusters where 12% to 15% of the population take on this task. The average for Greater Melbourne in 2006 was 9% to 12%.

This suggests that the problem of disability is much larger than the figures suggested for those on a disability pension. However, the extent of care needed is not known, nor if the arrangement is, or is not, meeting the needs (of both the carer and the person with a disability). Again, the answer to this will need to be sought through surveying. The pattern of location of disability carers tends to be scattered but slightly higher caring occurs in the north of Boroondara and a pocket of low caring around the Swinburne University.

The document, A Social Profile of Boroondara, (2009) provides some information on the extent of known mental health concerns in Boroondara. Those diseases which provide the greatest health burden in Boroondara include malignant cancer (accounting for 22% of the health burden), cardiovascular disease (19%), mental disorders (13%) and chronic respiratory 27

diseases (7%), with suicide accounting for 1.7% of the burden. Depression accounted for the highest amount of mental disorders in Boroondara, followed by generalized anxiety disorders.

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

On average, about 1,250 received treatment in a community-based mental health service in Boroondara. It is difficult to estimate current unmet need from these statistics.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS High levels of mortgage and high rents in the private market leave those on a low income vulnerable to housing stress. Twenty-eight per cent of lower-income households in Australia are defined as being in housing stress in that they pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs (ACOSS 2009). In a survey of people using Emergency Relief undertaken by the Salvation Army, 10% of them were buying their own house and paid 48.8 % of their income in housing costs. The survey also found that people in the private rental housing market paid 53.5 % of their income in housing costs (reported in Access Economics 2008). Current housing costs comprise 27% of total expenditure on goods and services for households in the lowest net worth quintile but only 11% for households in the highest quintile. Only 4% of households in the lowest net worth quintile own their own home, compared to 96% in the highest quintile (ABS 2012).

The annual growth of the mortgage burden on average dwelling purchases in Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood, between 1997 and 2010, was 5.4% (NIEIR 2010). In 2006, Boroondara had a higher home ownership rate (39.4%) than the average for Melbourne as a whole (33.1%). The median price for houses in Boroondara is higher than in other comparative LGAs and it has experienced the greatest price rises between 2004 and 2010, when compared with a range of other LGAs (Table 10). Units and apartments are more uniformly high across the selected LGAs, with Bayside and Stonnington having a higher median price than Boroondara, although prices appear to have risen highest in Boroondara. It is possible that there are a lower number of units and apartments in Boroondara than found in other areas due to an active opposition to them being built.

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

Units & apartments

Boroondara

Median price ($) 2011.1 1,291,500

Manningham

743,000

72

520,500

62

Monash

680,000

89

490,000

62

LGA

Whitehorse

% change 2004-2010

Median price 2011.1 ($)

% change 2004-2010

102

530,000

77

650,000

88

470,000

70

Bayside

1,150,000

77

625,000

59

Glen Eira

850,000

86

500,000

73

Kingston

590,000

73

420,000

69

Stonnington

1,150,000

91

553,500

60

Melbourne

670,750

78

435,000

46

Port Phillip

1,006,500

83

495,000

59

790,750

74

457,000

55

Yarra

28

Based on 2008-9 figures, the median cost of buying a dwelling in Ashburton, a lower socioeconomic area of Boroondara, is still very high - $730,000 for a house and $638,000 for a unit or apartment. Thus buying a house in Boroondara is not possible for some, or necessitates a high mortgage.

Government rentals average 3% to 5% in Victoria, 2006. In Boroondara, government rentals are particularly concentrated in Asburton, with a couple of other smaller pockets around the LGA (Map 6). The average rate of private rentals in Greater Melbourne is between 20% and 22% (2006). Map 7 shows that private rentals appear to be particularly high in Hawthorn and Hawthorn East, perhaps reflecting the student population around Swinburne University and also commercial rentals around Camberwell junction.

At present there is a crisis in affordable housing in Greater Melbourne, with a large annual shortfall of housing stock. This pressure from a shortage of dwellings is likely to continue over the next decade. In 2010.3, there was an estimated shortage of 7,200 dwellings in Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood. Given a ‘business as usual’ scenario, this is likely to rise to 11,200 in 2015, and 15,100 in 2020 (NIEIR 2010). This will drive up the cost of dwellings. As a result, people will experience less than satisfactory dwellings and living arrangements. This includes moving into housing stress, or moving back with their parents, group housing, remaining in an unsafe arrangement (such as living with domestic violence, mental illness and substance abuse) or move to homelessness, which may include couch surfing, living in caravans or cars or on the street.

Homelessness in turn leads to children and youth (and adults) being vulnerable to sexual abuse, substance abuse and other criminal activities, as well as economic exploitation (CROC Report 2005). In 2010.3, 2.4% of the population of Boroondara, Box Hill and Ringwood were unsatisfactorily housed. This is projected to rise to 3.6% in 2015.3 and 4.6% in 2020.2. The estimated level of homelessness in Boroondara (2006) was 495 people, the same as was found in Frankston.

TRANSPORT NEEDS Housing prices tend to be lower the greater the distance from the CBD. However, as a rule, the availability of public transport is also lower in the outer Melbourne suburbs. Boroondara would appear to be comparatively well provided with public transport (Figure 6). From Boroondara, 69.8% of public transport journeys to work are to the CBD, Southbank and Docklands (Shin et al. 2009). Not many journeys to work by public transport are taken to a workplace within Boroondara (8.2%) and even less to other LGAs, the highest being Yarra at 5.9%.

Many people travel by car to work (23.3%) within Boroondara. Although 18.9% of people travel by car to the CBD, there is also a higher scatter of car travel to other suburbs, suggesting that public transport could be improved for travellers across Melbourne.

When the availability of public transport and status of walkability is compared with social need - adult without a car, low income, not in the labour force, people on a disability pension and presence of students, again Boroondara doesn’t feature as an area of concern (Figure 7).

There is a need for closer examination of the issue of transport accessibility in Boroondara given its importance in facilitating social inclusion, as it is hard to get a clear picture of this.

While Figure 7 suggests a good transport supply is present for many of those who may be 29

experiencing disadvantage in Boroondara, again the picture is only relative and may again reflect low average levels of social needs, rather than a good local transport supply.

Figure 6: Public transport supply in Greater Melbourne

Source: Currie et al. 2009 Figure 7: Location of the combination of social need, lack of availability of public transport and poor walkability of area in greater metropolitan Melbourne

Source: Currie 2009

30

MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES The 2006 census records that 25.8 % of the population of Boroondara was born overseas, lower than the 29% for Melbourne as a whole. However, particularly high levels of migrants have moved to the suburb of Balwyn North (32.4% of the population), and Balwyn (30.5% of the population).

Boroondara Council reports that these migrants were born in 150 countries, 18.7% of these being non-English speaking countries. In 2009-10, high numbers of people came into Boroondara from China and India, most migration being under the skilled or family migration schemes (DIAC Settlement Database 2010). In total, 953 migrants settled in Boroondara in 2009-2010, and 813 in 2010-2011. Only 10 (2009-10) and 13 (2010-2011) people arrived under the Humanitarian migrations scheme. Twenty-one per cent of households speak a language other than English, the most common being Mandarin, Greek, Cantonese and Italian. In Balwyn and Balwyn North, 13% of residents speak a Chinese language at home. What are the implications for Camcare’s service provision for these new arrival groups?

A recent forum auspiced by Boroondara Council explored the needs of these new migrant groups. The forum found that practical integration and orientation services were needed, such as interpreters, information in the migrant’s language, English classes, orientation to settlement in the local area, mothers’ groups and other social opportunities. It should be noted that the intake of refugees is a federal government decision. While some support is offered to migrants and refugees for their first two years in Australia, they are eligible for the financial support system. The federal government is very reliant on welfare assistance to support new residents, a largely unacknowledged issue and not adequately supported by resources to agencies.

FAMILY VIOLENCE Most crimes in Boroondara are related to property, however, there were 630 reported crimes of violence to a person in 2007-8 (Boroondara Council 2009). Boroondara has the lowest rate of Family Incident Reports (2007-8) when compared to neighbouring LGAs and the third lowest across Greater Melbourne. About half of these Family Incident Reports relate to assault and about one-third result in an Intervention Order. Ashburton is highly represented in these Reports, as are Hawthorn and Balwyn.

Two-thirds of all reported family violence in Boroondara occurs between current or former intimate partners and in over three-quarters of cases the perpetrator is male. The next most common victim of family violence was parents (17.6%), children accounting for 5.7% of known incidences. Of particular concern is that children were present in 40% of incidents of violence.

A major difficulty associated with understanding the occurrence of family violence is that much goes unreported, especially non-physical forms of family violence which is not necessarily associated with disadvantage. Camcare undertook a review of family violence in 2008 and also noted this concern. The report found that anecdotal findings arising from discussions with agencies and victims of violence suggests a higher incidence of family violence than suggested in official figures. It is common for different types of violence to occur concurrently, including physical, verbal and psychological aggression, personal violence to self (such as suicide threats, severe drug abuse), violence from an adult to a child and violence between siblings in the household (Stanley and Goddard 2002). Thus, intervention in these families is often complex and protracted.

31

Intervention in family violence was considered to be ‘not done well’ by agencies in Boroondara, when they were interviewed in a few years ago (Stanley, Ng and Mestan 2007). While not specified, it is likely that the problem was a lack of targeted funding to enable work in this area.

It is unlikely that this situation has changed since this time, both in terms of the extent of the problem and funding shortages.

Community Indicators Victoria, 2007 and surveys conducted by Boroondara Council have found high levels of beliefs about safety both during the day and night, and that Boroondara residents were more likely to feel safe or very safe walking alone in their local area at night (76%) than residents living in other local governments areas. This is not so in the Ashburton Housing Estates, where family violence and violence in general was reported as being a key concern from Ashburton residents (Camcare 2008).

SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL It is very hard to get information on sense of community and social capital as they are rarely measured, and when they are, measured, it is in a form that is not very meaningful. The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) has, since 2004, been measuring aspects of community strength at the LGA level. As discussed earlier in this document, the boundaries of an LGA does not necessarily equate with a person’s community. Community is commonly viewed on a much smaller and localized scale.

The DPCD, for example, compares Boroondara with Greater Dandenong on a range of items such as, easy access to recreational and leisure facilities and good facilities and services like shops, childcare, schools and libraries. On all 19 indicators, Boroondara comes out better than Greater Dandenong, but little can be understood from this. It is more likely to measure the significantly different socio-economic status of the two areas, for example, it is easy to get access to recreational and leisure facilities when you can drive your car to get there.

The recently released report from the Victorian Auditor-General (2012) notes that: Safe, secure housing is essential for good health, employment, education and community wellbeing.

Ashburton is one of three bordering areas, together with Ashwood and Chadstone in Monash, which was part of a Neighbourhood Renewal program which operated between July 2003 and the end of 2011. The Social Profile of Boroondara report says that the Ashburton housing estate was built between 1948 and 1955. In 2006 there were 7,028 residents living in Ashburton, 9.5% of all dwellings being rented from the State Housing Authority, in a mix of houses and apartments and units. Ashburton has a large number of sole parent households (17.3% of all Ashburton households in 2006). Ashburton also has 17% of their households earning less than $400 per week compared with Boroondara as a whole (13%) (2006 figures).

In the Neighbourhood Renewal area of Ashburton, a 2007 survey found that 40% of the residents were finding it difficult to manage on their income. Also of concern is the finding that 33% of residents had been a victim of crime in the previous 12 months (Karnilowicz and Herd 2007). This concern with safety continued into the 2009 survey, reflecting a big contrast between the Renewal site and a neighbouring area (Karnilowicz 2009). For example, most people felt unsafe walking in the street after dark in the Renewal area, while many people felt comfortable about this in the neighbouring area.

32

On a positive note, the survey findings suggested that residents were willing to contribute to improving in their neighbourhood and helping others. Pride in their neighbourhood increased in the subsequent survey two years later (Karnilowicz 2009).

The Neighbourhood Renewal surveys also measured a range of issues, such as housing and the physical services; transport and services and better government; employment, education and the local economy; health and wellbeing; personal safety and pride in the community. A range of positive and negative views were expressed by both the participants in the Neighbourhood Renewal program and a control group. However, with only a few exceptions, the residents within the Neighbourhood Renewal program had a less positive perspective than those questioned in a nearby locality, suggesting there remain widespread issues which still need to be addressed in the Renewal site.

In Ashburton, there presents a contrasting picture of multiple disadvantage and concern about personal safety, together with what would appear to be a positive community spirit. Work by Boroondara Council and Camcare is building on this community strength to facilitate schemes such as a community vegetable patch.

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

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

POPULATION AND STRUCTURAL CHANGE World population is predicted to reach 9.3 billion people in 2050, moving from 7 billion in October 2011 (The population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs 2011). Australia’s growth is expected to be substantial over the next 40 years, projected to reach 35.9 million by 2050, from the 22.4 million in 2010 (Treasury 2010). Nine million of this growth is expected to come from net overseas migration and the other five million from natural increase. While this is somewhat in the future, there will be short-term pressure to increase the intake of people in Boroondara. The projected increase in migrant intake for Boroondara in the shorter term can be seen in Figure 8.

The population increase that is occurring at present is not being supported by adequate increases in infrastructure provisions. This can clearly be seen in the housing affordability crisis which is presently occurring where there is a significant shortfall in new housing (National Housing Supply Council 2010). However, when these issues are also combined with climate change impacts, such as a rise in food prices, the extra needs of these extra people are likely to become increasingly inherited by welfare agencies, such as Camcare.

33

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

Source: NIEIR 2010 As an example of infrastructure shortfalls, housing policy in Australia has tended to be fragmented. Apart from planning regulations it has largely been left to market forces to supply dwellings for the bulk of the population and has not been a prominent policy area. Only about 5% of households live in public housing, with about 34% of households fully owning their housing and 35% paying mortgages (Dalton 2009). The present high demand for housing, the high growth in land price and the high levels of household debt are leading to serious pressures and concerns about affordable housing. The gap between demand and supply of housing increases annually and will continue to increase. These trends have resulted in a number of serious concerns for those at the bottom end of the housing market, such as increases in rental costs, additional pressure on public housing waiting lists and an increase in homelessness.

ECONOMIC RECESSION In 2008 Australia experienced an economic boom. This was followed by a global recession which occurred early in 2009, particularly centred in the US, UK, Canada and to a lesser extent in Australia, where the impact was felt a little later. NIEIR predict that there will be difficulties again for Victoria, particularly after 2013, although a slight downturn is already present with a rise in unemployment, especially in Victoria. This is due to issues such as the high Australian dollar which is adversely impacting on Victoria’s manufacturing base and the high debt ratio incurred by households. In 2009, household debt was close to 200% of net disposable income, due in part to the high price of dwellings, relative to income. The high price of housing in Boroondara may be one reason why Boroondara has been projected to do less well compared to other LGAs in Overall poverty, from 2008 to 2012.

Most people can withstand a mild recession which is short term. Most will keep their jobs, there being a tendency in Australia to reduce working hours for employees rather than put staff off, as has happened in the US, as well as a move towards casualization of the workforce (Access Economics 2008). However, if the hours and therefore wages are reduced, those already struggling with a high mortgage or a high rent and those with other disadvantages will struggle the most in the event of an economic downturn.

34

Youth who have never entered the workforce and mothers wishing to return to work will find greater difficulties in obtaining employment in a recession. Similarly, new migrants, particularly those who are unskilled are likely to have difficulties finding work. Middle aged and older men and women who have no post-school qualifications are also vulnerable to unemployment. This will be especially so in Boroondara, with the very high levels of post school education (Map 8).

Those workers with a disability who are in employment, may experience job loss, as happened in the UK in the 1993 recession (Bartley and Owen 1996).

Young children in families with disadvantage, particularly sole parent families, are particularly at risk during a recession because of financial loss which may result in withdrawal from preschool education and additional family tensions which may include family violence and family breakdown (Irwin & Waugh 2007). Those on a pension will be somewhat protected during the time of a recession, as they will not experience a sudden dip in income, particularly with the high levels of home ownership in Boroondara. Although living on a generally low income, older people (66 +) report high levels of wellbeing (Cummins et al. 2006).

An exploration of the literature (Stanley, unpublished) suggests that the longer and deeper a recession, the greater the adverse social outcomes. These problems may take some time to manifest and may continue for some time after the economy is in recovery.

CLIMATE CHANGE Both climate change itself and government policy to address climate change will have a greater adverse impact on those already experiencing unmet needs and disadvantage and may create needs in new groups of people. Climate change itself will pose additional health risk due to an increase in temperature, where elderly people may be at risk due to dehydration. Higher temperatures also lead to greater risks of food spoil and gastroenteritis. Other impacts, such as reduced rainfall has led to reduced ability to use sporting grounds and loss of vegetation on public land. Public policy, such as a carbon tax, will lead to higher prices on many goods, including food and energy. With the proposed carbon tax initially fixed at $23 a tonne, this will cost poor families about 2.3% of their utility adjusted income, in comparison to a wealthy family where the utility adjusted proportion is only 0.4%.

While the federal government is planning compensation to lower and middle income households, it is unlikely that this will fully compensate some low income families. A price rise on necessities will take a higher proportion of the income of a low income family than for those with a higher income. Those on a low income are unable to afford to purchase low carbon appliances, so have to continue with less efficient ones. They also have low energy efficient houses lacking insulation and good fitting doors and windows which prevent drafts. Commonly, people experiencing disadvantage have poor access to information about carbon reduction.

They have less ability to negotiate loans to enable them move to lower energy use or buy water tanks to avoid rising water costs, and where successful, the loan may have a high interest attached.

While these issues are not present to any great extent in Boroondara, the carbon price is to commence in July this year, although it is likely prices will rise prior to this introduction as businesses take advantage of the situation. It is likely that climate change impacts on disadvantaged people will increase over the next few years and into the future. Thus, those already struggling financially may experience some additional difficulties and there will be 35

those who were just managing who will be moved below poverty lines. There is likely to be a higher call on Emergency Relief assistance. Camcare may also find that there are other impacts which need to be addressed, such as elderly people restricting their use of heating in winter to save costs and others not attending services and leisure activities in order to reduce transport costs.

Camcare could consider whether they have a role in microcredit no or low interest loan schemes to assist people to improve energy efficiency in their home and thus reduce their energy bills. The National Australia Bank, along with other banks have now backed successful microcredit scheme over the past few years. Camcare could also consider whether they should facilitate group buying schemes which reduce the cost of individual items and also schemes which provide group access to products, such as solar power energy generation and tool lending schemes to assist people to improve the energy efficiency of their own home.

ABILITY TO MEET NEED Community based organisations have seen themselves as offering something unique, they are locally run. They engage with the community in a range of ways, and typically adapt to the specific problems and needs in their community. They are often highly entrepreneurial.

Being tied to a community they have developed ways of surviving through waves of different funding regimes and winning or losing contracts. They don’t have the option of simply moving on. Their entrepreneurialism extends to the way in which they see and deal with local problems‌ They have the ability to deliver services in a way that takes advantage of the assets in the local community and they will reinvest in that community to build those local assets (Fowkes, 2009, pp. 33-40).

Both the strengths and difficulties of the welfare sector are revealed in this quote. The welfare sector in Australia plays the vital role of supporting those who have reduced capacity to meet their own needs and government support is inadequate or absent. While some targeted program support is available to welfare agencies, this is rarely sufficient or comprehensive. For example, programs rarely supply funds for capital assets and fixed costs. The sector is usually also reliant on their own resources (such as the use of volunteers) accepting low wages and finding supporting finances.

Surprisingly, there is little comment on the struggles of the welfare sector to meet need. In a rather dated report, the Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia (CAFWAA) writes: The sector is passionate and committed, but CAFWAA is gravely concerned about its ongoing capacity and viability to meet future needs of children, young people and their families (CAFWAA, 2002, p.45).

Information from 25 local agencies offering welfare and counselling services to Boroondara residents found that the demand for their services was higher than what they could meet (Stanley et al 2007). ACOSS (2009) believes that the capacity of the welfare sector will, to a large extent, determine how well Australia will cope with the three external pressures identified in this report: population structural change (they particularly mention an aging population), responding to a global economic crisis and responding to the impact of climate change. The COAG Reform Council (2009) identified the need to manage population and economic growth, 36

address climate change, improve housing affordability and manage urban congestion (COAG 2009). They say that a better response from government is needed for:   

Demographic change – which has implications for housing stock, transport, public services and labour market participation Housing affordability, which they say remains an issue of considerable concern Social inclusion – the spatial implications of which are poorly analysed and understood.

ACOSS suggests that the solution to these issues lie in a ‘re-engineered’ relationship between the Federal Government and the welfare sector in order to achieve a common purpose and better understanding about respective roles and responsibilities. The welfare sector also needs support which better reflects the true cost of delivery, and addresses low pay rates and underinvestment in capital provisions for the sector.

It is within this context that Camcare’s work is undertaken. This needs to be understood in any discussion of how to meet unmet needs in Boroondara. All needs cannot be met and difficult choices need to be made as to whether it is better to stretch resources thinly or concentrate on particular needs. The decision is ultimately a value judgment based on organizational strengths and capabilities and judgments about the importance of relative needs. It is clear that work is needed to be undertaken on the benefit/cost of resource allocation and the value of intervention for specific needs, as well as on the value of preventative work.

Choices also need to be made about the intervention point. This can be summarized into three levels: strategic, tactical and operational. The strategic level works at influencing the government policy and action, the tactical level works on improving the service system through coordination and understanding coverage of services and the operational level concentrates at providing the most effective service to the targeted group.

The ability to meet needs also depends on the capacity of an organization to meet need, largely resources and skills available. A review of other welfare organisations with a similar funding base would be a useful exercise. For example, Family Services of the North Shore, Vancouver, Canada, services three municipalities with a total population of 180,000 (Boorondara is about 170,000). Expenditure was $C3.4 million last year, with revenue of $C3.1 million. Government grants provided about two-thirds of income ($C2 million). The revenue included $C865,000 from fund raising, the $300,000 loss being covered by a transfer from a fund raising Foundation.

The Foundation raises about $C1.5 million annually (varying a bit year by year). Client fees provided $C136,000, a small but much higher share of revenue than for Camcare. Total volunteer hours were 14,000, a little less than Boorondara. While the population size of Vancouver and the numbers of volunteers are similar, Family Services of the North Shore spends twice as much as Camcare, largely because of its Foundation income stream. Finally, while the agency promotes the idea of measuring outcomes this is not reflected in its Annual Report.

It is possible that a number of initiatives could be explored to expand the resource base of Camcare. This would enable Camcare to better use their local knowledge and experience of unmet needs and facilitate a better targeting of responses through the ability to develop longer term planning strategies. At present in the welfare sector, which needs are met is in large part determined by funding flows. The direction of these resources are commonly established at central levels of government which are often far removed from a close interface with local 37

communities. It is understood that Camcare receives substantial resources from local government, a source close to the community, however, ability to tap other funding sources would also allow an expansion of service provision.

Part of interagency engagement could address the diseconomies of small scale. For example, it may be possible to share administrative services and capital assets between agencies to improve cost-effectiveness. At present there is a low reliance on user fees. It should be possible for Camcare to charge for some of their intervention services such as in the areas of family counselling where there is a capacity to pay. For example, The Tax Help service provided by Camcare could charge a sliding scale for people earning over $50,000 pa.

It would be valuable to undertake an exploration of whether there could be greater coordination of services between regional agencies to better meet needs. This could encompass a mapping task of available services, accessibility to these services and a re-allocation of service provision between agencies where improvement is identified. It would also be valuable to pursue boundaries between particular services (such as school, health and housing) to understand where the boundary responsibilities lie in relation to client welfare.

CONCLUSIONS Need is a complex concept which includes a range of states that lead to wellbeing being established in a person’s life. Needs range from fundamental, when talking about food, sleep and safety, to desirable, when talking about maximizing life qualities. Certain characteristics and conditions suggest that a person is vulnerable to not having some of their needs met. People play a strong part in meeting their own needs, where they are able to do this. Society has a responsibility to facilitate the wellbeing of citizens and may be, in some situations, not adequately achieving this goal, such as failing to provide transport options and allowing the loss of green open spaces in an urban setting.

The welfare sector supports people whose needs are not being met and government and society are reliant on this service. It is vital from the government’s point of view to plug the gaps and inadequacies in their policies, assist in linking people to their benefits, services and programs, and identify new unmet needs. While some services receive government funding, the welfare sector is significantly under-resourced commensurate with the benefits they offer in terms of meeting individual needs, forestalling future costs which would have been incurred if the needs hadn’t been met and improving the wellbeing and ‘well- functioning’ of society.

Examination of official statistics suggests that the residents of Boroondara have few unmet needs. While this is the case for most people, the method of presenting information tends to overlook those with needs, as needs in Boroondara tend to be scattered, rather than clustered in one location. There are a couple of small exceptions, such as around the public housing in Ashburton. Boroondara has evidence of unmet basic needs, those on a very low income, those who are homeless. There are also groups of people where unmet needs coexist which serve to compound distress, such as those on a low income caring for a person with a disability and aged people on a pension who may be living alone and struggling with illness. Young sole parents who are struggling with few resources- financial and emotional who may not be able to meet all the needs of their children. The unemployment of youth is of major concern. The consequences for these young people in terms of the alienation from society and their future wellbeing when 38

anger and/or hopelessness sets in, is an area with high future costs when their present needs are not met.

Housing stress remains a long term issue which needs to be corrected at the state and federal government level. High population growth is contributing to the under-supply of housing and thus raising the housing costs. Camcare offers financial management and emergency relief to meet the most severe consequences of housing policy failure. There is a strong argument that such agencies should be far better resourced in order to more effectively be able to meet these needs significantly caused by the government policy of high migration and structural policy failures. People immigrating to Australia to live on the streets of Melbourne, is simply not acceptable.

Camcare, meets needs in a number of ways: through the provision of material goods; through offering counselling services to assist the individual to make healthier decisions and better problem solve; through engaging with communities to better meet their needs, such as through supporting local groups to solve problems and enjoy leisure together. A community garden, for example, not only has the potential to provide fresh low cost vegetables, but also provides a wonderful opportunity for communication and support. Camcare could also take on the role of more active advocacy and intervention at the structural level. For example, Camcare could work towards the provision of more youth job opportunities in local areas by identifying a business niche and location to establish a business, or working towards the building of more suitable housing for Ashburton residents in the government housing estate.

RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ROLE FOR CAMCARE These recommendations need to be viewed as an external perspective, rather than one which comes from Camcare staff and other agencies working with unmet needs in Boroondara and from the residents themselves. A more complete understanding would also incorporate the perspective of these groups.

The judgment about which needs to meet is complex and undertaken in the context of poor information and other barriers encountered by welfare agencies, including funding opportunities. A major barrier is that needs, that is the interface between the absence of a necessary condition and the extent to which this absence is addressed through both formal and informal intervention, are not measured. In addition, outcomes of activities of welfare agencies are also largely unmeasured, so it is difficult to understand issues such as value of activity choices. The sector is very dependent on available resources. The nature of this resource distribution presents great difficulties for pro-active organizational planning. Government funding commonly arrives with the target defined, with arduous non-core activities associated with receipt of funding and with some uncertainty of length of provision of the resources.

Recognising the above mentioned difficulties, the following recommendations could be made:

THOSE WHERE POVERTY IS THE DOMINANT FACTOR There is a core group of people who are in considerable poverty, particularly due to the low levels of Government support (such as Newstart), often compounded by high emotional demands of their circumstances (such as sole parents and refugees). There is a need to continue

39

support to these groups of people through emergency relief and through work to stabilise their financial position and build their personal capabilities.

Some higher needs have been identified in the Hawthorn area associated with students attending Swinburne University. This would appear to be the responsibility of Swinburne University which has a duty of care to its student body. However, Camcare could approach Swinburne to jointly undertake a review of the extent and type of student needs. If the specific needs have been identified as being in Camcare’s remit, it may be possible to charge Swinburne for the provision of a service for these students.

YOUTH WITHOUT WORK The high levels of youth unemployment in Victoria represent a group of people with high unmet needs. The social cost of youth not being in either education or training is very high, both for the person and for society more generally. Commonly, as the length of unemployment increases and disillusion sets in the person becomes vulnerable to mental health issues or becomes at greater risk of exposure to anti-social activities. Such youth will find it even harder to turn their life around and become re-engaged with mainstream society and thus employment. Financial support, recreational support, bridging programs and job creation are all services which will build capabilities and independence. Building pathways for youth from school, through training to employment prevent unemployment occurring (Marsh & Perkins 2006). Importantly, jobs for youth need to be created in Boroondara through the development of partnerships with local employers, with the provision of additional supports to maintain the youth in the position.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY VIOLENCE In the Camcare report on family violence, both the residents and service providers expressed the importance of offering counselling services for children (2008). This need was reiterated in two other reports based in Boroondara (Clausen et al. 2006; Stanley et al. 2007). Thus, there is a strong call for counselling to assist children to overcome trauma, such as family separation, family violence and child abuse and loss and grief. The reports also referred to pressure that children may be under to achieve at school, the long hours that some parents work which takes up family time and conflict over cultural practices associated with some ethnic groups. In most cases this should be the responsibility of the school to educate parents on parental practices around education.

AGED While Boroondara has a high proportion of aged people, most appear to not have high needs.

However, there are some indications that some aged people, particularly ethnic Chinese in Balwyn, are experiencing isolation and struggling financially. There is little information on these groups at present so an exploration of their needs would be worthwhile. Their living locations can be identified in Map 4 to facilitate sample selection in any future research undertaken targeting this group of people to seek their view of their needs.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS The lack of affordable housing and the associated difficulties with meeting mortgage and particularly rental payments, not only causes financial stress but exacerbates the development and maintenance of other vulnerabilities. This is a Melbourne-wide issues and one that will not be resolved for some time as it reflects a long-term build-up of structural problems around 40

imbalances in industry structure and transport connectivity between jobs and the supply of houses at a low cost. It is likely that this problem is causing a movement of people caught in housing stress to move out of Boroondara to areas of cheaper housing, but ironically, less accessibility to work opportunities and other services. Camcare will need to maintain Emergency Relief and seek to increase short term shelter for homeless people and those escaping situations of high social stress (such as breakdown of relations with youth and domestic violence situations). I think there should be provision of a wider range of social housing to meet the needs of those on low incomes whose connections are in Boroondara. This has been identified in Boroondara’s project into Homelessness Among Older Women.

TRANSPORT NEEDS Consideration could be given to Camcare hosting a Social Enterprise to meet transport needs.

Transport was identified as a particular problem in the North East precinct project Report (Boroondara Council 2010). A Social Enterprise is a not-for-profit organisation which is run for the benefit of the community and which puts any profits back into the organisation.

Participating agencies would become shareholders in the Social Enterprise and select its Board.

The Enterprise would operate as a ‘one-stop-shop’ type of model, providing services and transport information for all people and perhaps offer other added-value activities, such as job training. This model is presently being tested in Warrnambool, Victoria. It is recommended that this model be further investigated and the learning from Warrnambool be reviewed.

MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES There are relatively low numbers of humanitarian refugees moving to Boroondara. The small number of specific groups of migrants/refugees appear to be known to Camcare and other local welfare organisations. Previous work in Boroondara and more recent work undertaken by the Boroondara Council has identified needs in the new migrant groups relating to settlement issues, such as language, understanding the Australian culture and how to access services. The Council is establishing both awareness programs for other community members and support structures to address some of these issues. Thus, from available information, the authors would suggest that migrants and refugees are not likely to be a priority area for Camcare. The exception to this may be some aged migrants, as noted above.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL It would seem that an opportunity exists for Camcare to considerably up-scale their work in the Asburton housing estate. A review of the outcomes from the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme suggest areas of work which would offer the greatest returns for residents. These may be the development of employment opportunities, provision of child care and community activities, improved transport, counselling services and other needs identified by the community in the community surveys.

The quality of public housing in this estate is in need of a considerable up-grade. It is possible that Camcare could take this up as an issue and establish the case for re-building, retrofits and the provision of a wider choice of housing associated with improvements in open space and environmental amenity. For example, it may be cost effective to consolidate housing with new, low rise buildings which offer an improved dwelling and more common space. The cost of land would not need to be factored in, as it is already owned by government, so this would keep costs down. Costs could also be met by a mix of affordable private and government-owned housing, 41

the return from the house sales cross-subsidising the construction of other government rental properties.

This proposed up-grade would also address the issue of a lack of affordable housing in Boroondara and the need for energy efficient housing. Old, run-down dwellings cost the residents more and will continue to do so as electricity prices rise. This would be an opportunity to provide residents with highly energy efficient, sustainable housing with the prospect of lower energy and water bills in the future.

Finally, it should be noted that the choice about meeting needs should be based on Camcare’s assessment of their priorities, their capacities and skills, if they wish to specialize or remain generic services, the current roles and future plans of associated agencies in Boroondara and other close localities and ultimately, a value judgment.

REFERENCES ABS (2003–04), Household Expenditure Survey , Summary of Results (catalogue no. 6530.0).

ABS (2006) Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA 2006) cat. no. 2033.0.55.001 ABS (2009) Australian National Accounts June 2009: 5206.0 ABS (2012) 6530.0 - Household Expenditure Survey, Australia: Summary of Results, 2009-10 Access Economics (2008) The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Social Services in Australia, November.

ACOSS (2009) Study into the Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector: Submission to the Productivity Commission, June.

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2005) A picture of Australia’s Children, AIHW, Canberra.

Auditor-General’s report (2012) Access to public Housing: Audit Summary, author. 28 March.

Bartley, M., and Owen, C 1996, ‘Relation between socioeconomic status, employment, and health during a time of economic change 1973-93’, BMJ 313, 445-8.

Beer, A. and Faulkner, D 2009, ‘The Housing Careers of People with a Disability and Carers of People with a Disability’, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Southern Research Centre, Melbourne, May. Boroondara Council 2009 A social profile of Boroondara, author.

Boroondara Council 2010 North East Precinct Project Report, July, author.

Burchardt, T., LeGrand, J. and Piachaud, D. (2002). Degrees of exclusion: Developing a dynamic, multidimensional measure, in Hills, J., Le Grand, J. and Piachaud, D. Understanding Social Exclusion, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp.30-43.

42

CAFWAA (Child and Family Welfare Association of Australia) (2002), A Time to Invest, author, Melbourne.

Camcare website http://www.camcare.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=53 COAG 2009 Council of Australian Government’s Meeting – Brisbane 7 December 2009 Communique, Author. http//www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcome/20091207/docs/20091207_communique.pdf Camcare (2008) Family Violence in Boroondara, October 2008.

Clausen, M., Healey, L. and Boulet, J. (2006) Review of the Counselling and Support Needs of Families with Children of Primary School Age in Boroondara, City of Boroondara.

Cummins, R., Woener, J. et al. (2006) Australian Unity Well-being Index Survey 16: Report 16.0 : Part A : The Well-being of Australians – Mortgage Payments and Home Ownership, Australian Centre on Quality of Life, Deakin University.

Currie, G., Richardson, T., Smyth, P., Vella-Brodrick, D., Hine, J., Lucas, K, Stanley, J., Morris, J., Kinnear, R. and Stanley, J (2009) ‘Investigating links between transport disadvantage, social exclusion and well-being in Melbourne – Preliminary results’, Transport Policy, 13, No. 3, July.

Dalton, A., (2009), Housing policy in Australia: Big Problems but Well Down the Agenda, in A. McClelland, A. and P. Smyth (eds) Social Policy in Australia: Understanding for Action, 2nd Ed., South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.

Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., and Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction with Life Scale.

Journal of Personality Assessment, 49, 71-75.

DIAC Settlement Database (2010) http://www.immi.gov.au/settlement/ Financial Review (2012) Victorian Youth unemployment highest in country, 17 April.

Fowkes, L. (2009). Non-profits and the job network. In Saunders, & Stewart-Weeks, Supping with the Devil? Government contracts and the Non-Profit sector. (pp. 33-40). St Leonards: The Centre for Independent Studies.

Gordon, D., Adelman, L. et al., (2000) Poverty and Social Exclusion in Britain, York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Heinberg, R. (2011) The End of Growth: Adapting to Our New Economic Reality, New Society Publishers, Canada.

Irwin, J. and Waugh, F. (2007) Domestic violence a priority in child protection in New South Wales, Australia? Child Abuse Review, 16, 311-322.

Karnilowicz, W. and Herd (2007) Ashburton, Ashwood and Chadstone Neighbourhood Renewal Community Survey Results, July 2007, DHS, Melbourne.

Karnilowicz, W (2009) Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy: Third Community Survey Ashburton-Ashwood-Chadstone, August, Victoria University.

43

Maslow, A. (1954). Motivation and Personality. New York: Harper.

Max-Neef, M. (1991) Human Scale Development: Conception, Application and Further Reflections.

New York: Apex Press.

Ng, 2006, Impact of financial hardship on parenting behavior: Final Report, Vic: Anglicare, Victoria, www.anglicarevic.org.au/index.php?action=filemanager&doc... Accessed August 2009.

Marsh, E. and Perkins, D. (2006) Building pathways to local jobs for young people, City of Kingston Youth Employment Strategy, Brotherhood of St Laurence, September.

Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (2012) Poverty lines: Australia ISSN 1448-0530, December Quarter 2011, author.

Ryff, C. D. (1989) Happiness is Everything, or is it? Explorations on the Meaning of Psychological Well-being, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57, pp.1069-1081.

National Housing Supply Council (2010) Second State of Supply Report 2010, Author.

Nussbaum, M. (2005) ‘Wellbeing, contracts and capabilities’, in Rethinking Wellbeing L. Manderson, (ed.) pp.161-185, South Australia: Griffin Press.

NIEIR (2010) State of the Regions 2010-11, author.

Read, P. Stanley, J. and Vella-Brodrick, D. (2011) The Human Development Index and Climate Change, SPRC Conference, 6 to 8 July.

Sen, A (1987) The Standard of Living Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Shin, E., Inbakaran, C. and Alford, G. (2009) Income and Journey to Work Patterns – Investigations for Melbourne 1996, 2001 and 2006, 32nd Australasian Transport Research Forum.

Social Exclusion Unit (2003) Making the Connections: Final Report on Transport and Social Exclusion, Accessed November 2003, http://www.socialexclusionunit.gov.uk/publications/reports/html/transportfinal/summary Stanley, J. (2011) ‘Measuring Social Exclusion’, in G. Currie (ed) New Perspectives and Methods in Transport and Social Exclusion Research, UK: Emerald, pp. 77-90.

Stanley, J., Eadie, C. and Baker, C. (2005) Social Exclusion in Boroondara: Stage One: Scoping Published Data on Child Poverty in Boroondara and Recommendations for Stage Two, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne.

Stanley, J K, Hensher D., Stanley, J R and Vella-Brodrick, D. (2011) Mobility, social exclusion and well-being: exploring the links, Transportation Research A , Volume 45, 8 pp.789-801.

Stanley, J. and Goddard, C. (2002) In the Firing Line: Violence and Power in Child Protection Work, John Wiley & Sons, UK. Stanley, J., Ng, C. and Mestan, K. (2007) Social Exclusion in Boroondara: Stage Two: Identifying the issues for socially excluded children in Boroondara, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne.

44

Tanton, R, Harding, A and McNamara, J (2007) ‘Urban and Rural Estimates of Poverty’, Paper prepared for the State of Australian Cities Conference, Adelaide, 28 – 30 November 2007, NATSEM. Taylor, J and Nelms, L. (2008) Life Chances at 16: Life Chances Study Stage 8, BSL, Melbourne.

The Population Division of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2011) http://www.un.org/esa/population/ Treasury (2010) Australia to 2050: Future Challenges, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra, http://www.treasury.gov.au/igr/igr2010/ Unkles, B. and Stanley, J. (2008) Carbon Taxes and Households in Poverty: A Brief Analysis of the Likely Initial Impacts of an Across the Board Rise in the Cost of Carbon, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne. van der Hoek, T. (2005) Through Children’s Eyes an Initial Study of Children’s Personal Experiences and Coping Strategies Growing up Poor in an Affluent Netherlands, Innocenti Working Ppaers 2006-06.

Vinson, A (2009) Social Inclusion: Markedly Socially Disadvantaged Localities in Australia: Their Nature and Possible Remediation, Canberra, Commonwealth of Australia.

Walsh, L. (2011) Youth unemployment: a two-speed divide?, The Conversation, 19 December http://theconversation.edu.au/youth-unemployment-a-two-speed-divide-4720 Wilkinson, R and Pickett, K. (2010) The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Press.

Zappone, C. (2012) Young workers hit by rising unemployment, January 24, 2012 http://www.smh.com.au/business/young-workers-hit-by-rising-unemployment-201201241qevx.html#ixzz1xpNQPDTU

45

Appendix: Maps of vulnerability for Boroondara The maps in this Appendix thematically depict eight selected socio-economic variables for the City of Boroondara in Melbourne. The data used was from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Basic Community Profile. Data was extracted at the collection district (200-300 households) level. All variables are expressed as percentages and the thematic shading used in the mapping is based on the metropolitan average for the respective variables. In all cases the average is depicted by a shade of pale grey.

Map 1

46

Map 2

47

Map 3

48

Map 4

49

Map 5

50

Map 6

51

Map 7

52

Map 8

53