Newsletter of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland | Autumn 2010
FAREWELL JOHN
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SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
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NO PLACE LIKE HOME
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INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS 6 CEO SLEEPOUT
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aUST DAY RECOGNITION 8 EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS 9 THANK YOU VINNIES
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NIGHT RIDERS
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First port of call Pensioners surviving on dog food, a family from New Zealand unable to access welfare living on the side of a road in a tent, a single dad unable to work because of a car accident.
These are just some of the calls the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland’s Brisbane Helpline receives in an average day. Mary O’Callaghan, who has been with the Helpline for 10 years, says rising unemployment levels, rising rents and scarcity of affordable accommodation mean that more people than ever before are turning to the St Vincent de Paul Society for help, especially those who have never done so previously. “We are the first port of call for helping people in need and our role is to get help to as many people as we can in a caring and compassionate way,” Mary said. Dedicated volunteers from a wide variety of backgrounds attend the phones during the
Call Centre Manager, Mary O’Callaghan. week, linking up people in crisis with the services they require. From November to January, the call centre received almost 5,000 calls from people in distress, with an average of 70 calls a day. The Brisbane Helpline is just one of many call centres the Society operates throughout Queensland. To volunteer your time with your nearest call centre, call 07 3010 1000 or visit vinnies.org.au ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY QUEENSLAND
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Farewell John Queensland State President John Campbell stands down after 4 years of committed and caring service in office After proudly serving my term as the State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, it is now time to pass the torch onto the next president to continue the Society’s growth, and its service of Queensland’s most disadvantaged.
Dear friends Welcome to 2010, and to the Autumn edition of Making a difference. In this edition, we share stories from our volunteers’ wonderful achievements, as well as highlighting our fastest growing Special Works – the housing program.
During my time, I have overseen the expansion of many of the Society’s integral Special Works, and the fruition of a number of important goals. Coming into this role, one of my main passions was to oversee an expansion of our housing program to address the growing number of people facing homelessness, and this dream has gone beyond my wildest expectations.
Peace,
Brian Moore Acting State President* St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland
Please forward correspondence to: Editor Making a difference St Vincent de Paul Society Qld PO Box 3351 South Brisbane QLD 4101 T: 07 3010 1000 F: 07 3010 1099 E: communications@svdpqld.org.au For more information, please visit www.vinnies.org.au To donate call 13 18 12 or visit www.vinnies.org.au To volunteer, call 3010 1000 or email volunteer@svdpqld.org.au
I am so proud of the tireless work of the Society’s members, volunteers and staff who touch many lives on a daily basis. However, the achievements of the Society are only made possible with the generosity of our wonderful donors and supporters. During my time, we have raised over $12 million solely through appeals and fundraising. Your help is very much appreciated by all of us in the Society, but, of course much more appreciated by those who are the direct recipients: the poor and marginalised of Queensland. To you all, my most heartfelt thanks. It has been a privilege to serve as leader of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Queensland – together we have truly made a difference. God bless,
John Campbell *Elections for the Society’s new State President will occur late February
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Youth facilitators Aimee O’Connor and Brett Johnson helping pack hampers.
The spirit of Christmas Nestled next to parcels of biscuits, tins of fruit, boxes of fresh Christmas cakes, carefully wrapped gifts, there was fruit cup cordial as far as the eye could see. All of these small items, and many more, were the contents of 96 hampers the St Francis of Assisi St Vincent de Paul Society Conference at West End hand packed, awaiting delivery to families and single people in their local area for Christmas Day. Each hamper told a story: a small written description on green paper gave the details of whose Christmas would be made brighter because of Vinnies. One hamper, containing a packet of baby wipes and some disposable nappies, had a note simply saying: “One adult, female. Baby due Christmas day”. Conference president Tony O’Connor said that most of the people they see are single, lonely people. Making a dif
“We’re usually the only people they’ll see for weeks on end, and over the Christmas period, that sense of loneliness is even more distressing.” Poking out of some of the hampers like little antennas, were small wooden poles, denoting hampers going to families – requiring little gifts for children. “We’ve organised special Christmas presents for 33 children this year, more than ever before.” Whilst the conference was able to gather together enough food and toys for 135 people, Tony says there were many more people who missed out. “We could do a lot more, but we are limited by not having enough money.”
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There’s no place like home The fundamental building block of all social improvement is a place to call home. Wal Ogle, manager of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s housing program, is adamant the current models of short term accommodation are doing nothing to help solve the crisis of homelessness Queensland is facing. Whilst the Society has doubled the number of low cost housing units to 300 in the past two years, Mr Ogle says we must urgently look to “better models in order to deal with the causes of homelessness.” “Short-term accommodation is simply not working to resolve the crisis of homelessness,” Mr Ogle said. “You’ve got people spending a month at one place, a month at another, then a month somewhere else, and beginning the cycle all over again. “We are more interested in finding and solving the root cause, so people are no longer stuck in that position. For some that may be simply the opportunity for education,” Mr Ogle said.
In 2008 alone, 107,000 new Queenslanders arrived, pushing the state’s population to almost 4.5 million residents by mid 2009. At the same time, housing affordability deteriorated, pressure on the private rental market intensified and homelessness increased, with Queensland being ‘home’ to a quarter of the nation’s homeless population. “What do you do with these people? When they’re coming from overseas? Or interstate? They come here, and there’s no housing to be provided. “Lack of access to affordable, secure housing is a primary cause of poverty and is a common factor leading to entrenched disadvantage.” Mr Ogle said the vision of the Society in Queensland is that every part of the state will have adequate provision for accommodation for people in need, whether that be short, medium or long term.
The St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland is building a 28-unit homeless facility and Services Centre in Arundel, on the Gold Coast.
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Left to right: State Housing Manger Wal Ogle, Michael Byrne, Greyburn Building Contractors, Gold Coast and Country Central Council President Mervyn Powell, John Westera, Project Manager and former State President John Campbell. “Our housing can’t run without adequate housing support measures; we are very dependent on the Vincentians, to provide that kind of social support that gives people hope, and makes our housing programs unique from the rest. “It gives people who are marginalised and isolated due to illness, or disability or age, the experience of actually having friends in the community. “It is essential that the Vincentians wrap around the housing facilities, providing the support they give so well, meeting people in need where they’re at, without judging them for who they are and where they are.” Mr Ogle said the Society had gone through a State Government accreditation process, and was Making a dif
recognised now as a quality provider of community housing. “However, without an additional 30,000 new homes in Queensland, we’re not going to address the problem. The houses built from the stimulus package, perhaps 5,000, will only meet about 20% of the demand,” Mr Ogle said. “If you’re paying a mortgage, or paying rent, you’re only three pay-cheques away from homelessness: 6 to 8 weeks – maximum – you’re on the streets if you stop paying today. “Everyone is living on the margins when you look at it that way. We all just don’t realise how close we are.”
Housing accreditation After an intense nine month exercise, the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland gained accreditation as a social housing provider under the national accreditation standards.
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Innovative programs of the Society in Queensland
Kawana Waters Rendu House, at Kawana Waters, provides accommodation for single residents in seventeen units. The residents are fully supported by a housing officer, and members of the Society and local community.
Families Back on Track
Clarehaven
The St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland is building a 28-unit homeless facility and Services Centre in Arundel, on the Gold Coast.
Situated on Brisbane’s bayside, Clarehaven will provide supported accommodation for young people living with disabilities who have ageing parents.
This project represents an innovative approach to the needs of people who are homeless because it aims not just to provide temporary shelter, but to give those who are homeless the chance to break the cycle of homelessness and return their families to a secure, integrated lifestyle.
Acting Northern Central Council President Annette Baker with State Minister for Community Services and Minister for Women at the opening of Rendu Lodge.
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The project is a joint initiative of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland, St Anthony’s Catholic Parish at Alexandra Hills and the Department of Communities.
Coming in 2010…
CEO Sleepout goes national
Left: 2009 NSW CEO Sleepout Ambassador Dick Smith.
Following the success of the St Vincent de Paul Society New South Wales’ CEO Sleepout, the event is going national in 2010. In conjunction with the Vinnies Winter Appeal and to support our work with the homeless, the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday 17 June 2010 is a unique way for business leaders to create awareness and help us reach our target of $1.5 million in support of our homeless services. The website, ceosleepout.org.au, will be live in March 2010. For enquiries or for more information, please email communications@svdpqld.org.au.
What is the CEO Sleepout? Capital cities across Australia will give business and community leaders the opportunity to experience homelessness themselves for a night, in the hope of bringing about a change in societal opinions. The aim of the Vinnies CEO Sleepout is to not only raise funds, but awareness of the many faces of homelessness; breaking down commonly held stereotypes. Our goal is not just to accommodate the homeless, but to help show people how to make different and better choices in life.
FBOT to open in 2010! The St Vincent de Paul Society’s Families Back on Track project, to provide supported accommodation for single parents and children, will commence intake during the first half of 2010. For more information about FBOT visit vinnies.org.au
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The Woodcrafts receiving their award. Below: Alan Taylor.
Australia Day recognition for Vinnies St Vincent de Paul Society members were recently recognised as part of the 2010 Australia Day awards. The Woodcrafts Moorooka husband and wife team Liane and Glen Woodcraft were honoured for their years of community service with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Mrs Woodcraft has been with the Society for over 26 years, volunteering her time to her local conference, whilst her husband repaired broken bikes to give to disadvantaged children in the community, until his stroke 18 months ago. The Woodcrafts were also honoured with the Sir James Killen Award for Outstanding Community Service.
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Alan Taylor Ashgrove’s Alan Taylor received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) to recognise his lifelong services to accountancy, most recently through the St Vincent de Paul Society’s No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS). Married to wife Margaret for 47 years, father of seven, and grandfather of 18, Alan has volunteered his time in various capacities with the Society - from joining a local conference in the 1960s, to auditing the Society’s accounts for almost 15 years. A lifelong member of Queensland Rugby, amongst many other passions, Alan believes the key to a fulfilling life is, “balance in life, and balance in family.”
Every little bit helps When people think of donating to Vinnies, dropping off your old reading glasses isn’t often top of the list. For thousands of people living in impoverished conditions throughout the South Pacific, your out-dated glasses could give them the gift of sight. Six dedicated Vincentians, spying a great opportunity to utilise disused glasses, as well as basic medical supplies, formed the St Martin’s Chemist Conference, to coordinate donations of these items to the Society’s partner countries in the south pacific, including Kiribati and Papua New Guinea.
The Conference was established in the late 1960s, and during the previous financial year, sent approximately 450 packages of medical necessities to the value of $138,722. The close knit crew all chuckled retelling the story in which ‘expert’ glasses repairman Bill Beebe accidentally cleaned and repaired his own glasses, before distractedly packing them in a box with hundreds more. Overseas development coordinator Julie Abrahams said the team work extremely hard collecting, packing and distributing their donations, but needed support from the community to not only process the donations, but help source the donations. “Their hard work is truly changing lives, and they are working to help empower those they assist to have a more comfortable life,” Ms Abrahams said. To find out how you can help the St Martin’s Chemist Conference, call 3010 1000 or visit vinnies.org.au
Above left: Close friends at the St Martin’s Chemist Conference, John McDonald, Bill Beebe and Tony Kelly celebrate member Elisabeth Adriannsen’s 80th birthday. Left: Overseas Committee member Jerry McAuliffe delivers supplies in PNG.
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Thank you Vinnies! A short while ago, we were helped by your esteemed organisation in various ways. We are happy to inform you now we have a much better life than earlier. Thank you for your kindness and helpfulness.
I’m writing my letter to the St Vincent de Paul Society for helping my family in its time of need. This takes so much pressure off my mum, making our difficult time less stressed. Due to your help we are all in good spirits and awaiting a better year.
Did you know? In the 2008 / 2009 financial year, the Society: • helped 325,000 people • received 147,790 requests for assistance
NightRiders is a pilot program and youth initiative of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland addressing two basic needs of the community: the need for a companionship based visitation program, and the provision of a program offering flexibility for young people to be involved in community work. The program aims to fill the void of those who live in our communities alone, with limited social outlets, and who are isolated for a variety of different reasons: those who are elderly, disabled, have mental health issues, etc.
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Quick News
Vinnies award win The St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland won the Premier of Queensland’s 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Award which recognised the company that has had the greatest ongoing commitment to the environment, the community or education over the past 150 years.
‘Compeer’ begins in Caloundra Following two years of prepatory work by local Vincentians and the Mental Health Committee, Compeer, an international non-profit organisation that is founded on a friendship model to overcome mental illness, has approved an application from the Northern Central Council to establish a program in Caloundra.
After undertaking initial training, volunteers work in pairs visiting those they support, sharing a conversation, offering companionship, and hoping to shift their focus from the feelings of loneliness they face everyday. Volunteers are not required to provide any material assistance. The gift of your time, empathy and understanding can mean the world to those who are isolated due to age, injury or illness. Clients are recommended to the service through St Vincent de Paul Society conferences, and through external community agencies if needed. If you are interested in becoming a NightRider or perhaps could refer any potential clients, please contact the Youth team on 3010 1022, or email youth@svdpqld.org.au
Homeless Connect Some of the Society’s valued volunteers and staff at the November Homeless Connect at City Hall, which provides people experiencing homelessness with a connection to a range of services and necessities.
Above: Claire Lewis, Carol Willington, Elizabeth Wallace, Robyn Turner, Jim Short, Julie Tran, Barbara Edwards, former State President John Campbell, Palitha Wickramasinghe, Mary McFadden, Cheryl Soo and Betty Millis.
Privacy Become a Member of a Conference (local branch) Volunteer Make a financial donation Make a gift-in-kind Make a bequest For more information contact the state office
07 3010 1000
or email: state.admin@svdpqld.org.au Making a dif
The St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland respects your privacy and abides by the national privacy principles. We undertake not to pass your personal information to a third party without your approval. For more information about the privacy principles visit www.privacy.gov.au.
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Give without being asked Mike Dyer is a strong supporter of Vinnies and a regular donor through the Helping Hands Program. Mike’s family have always supported the Society and he is continuing this tradition. He has been giving regularly to the work of the Society for almost twenty years. The Helping Hands program allows our supporters to make regular donations via credit card without receiving all of our appeal letters. For Helping Hands donors, the Society issues one convenient tax-deductible receipt at the end of the financial year. Michael supports about twelve different groups helping the underprivileged in Queensland. He feels passionately about the need to do something for people who are struggling, so he doesn’t limit his giving to Vinnies. He likes donating by credit card because he can keep an eye on his donations and easily check up on his monthly credit statement.
Make a difference today - make a donation
“One of the best features is that I don’t have to make a new decision every time I receive an appeal letter. “Once I have decided on a regular gift amount the decision is made and made for the long term,” Michael said. “I reconsider my giving occasionally but I know how much I’ve pledged. There’s no wastage on multiple letters or postage by either party and it saves bank account and cheque fees. And there are certainly no security problems with credit card donations. I’m happy to make donations this way – it gives me peace of mind to know that more is getting to people who need help,” he said. The Helping Hands Program was established in 2001, and since that time 413 donors have given a total of $588,360 to help some of the most disadvantaged Queenslanders – truly a great tradition of care! To join the Helping Hands Program and make your donations go further, please complete the authority on the back of your appeal letter and return it with your donation today, or complete and return the coupon below.
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