Society Ford donates vehicle to Vincentian Village
The Ford Motor Company has donated a car to Geelong’s state of the art aged care facility Vincentian Village in an innovative project aimed at alleviating dementia among aged residents. The project, entitled “Driving down Memory Lane”, is based on the therapeutic benefit that dementia patients receive when given activities linked to things in their past. Many of the residents in Vincentian Village have a connection
to the Ford Motor Company through previous employment or through family and friends, which results in a great fit between the facility and the company. The vehicle will be placed in the garden of Vincentian Village, where residents suffering from dementia will be able to wash and polish the car, promoting a sense of purpose and being needed. Other therapeutic benefits include: • The car will act as a diversion for a mental condition which often leaves its sufferers experiencing distress. • The promotion of heightened awareness of surrounding environment and the evoking of familiar experiences. • The outside area around the car will be made into an interactive environment with a raised vegetable garden, outdoor furniture, barbeque and shade sail, which will encourage interaction with others and increase communication and socialisation. • The inside of the vehicle will become
a sensory environment using music, smells, sheepskin covers and magazines. • Inside of the vehicle can be an intimate environment for family and friends to reminisce and enhance simple communication especially for people with dementia. • Some residents may like to use it as a quiet place to sit away from the noise. An engineer from Ford has visited the site to complete a safety inspection and assist with plans to install the car on the property. Vincentian Village staff are also involved to ensure the appropriate risk and safety assessments are completed prior to the arrival of the vehicle in late August. Thanks to the Ford Motor Company for this generous donation which will prove to be of great benefit to residents living with the sometimes debilitating effects of dementia, as well as to the Eastern Crane Company for their commitment to assist with moving the ■ vehicle to Vincentian Village.
Changes at the helm St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS) has announced changes to its board and senior leadership. State President of the Society, Jim Grealish, says the changes come at a time of ever-increasing demands for more effective governance and accountability, particularly in human services regulation and operations. ACCS was incorporated in 2003 and operates under the auspices of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. It provides specialised professional services across aged care, homelessness, outreach services, family violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, supported employment options and health services. Two new directors – Peter Johnstone and Haydn Harrison – have been appointed to the ACCS board. Mr Johnstone, who joins ACCS with a wealth of experience in senior roles in
Peter Johnstone
Haydn Harrison
Federal, State and Local Government, has also been elected chairman, replacing Pamela Macklin who stepped down after four years in the role. Mr Johnstone is a former chair of Jesuit Social Services and some years ago was deputy chair of the former St Vincent de Paul Ozanam Community Board. He is principal of PJ Governance Pty Ltd. Mr Harrison is a senior finance executive with particular expertise in the aged care sector, and experience of many
church and other community organisations. A primary task of the new board will be to find a replacement for ACCS chief executive, Dr Doug Kent, who resigned after five years in the role. St Vincent de Paul Society Victorian chief executive, Brian Dalton, has been seconded to act as ACCS chief executive until the role is filled. The Society acknowledges and thanks Pamela Macklin and Doug Kent for their contributions to the direction of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS). ■
The St Vincent De Paul Society recently released a report on the impact of implementation of smart meters across Victoria for more information go to vinnies.org.au/reports-vic. ■
Society St Vincent de Paul Aged Care accreditations The St Vincent de Paul Society and Aged Care & Community Services are proud to announce that six of its seven Aged Care Facilities have recently received notifications from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency that all 44 outcomes have been achieved towards formal accreditation. These outcomes are
based on four standards, Management Systems, Staffing and Organisational Development; Health and Personal Care; Resident Lifestyles; Physical Environment and Safe Systems. All of our facilities ensure we are compliant with the Aged Care Act, Accountability Principles and provide quality of life for our residents, staff
and families. The accreditation process for our facilities commenced in October last year and is due to be completed in September 2009. These achievements are an outstanding commendation of the level of service that our Aged Care facilities offer its residents and are a credit to all facility managers and their staff. ■
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Madhatters Ball
In June 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held in numerous states across Australia, including Victoria. This annual event challenges Australian business and social leaders to sleep out for a night and experience homelessness first hand. The CEO Sleepout is held to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and to generate much needed funds to support the Society’s homeless services. CEO’s are offered the opportunity to network with other CEO’s and forge longterm relationships with the companies represented, but many go home with so much more.
The Vinnies Youth Ball recently attracted over 430 revellers from College and young adult Conferences for a night of dancing and fun at the San Remo Ballroom, in Carlton North. With this year’s theme being “The Mad Hatter’s Ball”, everyone got into the spirit of the night, sporting an impressive and eclectic array of headwear. These ranged from stylish fascinators and fedoras to outrageous home-made creations, including the winner of the night’s best hat – a giant Swiss Army knife! Thanks to the generosity of the guests and businesses who donated prizes for the raffle, nearly $3,500 was raised on the night for the Vinnies Disaster Appeal. ■
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its voluntary members who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. St Vincent de Paul Society is the parent company of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services and has representation on their board of directors. ■
Watch this space for more news about Melbourne’s own CEO Sleepout ■ event in June 2010.
This arm of the Society was established in 2003 to provide professional services in the complex areas of: aged care, homelessness, outreach services, domestic violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, health services and supported-employment options. The majority of programs receive some government funding, however donations are always needed to provide services over and above the government funded level. ■
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are currently 101 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 E-mail: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
SEPTEMBER 2009
Winter Appeal 2009 – Tomorrow can be different Despite this period of financial uncertainty, the Society is pleased to report that the Winter Appeal has achieved its target due to the generosity of its individual donors. Continuing on the theme of last year’s appeal, we have once again concentrated on giving our clients a voice to tell their own stories of need, this time in the form of journal entries. To date we have received over
$1,000,000 up from last year’s Winter Appeal income of $900,000. We are certainly grateful for the generous support given to us, but we are experiencing an approximate 20 per cent increase in demand for our services this calendar year thus far. For those who turn to us for assistance, our services are needed more than ever. To donate call 131812 or visit vinnies.org.au ■
Winter Appeal 2008 wins awards – This time its personal Compelling and deeply personal photographs taken by our service users to reflect their lives were at the heart of our 2008 Winter Appeal. We are delighted that this campaign, and the contribution of our clients, has recently been recognised by receiving a number of industry awards. For the 2008 Winter Appeal, the Society asked clients, many of whom were homeless, to document a day in their life through photographs. The result was a series of confronting photographs that went on to become part of a successful fundraising and award winning direct marketing campaign created by advertising agency, Clemenger BBDO and Proximity.
Awards included: • Not-for-profit category winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Effectiveness Award. • Overall winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Lester Wunderman Effectiveness Award. • Silver winner; John Caples International Awards for Consumer Campaign/ Integrated Campaign. In commending the Society’s Winter Appeal, the John Caples International Awards stated: “Social services groups struggle with how to tell the stories of the people they help, while making them seem real enough so others will donate. Putting disposable cameras into the hands
of those actually living in poverty so they could document what it’s like for others was simple genius”. We would like to congratulate and thank all those involved for their contribution, which helped to raise funds of approximately $4.7 million across Australia and raise awareness of the experience of homelessness. ■
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society I greet you all in this September issue of Society. I commend its contents to you as we present a small sample of the various activities and events in which the Society becomes involved. In one way or another they all lead to our primary task of assisting the less fortunate in the Victorian community.
Victorian State President Jim Grealish
While our primary work is directed towards assisting families and individuals in need, we also aim to present to those in authority issues which disadvantage members of the community who are least able to speak for themselves. A recent example of how we assist in this way is the research we have undertaken on the expected large increases in electricity prices, which will follow from the introduction of carbon reduction policies. Our Research & Policy Officer, Gavin Dufty, has estimated that the main impact of the prices will be felt particularly
Light FM Blankets for Winter campaign by low-income families who are home during the day in winter time. Their power will be charged at peak prices because the new smart meters, which are being introduced, not only charge for the amount of power used but also provide for different rates at the time at which it is used. We are endeavouring to persuade the government to make compensation to vulnerable groups which will bear the brunt of those changes. This is one way where we hope to utilise a motto of the Society: “to give a hand-up, rather than a hand-out”.
Society gained a great deal of exposure about the good works we do. The campaign netted almost 500 blankets which will be of great relief to many of our clients during the cold Winter months. We extend our thanks to the team at Light FM and their fantastic listeners for making this campaign a success and helping to make Winter a little more bearable for those in need. ■
New Vinnies Soup Vans – ready to roll
Vinnies is again embarking on a campaign to promote Vinnies Centres as the retailer of choice for quality Spring Racing outfits at reasonable prices. This year will see an integrated campaign across all media including TV, radio, print, press and online, supporting a fashion show for citybased office workers. Prizes will include sessions with your very own professional stylist. We have secured
fantastic support for this campaign across the Pacific Magazine stable, so be on the lookout for Vinnies in Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Family Circle and other popular print titles. Other than driving sales in our Vinnies Centres, this campaign will also kick-start our fundraising drive in support of a new capital works campaign – Louise House,
a rehabilitation centre for women. Following the Society’s success in rehabilitation through our men’s facility, Quin House, Vinnies is leading the way in offering meaningful support to women in need in Victoria, using the same formula. For more information on partnership opportunities for this important cause, please contact Carol Taylor, GM Fundraising, Marketing and Development on 03 9895 5800. ■
With every good wish
Jim Grealish State President September 2009
■
Convert your shares to benefit Australian charities
Vinnies Disaster Appeal
ShareGift is an initiative providing an easy tax-deductible way to sell unmarketable holdings of shares and donate the proceeds to charity without incurring brokerage fees. Individuals can sell and donate small parcels of shares that would otherwise be
The outpouring of support in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires was heartwarming. Through the support of donors such as yourself, as well as the many donors who responded with a first time donation as a result of our campaign, we have raised over $3.7 million. This funding is additional to the large amount of goods that were donated to us for distribution to bushfire survivors. To date, we have spent or committed approximately $1.5 million of these funds. As always, the work we do is dependent on the needs of our individual clients, and therefore covers a large variety of assistance given. Aid has included the provision of tools and outdoor equipment, food and food vouchers, furniture and household items and whitegoods. ■ Vinnies is in it for the long-haul.
expensive to trade and have the option of recommending the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc as the recipient of the donation. Funding distributions are decided by the ShareGift Board on the basis of these recommendations. ShareGift sells the shares and distributes the proceeds to Australian charities holding deductible gift recipient status, such as St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. Shares held in any Australian publicly listed companies may be sold. You the shareholder will not pay any brokerage or exchange costs, and will receive a letter of the share sale as a receipt to claim a tax deduction for the donation. The shareholder completes a share sale donation form found at www.sharegiftaustralia.org.au For further information on ShareGift, call 1300 731 632 or email info@sharegiftaustralia.org.au ■
Light FM, a Christian radio station in metropolitan Melbourne, recently ran a blanket appeal in conjunction with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Running over two weeks in July, Light FM asked listeners to donate blankets to their closest Vinnies Centre. Supported by community service announcements and numerous interviews of spokespeople across the Society’s services and programs, the
Vinnies makes a splash this Spring Racing Carnival
Every night the St Vincent de Paul Society provides a hot meal, a kind word, friendship and referral services to over 550 of Melbourne’s homeless. The Society’s four Soup Van services are unique in that they travel to where people live. This includes boarding houses, laneways, parks and public housing. For many of the socially isolated using our services disability, illness or a lack of finances mean they cannot access other centralised food services. The Soup Vans are a vital aspect of our work with Melbourne’s homeless. Recently we acquired new vans which were customfitted to our purpose. The vans have large lift-up sides and back access doors which provide light to the surrounding
areas, increasing roadside visibility and safety. Inside, the vans are fitted with interlocked rack and shelving systems. Constructed of stainless steel and using seamless welds these racks and trays are easier to clean and maintain and are more
hygienic. With better heating and cooling systems we are now able to keep food more consistent temperatures according to food safety practices. The soup van service provides a critical point of engagement where our staff can encourage and support our clients to move out of a life of homelessness and back into mainstream society, and get referrals to other services which can aid them achieve this goal. We are thrilled to have these top-class facilities for our clients. We are seeking ongoing sponsors for our new Soup Vans which also offer branding opportunities to sponsors. If you are interested in these opportunities please contact Claire Nettley, Major Donor ■ Coordinator, on 03 9895 5877. In the past five years we have seen the number of people using our Soup Van services increasing by 8% each year. There have been similar increases in other emergency meal services run by the Society. Ozanam House, which provides short-term crisis accommodation, has seen an increase in demand for their meal service rise by 13% in the first six months of this year. The St Vincent de Paul Society relies heavily upon the generosity of the wider community to support this essential and vital work. To make a donation, please go to vinnies.org.au or phone 13 18 12.
Eric Heyburn and Russell Smith show off a new soup van.
Impressions of Life At 84 years old, artist Bernadine Williams is a fascinating and inspiring woman with an incredible life story. Born and raised in Indonesia and of Dutch descent, Bernadine is one of six children. During World War II and at just 17, she was placed in a concentration camp in Indonesia with her mother and sisters where they remained imprisoned for three and a half years. Living on one cup of rice and one spoon of vegetables per day,
Bernadine and her family endured years of hardship before being freed and flown to Australia. Bernadine recently joined forces with her friend Mary ‘Masha’ Baldwin to present the ‘Impressions of Life’ art exhibition at Box Hill Community Arts Centre. Proceeds from the sale of Bernadine’s artworks were kindly donated to St Vincent de Paul raising $825 for the Society’s homeless services.
Following her experiences in the concentration camp during the war, Bernadine felt strongly about the plight of the homeless and those experiencing hardship. We thank Bernadine for her fundraising efforts to assist our homeless services. If you would like to organise a community fundraising event to support the “good works” of the Society please go to vinnies.org.au/community■ fundraising-vic.
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society I greet you all in this September issue of Society. I commend its contents to you as we present a small sample of the various activities and events in which the Society becomes involved. In one way or another they all lead to our primary task of assisting the less fortunate in the Victorian community.
Victorian State President Jim Grealish
While our primary work is directed towards assisting families and individuals in need, we also aim to present to those in authority issues which disadvantage members of the community who are least able to speak for themselves. A recent example of how we assist in this way is the research we have undertaken on the expected large increases in electricity prices, which will follow from the introduction of carbon reduction policies. Our Research & Policy Officer, Gavin Dufty, has estimated that the main impact of the prices will be felt particularly
Light FM Blankets for Winter campaign by low-income families who are home during the day in winter time. Their power will be charged at peak prices because the new smart meters, which are being introduced, not only charge for the amount of power used but also provide for different rates at the time at which it is used. We are endeavouring to persuade the government to make compensation to vulnerable groups which will bear the brunt of those changes. This is one way where we hope to utilise a motto of the Society: “to give a hand-up, rather than a hand-out”.
Society gained a great deal of exposure about the good works we do. The campaign netted almost 500 blankets which will be of great relief to many of our clients during the cold Winter months. We extend our thanks to the team at Light FM and their fantastic listeners for making this campaign a success and helping to make Winter a little more bearable for those in need. ■
New Vinnies Soup Vans – ready to roll
Vinnies is again embarking on a campaign to promote Vinnies Centres as the retailer of choice for quality Spring Racing outfits at reasonable prices. This year will see an integrated campaign across all media including TV, radio, print, press and online, supporting a fashion show for citybased office workers. Prizes will include sessions with your very own professional stylist. We have secured
fantastic support for this campaign across the Pacific Magazine stable, so be on the lookout for Vinnies in Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Family Circle and other popular print titles. Other than driving sales in our Vinnies Centres, this campaign will also kick-start our fundraising drive in support of a new capital works campaign – Louise House,
a rehabilitation centre for women. Following the Society’s success in rehabilitation through our men’s facility, Quin House, Vinnies is leading the way in offering meaningful support to women in need in Victoria, using the same formula. For more information on partnership opportunities for this important cause, please contact Carol Taylor, GM Fundraising, Marketing and Development on 03 9895 5800. ■
With every good wish
Jim Grealish State President September 2009
■
Convert your shares to benefit Australian charities
Vinnies Disaster Appeal
ShareGift is an initiative providing an easy tax-deductible way to sell unmarketable holdings of shares and donate the proceeds to charity without incurring brokerage fees. Individuals can sell and donate small parcels of shares that would otherwise be
The outpouring of support in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires was heartwarming. Through the support of donors such as yourself, as well as the many donors who responded with a first time donation as a result of our campaign, we have raised over $3.7 million. This funding is additional to the large amount of goods that were donated to us for distribution to bushfire survivors. To date, we have spent or committed approximately $1.5 million of these funds. As always, the work we do is dependent on the needs of our individual clients, and therefore covers a large variety of assistance given. Aid has included the provision of tools and outdoor equipment, food and food vouchers, furniture and household items and whitegoods. ■ Vinnies is in it for the long-haul.
expensive to trade and have the option of recommending the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc as the recipient of the donation. Funding distributions are decided by the ShareGift Board on the basis of these recommendations. ShareGift sells the shares and distributes the proceeds to Australian charities holding deductible gift recipient status, such as St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. Shares held in any Australian publicly listed companies may be sold. You the shareholder will not pay any brokerage or exchange costs, and will receive a letter of the share sale as a receipt to claim a tax deduction for the donation. The shareholder completes a share sale donation form found at www.sharegiftaustralia.org.au For further information on ShareGift, call 1300 731 632 or email info@sharegiftaustralia.org.au ■
Light FM, a Christian radio station in metropolitan Melbourne, recently ran a blanket appeal in conjunction with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Running over two weeks in July, Light FM asked listeners to donate blankets to their closest Vinnies Centre. Supported by community service announcements and numerous interviews of spokespeople across the Society’s services and programs, the
Vinnies makes a splash this Spring Racing Carnival
Every night the St Vincent de Paul Society provides a hot meal, a kind word, friendship and referral services to over 550 of Melbourne’s homeless. The Society’s four Soup Van services are unique in that they travel to where people live. This includes boarding houses, laneways, parks and public housing. For many of the socially isolated using our services disability, illness or a lack of finances mean they cannot access other centralised food services. The Soup Vans are a vital aspect of our work with Melbourne’s homeless. Recently we acquired new vans which were customfitted to our purpose. The vans have large lift-up sides and back access doors which provide light to the surrounding
areas, increasing roadside visibility and safety. Inside, the vans are fitted with interlocked rack and shelving systems. Constructed of stainless steel and using seamless welds these racks and trays are easier to clean and maintain and are more
hygienic. With better heating and cooling systems we are now able to keep food more consistent temperatures according to food safety practices. The soup van service provides a critical point of engagement where our staff can encourage and support our clients to move out of a life of homelessness and back into mainstream society, and get referrals to other services which can aid them achieve this goal. We are thrilled to have these top-class facilities for our clients. We are seeking ongoing sponsors for our new Soup Vans which also offer branding opportunities to sponsors. If you are interested in these opportunities please contact Claire Nettley, Major Donor ■ Coordinator, on 03 9895 5877. In the past five years we have seen the number of people using our Soup Van services increasing by 8% each year. There have been similar increases in other emergency meal services run by the Society. Ozanam House, which provides short-term crisis accommodation, has seen an increase in demand for their meal service rise by 13% in the first six months of this year. The St Vincent de Paul Society relies heavily upon the generosity of the wider community to support this essential and vital work. To make a donation, please go to vinnies.org.au or phone 13 18 12.
Eric Heyburn and Russell Smith show off a new soup van.
Impressions of Life At 84 years old, artist Bernadine Williams is a fascinating and inspiring woman with an incredible life story. Born and raised in Indonesia and of Dutch descent, Bernadine is one of six children. During World War II and at just 17, she was placed in a concentration camp in Indonesia with her mother and sisters where they remained imprisoned for three and a half years. Living on one cup of rice and one spoon of vegetables per day,
Bernadine and her family endured years of hardship before being freed and flown to Australia. Bernadine recently joined forces with her friend Mary ‘Masha’ Baldwin to present the ‘Impressions of Life’ art exhibition at Box Hill Community Arts Centre. Proceeds from the sale of Bernadine’s artworks were kindly donated to St Vincent de Paul raising $825 for the Society’s homeless services.
Following her experiences in the concentration camp during the war, Bernadine felt strongly about the plight of the homeless and those experiencing hardship. We thank Bernadine for her fundraising efforts to assist our homeless services. If you would like to organise a community fundraising event to support the “good works” of the Society please go to vinnies.org.au/community■ fundraising-vic.
Society
Society
President’s message Dear friends of the Society I greet you all in this September issue of Society. I commend its contents to you as we present a small sample of the various activities and events in which the Society becomes involved. In one way or another they all lead to our primary task of assisting the less fortunate in the Victorian community.
Victorian State President Jim Grealish
While our primary work is directed towards assisting families and individuals in need, we also aim to present to those in authority issues which disadvantage members of the community who are least able to speak for themselves. A recent example of how we assist in this way is the research we have undertaken on the expected large increases in electricity prices, which will follow from the introduction of carbon reduction policies. Our Research & Policy Officer, Gavin Dufty, has estimated that the main impact of the prices will be felt particularly
Light FM Blankets for Winter campaign by low-income families who are home during the day in winter time. Their power will be charged at peak prices because the new smart meters, which are being introduced, not only charge for the amount of power used but also provide for different rates at the time at which it is used. We are endeavouring to persuade the government to make compensation to vulnerable groups which will bear the brunt of those changes. This is one way where we hope to utilise a motto of the Society: “to give a hand-up, rather than a hand-out”.
Society gained a great deal of exposure about the good works we do. The campaign netted almost 500 blankets which will be of great relief to many of our clients during the cold Winter months. We extend our thanks to the team at Light FM and their fantastic listeners for making this campaign a success and helping to make Winter a little more bearable for those in need. ■
New Vinnies Soup Vans – ready to roll
Vinnies is again embarking on a campaign to promote Vinnies Centres as the retailer of choice for quality Spring Racing outfits at reasonable prices. This year will see an integrated campaign across all media including TV, radio, print, press and online, supporting a fashion show for citybased office workers. Prizes will include sessions with your very own professional stylist. We have secured
fantastic support for this campaign across the Pacific Magazine stable, so be on the lookout for Vinnies in Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Health, Marie Claire, Family Circle and other popular print titles. Other than driving sales in our Vinnies Centres, this campaign will also kick-start our fundraising drive in support of a new capital works campaign – Louise House,
a rehabilitation centre for women. Following the Society’s success in rehabilitation through our men’s facility, Quin House, Vinnies is leading the way in offering meaningful support to women in need in Victoria, using the same formula. For more information on partnership opportunities for this important cause, please contact Carol Taylor, GM Fundraising, Marketing and Development on 03 9895 5800. ■
With every good wish
Jim Grealish State President September 2009
■
Convert your shares to benefit Australian charities
Vinnies Disaster Appeal
ShareGift is an initiative providing an easy tax-deductible way to sell unmarketable holdings of shares and donate the proceeds to charity without incurring brokerage fees. Individuals can sell and donate small parcels of shares that would otherwise be
The outpouring of support in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires was heartwarming. Through the support of donors such as yourself, as well as the many donors who responded with a first time donation as a result of our campaign, we have raised over $3.7 million. This funding is additional to the large amount of goods that were donated to us for distribution to bushfire survivors. To date, we have spent or committed approximately $1.5 million of these funds. As always, the work we do is dependent on the needs of our individual clients, and therefore covers a large variety of assistance given. Aid has included the provision of tools and outdoor equipment, food and food vouchers, furniture and household items and whitegoods. ■ Vinnies is in it for the long-haul.
expensive to trade and have the option of recommending the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc as the recipient of the donation. Funding distributions are decided by the ShareGift Board on the basis of these recommendations. ShareGift sells the shares and distributes the proceeds to Australian charities holding deductible gift recipient status, such as St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. Shares held in any Australian publicly listed companies may be sold. You the shareholder will not pay any brokerage or exchange costs, and will receive a letter of the share sale as a receipt to claim a tax deduction for the donation. The shareholder completes a share sale donation form found at www.sharegiftaustralia.org.au For further information on ShareGift, call 1300 731 632 or email info@sharegiftaustralia.org.au ■
Light FM, a Christian radio station in metropolitan Melbourne, recently ran a blanket appeal in conjunction with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Running over two weeks in July, Light FM asked listeners to donate blankets to their closest Vinnies Centre. Supported by community service announcements and numerous interviews of spokespeople across the Society’s services and programs, the
Vinnies makes a splash this Spring Racing Carnival
Every night the St Vincent de Paul Society provides a hot meal, a kind word, friendship and referral services to over 550 of Melbourne’s homeless. The Society’s four Soup Van services are unique in that they travel to where people live. This includes boarding houses, laneways, parks and public housing. For many of the socially isolated using our services disability, illness or a lack of finances mean they cannot access other centralised food services. The Soup Vans are a vital aspect of our work with Melbourne’s homeless. Recently we acquired new vans which were customfitted to our purpose. The vans have large lift-up sides and back access doors which provide light to the surrounding
areas, increasing roadside visibility and safety. Inside, the vans are fitted with interlocked rack and shelving systems. Constructed of stainless steel and using seamless welds these racks and trays are easier to clean and maintain and are more
hygienic. With better heating and cooling systems we are now able to keep food more consistent temperatures according to food safety practices. The soup van service provides a critical point of engagement where our staff can encourage and support our clients to move out of a life of homelessness and back into mainstream society, and get referrals to other services which can aid them achieve this goal. We are thrilled to have these top-class facilities for our clients. We are seeking ongoing sponsors for our new Soup Vans which also offer branding opportunities to sponsors. If you are interested in these opportunities please contact Claire Nettley, Major Donor ■ Coordinator, on 03 9895 5877. In the past five years we have seen the number of people using our Soup Van services increasing by 8% each year. There have been similar increases in other emergency meal services run by the Society. Ozanam House, which provides short-term crisis accommodation, has seen an increase in demand for their meal service rise by 13% in the first six months of this year. The St Vincent de Paul Society relies heavily upon the generosity of the wider community to support this essential and vital work. To make a donation, please go to vinnies.org.au or phone 13 18 12.
Eric Heyburn and Russell Smith show off a new soup van.
Impressions of Life At 84 years old, artist Bernadine Williams is a fascinating and inspiring woman with an incredible life story. Born and raised in Indonesia and of Dutch descent, Bernadine is one of six children. During World War II and at just 17, she was placed in a concentration camp in Indonesia with her mother and sisters where they remained imprisoned for three and a half years. Living on one cup of rice and one spoon of vegetables per day,
Bernadine and her family endured years of hardship before being freed and flown to Australia. Bernadine recently joined forces with her friend Mary ‘Masha’ Baldwin to present the ‘Impressions of Life’ art exhibition at Box Hill Community Arts Centre. Proceeds from the sale of Bernadine’s artworks were kindly donated to St Vincent de Paul raising $825 for the Society’s homeless services.
Following her experiences in the concentration camp during the war, Bernadine felt strongly about the plight of the homeless and those experiencing hardship. We thank Bernadine for her fundraising efforts to assist our homeless services. If you would like to organise a community fundraising event to support the “good works” of the Society please go to vinnies.org.au/community■ fundraising-vic.
Society Ford donates vehicle to Vincentian Village
The Ford Motor Company has donated a car to Geelong’s state of the art aged care facility Vincentian Village in an innovative project aimed at alleviating dementia among aged residents. The project, entitled “Driving down Memory Lane”, is based on the therapeutic benefit that dementia patients receive when given activities linked to things in their past. Many of the residents in Vincentian Village have a connection
to the Ford Motor Company through previous employment or through family and friends, which results in a great fit between the facility and the company. The vehicle will be placed in the garden of Vincentian Village, where residents suffering from dementia will be able to wash and polish the car, promoting a sense of purpose and being needed. Other therapeutic benefits include: • The car will act as a diversion for a mental condition which often leaves its sufferers experiencing distress. • The promotion of heightened awareness of surrounding environment and the evoking of familiar experiences. • The outside area around the car will be made into an interactive environment with a raised vegetable garden, outdoor furniture, barbeque and shade sail, which will encourage interaction with others and increase communication and socialisation. • The inside of the vehicle will become
a sensory environment using music, smells, sheepskin covers and magazines. • Inside of the vehicle can be an intimate environment for family and friends to reminisce and enhance simple communication especially for people with dementia. • Some residents may like to use it as a quiet place to sit away from the noise. An engineer from Ford has visited the site to complete a safety inspection and assist with plans to install the car on the property. Vincentian Village staff are also involved to ensure the appropriate risk and safety assessments are completed prior to the arrival of the vehicle in late August. Thanks to the Ford Motor Company for this generous donation which will prove to be of great benefit to residents living with the sometimes debilitating effects of dementia, as well as to the Eastern Crane Company for their commitment to assist with moving the ■ vehicle to Vincentian Village.
Changes at the helm St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS) has announced changes to its board and senior leadership. State President of the Society, Jim Grealish, says the changes come at a time of ever-increasing demands for more effective governance and accountability, particularly in human services regulation and operations. ACCS was incorporated in 2003 and operates under the auspices of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. It provides specialised professional services across aged care, homelessness, outreach services, family violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, supported employment options and health services. Two new directors – Peter Johnstone and Haydn Harrison – have been appointed to the ACCS board. Mr Johnstone, who joins ACCS with a wealth of experience in senior roles in
Peter Johnstone
Haydn Harrison
Federal, State and Local Government, has also been elected chairman, replacing Pamela Macklin who stepped down after four years in the role. Mr Johnstone is a former chair of Jesuit Social Services and some years ago was deputy chair of the former St Vincent de Paul Ozanam Community Board. He is principal of PJ Governance Pty Ltd. Mr Harrison is a senior finance executive with particular expertise in the aged care sector, and experience of many
church and other community organisations. A primary task of the new board will be to find a replacement for ACCS chief executive, Dr Doug Kent, who resigned after five years in the role. St Vincent de Paul Society Victorian chief executive, Brian Dalton, has been seconded to act as ACCS chief executive until the role is filled. The Society acknowledges and thanks Pamela Macklin and Doug Kent for their contributions to the direction of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS). ■
The St Vincent De Paul Society recently released a report on the impact of implementation of smart meters across Victoria for more information go to vinnies.org.au/reports-vic. ■
Society St Vincent de Paul Aged Care accreditations The St Vincent de Paul Society and Aged Care & Community Services are proud to announce that six of its seven Aged Care Facilities have recently received notifications from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency that all 44 outcomes have been achieved towards formal accreditation. These outcomes are
based on four standards, Management Systems, Staffing and Organisational Development; Health and Personal Care; Resident Lifestyles; Physical Environment and Safe Systems. All of our facilities ensure we are compliant with the Aged Care Act, Accountability Principles and provide quality of life for our residents, staff
and families. The accreditation process for our facilities commenced in October last year and is due to be completed in September 2009. These achievements are an outstanding commendation of the level of service that our Aged Care facilities offer its residents and are a credit to all facility managers and their staff. ■
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Madhatters Ball
In June 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held in numerous states across Australia, including Victoria. This annual event challenges Australian business and social leaders to sleep out for a night and experience homelessness first hand. The CEO Sleepout is held to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and to generate much needed funds to support the Society’s homeless services. CEO’s are offered the opportunity to network with other CEO’s and forge longterm relationships with the companies represented, but many go home with so much more.
The Vinnies Youth Ball recently attracted over 430 revellers from College and young adult Conferences for a night of dancing and fun at the San Remo Ballroom, in Carlton North. With this year’s theme being “The Mad Hatter’s Ball”, everyone got into the spirit of the night, sporting an impressive and eclectic array of headwear. These ranged from stylish fascinators and fedoras to outrageous home-made creations, including the winner of the night’s best hat – a giant Swiss Army knife! Thanks to the generosity of the guests and businesses who donated prizes for the raffle, nearly $3,500 was raised on the night for the Vinnies Disaster Appeal. ■
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its voluntary members who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. St Vincent de Paul Society is the parent company of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services and has representation on their board of directors. ■
Watch this space for more news about Melbourne’s own CEO Sleepout ■ event in June 2010.
This arm of the Society was established in 2003 to provide professional services in the complex areas of: aged care, homelessness, outreach services, domestic violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, health services and supported-employment options. The majority of programs receive some government funding, however donations are always needed to provide services over and above the government funded level. ■
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are currently 101 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 E-mail: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
SEPTEMBER 2009
Winter Appeal 2009 – Tomorrow can be different Despite this period of financial uncertainty, the Society is pleased to report that the Winter Appeal has achieved its target due to the generosity of its individual donors. Continuing on the theme of last year’s appeal, we have once again concentrated on giving our clients a voice to tell their own stories of need, this time in the form of journal entries. To date we have received over
$1,000,000 up from last year’s Winter Appeal income of $900,000. We are certainly grateful for the generous support given to us, but we are experiencing an approximate 20 per cent increase in demand for our services this calendar year thus far. For those who turn to us for assistance, our services are needed more than ever. To donate call 131812 or visit vinnies.org.au ■
Winter Appeal 2008 wins awards – This time its personal Compelling and deeply personal photographs taken by our service users to reflect their lives were at the heart of our 2008 Winter Appeal. We are delighted that this campaign, and the contribution of our clients, has recently been recognised by receiving a number of industry awards. For the 2008 Winter Appeal, the Society asked clients, many of whom were homeless, to document a day in their life through photographs. The result was a series of confronting photographs that went on to become part of a successful fundraising and award winning direct marketing campaign created by advertising agency, Clemenger BBDO and Proximity.
Awards included: • Not-for-profit category winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Effectiveness Award. • Overall winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Lester Wunderman Effectiveness Award. • Silver winner; John Caples International Awards for Consumer Campaign/ Integrated Campaign. In commending the Society’s Winter Appeal, the John Caples International Awards stated: “Social services groups struggle with how to tell the stories of the people they help, while making them seem real enough so others will donate. Putting disposable cameras into the hands
of those actually living in poverty so they could document what it’s like for others was simple genius”. We would like to congratulate and thank all those involved for their contribution, which helped to raise funds of approximately $4.7 million across Australia and raise awareness of the experience of homelessness. ■
Society Ford donates vehicle to Vincentian Village
The Ford Motor Company has donated a car to Geelong’s state of the art aged care facility Vincentian Village in an innovative project aimed at alleviating dementia among aged residents. The project, entitled “Driving down Memory Lane”, is based on the therapeutic benefit that dementia patients receive when given activities linked to things in their past. Many of the residents in Vincentian Village have a connection
to the Ford Motor Company through previous employment or through family and friends, which results in a great fit between the facility and the company. The vehicle will be placed in the garden of Vincentian Village, where residents suffering from dementia will be able to wash and polish the car, promoting a sense of purpose and being needed. Other therapeutic benefits include: • The car will act as a diversion for a mental condition which often leaves its sufferers experiencing distress. • The promotion of heightened awareness of surrounding environment and the evoking of familiar experiences. • The outside area around the car will be made into an interactive environment with a raised vegetable garden, outdoor furniture, barbeque and shade sail, which will encourage interaction with others and increase communication and socialisation. • The inside of the vehicle will become
a sensory environment using music, smells, sheepskin covers and magazines. • Inside of the vehicle can be an intimate environment for family and friends to reminisce and enhance simple communication especially for people with dementia. • Some residents may like to use it as a quiet place to sit away from the noise. An engineer from Ford has visited the site to complete a safety inspection and assist with plans to install the car on the property. Vincentian Village staff are also involved to ensure the appropriate risk and safety assessments are completed prior to the arrival of the vehicle in late August. Thanks to the Ford Motor Company for this generous donation which will prove to be of great benefit to residents living with the sometimes debilitating effects of dementia, as well as to the Eastern Crane Company for their commitment to assist with moving the ■ vehicle to Vincentian Village.
Changes at the helm St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS) has announced changes to its board and senior leadership. State President of the Society, Jim Grealish, says the changes come at a time of ever-increasing demands for more effective governance and accountability, particularly in human services regulation and operations. ACCS was incorporated in 2003 and operates under the auspices of the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria Inc. It provides specialised professional services across aged care, homelessness, outreach services, family violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, supported employment options and health services. Two new directors – Peter Johnstone and Haydn Harrison – have been appointed to the ACCS board. Mr Johnstone, who joins ACCS with a wealth of experience in senior roles in
Peter Johnstone
Haydn Harrison
Federal, State and Local Government, has also been elected chairman, replacing Pamela Macklin who stepped down after four years in the role. Mr Johnstone is a former chair of Jesuit Social Services and some years ago was deputy chair of the former St Vincent de Paul Ozanam Community Board. He is principal of PJ Governance Pty Ltd. Mr Harrison is a senior finance executive with particular expertise in the aged care sector, and experience of many
church and other community organisations. A primary task of the new board will be to find a replacement for ACCS chief executive, Dr Doug Kent, who resigned after five years in the role. St Vincent de Paul Society Victorian chief executive, Brian Dalton, has been seconded to act as ACCS chief executive until the role is filled. The Society acknowledges and thanks Pamela Macklin and Doug Kent for their contributions to the direction of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services (ACCS). ■
The St Vincent De Paul Society recently released a report on the impact of implementation of smart meters across Victoria for more information go to vinnies.org.au/reports-vic. ■
Society St Vincent de Paul Aged Care accreditations The St Vincent de Paul Society and Aged Care & Community Services are proud to announce that six of its seven Aged Care Facilities have recently received notifications from the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency that all 44 outcomes have been achieved towards formal accreditation. These outcomes are
based on four standards, Management Systems, Staffing and Organisational Development; Health and Personal Care; Resident Lifestyles; Physical Environment and Safe Systems. All of our facilities ensure we are compliant with the Aged Care Act, Accountability Principles and provide quality of life for our residents, staff
and families. The accreditation process for our facilities commenced in October last year and is due to be completed in September 2009. These achievements are an outstanding commendation of the level of service that our Aged Care facilities offer its residents and are a credit to all facility managers and their staff. ■
Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Madhatters Ball
In June 2010 Vinnies CEO Sleepout will be held in numerous states across Australia, including Victoria. This annual event challenges Australian business and social leaders to sleep out for a night and experience homelessness first hand. The CEO Sleepout is held to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness and to generate much needed funds to support the Society’s homeless services. CEO’s are offered the opportunity to network with other CEO’s and forge longterm relationships with the companies represented, but many go home with so much more.
The Vinnies Youth Ball recently attracted over 430 revellers from College and young adult Conferences for a night of dancing and fun at the San Remo Ballroom, in Carlton North. With this year’s theme being “The Mad Hatter’s Ball”, everyone got into the spirit of the night, sporting an impressive and eclectic array of headwear. These ranged from stylish fascinators and fedoras to outrageous home-made creations, including the winner of the night’s best hat – a giant Swiss Army knife! Thanks to the generosity of the guests and businesses who donated prizes for the raffle, nearly $3,500 was raised on the night for the Vinnies Disaster Appeal. ■
Much of the Society’s work is carried out through its voluntary members who visit people in their own homes and provide material assistance, support and friendship to people in need. The Society relies on the generosity of the public and the dedication of its volunteers to carry out its good works. St Vincent de Paul Society is the parent company of St Vincent de Paul Aged Care & Community Services and has representation on their board of directors. ■
Watch this space for more news about Melbourne’s own CEO Sleepout ■ event in June 2010.
This arm of the Society was established in 2003 to provide professional services in the complex areas of: aged care, homelessness, outreach services, domestic violence support, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, health services and supported-employment options. The majority of programs receive some government funding, however donations are always needed to provide services over and above the government funded level. ■
Vinnies Centres are the retail arm of the St Vincent de Paul Society and are the major source of income for the Society’s good works. Vinnies centres provide furniture, clothing and household goods to families in need. The remainder of donated goods are sold and the funds from sales are used to help fund the work of the Society. There are currently 101 Vinnies Centres trading in Victoria. ■
Contact: 43 Prospect St, Box Hill, Victoria, 3128. Phone: (03) 9895 5800 Fax: (03) 9895 5850 E-mail: info@svdp-vic.org.au
For credit card donations visit www.vinnies.org.au or call 131812
Society A NEWSLETTER FOR SUPPORTERS OF THE ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY IN VICTORIA
SEPTEMBER 2009
Winter Appeal 2009 – Tomorrow can be different Despite this period of financial uncertainty, the Society is pleased to report that the Winter Appeal has achieved its target due to the generosity of its individual donors. Continuing on the theme of last year’s appeal, we have once again concentrated on giving our clients a voice to tell their own stories of need, this time in the form of journal entries. To date we have received over
$1,000,000 up from last year’s Winter Appeal income of $900,000. We are certainly grateful for the generous support given to us, but we are experiencing an approximate 20 per cent increase in demand for our services this calendar year thus far. For those who turn to us for assistance, our services are needed more than ever. To donate call 131812 or visit vinnies.org.au ■
Winter Appeal 2008 wins awards – This time its personal Compelling and deeply personal photographs taken by our service users to reflect their lives were at the heart of our 2008 Winter Appeal. We are delighted that this campaign, and the contribution of our clients, has recently been recognised by receiving a number of industry awards. For the 2008 Winter Appeal, the Society asked clients, many of whom were homeless, to document a day in their life through photographs. The result was a series of confronting photographs that went on to become part of a successful fundraising and award winning direct marketing campaign created by advertising agency, Clemenger BBDO and Proximity.
Awards included: • Not-for-profit category winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Effectiveness Award. • Overall winner; Australian Direct Marketing Association’s Lester Wunderman Effectiveness Award. • Silver winner; John Caples International Awards for Consumer Campaign/ Integrated Campaign. In commending the Society’s Winter Appeal, the John Caples International Awards stated: “Social services groups struggle with how to tell the stories of the people they help, while making them seem real enough so others will donate. Putting disposable cameras into the hands
of those actually living in poverty so they could document what it’s like for others was simple genius”. We would like to congratulate and thank all those involved for their contribution, which helped to raise funds of approximately $4.7 million across Australia and raise awareness of the experience of homelessness. ■