http://vinnies.org.au/files/NAT/AnnualReports/SVDPNAR2008-web

who is my neighbour? annual report 2008

The Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Beginnings

5

About us

6

National President's report

7

Chief Executive Officer's report

8-9

Who is my neighbour?

Prisoners returning to our community 10-11 The disadvantaged and marginalised 12-15 People with disabilities and illnesses 16-18 The homeless

19-21

Migrants and refugees

22

The global community

23

Income statement

24

Balance sheet

25

Cash flow statement

26

Auditor's report

27

This logo represents the hand of Christ that blesses the cup, the hand of love that offers the cup, and the hand of suffering that receives the cup.

National Council Office: PO Box 243, Deakin West, ACT 2600 Phone: 02 6202 1200 Fax: 02 6285 0159 Email: admin@svdpnatcl.org.au Editorial Committee: Syd Tutton, Dr John Falzon, Ramesh Weereratne, Rebecca Comini Edited and designed: Catholic Communications Melbourne Printing: Doran Printing

who is my neighbour?

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, protect the rights of those who are helpless.

Speak out and pronounce a sentence of justice, defend the cause of the wretched

and the poor.

Proverbs 31:8-9

BEGINNINGS

St Vincent de Paul Patron

Bl Frederic Ozanam Founder

Fr Gerald Ward Australian Founder

Vincent de Paul was born in the small southern French town of Pouy (later renamed St Vincent de Paul in his honour) on 24 April 1581 and ordained as a priest in 1600 at the age of 19.

Frederic Ozanam was born in French-occupied Milan on 23 April 1813. He was the fifth of 14 children.

Gerald Ward was born in London 1806 and arrived in Australia on 7 September 1850 after being recruited to work in the Melbourne mission by the pioneer priest Fr Patrick Geoghegan.

As a young man he ministered to the wealthy and powerful.

However an appointment as chaplain to a poor parish, and to galley prisoners, inspired him to a vocation of working with those most marginalised and powerless.

Vincent urged his followers to bring God’s justice and love to people who were unable to live a full human life: “Deal with the most urgent needs.

Organise charity so that it is more efficient…teach reading and writing, educate with the aim of giving each the means of self-support. Intervene with authorities to obtain reforms in structure…there is no charity without justice.”

Vincent de Paul died in Paris on 27 September 1660 at the age of 79.

He was canonised on 16 June 1737 and in 1883, the Church designated him as the special patron of all charitable associations.

The Society was named after St Vincent de Paul and follows his teachings and compassion for people in need. St Vincent de Paul is the international patron of the Society.

In Paris 1833 at the age of just 20, Frederic established the St Vincent de Paul Society. At this time, the people of France were experiencing tremendous political and social upheaval: changes of government, the Industrial Revolution and unjust employment practices.

Ozanam gathered some colleagues and began to respond in practical ways to the poverty and hardship he saw in the lives of people around him. They visited people in their homes and offered friendship and support. This practice, known today as ‘home visitation’, remains a core activity for St Vincent de Paul Society members and volunteers.

The group formed by Ozanam and his friends later became known as the first ‘conference’ of the St Vincent de Paul Society. They met together regularly as a group for prayer and mutual support, to learn and to share ideas about how they could best assist others.

Frederic Ozanam died on 8 September 1853 at the age of 40.

He was beatified in Paris by Pope John Paul II on 22 August 1997.

The first conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia met in Melbourne at St Francis’ Church on 5 March 1854. The first president was Fr Gerald Ward.

Fr Ward was later to suggest that the main reason why the conference was founded was for “the protection of male and female orphans.” With the discovery of gold in 1851 and the rush to the goldfields of central Victoria, the population doubled and homeless, deserted children roamed the streets.

Fr Ward and the new St Vincent de Paul conference responded to this acute problem by establishing the St Vincent de Paul orphanage in South Melbourne. The foundation stone was laid in 1855 and the first children were accepted in 1857.

In 1855, in a submission to the government of the day, Fr Ward stated that the new conference aimed at “the relief of the destitute, in a manner as much as possible permanently beneficial and the visitation of poor families.”

Gerald Ward died on 14 January 1858 aged 52. A newspaper noted that “he was one in whom many a widow and orphan had found a good friend.” His enduring legacy is founded in such friendship.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

5

N ational co u ncil an d staff

National Council

VINNIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA

CONFERENCES

Syd Tutton

President

Canberra/Goulburn

50

Tony Muir

Vice President

NSW

448

Danusia Kaska

Vice President

NT

6

Alicia Luchetti

Vice President

QLD

215

Evan Brett

Canberra-Goulburn Central Council President

SA

62

Barbara Ryan

NSW President

TAS

26

Margaret Lambert

NT President

VIC

305

John Campbell

QLD President

WA

74

John D’Souza

SA President

Peter Lyall

TAS President

Jim Grealish

VIC President

Clement Astruc

WA President

Anthony Thornton

Secretary to Council

Raymond James Teresa Wilson

MEMBERS Canberra/Goulburn

705

NSW

7667

NT

197

Treasurer

QLD

2640

Young Adults Representative

SA

555

Cath O’Loughlin

Minutes Secretary

TAS

348

Fr Greg Cooney

Spiritual Advisor

VIC

4769

Dr John Falzon

Chief Executive Officer

WA

871

The Council meets three times yearly at the National Office, Canberra.

VOLUNTEERS

Staff Personnel

Canberra/Goulburn

860

Jonathan Campton

Research Officer

NSW

12,535

Donna Scheerlinck

PA to President and CEO

NT

140

Amanda Hobson

Administration

QLD

4776

Kim Watson

Administration

SA

1002

TAS

1200

VIC

5856

WA

1480

Volunteer Personnel Michael Moran

Archivist

CENTRES Canberra/Goulburn

25

NSW

250

NT

5

QLD

132

SA

38

TAS

33

VIC

99

WA

42

Note: Membership statistics include both Conference members and auxiliary members.

6

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

N AT I O N A L P R E S I D E N T ’ S R E P O R T

Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.

It is the protection of a fundamental right to dignity and a decent life.

Nelson Mandela

Our world is wracked by the persistence of brutal wars, the reality of climate change and now, of course, the global financial crisis.

We, in the St Vincent de Paul Society, are no strangers to times of crisis and human need. Indeed, our organisation was ushered into the world at a time of crisis, turmoil and destitution. Such was the scene in Paris at the time of our founding by Blessed Frederic and his young companions.

The world is never static. We live in a time of great flux, with winners and losers.

We are entering a period in which humanity is being given the opportunity to re-think what it means to be a human society. We are being challenged to re-think what it means to build a society based on the common good. We are being challenged to think differently about the purpose of prosperity and the value of people.

A time of crisis is also a time of change.

The massive change is just as certain as the crisis. Rather than being overtaken by change, let’s be part of the change we dream of.

I believe that the St Vincent de Paul Society, as a global network of justice, compassion and hope, is uniquely positioned to play a key role around the world as an agent for transformation.

As the Prophet Amos put it so powerfully: “Let justice roll down like a river, and right-doing like an ever-flowing stream.”

In Australia we have embarked on the journey of ‘re-founding’, whereby we seek to go back to our roots in order to re-create that youthful zeal for the mission that compelled our founders to act so decisively.

When Frederic Ozanam and his young companions founded the Society the government was all but completely absent from the field of social policy and protection of the poor.

To advocate for social justice was seen by both church and state as being utterly radical.The early Society was seen as aligning itself to the so called “dangerous classes”.

The world is a very different place today. But no matter how prosperous we have become, the scandal of marginalisation persists. The Society continues to stand on the side of the “dangerous classes”.

In responding to the poor, we encompass a wider definition than destitution alone. There are many people who, although they don’t see themselves as poor, are nevertheless anxious, bitter, lonely, tired and sad.

This is a different kind of poverty, highlighting the fact that social justice is not exclusively a matter of economics.

We must focus on doing what we can for the most marginalised but we cannot stop at sentiment. We must go on to act. This means that we cannot seek the spiritual solely, but we must embody our commitment in concrete reality – in people and real events.

We are a Society of love – but if you take justice away, you destroy love.

You do not have love if the beloved is not seen as a person whose dignity must be respected.

In our work we are unique in that we provide material assistance to people in their homes, but we must strive to be agents of change in our society, not merely resisting unjust structures but actively undertaking to reform them.

In the words of Nelson Mandela: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice. It is the protection of a fundamental right to dignity and a decent life.”

Syd Tutton National President

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

7

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

Let me share with you a story from the Uraguayan writer Eduardo Galeano. It is a simple story about the experience of being left out:

Many lower-income Australians are feeling right now like that little boy.

“Tell someone,” they whisper, “tell someone we’re here.”

“Search for justice Stop the oppressor, help the oppressed; Do justice to the orphan, Plead for the widow.” (Is 1: 12-17)

“Fernando Silva ran the children’s hospital in Managua. On Christmas Eve, he worked late into the night. Firecrackers were exploding and fireworks lit up the sky when Fernando decided it was time to leave. They were expecting him at home to celebrate the holiday.

They are made to feel utterly invisible.

The St Vincent de Paul Society has a unique story to tell. It is the story of our sisters and brothers who are effectively rendered voiceless by their exclusion and poverty. We have a sacred duty to tell the stories that are entrusted into our hands by the people we are with.

More importantly still, we have a duty to create spaces in which people are empowered to tell their own stories.

He took one last look around, checking to see that everything was in order, when he heard cottony footsteps behind him. He turned to find one of the sick children walking after him. In the half light he recognised the lonely, doomed child. Fernando recognised that face lined with death and those eyes asking for forgiveness, or perhaps permission.

Fernando walked over to him and the boy gave him his hand.

‘Tell someone,..’ the child whispered.

‘Tell someone I’m here’.”

The people who are pushed to the margins of society are, in many ways, forgotten like this boy. Left out of the party and feeling guilty for having been left out; they are convinced that their poverty must be their fault.

This little boy is here, in the midst of our prosperous nation. The forgotten ones, the excluded ones, are right here, where it hurts.

8

Why is there a St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia? Because the poor and marginalised of this country cry out for justice.

Pride of place, in this Annual Report, goes to our Mission Statement. All that we do flows from, and gives expression to, this statement of our mission in the world. This Mission Statement, however, finds its roots in the actions of our founder Frederic Ozanam and his young companions. Going back even further we find our roots in the mission statement of Christ, which in turn drew upon the teachings of the Hebrew Prophets: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to bring liberation to those who are oppressed…” (Luke 4:18) The St Vincent de Paul Society brings both a distinctive tradition and a practice of social innovation to this historical movement of hope and liberation. We see the social justice imperatives of the scriptures to be uncompromising in their call to action:

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

I would like to take you back a little to the 2004 Senate Inquiry into poverty and financial hardship. This process provided Australia with evidence that another kind of world is not only possible but absolutely essential. It provided a space in which people experiencing exclusion could tell their own stories. One lady shared the following powerful words at this inquiry: “Like millions of other low-income Australians, I am one of the hidden poor, just keeping afloat. We are flat out treading water out here. We are making very little headway towards our aspirations, and we are one crisis or catastrophe away from the poor box.

We are living on the edge.

If poverty is seen as a result of structural inequality within society, any serious attempt to eliminate poverty must seek to change those conditions which produce it.

“We live in the shadows of the dismal statistics. We are not mad, bad, sad or totally dysfunctionally overwhelmed by our life circumstances. Many of us are highly skilled and well educated. We are all doing what we can to contribute to society with the resources we have. Our poverty is poverty of resources, services, opportunities... it is getting too hard to make ends meet, let alone work towards our dreams.”

Going back even further, the 1975 Commission of Inquiry into Poverty noted that: “If poverty is seen as a result of structural inequality within society, any serious attempt to eliminate poverty must seek to change those conditions which produce it.”

I am delighted to present our Annual Report to you, with profound gratitude for your support and your companionship on our journey of justice and compassion. You will find in the pages that follow an exciting diversity of good works. These are our contemporary attempts to change the conditions which produce inequality and poverty. These are our ways of standing with our marginalised sisters and brothers. I pay tribute to the courage and love of Vincentians across Australia and all those in our National Council and our State and Territory Councils who support them in their mission.

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO POVERTY, 1975

I would like to conclude by paying tribute to the courage and love of the people we assist. Their stories are amazing sources of hope at the same time as being relentless critiques of the structures of inequality and exclusion.

The greatest power for progressive social change lies precisely with the excluded. The people who can best define and interpret the reality of exclusion are also the only ones who can, in the end, determine the means towards, and the ends of, social inclusion.

As the poet Brecht put it so well, “the compassion of the oppressed for the oppressed is indispensable. It is the world’s one hope.”

Dr John Falzon CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

9

who is my neighbour? prisoners returning to our community

T he P ost Release O ptions P r oject

As Bethlehem House is the only men’s homeless shelter in Southern Tasmania, it follows that many men exiting the prison system who have no accommodation present on our doorstep.

With this in mind, and with the assistance of funding from the ANZ Trustees, a project was carried out during 2006. The project involved Bethlehem House conducting research in partnership with the University Of Tasmania’s Criminological Research Unit, headed up by Professor Rob White. The object was to assess current levels of service provision for these men by conducting a state-wide audit and then looking at ways of better coordinating and delivering those services.

One initiative which led from this project was a funding application

by Bethlehem House to the Federal Attorney General’s National Community Crime Prevention Program (NCCPP) to fund a program which would provide prerelease intervention and post release support for prisoners. Despite being unsuccessful, the bid gained positive feedback from the funding body and they encouraged us to re-apply.

The second application was successful and has led to the Post Release Options Project (PROP) – retaining the identity of the pilot that led to its inception. In its first year, the program has already shown some positive results. One of the unexpected outcomes of this program has been the interest it has generated.

We have presented at three conferences and have been instrumental in fostering closer working relationships within the sector.

Left to right: Hon. Duncan Kerr, (MP Denison); Pat Burton, Project Manager PROP and Steve Graham, representing Tasmania Prison Service. This photo was taken at Bethlehem House following the announcement of our seccessful bid for funding from the National Community Crime Prevention Program. This program is an initiative of the Australian Government.

10 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

The main objective of PROP is to engage with prisoners who have been assessed as being at high risk of reoffending and are ready to work with us to address their offending behaviour.

The program is voluntary and relies on an approach that is very much driven by their motivation to change.

A very deliberate focus of the PROP policy and its developing practice model, is the focus on significant others. It has been estimated that whenever a person is sentenced to a period of incarceration, more than two significant others (generally family members) are directly disadvantaged in some way. To address this, much of our case management involves making contact with the families of our clients during the period (up to three months) of pre-release intervention. To date, the outcomes have been twofold. Firstly; we have been able to identify prosocial and supportive family members who are willing to work with us in the transition stage of the program; secondly, we have been able to identify and assist those who are struggling with a variety of issues by referring them to other support services or simply by providing them with the opportunity to talk to someone in a supportive way about how the process of incarceration of their loved one has impacted on them.

The compassion of the oppressed for the oppressed is indispensable. It is the world’s one hope.

Bertolt Brecht

PROP is a three-year project and is subject to an ‘ongoing evaluation’ by the Criminological Research Unit of the University of Tasmania. We are confident of a positive mid-term evaluation at the end of the second year which will give us the impetus to seek recurrent funding during the final year to enable our commitment – to provide ongoing services to exprisoners – to be realised.

Based on current expenditure by Tasmania Prison Service of over $80,000 per year to contain one inmate, PROP only needs to succeed with three clients per year (that is to maintain their offence-free status) to be cost effective.

This does not even take into account the reduced collateral damage and associated costs to our communities of offending; for example the pain and suffering to victims, police resources, court and legal costs and insurance claims.

Parolees Many prisoners have the opportunity to complete the final part of their sentences, under supervision in the community. This is termed being released on parole. While there are many advantages to parole as a sentencing option (apart from the obvious savings to the state funded corrective services -$222 per day in prison compared to around $10 per day under Community Corrections supervision), many inmates are not

eligible or do not bother to apply as they have no accommodation – which is the main parolee eligibility criteria.

Bethlehem House recognised this in late 2006 and wrote to the parole board offering to assist those who are unnecessarily incarcerated simply as they could not access suitable accommodation. While we could only offer limited accommodation at the house, we were able to assist a number of men.

What was needed was a number of dedicated units in the community to enable us to accommodate and case manage these men, in collaboration with Community Corrections, to enable their successful transition to the community with less likelihood of re-offending.

In early November 2007, as a result of the recognised need to provide accommodation and support to parolees, a submission was presented to the State Government, which was supported by the Department of Justice, various non-government organisations and the opposition political parties, as well as our federal member. After much representation to government, including Treasury and the Premier’s department, our submission was formally rejected in March 2008. Late in June 2008, quite unexpectedly, we received advice from the government that they had reconsidered and approved our funding application.

This will provide us with a fulltime case manager, a motor vehicle and a commitment by the Housing Department to make available four units in the Hobart area to enable us to commence the program. There will also be the possibility of a further two units at a future date.

Our work with families has highlighted a very concerning dynamic among the families with whom we work – the trauma suffered by the children of prisoners. Recently this was reinforced when we met with the principal of a state primary school.

He identified eight pupils in his school who were struggling.

While we recognise the importance of service provision to many disadvantaged people in the sector, it is those who are prepared to embark on an offence-free life after paying their debt to society who are heavily discriminated against. Ultimately, with a moderation of societies’ punitive attitudes, these people – and their families and supporters – should be able to access mainstream services without prejudice. However in the meantime, we must afford them specialised services with the same commitment and zeal as we would offer others who cross our path as we move and work among the needy.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 11

who is my neighbour? the disadvantaged and marginalised

ADVOCACY

The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of Australia is heavily involved in advocacy campaigns around issues affecting marginalised people. The issues we have pursued include: oral health, welfare reform (including payment suspension and the injustices stemming from income management and welfare quarantining), housing justice, homelessness, refugee rights, the impacts of a carbon emissions trading scheme on low-income households, the political enfranchisement of excluded Australians, the Australia Fair Campaign, the need for a national anti-poverty strategy and the call for a social inclusion agenda to combat the structural causes of poverty.

To this end we have produced submissions, and often presented evidence, to a host of Inquiries including: the Senate Community Affairs Committee’s inquiry into cost of living pressures on older Australians, the National Youth Commission on Homelessness, the Inquiry into Australian Citizenship Amendment (Citizenship Testing) Bill 2007, the Access Card Consultation, the Senate Inquiry on Bank Penalty Fees and the Consultation on the Carbon Emissions Trading Scheme. Our National Researcher, Jonathan Campton, has played a pivotal role in ensuring the Society’s representation in these Inquiries.

Mr Campton continues to represent the Society in a major research project with the Australian Catholic University on the social inclusion outcomes of the Clemente Program, a program that delivers University level education in the humanities to marginalised people.

He also co-presented a paper at the National Homelessness Conference in Adelaide in May 2008. Entitled Welfare to Work, Centrelink and Homelessness, the paper told the stories of 10 men experiencing homelessness and unemployment.

National Council has also been extremely fortunate to be advised and, at times, represented by Victorian State Council Researcher, Mr Gavin Dufty, particularly in the areas of utilities pricing, climate change policies, relative price indices, emergency relief funding and welfare reform, as well as Mr John Wicks, a highly regarded economist and a member of the Society in Canberra.

In partnership with the University of Tasmania, the first National St Vincent de Paul Society seminar in Canberra was hosted by National Council in April 2008. Associate Professor Rowland Atkinson presented research findings on how public policy can be shaped by an irrational fear of low income Australians.

12 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

We have produced over 30 speeches, reports, papers and articles on issues ranging from the apology to the Stolen Generations to the social exclusion of older Australians. We have spoken in contexts as varied as the Jobs Australia National Conference in Adelaide or the ACOSS Congress in Melbourne to Politics in the Pub in Sydney and Spirituality in the Pub in Hobart.

National Council has engaged in all public policy debates where there has been a clear impact on the lives of our marginalised sisters and brothers, issuing media releases on key issues and participating in 79 radio interviews, 41 TV interviews, 72 print interviews and regular meetings with Ministers, Advisers and other Members of Parliament.

In some ways all roads lead to the realisation of genuine social inclusion in Australia. The language of social inclusion comes to us originally from France and was embedded in a number of European policy frameworks, including the UK and Ireland. Now it is being introduced to Australia. This is a welcome move; one that we have advocated for over the last seven years.

We must, however, be vigilant in ensuring that we engage in a process that goes much deeper than mere window-dressing and that concrete poverty reduction targets are set and met.

SOCIAL JUSTICE RESEARCH

National Council received key recognition of its role in promoting this agenda with the appointment of its CEO, Dr John Falzon, to the inaugural Australian Social Inclusion Board, which held its first meeting on 21 May 2008 in Broadmeadows, Victoria, an area of concentrated disadvantage. This is the first time in a long time that the Society has been officially invited to contribute advice to the Commonwealth Government on an ongoing basis via an institutional framework.

Dr Falzon was also invited to participate in the Social Inclusion stream at the 2020 Summit. The idea about Community Hubs that he proposed there gained a great deal of traction and was referred to positively in the Prime Minister’s summing-up.

Dr Falzon also continues to represent National Council as a member of the ACOSS Board of Directors.

The Society’s members are called on to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’.

A renewed commitment to social justice saw the appointment of a Social Researcher, Dr Andy Marks, to the NSW State Council.

The first major release was the report, Residents at Risk. This in-depth study examined the predicament of disadvantaged residents of caravan parks across select urban and rural areas of NSW. Based substantially on the observations and stories of St Vincent de Paul Society members throughout the state, and drawing the most recent quantitative data, the report confirmed that the ongoing housing crisis is forcing increasing numbers of people into ‘last resort’ or marginal forms of housing like caravan parks.

Availability and cost issues are exacerbated by a range of alarming social, health and economic related issues. For instance, the rate of violence, drug abuse, sexual assault and family breakdown is far higher in caravan parks than in the general community.

In addition to outlining the scope of the problems in caravan parks, the report also examines a range of programs directed by the St Vincent de Paul Society that are having a positive effect on the lives of many residents. The study closes with a series of recommendations to government and the social services sector, most notably urging that greater resources be directed towards gauging the extent of the crisis in order to devise more impacting and sustainable forms of assistance.

Heightened demand, even for this most basic form of accommodation, has prompted many caravan park operators to drastically increase rent on their sites. The report detailed how average takings per caravan park in the Sydney region alone rose from $143,071 in the June quarter 2006, to $256,320 in the corresponding 2007 quarter. This problem is compounded by the rate of park closures across the state, which, in the past seven years has declined from 164 establishments to 74.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 13

CLEMENTE PROGRAM

Clemente provides disadvantaged Australians with access to tertiary level education through a partnership between the St Vincent de Paul Society and Australian Catholic University. Clemente is based on the idea that the study of the humanities helps people re-engage with their community and better understand the world around them. Classes are free.

Andrew, aged 43, is a recovered drug addict in his third semester of the program. Despite overcoming his addiction, a police record impedes his efforts to obtain employment.

“Being unemployed is soul destroying,” he says. “You can’t support your children, you depend on charity, your self confidence is eroded.

Clemente is ideal for me. There are no costs whatsoever, and the staff are very supportive.”

Andrew will graduate in June with a Certificate in Liberal Studies and hopes to find full-time employment. “My certificate will be more than just a simple educational qualification,” says Andrew, “it also confirms my stability, my determination and my commitment.”

Andrew has now completed units on Aboriginal history, computing communications, and arts and drama. Through connections made at Clemente he has obtained temporary work tutoring senior citizens in internet usage and volunteers in the St Vincent de Paul office in Canberra-Goulburn.

Clemente students find the program gives their lives structure and provides social connectedness. They benefit from the use of the library and computer labs at ACU. More importantly they are turning their lives around and finding new depths to their intellect and imaginations.

Services. The largest facility of its kind in Australia, the Ozanam Learning Centre will utilise learning and recreation programs to empower and equip homeless persons to successfully navigate the challenging transition back to sustainable independent living.

across services statewide have been evident, prompting the Society’s decision to consolidate this approach with a highly resourced, adaptive and centralised centre for excellence in education and recreation provision.

OZANAM LEARNING CENTRE

opened by the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in November 2008, the Ozanam Learning Centre is the first substantial development made possible by the 2007 sale of the Society Aged Care Services in NSW to Catholic Healthcare. The St Vincent de Paul Society’s decision to transfer Aged Care Services was undertaken so that vital resources could be refocused on a growing area of need, that of the homeless.

The Ozanam Learning Centre is a breakthrough in innovative service to the 37 homeless hostels, refuges and Outreach services the St Vincent de Paul Society currently operates throughout NSW and the ACT under the umbrella Matthew Talbot Homeless

The Ozanam Learning Centre is premised by years of best practice in the area of homeless services, epitomised by the Mathew Talbot Hostel, which has been a leading provider of care to homeless men in the Sydney inner-city for 70 years. Through this experience, the Society understands that services must grow and renew if they are to address the increasing complexity of the ongoing social crisis of homelessness.

The benefits of learning and recreation

14 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Programs at the Ozanam Learning Centre have been designed to build confidence, facilitate self-expression and instill hope, but, importantly, they help clients become aware of their abilities, cope with everyday life, and work towards independent living.

To coincide with the launch of the Ozanam Learning Centre, the Society in NSW released a supporting research paper, ‘Life Lessons – education and recreation as paths out of homelessness’.

vinnies yo u th ca m ps

Mark is 11 years old and lives with his Granddad. His brother Shaun lives with his Mum. Shaun is seven years old and has lived four years longer than doctors ever said he would.

Shaun has cerebral palsy, osteoporosis, and arthritis. Six months ago Shaun was diagnosed with a brain tumour and is currently on cancer treatment – he has been given four months to live.

Mark tells his Mum and Granddad not to listen to the doctors because they don’t know how strong Shaun is. Mark’s Mum is a full-time, around the clock carer for Shaun. Mark visits them on the weekend with his Granddad, who is 77 years of age and has a few health problems of his own.

Mark’s Granddad rang Ozanam House after receiving a camp form in the mail following a referral during a home visit. He said the form was the best mail he had received in weeks as it wasn’t a bill. Shaun’s medical costs have

been astronomical and the pension Shaun’s mum gets as a full-time carer isn’t enough. After sharing the family’s story with Vinnies Youth staff, Mark’s Granddad broke down in tears – it was the first time he didn’t have to be strong. The chat gave him a chance to talk about how he was feeling. Mark’s Granddad begged for Mark to have a place on the upcoming kids’ camp so he could get the rest needed to stay strong for his daughter and grandsons.

Vinnies Youth Camps provide much needed support to many families who are struggling. Just like Mark’s grandfather, many families the Society visits are facing hardship through the impact of family illness, breakdown and/or financial hardship.

The opportunity for their children and grandchildren to go to a Youth Camp provides long lasting benefits to both the children and the parents and grandparents.

It provides much needed respite for parents and grandparents to deal with issues facing their family or like Mark’s Granddad provides time for them to physically and mentally recoup from the responsibilities they endure.

For children like Mark opportunities to be carefree kids are few and far between, they have burdens and responsibilities in life that far outweigh their young age. On Vinnies Youth Camps they can be a child, laugh and leave the burdens of family life at home for a few days or even a few hours.

Vinnies Youth are dedicated young people who coordinate programs and activities for kids like Mark adding happiness, laughter and joy to their lives. Vinnies Youth Camps for disadvantaged children (8-12 years old) and teens (13-16 years old) are held over school holidays. The Vinnies Youth Camp program includes outdoor sports, games, arts and crafts and the development of basic life skills.

All while encouraging kids self confidence to realise their potential to achieve anything.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 15

who is my neighbour? people with disabilities and illnesses

V incent I n d u st r ies

Ma r illac H o u se

Vincent Industries in Wynyard, Tasmania, provides supported employment for people with a disability.

Late last year Marillac House in Launceston opened its doors as an accommodation facility for hospital day patients and their families or carers. This state initiative has not only provided a vehicle for carrying out our Vincentian work but has also united the state community.

During the year Vincent Industries offered vocational training to 18 people who obtained Certificate I and II in Textiles, with a further 12 working toward competency. Nine people have completed Certificate I and II in Business with a current crew of nine working towards competency.

Those that have already received their certificates are extremely proud to have obtained recognition for their efforts.

Vincent Industries and Tastex Knitwear, also located in southern Tasmania, continue to provide meaningful employment for over 40 people with disabilities.

16 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

At the opening and blessing of Marillac House it was noted by Senator Helen Polley that this beautiful Victorian building would benefit from some art to adorn the walls and she has initiated The Annual Marillac House Art Award for local high schools. The message that will be portrayed in these contributions will be one of hope. Marillac House has received much support from the local community, and especially from youth Conferences within secondary schools.

VINCENTIAN VILLAGE

Left: The unveiling of the plaque by Minister Michelle Roberts and Myles Courtney.

Below: Myles Courtney in his unit reading a book.

February 2008 saw the unveiling of Vincentian Village, a nationally unique model of care that provides support with dignity to men who are homeless and/or have a mental illness. Western Australia has seen an increase in individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health problems, and the Society is delighted that this long awaited project has come to fruition to meet this ever-increasing need.

This state-of-the-art complex of 28 self contained , one bedroom, one bathroom, fully furnished units is located in the eastern suburbs of Perth, close to public transport, shops, health and community services. Residents have access to a communal laundry, dining room, games room and outdoor dining areas. A caretaker’s residence and the Vincentcare administration are co-located on the same site.

It provides medium to long term accommodation for males, assisting them through an intensive rehabilitation and recovery program to reintegrate them back into the wider community.

In the last 12 months, 16% of Vincentcare clients have achieved a level of recovery that has allowed them to successfully move back into the community and re-engage in meaningful activity and employment: evidence that this model of supported accommodation works.

Vincentian Village as well as the other Vincentcare accommodation available continues to be a vital Special Work of the St Vincent de Paul Society in Western Australia, giving hope and a future to vulnerable and often forgotten individuals within our society.

Vincentian Village is a joint venture of the St Vincent de Paul Society WA and the Department of Housing and Works, with the support of Lotterywest, and many other benefactors.

If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time.

But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.

Lilla Watson ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 17

In the main, people are poor not because they are lazy or lacking in ability or because they are unlucky.

They are poor because of the way society,

including its economic system, is organised.

Australian Bishops’ 1996 Social Justice Statement COMPEER

Compeer, a St Vincent de Paul Society initiative supporting those affected by mental illness, has experienced considerable growth since its South Australian inception in late 2007. It was first developed in the USA and has since been operating for more than 14 years with distinction in NSW and Victoria.

Mental illness is estimated to cost the Australian economy $13.1 billion each year, with depression and anxiety now accounting for 47% of the community’s absenteeism and reduced productivity.

By 2020, depression is projected to reach second place as a global contributor to diseases.

Eighteen volunteers have now been matched and we have recently commenced a walking and cooking group to further develop the sense of community. All those involved in the program have a deep commitment to each other and friendships are continuing to flourish.

Volunteers are supported throughout their involvement in this program, with initial training around mental health, ongoing training in areas such as suicide awareness and one-on-one contact with the Compeer St Vincent de Paul Society staff members.

Dr Paul White heads the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Mental Health Advisory Committee in SA, with all members providing invaluable support and direction for this program.

18 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Compeer expansion has been made possible through our partnerships with the Southern Mental Health Service and the Southern Division of General Practice.

Its success would not be possible without generous donations from our benefactors; it enables the development work to be supported and sustained by paid professional staff. We thank them all for their commitment of time, energy and resources to establish this important initiative.

who is my neighbour? the homeless

Y o u ng P a r ent ’ s P lace

FA M I L I E S B A C K O N T R A C K

The extent of the problem of homelessness facing St Vincent de Paul Society in Queensland is unique.

Although Queensland has 20% of Australia’s population, it has 25% of Australia’s homeless population.

That means that while providing our many other programs and services, Queensland must find new ways of responding to a disproportionate share of these serious and complex human needs.

But that is not the whole picture of the homelessness and housing stress crisis.

During 2007-08 the Society distributed $6.5 million in financial assistance to those in crisis, representing a 16% increase since the year before. This financial and material assistance, delivered locally in response to demonstrated need, helped to keep people in their homes and together as families – thus preventing more homelessness and distress.

True to our mission, the St Vincent de Paul Society strives to give a hand up, not just a hand out.

New and innovative responses to the homelessness and housing crisis have been developed such as the Families Back on Track (FBOT) project on the Gold Coast.

Fundraising continues for the project, which will offer 27 units of supportive housing development for single parents and their children.

Gold Coast City Council building and development approvals have been received and construction will start shortly. The State Government has agreed a financial contribution of $3 million for the project.

Families Back on Track is just one of the innovative responses to the housing crisis in Queensland and other local parish-based projects have been developed and more are planned.

The Young Parent’s Place (also known as Ken Sandoe House after the founder of Lion’s Youth Haven) is a project of St Vincent De Paul Family Services in the ACT. It aims to support parents under the age of 25 that are at risk of, or currently experiencing, homelessness.

The project provides supported accommodation for up to three families at a quiet rural property at the Lion’s Youth Haven on Kambah Pool Road.

Families are visited several times a week by support workers who provide them with, among many other things including case management, emotional support, budget work, assistance in finding longer term housing, and a special focus on the wellbeing and development of the children.

The Young Parent’s Place follows the Family Services ethos to ‘encourage families to take control of their destinies’, working strongly from what the hopes and dreams of the families are, and supporting them to achieve them.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 19

FREDERIC OZANAM H O U S I N G A S S O C I AT I O N

The Frederic Ozanam Housing Association was established in South Australia to provide affordable housing for people in need who do not have the means to purchase their own home or to rent in private rental market.

Over the years this has enabled tenants to live with dignity in secure, affordable and properly maintained housing.

Need continues to grow in our community as the affordability of housing for purchase and rent becomes excessively expensive and out of reach for many.

Over the past two years the community housing sector in South Australia has undergone a number of significant changes; this will continue over the next few years. One of those changes includes the reduction of public housing by 8,000 dwellings by 2013.

To offset these reductions, the State Government has created the SA Affordable Housing Trust whose purpose is to facilitate partnerships between the private, non-government and State and Federal Governments for the provision of affordable housing for people in need.

the State Government to provide long term accommodation for people in need.

The aim is to grow to 500 properties over the next five years from the existing 95 properties.

It is the Association’s goal to develop a number of partnerships with property developers, the Adelaide Archdiocese, Port Pirie Diocese and

The Association also achieved a Certificate Level for the internationally accredited Service Excellence Program, which relates to governance and service standards.

Traditionally, assessment for offering programs was made on the basis of visible outcomes such as accommodation or job skills. At Ozanam this has now been modified to include less visible outcomes such as offering programs that are designed purely with a recreational, artistic or spiritual focus. Some of the clients commit to case management; others do not, yet they are still free to sit in the air-conditioned facility and read a magazine, or just to sit and be comfortable and talk about what is happening in their life. The staff and volunteers at Ozanam offer both hands: the hand of friendship and the hand of help. The choice belongs to each person as to which hand is taken.

Today Ozanam House is Darwin’s premier homeless drop-in facility. It is still in an old building but it is bright, welcoming and safe. Service provision is split between programs that help the community, programs for personal improvement and programs for purely recreational or spiritual reasons.

Ozanam House is a safe haven from the violence of the streets. Many drop in for the meals but just as many come in for the company of others. There is always someone to listen, to help out and to advocate for them. Emotional support is given as freely as practical support.

To assist the Association with its goals, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Adelaide Archdiocese, making the Association its preferred community housing provider. This very exciting development was a highlight for 2008 and will hopefully present the Association and the Archdiocese with many opportunities to develop and grow our mission.

OZANAM HOUSE

Two years ago the service at the Northern Territory’s Ozanam House revolved around the provision of meals. Some local residents felt we were “feeding the animals” and there was a perception that all the anti-social behaviour in the area was connected to our service. Crisis situations were the norm and it became clear that we were no more than a ‘free feed’ service.

At that time Ozanam provided over 100 meals a day to an evenly split Indigenous and non-Indigenous, mostly male, clientele. There was little knowledge about who these people were or why they were at Ozanam.

Fortunately the Society has attracted some great, capable and compassionate staff who had a vision of what they wanted to achieve and were prepared to make changes. Vincentcare provided the support that was needed to implement the vision. Through consultations with individuals and focus groups, the staff realised that the people using the service craved human contact and a wanted place in society over a free hand out. A clear imperative was to make the meals a smaller (though no less important) part of the service. The priority then shifted, whereby case management and the provision of programs became more important than the provision of food.

20 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

We believe that homelessness cannot be solved unless we connect the homeless to the community and the society in a meaningful way. That community starts for many at Ozanam House.

Happy are you who hunger and thirst for justice, you shall be satisfied.

The Beatitudes

Matthew T albot S o u p V an

Russell Smith has been a volunteer with the Matthew Talbot Soup Van in Fitzroy for seven years.

Russell Smith, Vannie and frontman for The Brolga Boys, one of the Australian acts featured at the Vinnies Next Generation Concert.

“I set aside every Wednesday night to lead the team of soup van volunteers as coordinator. The Vannies are a group of willing volunteers made up primarily of secondary school and university students who join us in preparing the food and visiting boarding houses in North Melbourne, Fitzroy and the inner city area,” said Russell.

“It is wonderful to see these young people giving their time and energy to make sure that people in need have a good meal and some companionship.

With the nights so cold, it is sometimes hard to turn up and get into action.

Then I remember the faces of the people we go to visit and any hesitation disappears. I think our greatest gift is friendship. The people we visit look forward to good food but most of all they enjoy being with us even if only for a short time.”

Vannies experiences are wide ranging.

Here is just one story.

“One Wednesday night our small group was visiting one of the boarding houses in Fitzroy. We knocked gently on the door of one of the rooms where we knew George would be waiting for us but received no answer so we called out his name. He was a great friend and we looked forward to our conversation with him each week. When there was still no answer, two other people in the boarding house told us that George had not been seen for a while. We called a supervisor who opened the door and we discovered that our friend had died peacefully in his sleep. It was a sad time for us all.

“We reflected on George’s life as a group and had the privilege of attending his funeral service as we wanted to say goodbye to our good friend. The people we serve become a part of the St Vincent de Paul Society family. We laugh with them. We share their ups and downs and our lives are richer for having known them.”

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 21

who is my neighbour? migrants and refugees

V oR T C S P r og r a m

S PA R K

The Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Support Program ("VoRTCS") empowers members of the refugee community to take up the educational, social and vocational opportunities available to all Australians.

This year saw the operation of the VoRTCS tutoring program expand to its present numbers of over 950 volunteer tutors providing weekly assistance to 300 refugee families across South-East Queensland.

The VoRTCS Community Development also continues to expand, working hard to fulfil the Society's overall aim of providing a hand up, and not a hand out.

SPARK, an inspiring and innovative volunteer program that aims to bring the school and local community together to provide educational, social and cultural support for refugee children and their families, was launched as a pilot in three primary schools in the Parramatta Diocese in 2006.

Since this time, additional government funding through the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Society’s NSW State Council has seen the program extend to four new schools.

SPARK provides an opportunity for refugee families and the broader community to participate in a program that encourages greater communication and stronger connections.

Through SPARK, the local community will gain a better understanding of the rich cultural heritage of refugees as well as the issues they face as they

22 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

settle into the community. This enhances a sense of school and local community and place importance on building a greater understanding of refugee issues.

Programs run through SPARK include: 1) Bright Sparks, a homework club for children in kindergarten to Year 6, provides academic and general English support for the students.

2) Little Sparks, designed for pre-school children, gives an opportunity to experience and play in a school environment and learn about playing, sharing and rules.

3) The Parents’ Group is a support group comprised of adult volunteers and teachers who provide general English and practical lessons for refugee parents. Information sessions on issues such as nutrition, health and welfare are held each term by other refugee support organisations.

who is my neighbour? the global community

TWINNING

The term 'twinning', as used by the St Vincent de Paul Society, means the pairing of a Conference in one country with a particular Conference in another country. It is the way the St Vincent de Paul Society addresses the greater needs of Conferences in developing countries by providing them with a 'twin' Conference in a developed country.

Through twinning, members support one another spiritually, financially, and through mutual encouragement. Conferences in Australia are twinned with a Conference in a developing country in a spiritual partnership in which the two Conferences agree to: • Pray for the members of their twinned Conference and its work • Keep in contact through correspondence • Share some small material support if it is required.

Conferences appoint a twinning officer who is responsible for ensuring that their twinning relationship is maintained in accordance with the International Twinning Manual.

Twinning is our small contribution to world peace and understanding through cultural exchange among peoples. The twinning approach is all about partnership in development and the global solidarity rather than globalised greed.

Poverty is a vicious cycle. In many Asia Pacific countries, poverty means talented individuals lack opportunities.

The education of a person develops self-esteem and skills and in turn has a positive effect on the whole community. Education is a key to enabling an individual to support themselves, their families and their communities independently in the future.

The Assist a Student program provides the funding for an education scholarship to train and educate a student for one year.

AUSTRALIAN TWINS BY COUNTRY India 1443 Philippines 235 Thailand 106 Bangladesh 26 PNG 10 Cambodia 8 Kiribati 1 Indonesia 290 Pakistan 167 Myanmar 60 Fiji 22 Vanuatu 9 East Timor 1 East Caroline Is. 1 Total Twinning Partnerships: 2379 Twinning Grants: A$606,113.00 A$60 each quarter Twinning Grants increased to A$80 in July 08 Total Grants: Christmas Grants: A$101,395.00 Easter Grants:

A$154,221.00

PROJECTS Country PNG India Philippines Fiji Pakistan Indonesia Thailand Cambodia Total:

Amount Given A$70,391.00 A$105,438.00 A$4,700.00 A$4,378.00 A$63,921.00 A$11,797.00 A$9,194.00 A$1,580.00 A$271,399.00

DISASTER RELIEF Country Bangladesh Fiji PNG – Oro Province India Myanmar Total:

Amount Given A$20,000.00 A$10,000.00 A$5,000.00 A$250.00 A$87,000.00 A$122,250.00

ASSIST A STUDENT Country East Timor India Indonesia Kiribati Myanmar Pakistan Philippines Thailand Total:

Students Sponsored 25 1339 798 32 214 500 599 400 3907

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 23

I N C O M E S TAT E M E N T for the year ended 30 june 2008

Revenue

2008 ($)

2007 ($)

Government grants

55,841,185

50,474,029

Centres of Charity – net income

31,583,553

29,395,047

Client contributions

10,723,101

9,933,125

Fundraising

38,108,149

34,322,199

Other income

16,997,049

14,257,075

Changes in value of investment

(2,010,607)

7,542

151,242,430

138,389,017

3,285,575

55,492,393

18,710,294

19,697,493

5,783,921

5,316,088

24,494,215

25,013,581

130,033,790

168,867,829

People in Need Services

58,087,422

52,278,336

Aged Care Services

18,768,960

18,077,504

Homeless Services

38,045,850

34,638,104

114,902,232

104,993,944

15,131,558

63,873,885

Total revenue from operating activities

Other Income Net gain on sale of property, plant & equipment

Operating Expenses Administration Fundraising Total Operating Expenses Total funds available for client services

Client Services Expenses

Total Client Services Expenses Surplus/(Deficit) for the period

Note: Comparative figures for the year ended 30 June 2007 have been adjusted to allow inclusion of the accounts for an Endowment Fund

which was set up in NSW during that year.

1. The St Vincent de Paul Society, through the operations of its State and Territory entities, considers its property and financial assets as being at the service of disadvantaged Australians. The Society serves as a steward of these resources.

2.

The property assets of the St Vincent de Paul Society provide the means by which services are made constantly available to:  people experiencing homelessness  women and children experiencing domestic violence  people with mental illness  people with disabilities experiencing social barriers  marginalised people who have been denied access to educational opportunities  older Australians  migrants and refugees  young people at risk of long-term disadvantage  members of the First Peoples of Australia who continue to experience marginalisation  all who come to us seeking assistance and advocacy  all members of the community at large who make regular use of our Centres

3. Financial assets are primarily for the provision of assistance to people experiencing exclusion. This assistance is delivered directly as well as through the services and special works of the Society. Many of these works entail ongoing investment in infrastructure as well as the ongoing and future costs of the employment of workers, including provisions for annual and long service leave.

24 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

BALANCE SHEET for the year ended 30 june 2008

CURRENT ASSETS

2008 ($)

2007 ($)

Cash and cash equivalents

138,961,244

113,052,614

Trade and other receivables

26,165,154

30,594,605

Inventories

1,716,226

1,151,275

Financial assets

4,028,911

21,055,167

Other assets

4,095,836

3,969,519

174,967,371

169,823,180

353,685,365

336,359,873

Financial assets

87,680,394

93,320,892

Intangibles

14,511,485

14,514,761

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

455,877,244

444,195,526

TOTAL ASSETS

630,844,615

614,018,706

29,009,859

28,533,929

996,876

847,565

Provisions

13,864,543

12,622,039

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

43,871,278

42,003,533

Trade and other payables

2,888,018

538,836

Interest bearing loans and borrowings

3,696,599

3,274,398

Provisions

4,102,177

3,614,949

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

10,686,794

7,428,183

TOTAL LIABILITIES

54,558,072

49,431,716

576,286,543

564,586,990

200

100

Reserves

109,256,023

115,641,323

Accumulated funds

467,030,320

448,945,567

TOTAL EQUITY

576,286,543

564,586,990

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS Property, plant and equipment

CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables Interest bearing loans and borrowings

Non-CURRENT LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY Contributed equity

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 25

C A S H F LO W S TAT E M E N T for the year ended 30 june 2008

Cash flows From Operating Activities:

2008 ($)

2007 ($)

160,515,061

148,195,601

29,671,758

57,925,435

(172,355,417)

(188,181,955)

502,276

234,162

7,774,302

7,031,756

-

(21,950)

26,107,980

25,183,049

12,311,875

42,930,413

5,908,528

44,086,138

(36,362,594)

(39,032,898)

(3,218,749)

(56,019,351)

(86,836)

(8,065,824)

Payment for financial assets

20,255,436

(328,828)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

(1,192,340)

(16,430,350)

(80,433)

(93,211)

Proceeds from residents’ accomodation bonds

3,160,419

4,092,945

Proceeds from borrowings

2,113,998

(1,527,801)

Repayment of borrowings

(662,572)

(4,431,557)

(2,674,036)

(101,629)

Receipts from operating activities Receipts from supporters Payments to suppliers and employees Dividends received Interest received Special payment to Council General Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Cash flows From Investing Activities: Proceeds – sale of property, plant and equipment Proceeds – sale of investments Payment for property, plant and equipment Payment – purchase of investments Payment for other non-current assets

Cash flows From Financing Activities: Repayment of finance leases

Repayment of residents’ accomodation bonds Conferences and councils accumulated funds transfers Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(864,386) 992,990

(2,061,253)

25,908,630

6,691,446

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial period

113,052,614

106,361,168

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial period

138,961,244

113,052,614

Net increase (decrease) in cash

26 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008

A UD I T O r ’ S Repo r t

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008 27

National Council of Australia, PO Box 243, Deakin West, ACT 2600. www.vinnies.org.au

28 ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY NATIONAL ANNUAL REPORT 2008