THE SYDNEY UNIVERSITY SETTLEMENT NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE ABN 82 823 463 641 Endorsed as an Income Tax Exempt Charity and a DeductibleGift Recipient under the name ‘Sydney University Settlement’
17 Edward Street DARLINGTON NSW 2008
PO Box 854 STRAWBERRY HILLS NSW 2012
Tel: (02) 9698-3087
[email protected] Fax: (02) 9318-1008
2008/2009 Annual Report
THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE 2008-2009 The committee members elected each year are all volunteers and are responsible for the running of The Sydney University Settlement Neighbourhood Centre. The centre’s mandate is to be in relationship with those seen as disadvantaged and marginalized in our society. We are accountable to our community and our Members. Chairperson
Joel Pringle
Deputy Chairperson John Bartholomew Treasurer Vicki Ashton Secretary yn Turnbull L Sydney University Representative Kathy Rushton Ordinary Members Maggie Roche Liz Crosby Clive Norton Ruth Norton Ben Spies-Butcher Claire Prenter ________________________________________
STAFF Coordinator/Executive Officer: Vicki Winters Administrative Assistant: Anne-marie Malamoo (probationary period) Muralappi Program: Raymond Mason (resigned), Youth Worker: Krista Masarwa Pav OOSH/Vacation Care: Michael Carr (Coordinator) & Gloria Donohue CSA Casuals: Mavis Phillips Property Maintenance Mark Wynne and John Bartholomew Bookkeeping: Edward Fraser Cleaner: Adrianna Boyd (probationary period)
FUNDING AGENCIES The Settlement gratefully acknowledges the financial and in-kind support from • • • • • • • •
NSW Department of Community Services NSW Department of Health Lord Mayor’s Trust (Cover Moore) Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services St George Trust Fund Department of Employment Education & Workplace Relations Sydney City Council Channel Nine ‘Secret Millionaire’
CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT This report is presented for consideration by the Membership of the University of Sydney Settlement, also known as “The Settlement”, at the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 14 October 2009. The 2008/09 period has seen both Settlement staff, as guided by our dedicated CEO Vicki Winters, and the Management Committee and various sub-committees, working towards the aims of The Settlement through community work and in building an organisation that can look ahead with confidence. There has been personnel change in the Management Committee since the last AGM. We lost John Rule who,
after years of service to The Settlement in a number of roles, was no longer able to commit the time needed to properly serve on the Management Committee. We also lost Rose Nean, Elena Berrocal Capdevila and the Sydney University Representative Agi O’Hara for similar reasons. Their efforts are much appreciated by The Settlement. We have been fortunate enough to find suitable and keen replacements for some of these positions: Maggie Roche, who brings new skills to the committee; Kathy Rushton returning to the committee, now as the Sydney University Representative; and Claire Prenter, joining the Committee and sharing her skills and time. Below are just some of the highlights of The Settlement’s achievements over the last year: Building Redevelopment this is not a new project, however plans are afoot for some of the building work to begin over the coming six months. With some funds donated by DoCS available to begin the project, the Fundraising Sub-committee continues working on additional monies. Strategic Plan Former Chairperson Neil Stuart facilitated a session with the Management Committee towards building a new strategic plan. A key theme form this session was the importance of the contribution of the Aboriginal community to The Settlement and to continue to provide a safe space for this community. Further consultation will be done with staff, members and the community before it can be finalized. This strategic plan will assist staff and the Management Committee in meeting the future needs of this community. Settlement Website Exciting progress has been made towards the building of a new website. Much preparation work has been done and content produced and edited. Many thanks to Maggie and others who have worked on this project. Looking forward it seems that the coming year will be one where The Settlement prepares itself for the future. This will be both through building improvements and a strengthened organisation. But The Settlement will continue to be what it always has been, and play its unique role in the community. That is, as a place that is owned and managed by the community, working for those in the community facing, or at risk of, disadvantage. The Settlement is a part of the community in which it is located, and relies upon the efforts of that community to meet its goals. Yours, Joel Pringle. AUDITORS: Lawrence Green and Jackson Mall from Sheddon & Green Partners
TREASURER’S REPORT The Settlement Treasurer’s Report 2008-2009 Vicki ASHTON This year began as usual executive and members meeting monthly to organize and delegate tasks for 2008 BOM. Through the year the previous Bookkeeper resigned and the new Accountant services by Edward Fraser were put into place. Activities currently running at the Settlement include Affordable Housing, Muralappi program, OOSH program, Vacation Care, Financial Counseling, Youth program, Neighbourhood Centre and Seido Karate.
The Audited Financial Reports (attached) disclose an operating profit for the year ending June 30, 2009. I am pleased to report that for the period from July 07 the financial situation improved due to approved funding being available for the unique work the Settlement undertakes and the commitment of staff. In relation to the purported purchase of the Cope Street property, as the Committee has no knowledge at this time of any potential losses in this regard , however at the time of writing we had not been able to recoup our deposit. I would like to thank Lawrence Green of Shedden and Green for conducting the Audit and recommend his report to you.
THANKS & CHEERS TREASURER VICKI ASHTON
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS REPORT
Settlement Mural The Settlement over the past year has gone from strength to strength as anticipated from last years’ report. Our outgoing chair Ben Spies-Butcher identified the need for stability and certainty and he wasn’t off the mark by any degree. The Settlement is a challenge because the community it serves is challenging and complex. As mentioned in this report the Settlement was fortunate this financial year to be have a part in a Channel Nine TV series titled, ‘The Secret Millionaire’. During the filming of the program I was asked ‘how did I find working in Redfern’. My response to this was, ‘Redfern and Waterloo are just the same as any other
community dealing with change’. The question begs does the Settlement have to change? It is evident that in the long term the Settlement will make changes but in the short term the Settlement in its fine tradition needs to maintain the status quo and strengthen its base as was identified in last years’ report. How has the Settlement maintained the status quo and strengthened its base is that is has: Identified and improved the hall space for Occupational Health and Safety of its clients and staff. This has been achieved by: Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
Renovating the girls and boys toilets Cleaning the office space Archiving all records to an electronic format Personalizing staff office space Implementing an office network printer Concreting the outside patio area Building an outside storage facility for outdoor equipment Creating more computer space in the front computer room Improving youth room facilities with internet upgrades and kitchenette Improving the kitchen area (work in progress) Employing a Cook/Kitchen hand to maintain kitchen area for health and hygiene Improving the OOSH space by including a transparent safety rail on stage area Also by designating a games area space Implementing all fire safety measures by supplying fire safety doors, fixing safety lights and all staff fire safety training (free)
Participating in an organizational assessment with Bradfield & Nyland Group commissioned by DoCS with some identified outcomes implemented such as Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
Increasing staff knowledge of the relationship of policy and practice Improving health and hygiene practices Improving accountability by stressing the need for statistics to be maintained and centralized Improving financial accountability for productivity Increasing staff development and training options
The Settlement embarked on a Fundraising Campaign and as a result is committed to the ongoing development of: (Within the timeframes of our volunteer Management Committee). Ø The continued redevelopment of draft strategic plans and a future business plan Ø Sustainable property development through maintenance and redevelopment and application for inclusion on Registrar of Community Housing. Listed above are some areas of development the Settlement has undertaken over the past year. It is evident that this strategic direction is the way forward to enable growth and productivity for the Settlement and most importantly for the clients. It is through growth and productivity that Settlement will find its purpose if that purpose is slightly different or if it will remain the same in the 21st Century. I am pleased to make reference to the current feedback generated from other local organizations that there is a willingness to partner with the Settlement for the delivery of essential services to the most disadvantaged in the Redfern, Waterloo and Darlington areas. It is also evident that support from government organizations, local schools and other non-profit organizations is strong. The Aboriginal Medical Service partnered with our Youth workers and delivered important health education during this years’ Sexual health Week. It is this organizational partnering that will be increased in the future of the Settlement to ensure effective service delivery.
OOSH (Out of School Hours) & VACATION CARE The OOSH program caters for 5 to 12 year olds this program continues to run every weekday of the year except between Christmas and the New Year. The OOSH program can have anywhere between 5 and 35
children attending at any one time. The program has received a cook/kitchen hand and the position has made a huge difference to other staff allowing them time to concentrate on the intensive supervision that our children require. Our after school program is unique in that it offers a safe place for the young people of the area to be able to come and enjoy a welcoming and fun environment operated by caring staff. Our qualified Child Care Worker Michael Carr continues to create lasting and positive relationship with the young children and offers them many activities and fun things to do. Michael has maintained good relationships with our children, their parents and the local community for many years and is a great asset to our organization. Throughout the year Michael was ably assisted by one permanent assistant worker Gloria Donohue. Mavis continues to do casual duties as required and when casual work becomes available. Michael has also utilized casual workers for his Vacation Care program. The children are involved in arts and crafts activities as well as physical activities such as basketball, trampolining, downball, table hockey, cricket and football. We also have a playstation,Wii playstation and internet facilities for the young people to access under supervision. The young children receive nutritious snacks and drinks each day including a nutritional dinner three days a week. During the school holidays the children have an intensive program of daily activities which are either in house or externally based with excursion activities. This year the children enjoyed activities such as ice skating, utilizing indoor swimming pools and the movies. The children also enjoyed just hanging out at the Settlement premises and having BBQs.
YOUTH WORK The youth work program is funded by Department of Community Services and enables the Settlement to run activities and services focused on the needs of young people in our community. Sydney University Settlement youth services target age group is 12 to 24 and provides a wide range of recreational activities and programs after school and during school holidays .The Settlement youth service provides supervision, promotion of the Settlement programs and a drop in service between 10am and 6pm for persons requiring assistance and support in their day to day life. The settlement youth service provides cooked meals, light refreshments, transport, access to phones, computers, informative programs, recreational activities. Every Program that the Youth attend is free of charge the Settlement provides Transport to and from the activities, food and drinks and more We continue to run an afterschool drop in program for young people. This program creates a safe space and three nutritional meals per week. We have seen a steady increase in the number of youth attending the centre. They have accessed the service for a number of different reasons over the past year some were for advocacy and referral to other organizations for housing in particular. The Settlement has been fortunate in that its services adequately give youth their immediate needs. There has been low incidence to report in the number of youth requiring out of home. It is however anticipated that this need will increase as youth gain confidence with the Settlement and familiar with its youth services. The youth workers regularly review their programs with feedback from their youth participants. Going to the beach and having BBQ’s is a regular activity undertaken by our youth workers as it gets youth off the streets and doing enjoyable activities they might not otherwise get access to. Whilst at the Settlement the young people are encouraged to be responsible for the younger children through mutual respect for each other and also mutual respect for the Settlement equipment. The youth also access other programs at the Settlement such as the basketball on Monday nights and karate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The youth are also kept up to date with events and events happening in the community via visual materials such as posters leaflets It is very encouraging to see the local youth continue to feel they are supported by the Settlement and as such see the Settlement as a safe place to come and enjoy the company of other youth and be heard if they need to.
MURALAPPI PROGRAM The Settlement Muralappi program works closely with the Youth drop in service. This year the two programs joined forces to delivery activities during sexual health week. The sexual health week saw a record number of young people attended to gain very important sexual health education. The young people received a health and hygiene pack for their attendance. The young people also received a free movie pass as a reward incentive. The Muralappi program embarked on a 3 day Indigenous cultural workshop camp located on the South Coast of NSW. Their destination camp was Jamanee Gunya (meaning: happy place) were they enjoyed a three day camp full of fantastic activities. The activities included doing lots of painting, sculpture, a dance workshop, spear making, boomerang painting, tracking games and canoeing at Meroo National Park and a climb to Pigeons House Mountain. The young people also experienced traditional fire making. Accommodation was on a property which is was equipped with toilets and hot showers and dormitory style accommodation is available, mattresses on the floor and all meals are provided including traditional game.
The outcome of the camp was the young people connected with the Elders very well and learnt many things culturally and socially. The young people were in some ways humbled by the experiences they has, 80% of the young people attended gave 100% respect to the Elders and to the local culture. It was very pleasing to see the young people get involved in a respectful way.
Jamanee Gunya Muralappi Camp 2009 Other photos have not been included because permission was not sought
NEIGHBOURHOOD PROJECT This year the Settlement Neighbourhood project has had a huge focus on its administrative services which have been somewhat neglected for the past five to seven years. This meant that a great deal of time and effort has been given too archiving files and working towards an administrative system that is coherent and it is anticipated another six to eight weeks will see the Settlements administrative service in working condition.
Mountains of archiving with six weeks to completion Other areas of great need were to ensure the Settlement’s hall and properties were safe for workers and clients. This meant a lot of to and fro for the maintenance workers Mark Wynne and John Bartholomew. They worked towards ensuring the Settlement complies with OH&S standards and fire safety standards. At times this meant dropping their renovation works to assist with the removal of a filing cabinet or the repair of a broken tap in the hall. Overall the maintenance workers have made considerable headway with the works carried out over the past year.
Complying with OH&S Whilst focusing on effective maintenance and service delivery the Settlement also maintained its advocacy and referral role. The advocacy and referral role saw the Settlement become catalyst by staff assisting with letters of support to housing providers, workplaces, phone calls for clients and offering an ear or a friendly conversation over a cup of tea. The Management Committee has been extremely active in the past twelve months with trying to complete a strategic plan to assist the completion of a business plan. The Committee has also been active in their subcommittee roles as is evidenced in their reports noted in this report. The major focus for the Management Committee over the past year has been getting strategically placed to implement a fundraising campaign to assist with the upgrade of the current dilapidated hall building as well as maintaining the properties. Some of this focus meant applying for various government incentives or grants on offer and the Settlement has applied for a Community Partnership grant with the State Government. Therefore is safe to say the Management Committee has been hard at work trying to get the Settlement moving into the 21st Century. The highlight for the year was the Settlement involvement in a Channel Nine Series titled ‘The Secret Millionaire’, which is currently airing on Channel Nine. Staff, children, the Karate team and the Settlement have their own segment on the program. Through this involvement we were graciously (for the second time) given $100000.00 and whilst filming staff and community were told they could do with it what they liked and staff and community wanted the money allocated to the community for programs and staff. So we all wait to see how the Settlement looks and what people have to say about us. The Settlement also offered its space to ABC for the filming of a Dance mini series, about a young Aboriginal girl hip hop dancer who comes from an underprivileged background and finds herself in an elite dance company. The Settlement received a $500.00 donation allocated to the building fund.
OTHER PROGRAMS Karate
This program is offered on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5.45pm to 6.45 pm. This program maintains steady participants who are slowly progressing to their respective grade levels. The Karate facilitators Semphi Linda Crawford and Sylvie Ellsmore do a wonderful job and are very passionate about helping the local Aboriginal children. The Settlement staff appreciates all their assistance and commitment to this program.
Instructors teaching very eager learners
STUDENTS This area is still under development and we anticipate a greater working relationship between the Settlement and the Sydney University in the near future. A focus will be on establishing stronger links with the University to help support the social work students and assist with creating pathways to learning for those students who become involved.
BUILDING REPORT The Settlement's residential building upgrade program has continued throughout the last year. This program has a dual focus; to fix up one property completely while it is untenanted, while also providing running repairs to the tenanted properties and the Hall at the same time. This has the advantage of preventing small problems from growing into big ones, and at a cost that is within the Settlement's means. No.1Edward Street is nearing completion, and should soon be ready to be reoccupied. It is not possible to give a date for this as, due to the complex nature of the program described above, there are too many unpredictable external factors. No.1 will have improved light and better air circulation, be cooler in summer and easier to keep warm in winter, have greatly improved functionality and therefore be easier to live in and maintain. It will also have a much smaller carbon footprint than before as a result of the green design principles that have been incorporated. Many of the tenant's design suggestions have also been incorporated, making use of his experience of living in the house. Individual elements of the house are built to be either hard wearing or cost effective to replace, ensuring easy economically durable maintenance. Mark Wynne, the Aboriginal half of the building team, is currently completing the final modules of his Master Builder's course at TAFE, and expects to attain his Builder's Licence next year. During the last year all residential properties have had water saving shower heads and energy saving lights fitted. 75% of these properties are now thermally insulated, with the rest expected to be done in the next year. Maintenance work in the Hall has progressed well since the last AGM as noted in the Executive officers report. This is work that is necessary to keep the Centre functioning until funds are available to rebuild whole sections of the Hall according to the plans generously drawn and donated by Julie Cracknell and Peter Lonregan. Additional to those listed in the Executive officers report new masonite was installed in place of the old mural which was painted on disintegrating chipboard. Defects in the kitchen have been repaired, two new lockable storage spaces have been created. Quite a lot of this work necessitated the removal of some of the
Settlement's internal artwork, so before any of the above work was commenced, all the murals in the Settlement were photographed and recorded on large format negatives by a professional art photographer. These images have been archived by, and can be used at the discretion of the Settlement. The Property Committee are also working towards the installation of play equipment in the backyard of the Settlement. There has been consultation with our youth workers and young clients, the latter of whom have produced some interesting drawings of proposed playgrounds. At this stage, it is anticipated that a sandpit, cubby house, climbing frame, slide, and bridge will appear in the backyard of the Settlement before the 2010 AGM. John Bartholomew (property sub-committee member)
THANKS TO FUNDING BODIES We thank our funding bodies: the NSW Departments of Community Services; and NSW Health; The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services; The Lord Mayor (Clover Moore) Trust Fund; The City Sydney Council and the Law Foundation
We thank you all for you continuing support, without your understanding and support we could not offer the programs and activities that The Settlement provides. We would also like to thank our donors whom we hope will assist in moving the Settlement into to 21st Century. THANKS TO STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS Thanks to the ongoing support of the above funding bodies and the individual donors in this important service delivery program. Without your support a significant number of young Aboriginal people will not be given an opportunity to find their way through what can be a disproportionately and difficult early life circumstance. Thank you to the Management Committee for their ongoing commitment A very special thank you our Treasurer Vicki Ashton who has triumphed through adversity. Thanks to our dedicated staff members and those community members although in need are able to offer a helping hand. We look forward to the coming year’s challenges with a willingness to embrace the complexities of the local community for the better of the whole community. Executive Officer Vicki Winters
Fundraising Subcommittee Report 08/09 S/c members Elena Berrocal Capdevila, Sydney University Representative Agi O'Hara, Ruth Norton, Clive Norton, Executive Officer Vicki Winters and Convener Liz Crosby. Fundraising for the Settlement requires a consultation process with community, staff, government orgs and the board. In order to progress to Stage 2 of the fundraising process, where the fundraising consultants Evelyn
Mason and Alicia Watson conduct a feasibility study, the S/c needs to complete a Strategic Plan. In August 2008 the Settlement board and Executive Officer Vicki Winters undertook planning sessions with the fundraising consultants to produce a Strategic Plan and Vision Statement, drafts of which were completed over the following six months by Ruth Norton, Vicki Winters and myself. In March 2009 Robbie McInnes, DoCS Director Partnerships & Planning, recommended that the Settlement undertake an organisational assessment conducted by the Bradfield Nyland Group. The BNG summary report and action plan, while concentrating on the Settlement's systems and processes, also guided us towards a rethink of the Strategic Plan, and in July 2009 an additional planning day, facilitated by former Settlement Chair Neil Stuart, was held. Neil’s report described that while ‘thorough and difficult work was done in arriving at the statements of corporate objectives and strategies,’ there is still work to be done to produce a cohesive, insightful and practical Strategic Plan. Once the Strategic Plan is completed, fundraising will move ahead, with a commitment to increase the space and diversity of the services delivered to the local community by focusing on programs, building renovations, and the all-important replacement of the Settlement bus. In 2007 DoCs provided $100,000 to the building fund, and in March 2008 Sydney City Council planning committee voted unanimously to approve the Cracknell & Lonergan building plans for the hall, with architects Julie Cracknell and Peter Lonergan kindly donating their services as Project Managers to oversee the works. Chair Joel Pringle and EO Vicki Winters recently submitted an application for building redevelopment funding to the economic stimulus grant program, NSW Community Building Partnership. The application included a letter of support from Member for Sydney and Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek. Liz Crosby, Fundraising Subcommittee Convener The Settlement appreciates funding from the NSW Departments of Community Services, and Health; and The Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services. We also appreciate the support from our Benefactors, Members, Students and Volunteers.
