The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture

A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 ii T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 foundation Indigenous acknowledgment

The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture’s We recognise the survival and precious primary locations at Brunswick and Dandenong are treasures of Victorian Indigenous culture in on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people. spite of such dispossession and aim to build In keeping with Foundation House’s aspirations to respectful and informed relationships with the heal individuals and communities we recognise the Victorian Indigenous community based on the loss of land, children, language, lore and spiritual acknowledgment of their unique position as the and physical wellbeing of the Wurundjeri people traditional owners of Victoria. As such, Foundation and other Indigenous Victorians due to the impact House is committed to the acknowledgment and of colonisation. We believe that acknowledging participation of Indigenous Victorians within the past and its impact on the present is vital in Foundation House events and this is reflected in building strong Victorian communities. our official protocols.

Introducing Foundation House: specialised services for refugees

The Victorian Foundation for Foundation House’s funding ➔ works with international Survivors of Torture (Foundation base through the Integrated organisations towards the House) was incorporated in 1987 Humanitarian Settlement Strategy. elimination of torture and to meet the needs of people in Foundation House provides trauma; Victoria who had been subjected to direct services to survivors of ➔ conducts and contributes torture or trauma in their country torture and trauma in the form to research to enhance the of origin or while fleeing those of counselling, advocacy, family understanding of the needs of countries. Foundation House is support, group work, psycho- survivors and the best possible non-denominational, politically education, information sessions ways of meeting them. neutral and non-aligned. and complementary therapies. Foundation House’s primary Foundation House is Drawing on this practical locations are at Brunswick and constituted as a non-profit experience, it: Dandenong, with outreach offices organisation managed by an ➔ offers training and consultancy in Ringwood and Werribee, and a elected Board of Management. to other service providers who number of services are provided While many of its innovative have contact with survivors of on an outreach basis across programs are funded by charitable torture and trauma; Melbourne. Through contracts trusts and private donations, ➔ develops resources to enhance with local regional counselling its core funding is provided by the understanding of the needs services, short term torture the Victorian Department of of survivors among health and trauma counselling is also Human Services, the Victorian and welfare professionals, provided in Ballarat, Bendigo, Department of Education and government and the wider Colac, Geelong, the La Trobe Early Childhood Development, community; Valley, Mildura, Shepparton, and the Commonwealth ➔ works with government, Swan Hill, Warrnambool and Department of Health and Ageing. community groups and other Wonthaggi. The Department of Immigration providers to develop services and Citizenship also makes and programs to innovatively a substantial contribution to meet the needs of survivors; ➔ works with State and Commonwealth Governments to ensure that relevant policies are sensitive to the needs of survivors; T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 1 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

Contents

ii indigenous acknowledgment ii introducing Foundation House: specialised services for refugees

2 overview

2 chairperson and Director’s Report

5 The year

5 paris Aristotle chairs new advisory council, October 2009 5 Foundation House wins police training award, November 2009 the year 6 Foundation House hosts national conference, February 2010 7 dandenong office celebrates ‘official’ opening, May 2010 8 petro Georgiou delivers annual oration, June 2010 9 Quentin Buckle Study Grant the year 10 cesar Benalcazar Study Grant 10 in Memoriam, Cesar Benalcazar

11 The Services

11 direct Services: Our work with survivors 12 direct Services: Data 14 direct Service Program: Capacity Building 16 Service Innovation Program: Launch of Ucan2 program 17 policy and Research Program 19 Refugee Health Research Consortium 20 health Sector Development Program: Rural services 20 health Sector Development Program: Victorian Refugee Health Network 21 Training and Professional Development 22 complementary Therapies

24 The foundation

24 Foundation House says thank you! 25 A word from our Patrons 26 A word of thanks 26 Management and staff 27 publications and resources 28 Financial statements

Foundation House The Victorian Foundation for Foundation House Survivors of Torture Inc. at Dandenong 6 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, 3056 155 Foster Street, Dandenong, 3175 Victoria, Australia Victoria, Australia Telephone: (03) 9388 0022 Telephone: (03) 8788 3333 Fax: (03) 9387 0828 Fax: (03) 8788 3399 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web address: www.foundationhouse.org.au Web address: www.foundationhouse.org.au 2 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

Chairperson and Director’s Report overview

The political landscape has changed significantly in the past 12 months facilities. When you think that … Foundation House Director, Paris Aristotle, and Chairperson of level of emphasis in policy and the Board of Management, Lynne Haultain discuss some of the more financial expenditure has been unsettling aspects of government policy and public misapprehension seen as necessary to deal with around ‘unauthorised boat arrivals’, the financial implications of around 6,000 arrivals in any operating remote or off-shore detention facilities, and the harrowing one year, that is an amazingly effects of mandatory immigration detention and temporary protection disproportionate response. visas on asylum seekers. LYNNE Some of these questions LYNNE Well, Paris, here we are was the scale of misunderstanding were discussed at the oration and again. We find ourselves at a within the wider community Petro firmly believes that we have particularly interesting and fairly about how big an issue this is. a thing about being an island, that troubling juncture in terms of When he talked about how 10% of one breach is too many, and that Australia’s response to asylum Australians thought boat arrivals we must ‘man the barricades’ at seekers and refugees, which was constituted at least half of our all costs. This thinking seems to highlighted in the recent oration annual migration intake, it was a be quite ingrained in our cultural that Petro Georgiou delivered for staggering perspective when we DNA. us, having had 35 years exposure know it’s less than one and a half to this. He had some real insights per cent of our total immigration PARIS I agree with Petro that in terms of why Australians feel program. that sort of psyche does exist and the way they do about asylum that it’s very easy for politicians to seekers and, particularly, about LYNNE What intrigued me was exploit, but it’s not just related to what are generally described as that he was able to bring that sort Australia, or the fact that we’re an ‘boat people’. of broad public misapprehension island. If you look at Europe—say together with the way in which in Holland—the party that ran PARIS I think Petro’s perspectives policy has developed and, as he hard on an anti-immigration, anti- were not just illuminating, strongly argued, policy has not Islam platform secured around but a very sharp appraisal of been reflective of any appropriate 23 seats in the last election; it’s a those trends and certainly, evidence—it’s been quite reactive phenomenon that seems to garner very authoritative. One of the to public opinion and has not been political attention and political interesting points that I thought based on the facts or the numbers currency all over the world. he made during that presentation at all. LYNNE The term ‘boat people’ PARIS Yes, his reflection on has a particular resonance here how disproportionate the policy and the profound irony is that responses are to the scale of the apart from the indigenous problem is alarming, especially community the majority of when you think of the amount of Australians are descendants of money that has been spent in the people who arrived by boat and last decade alone on detention, on many migrated by sea. So there’s processing, on deterrent strategies, this extraordinary failure on the and ‘border protection’ generally. part of so many Australians to understand or to appreciate their LYNNE Would you put a figure own arrival and see that in context on that? with people who are fleeing appalling persecution and dire PARIS It would be in the billions situations. of dollars once you start loading in all of the costs from the previous PARIS Yes, and there is Pacific Solution and remote something strange about the detention centres, the construction perception of whether people are of Christmas Island facilities, going about things the ‘right way’. Paris Aristotle and Petro Georgio June 2010. and now the operation of those There’s been some research and T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 3 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

who arrive by boat are less LYNNE A couple of other angles deserving because they haven’t on that Paris is the ‘to and fro’ submitted themselves to this on protection visas, temporary or process? otherwise, which is, once again, in the political mix, and the other is PARIS Yes, that’s certainly the research that we’ve undertaken a perception that exists. The and the anecdotal evidence that we Minister for Immigration himself experience as a service provider has said that if you joined the around detention and what that queue with the current numbers does to people. and the current number of resettlement places, it could be PARIS The research actually well over a 100 year wait. So, reflects that the effect of long- really, there isn’t a queue that term detention and the effect exists for refugees in the ordinary of Temporary Protection Visas sense of that term, that everyone (TPVs) was very harmful to their in need puts their name on a list long term mental health. While Paris Aristotle and Lynne Haultain. and just has to wait their turn to it may not be surprising to us, it be helped. does show that many years after focus group testing done around The fact is that people may have an experience of being detained what riles people most about been in camps in Pakistan or Iran for a lengthy period people suffer boat arrivals, and, interestingly, it for many years before they made severe psychological illness or wasn’t so much about nationality the journey to come here, or in distress. What was found was that, or religion: it was this perception Indonesia or Malaysia for years as coupled with detention, the TPV that, somehow, they were doing it refugees without a resettlement policy had a compounding adverse the wrong way. outcome. It’s understandable that effect on their psychological people will then seek to move wellbeing. In comparison there LYNNE So ‘queue jumping’…? again. But we only see them has not been any evidence to once they’ve landed onshore support the view that TPVs PARIS Yes, that they were and we think that that’s been an ever changed a person’s mind circumventing proper orderly immediate action on their part, about seeking refugee status in processes and therefore, in some when, in fact, there may be years Australia. way, exploiting our goodwill. and years of desperation behind it. That seemed to sit at the heart of sentiment for most people. The irony of that being: would anyone in the Australian community, if our country was subject to an internal war and conflict, be prepared to gather up their belongings and flee, seeking sanctuary in another country? I’m sure many would.

LYNNE Is there this notion also of who’s most deserving and that, if you sit in a queue and wait and your movement through the system is documented and accredited in some way, by, for example, the UNHCR, then the most deserving get through the gate, and therefore that people End of year celebration, December 2009. 4 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 overview

LYNNE So it didn’t have the that information ethically to PARIS One of the first things deterrent effect that was alleged? help illustrate what the impact we’ve got to do is not withdraw PARIS No, it didn’t at all. But of the policies and decisions are. from our international obligations what the research evidenced is that We have an obligation to base in this area. There’s no reason or it had a profoundly debilitating our position not simply on an justification for us to withdraw impact on people psychologically, emotional or ideological view of our commitment to the refugee and, coupled with long-term things, but a view that’s supported convention and other human detention, left people chronically by evidence. rights instruments. Having depressed and unable to function said that, I also think we have at the levels they were able to LYNNE That research is to examine new strategies such function at before they went into immensely powerful. as a comprehensive regional detention. co-operation framework for PARIS I think it is and there’s managing the movement and more research that can be done. processing of asylum seekers in It is surprising that, in the area our region. It needs to be one of detention for example, there’s that countries in the region are been virtually no research done by committed to and one that the government about its effectiveness UNHCR is able to endorse and or its effects, yet we’re spending oversee. The challenge should an extraordinary amount of public not be about how can we limit money on it. the effectiveness of the Refugees convention, but how can we LYNNE When you talk about honour its obligations better than expenditure I find it fascinating we’re currently doing. that, despite the billions that must have been spent in recent LYNNE So we could redirect years, the only thing that strikes some of the billions? the media is how much charter flights cost fromC hristmas Island. PARIS Absolutely. The amount There’s very occasional mention of money that we’re spending in End of year of the fact that it’s costing a lot of operating, remote facilities such celebration, LYNNE One of the enormous money to run Christmas Island, as Christmas Island, Leonora December 2009. virtues of Foundation House is for example, and to fly people to and Curtin, could be spent that we’ve known that, anecdotally, and fro. But it never really attracts on a comprehensive regional for some time. I know you’ve the sort of scrutiny that you might framework that would be much said it Paris, and I’m sure many expect. more effective. It would require of us have held that view, but the cooperation of all of the we have the capacity within our PARIS No, and those comments governments in the region, which organisation to demonstrate it around the financial implications isn’t easy to secure, but this isn’t through peer-reviewed analysis of the policy, where it’s about what going to be an easy problem to and research, which can a charter flight costs, doesn’t then resolve, so we might as well have a contribute to the wider debate on pose the question: should we be go at doing it properly. the issue. That testament can be doing it this way? It’s more framed attributed to our client base, our as ‘look at the impost these people outstanding staff, and the rigour are causing on the public and the that we can apply. government spending money on it’. If there was a cost benefit Lynne Haultain PARIS We are uniquely placed analysis I can’t see how it could Chair to draw on all of our case work stack up as an effective use of experience and unpack what the public resources. impact of all of these sorts of LYNNE policies have been, and, indeed, So what would you do, Paris Aristotle am we’ve got a responsibility to use Paris? Director T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 5 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

e year e The year h t Paris Aristotle chairs new advisory council, October 2009

Foundation House Director, Paris and Status Resolution (CISSR), of immigration status for people Aristotle, was appointed Chair of a which succeeded the Immigration seeking asylum or other migration new immigration advisory council Detention Advisory Group outcomes in Australia.” on 9 October 2009. (IDAG), was announced by the The council was also set up The establishment of the Minister for Immigration and to provide independent advice Council for Immigration Services Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans. on the implementation of the “The Government’s focus is Government’s immigration policy on resolving the immigration initiatives and the suitability of status of people quickly and fairly facilities and service delivery while ensuring they are treated arrangements, as well as to assist humanely and with dignity and the department with strategies to respect,” Senator Evans said. resolve a person’s immigration “The council will provide status in the community rather independent advice on policies, than in a detention centre. services and programs to achieve timely, fair and effective resolution

Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, addresses Foundation House at the 2009 AGM.

Foundation House wins police training award, November 2009

Foundation House was Development Worker Arna Every month at the Police presented with the Victoria Stewart by Chief Commissioner of Academy a new group of recruits Police Multicultural Community Victoria Police, Simon Overland, receives the training from two Exemplary Award at Victoria’s the award was in recognition of Multicultural Liaison Officers who Multicultural Awards for the training Foundation House have attended a day of ‘train the Excellence at Government House has developed for Victorian police trainer’ at Foundation House. Ms in November 2009. recruits. Stewart continues to attend the Presented to Health Sector Police recruits now attend Academy to occasionally observe Training and Professional Multicultural Awareness Training, the sessions. which includes a segment on Each group of new recruits has understanding the refugee varied in size from 30 to 80, with experience and how the impact an estimated 650 new recruits of torture and trauma relates to receiving the training so far. police work. Ms Stewart reports that the Ms Stewart wrote the training evaluations have been incredibly module and then trained the positive, with recruits stating they Multicultural Liaison Officers have gained valuable insight about within Victoria Police who, in the refugee experience. turn, provide the training to the recruits.

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police, Simon Overland, presents Foundation House Health Sector Training and Professional Development Worker, Arna Stewart, with the Victoria Police Multicultural Community Exemplary Award. 6 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e year e h t Foundation House hosts national conference, February 2010

Foundation House hosted the Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma’s (FASSTT) fourth national conference in February 2010. Entitled ‘From Surviving to Thriving: FASSTT Agencies Supporting Individuals, Families and Communities’, the FASSTT National Conference 2010 was held at the Silverwater Resort in San Remo and attracted 221 participants from Foundation Brita Sydhoff, House and FASSTT agencies Secretary- around Australia. Paris Aristotle officially opens the FASSTT National Conference General of the FASSTT is a network of International 2010, in San Remo, Victoria. Australia’s eight specialist Rehabilitation rehabilitation agencies (including Council for the umbrella for more than 140 of issues, including the role of Torture Victims, Foundation House) that work with torture rehabilitation organisations spirituality/culture in recovery, delivers the survivors of torture and trauma in more than 70 countries, all of group counselling models, conference’s who have come to Australia from whom promote and support the human rights and social justice, keynote address. overseas. The network assists rehabilitation of survivors of torture and engaging with refugee survivors by: and the prevention of further communities. ➔ Developing national policy and human rights abuses around the The conference also presented service frameworks; world. All FASSTT members an excellent opportunity for ➔ Liaising with federal and state are also members of the IRCT, workers from Foundation House governments on behalf of and the Director of Foundation and the other FASSTT agencies survivors; and House, Paris Aristotle, is an elected to exchange information and ➔ Participating in international member of the IRCT Council. share ideas on how to build networks concerned with Themed sessions and on services and continue to issues relating to refugees and workshops at the conference support individuals, families survivors of torture. included advocacy, policy, and communities from refugee Brita Sydhoff, Secretary-General partnership cooperation with backgrounds that have been of the International Rehabilitation other services, community affected by war, loss, separation Council for Torture Victims FASSTT development, cross-cultural and trauma. Conference (IRCT), delivered the conference’s practice, working with schools The next national conference participants. keynote address. The IRCT is and young people, and a host of will be hosted by STARTTS direct-service related topics. (Service for the Treatment and Participants were also Rehabilitation of Torture and involved in a number of round Trauma Survivors), the FASSTT table discussions on a number member agency in NSW. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 7 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e year e h t Dandenong office celebrates ‘official’ opening, May 2010

Foundation House’s office in for Multicultural Affairs and The new Dandenong office opening. Dandenong was officially opened Settlement Services, who was by the Department of Immigration unexpectedly unable to attend, Mr and Citizenship State Director, Mr Alvarez stated that the launch was health and that the agency’s work, Jose Alvarez, on 19 May 2010. “an opportunity to acknowledge along with colleagues in similar Graciously stepping in the important work” done by the services in other states, had led to for the Hon Laurie Ferguson Foundation. the Commonwealth Department MP, Parliamentary Secretary Mr Alvarez noted that the of Health funding a network of Dandenong office assisted around mental health services to meet the 1800 clients per year, with the longer-term needs of survivors of majority of clients hailing from torture, in each capital city. Burma, Afghanistan and Sudan. City of Greater Dandenong Mr Alvarez commended the Major, Cr Jim Memeti, also spoke Foundation on developing a suite at the opening, and Foundation of services that includes culturally House Counsellor Advocate sensitive counselling as well as a Carolyn Wilson read a poem she range of complementary therapies wrote in 2009 honouring the that assist refugees to heal from Foundation House Dandenong their experiences. waiting room. The poem was “Early on, Foundation House published in a book called Victorian State Director, Department of immigration and also realised that, to be effective, ‘Reflecting on Melbourne’, and is Citizenship, José Alvarez and Paris Aristotle. it needed to be where the people reprinted on the back cover of this are and so in around 1992, it Report. established an outreach service in The launch was a great success, the south-east, working originally with Foundation House staff from the Springvale Community from both the Dandenong and Aid and Advice Bureau, and now Brunswick offices mingling with from Dandenong. The Dandenong supporters, sector colleagues and office is now a base for the the organisation’s many friends south east region—stretching during the afternoon open house. from Doncaster to Lilydale to Many visitors found great value Frankston,” Mr Alvarez said. in their guided tours of the Mr Alvarez also noted that new facility where the various the Australian Government very programs and resources were City of Greater much looked to the Foundation discussed and shared. Dandenong Mayor, and its networks for input on Cr Jim Memeti. matters associated with refugee 8 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e year e h t Petro Georgiou delivers annual oration, June 2010

Retiring MP, Mr Petro Georgiou, delivered the Foundation’s annual oration on 29 June 2010. Entitled ‘Exploring the dynamics of Australian policies towards asylum seekers and refugees: Reflections of an insider’ Mr Georgiou delivered a passionate and insightful speech on the political and moral dynamics that have governed refugee and asylum seeker policies since the mid-70s. Mr Georgiou commenced his political career as a senior adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in 1975, and, following stints as senior adviser to Andrew Peacock and as State Director of the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division), has been the elected Petro Georgiou and Lynne Haultain. Member for Kooyong since 1994. Mr Georgiou made three key Mr Georgiou concluded Deeply disturbed by the observations during his speech: his address by saying that we punitiveness of policies such as firstly, that the development of needed to state the facts, refute mandatory detention, temporary Australia’s policies towards asylum the rhetoric of demonisation and protection visas (TPVs) and the seekers had not followed a path call on Australia’s best values of ‘Pacific Solution’, Mr Georgiou explicable by clear and rational compassion and support for the introduced a private member’s bill principles of good public policy; vulnerable. in 2005 in an attempt to change secondly, that asylum seeker Mr Georgiou did not seek the mandatory detention system. policies have not been driven in pre-selection for his seat and The bill, which was supported any objective sense by the actual delivered his valedictory speech by Judi Moylan, Bruce Baird, number of people arriving on our to Parliament on 3 June 2010. Russell Broadbent and Judith shores in boats and; thirdly, that Foundation House thanks Mr Troethe, resulted in a deal with the while a demonising rhetoric about Georgiou for taking time out of Howard Government that brought asylum seekers has been present his very busy schedule to deliver significant reforms: children were since the 1970s, there has always the Foundation’s fourth annual released from detention centres been a strong element of public oration. We thank him also for and Parliament legislated that opinion that has rejected this showing leadership, compassion the detention of children would demonisation, and still does. and a strong commitment to be a last resort; the ombudsman While worried that the reform principles during his 35 year was empowered to investigate process “has been halted and career in politics. cases of long-term detainees; and reversed”, Mr Georgiou stated thousands of people on TPVs were he remained confident that processed rapidly, with 80% given the “wheel will turn again…not permanent protection. because it is fated, but because progress depends on the efforts of decent, committed men and women and we have them in abundance.” T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 9 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e year e h t Quentin Buckle Study Grant

The Quentin Buckle Study Grant was established to honour founding Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture committee member and human rights advocate, Mr Quentin Buckle. Quentin made an outstanding contribution to the VFST and strongly advocated Foundation House be a service which is holistic in its approach, grounded in the community and committed to valuing the cultural diversity of the people with whom it works. There is no doubt that Foundation House is an infinitely better place as a consequence. Much of what the VFST has achieved over the years is because of Quentin and his determination to progress issues. Board member Genevieve Timmons with Study Grant recipients The Quentin Buckle Study Sam Hartley Roem and James Dawood. Grant was developed in Quentin’s memory as a means of honouring We are proud that the grant If you would like to support his lifelong commitment to is now in its third year and the study grant by contributing human rights, community, social was supported in 2009 by very funds on a one-off or ongoing justice and advocacy. The Study generous support from the basis, please call (03) 9388 0022 Grant will support its recipient Portland House Foundation, or email us at info@ from a refugee background to Meadow Heights Primary School, foundationhouse.org.au undertake or continue education Roberts McCubbin Primary or training in their chosen field as School, Roxburgh College and they build a life in Australia. Lyndale Secondary College. At our Annual General Meeting on 3 December 2009 we awarded grants to two very worthy recipients; Mr Sam Hartley Roem and Mr James Dawood. We congratulate both Sam and James on their achievement and wish them the very best for their future endeavors. We hope these grants go some way in assisting the ongoing education and professional training of Sam and James as they continue their journey in Australia. 10 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e year e h t Cesar Benalcazar Study Grant

The Cesar Benalcazar Study Grant Ms Alice Girl Sarzor, recipient was a special award given in 2009 of the Cesar Benalcazar Study Grant to honour the life and contribution of Cesar Benalcazr. Cesar was one of the founders of VFST who sadly passed away in 2009. Miss Alice Girl Sarzor was the worthy recipient of the award which gave her funds to further her studies. We congratulate Alice and wish her the very best.

In Memoriam, Cesar Benalcazar

The Victorian Foundation for He became a friend of Survivors of Torture lost a friend the VFST and joined our and supporter in August 2009. management committee to share Cesar Benalcazar passed away his insights and thoughtfulness after a struggle with cancer that about the plight of refugees and eventually overcame him. asylum seekers. Cesar always Cesar was no stranger to spoke for those whose voice struggles, especially when was being silenced and did so human rights were at stake. We without anger or self interest and first came to knowC esar when always with complete respect. he arrived in Australia after years In particular, Cesar was of work in Columbia as a doctor. pivotal in the development of His work helped the poor and the VFST’s research program. the dispossessed, the persecuted He believed that knowledge was Mr Cesar Benalcazar and his son Nicholas. and the innocent, and he did crucial to progress and that our this at great risk to his own service had a responsibility to wellbeing. not only deliver the best services possible but to also build and share the knowledge contained within that work. It is a vision we remain vitally committed to. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 11 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c The Services ervi s e e h t Direct Services Our work with survivors

In the financial year 2009-10, • co-joint assessment and assistance. In terms of social/ Foundation House provided direct interventions with community living issues, the most common services to 4048 survivors of liaison workers areas of need for adult clients torture and trauma. These services • client advocacy related to significant concern for were delivered under two main • complementary therapies family overseas, immigration programs: the Early Intervention • specialist mental health clinic sponsorship, financial Short Term Torture and Trauma services circumstances and housing. The Counselling Program (part of Direct services to clients are most common need for the under the Integrated Humanitarian integrated with our work in 18 age group was also related Settlement Strategy) and the training, service innovation, to concern for family members Generalist program. health promotion, research and overseas. The IHSS program is a short- policy all of which aim to develop Client Experiences term program for refugees and and strengthen the resources of Clients of the Foundation have humanitarian entrants in their clients, communities and service experienced many traumatic first twelve months of settlement. providers. Collaborative work with events prior to their arrival in It is funded by the Department other agencies at the individual Australia which affect their health of Immigration and Citizenship. and systemic levels is a key feature and settlement. Table 5 shows the The Generalist program is a of direct services work. percentage frequency of violence program for clients referred Client Profile and hardship experienced. from the IHSS program, asylum Clients of the Foundation come Notably the degree of exposure seekers or people who have been from over 50 countries (see which young people have had in Australia for more than 12 Table 1). The top four countries of to witnessing violence and months who need assistance origin of our clients were Burma experiencing loss is very high. with psychological problems as a (Myanmar), Iraq, Sudan and The needs and presenting result of their torture and trauma Afghanistan. problems of clients are multiple experiences. It is funded by the This is consistent with the and complex because their Victorian Department of Human national origins of entrants under experiences of torture, trauma, Services, and the Commonwealth the Humanitarian Program and systemic persecution are Department of Health and Ageing nation-wide. typically repeated over long (DoHA) Program of Assistance to periods of time. Many children Survivors of Torture and Trauma Client Needs and young people have not (PASTT). Table 3 shows the range of known security and stability Direct services in both services provided to clients until their arrival in Australia. programs include: over the last year and shows The opportunities to rebuild • provision of psycho-educative that counselling takes up the lives is best expressed by clients information highest proportion of direct themselves. • comprehensive assessment of service time. Table 4 shows the psychological health medical and social/living needs • referral and facilitated access to of our clients as identified during mainstream and other services assessment. It shows that the • group programs vast majority of clients in both • individual and family programs require general medical counselling

“I feel good because I spoke out everything what I feel, bad or good.” — 19 year old young man 12 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c Direct Services ervi

s Data e e h t

TABLE 1 TABLE 3 TABLE 4 COUNTRY OF ORIGIN (C.O.O.) OF TYPE OF ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO NEEDS AND PROBLEMS OF VFST CLIENTS IN 2009–10 VFST CLIENTS 2008–09 VFST CLIENTS 2009–10 IHSS GENERALIST BOTH total Hours % Direct Service time % frequency at assessment Afghanistan 357 130 50 537 0–17 18+ Bhutan 46 4 50 OTHER MEDICAL years years Bosnia and Herzegovina REFERRAL INTAKE Dental 18 18 1% REPORT WRITING ihss 18 25 Burma (Myanmar) ACCOMPANIED APPOINTMENT generalist 3 6 688 268 201 1157 ADVOCACY both 19 19 Burundi 6 33 39 ASSESSMENT 3% 5% General Practitioner Cambodia 27 27 4% 11% ihss 75 76 China 5 10 2 17 57% generalist 38 59 Congo 5 11 16 8% both 70 75 Congo, Democratic Republic of 34 6 1 41 Optometry Egypt 14 4 18 ihss 4 8 11% El Salvador 3 6 2 11 generalist 1 5 Eritrea 31 18 8 57 both 6 9 Ethiopia 83 82 31 196 Specialist Iran 40 46 9 95 CASE ihss 7 14 Iraq 385 105 170 660 CONFERENCING generalist 6 17 Kuwait 7 4 1 12 COUNSELLING both 10 23 Liberia 91 37 25 153 Specialist — Psychiatry Pakistan 3 13 1 17 ihss 1 OTHER generalist 3 14 Rwanda 27 2 7 36 2% REFERRAL INTAKE both 1 5 Sierra Leone 15 12 1 28 ACCOMPANIED APPOINTMENT Somalia 55 22 13 90 ADVOCACY Sri Lanka 31 38 9 78 ASSESSMENT TABLE 5 Sudan 95 252 114 461 VFST CLIENTS’ EXPERIENCE 4% 8% Thailand 25 8 6 39 24% OF TORTURE AND TRAUMA 2008–09 5% Turkey 21 21 % frequency Country not 51% 0–17 18+ ABS listed 17 20 37 PHYSICAL VIOLENCE years years Other** 29 107 1 137 Severe Beating TOTAL 2092 1300 656 4048 7% ihss 1 11 NOTES GENERALIST 6 28 For children born in Australia (n=29), the C.O.O. of BOTH 1 14 their parent(s) is listed Combatant IHSS = Integrated Humanitarian Settlement CASE ihss <1 2 Strategy CONFERENCING Generalist = Clients that arrived in Australia more GENERALIST 1 5 than 12 months ago and IHSS clients who received COUNSELLING BOTH <1 6 long-term counselling Rape Both = Have received a service during the period under IHSS and Generalist ihss <1 2 GENERALIST 1 7 ** Other refers to 38 countries with numbers less BOTH <1 4 than 10. Sexual Assault other than Rape ihss <1 2 GENERALIST 1 5 BOTH 1 6 Under Combat Fire TABLE 2 VFST CLIENTS BY AGE, GENDER AND PROGRAM 2009–10 ihss 9 17 GENERALIST 20 32 IHSS GENERALIST BOTH natural MENTAL BOTH 19 32 tHERAPIES HEALTH CLINIC Female Male female Male female Male female Male female Male Any of Damage to Teeth, Electric Shock, Genital Mutilation, Other 0-10 years 197 216 49 64 56 61 2 1 4 5 ihss 3 5 11-20 years 232 326 141 175 76 97 5 27 9 12 GENERALIST 5 12 21-30 years 212 258 112 132 66 49 32 15 24 19 BOTH 3 9 31-40 years 163 171 115 116 58 39 39 25 40 32 PSYCHOLOGICAL 41-50 years 83 88 149 83 46 44 80 25 46 40 Dangerous Flight 51-60 years 47 38 80 46 21 19 51 22 22 27 ihss 48 67 61+ years 35 26 18 20 16 8 8 3 3 3 GENERALIST 52 71 Total 969 1123 664 636 339 317 217 118 148 138 BOTH 42 67 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 13 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

0–17 18+ 0–17 18+ 0–17 18+ years years years years years years Social Living Difficulties social living difficulties cont’d social living difficulties cont’d Child Protection Financial — Other Mental Illness ihss 1 1 ihss 25 ihss 8 9 generalist 4 2 generalist 36 generalist 13 13 both 2 1 both 26 both 13 8 Marital or Family Discord Higher QualificationsN ot Recognised School Attendance ihss 2 3 ihss 5 ihss 12 18 generalist 14 11 generalist 10 generalist 15 13 both 4 3 both 5 both 14 24 Family Breakdown* Housing Significant Concern forF amily ihss 9 8 ihss 31 Overseas generalist 24 30 generalist 43 ihss 39 66 both 10 12 both 36 generalist 44 64 Employment Immigration (Sponsorship) both 36 67 ihss 23 ihss 21 44 Since Arrival, Death of a Close Relative or Friend generalist 35 generalist 28 44 ihss 3 5 both 26 both 20 43 generalist 9 15 Financial — Income Support Major Illness or Handicap in Family both 4 6 ihss 24 ihss 14 20 Social Isolation generalist 38 generalist 16 25 ihss 3 5 both 33 both 16 24 generalist 29 36 both 19 24 * percentage refers to number of individuals affected

0–17 18+ 0–17 18+ 0–17 18+ years years years years years years psychological cont’d psychological cont’d DETENTION Detention of Family of Friends Witnessing Others Killed Detention — Concentration Camp ihss 7 15 ihss 7 23 IHSS 3 3 GENERALIST 14 33 GENERALIST 14 36 GENERALIST 3 3 BOTH 10 20 BOTH 6 38 BOTH 4 4 Disapearance of Family Members Witnessing Physical Violence Detention — Home Detention ihss 18 26 ihss 35 60 IHSS <1 <1 GENERALIST 27 38 GENERALIST 51 74 GENERALIST <1 1 BOTH 12 26 BOTH 33 68 BOTH <1 <1 Forced Separation from Family HARDSHIP Legally Sentenced — Prison Term ihss 31 52 In Hiding IHSS <1 2 GENERALIST 40 62 IHSS 21 26 GENERALIST <1 2 BOTH 25 62 GENERALIST 12 24 BOTH 1 6 House Raided BOTH 14 28 Summary (illegal) Detention ihss 6 22 Internal Displacement IHSS <1 3 GENERALIST 12 34 IHSS 18 21 GENERALIST 1 11 BOTH 10 26 GENERALIST 19 27 BOTH 1 5 Kidnapping BOTH 8 19 ihss <1 3 Lack of Food or Water LOSSES – average score GENERALIST <1 2 IHSS 29 30 Forced Separation** BOTH 1 4 GENERALIST 26 28 IHSS 6 11 Solitary Confinement BOTH 24 33 GENERALIST 6 14 ihss <1 7 Lack of Shelter BOTH 6 12 GENERALIST <1 7 IHSS 25 26 Non War Related Loss* BOTH <1 7 GENERALIST 20 26 IHSS 1 2 Subject to Mock Executions BOTH 19 25 GENERALIST 1 3 ihss 1 9 Refugee Camp BOTH 1 3 GENERALIST 2 9 IHSS 38 36 War Related Loss* BOTH 3 9 GENERALIST 44 35 IHSS 5 14 Threat of Harm to Family BOTH 36 37 GENERALIST 9 19 ihss 46 69 BOTH 4 15 GENERALIST 59 77 BOTH 44 79 * A score of 10 is equivalent to a death of a parent for a young child or death of a child for a parent. ** A score of 10 is equivalent to a separation from a parent for a young child or separation from a child for a parent. 14 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Direct Service Program Capacity Building

The Capacity Building Team (CaB ➔ within and between ➔ providing information and team) was established in February communities–Community consultation internally to 2008 in order to build on the Capacity Building role; Foundation House workers work that the Community Liaison In addition to the bridging role, (Schools Team, Counsellor Workers (CLWs) had begun since other activities of the CLWs Advocates, Strengthening their initial employment in late include: Families Team ) and to 2006. ➔ co-presentation in training/ service providers from other Back in 2006 we employed community education; organisations; six CLWs (two from each of ➔ identifying through their ➔ the development of a Karen the Karen, Chin and Assyrian/ work and community community music project, in Chaldean communities) as a involvement, issues facing their partnership with the Boîte (an pilot strategy to help us build communities; organisation which supports our connections with these ➔ sharing cultural knowledge and culturally diverse artists), aimed newly arriving communities. perspectives with staff. at preserving Karen musical In addition to regular co-joint traditions and expressing the work with Counsellor Advocates, refugee experience through examples of the activities the CaB music and song. The project team have been involved in during included a day-long workshop 2009–2010 included: for the participants and ➔ ongoing participation of the song-writing workshops and CLWs in various planning and musical rehearsals over a six steering committees and other month period culminating in networks — local government an hour-long performance in and council; other relevant celebration of Refugee Week settlement support services; in Werribee. The performance Karen community music project concert, June 2010. ➔ community participation in involved 65 members of the meetings with government Karen community performing The pilot was successful and we departments (DHS, DIAC) and their own compositions in decided to formalise their roles local-government as well as traditional Karen style with and established the Capacity other organisations (e.g. AMES traditional instruments, as Building Team. In January 2010 Employment) regarding policy well as using a contemporary we employed two CLWs from the issues relevant to communities; style. The project included Afghan community and added ➔ ongoing identification of establishing an Advisory into the team a Sierra Leonean priority issues for their Committee consisting of Community Counsellor Advocate communities and suitable ways representatives from multiple for two days a week. to respond (needs of young Karen groups who met on a In essence, much of the people, family stresses and regular basis with Foundation work of the CLWs fits within the impact on family relationships House and Boîte staff. concept of undertaking a bridging consistently emerge); ➔ participation in a range of role: ➔ community presentations community fora: e.g. violence ➔ between individuals, families to a range of community prevention in the local and communities and organisations and settlement Chaldean community, in Foundation House staff – support networks, including conjunction with local religious Co-joint role; AMES, Police, schools, tertiary leaders and police; participation ➔ between communities and institutions, VICSEG (Chin, in a multi-agency forum other services – Networking Assyrian/ Chaldean, Karen auspiced by Hume City Council role; communities); focusing on the prevention of family and domestic violence; T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 15 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t

participation in a health- ➔ participation in the Refugee focused information session Action Program organised by Staff to workers from multiple local EMC and Spectrum MRC to Mardi Stow, Manager health agencies (Assyrian/ address employment issues for Susie Strehlow, Coordinator Chaldean communities); refugee women from newly Najla Naier & Naeem Yari ➔ facilitation of a workshop emerging refugee communities – Afghan communities on conflict resolution for (Sierra Leonean & Liberian Dina Korkees & Salam Danka leaders of Assyrian/Chaldean communities); – Assyrian & Chaldean communities; ➔ presentation on family conflict/ communities violence from a cultural Tun Sian Thomas Mung perspective to Eastern regional – Chin communities forum focusing on violence Moses Chitlu Wyn & Saw prevention (Chin community); Reginald Shwe – Karen ➔ involvement in co-facilitation communities of support groups for Andrew Kalon – Sierra unaccompanied refugee minors Leonean & Liberian (Afghan community); communities ➔ co-ordination of recreation programs (volley ball) for UHMs (Afghan community); ➔ participation in state and ➔ training workshops for Karen national church-based networks leaders on dealing with conflict which focus on community in communities (Karen and settlement issues and community); promoting community co- ➔ development support for operation as well as supporting the establishment of Karen refugees in countries of asylum community organisations (Karen and Chin communities). in Sunshine, Newport and Geelong (Melbourne’s outer west), Springvale/Noble Park (Melbourne’s southeast) and East Ringwood (Melbourne’s outer east); End of year celebration, December 2009. ➔ participation in training auspiced by ECCV on various ➔ participation in a ‘train the themes, including working trainer’ workshop focused on with the media, for ethnic the laws in Australia, run by the community leaders and Department of Justice, with the leadership training (Assyrian/ aim of providing information to Chaldean, Sierra Leonean and the Sierra Leonean community; Karen communities); ➔ organisation of a Learner Driver program for young members of the Sierra Leonean community; 16 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Service Innovation Program Launch of Ucan2 program

Paris Aristotle, Ahmed Fahour We are proud to announce that on Australia Post’s support of and Lindsay Tanner are 20 July 2010 the Ucan2 Program Ucan2 began during last year’s welcomed to the launch. was launched at Australia Post by busy Christmas period, when it the Managing Director and Chief employed ten young refugees at Minister Tanner said that “the Executive Officer Ahmed Fahour, its Melbourne mail-sorting centres Ucan2 program demonstrates and The Hon. Lindsay Tanner, in Ardeer and Dandenong, and strong business and community MP, Minister for Finance and the new agreement signals an leadership. For minimal financial Deregulation. expansion into mentoring. investment, this high social return A group of 13 young refugees Mr Fahour, who has called partnership between business and will receive mentoring and access Australia home since arriving community delivers enormous to social and business networks from Lebanon at the age of three, benefit for refugees and has ripple through the Ucan2 program said participation in Ucan2 is effect for generations to come.” which is a collaboration between an example of the practical way Paris Aristotle said that “the Australia Post and Foundation that businesses can assist the Australia Post partnership is far House. integration of refugees into more valuable to us than any The refugees, aged between Australian life. “Our workplaces cheque, and symbolises the way 16 and 24, will be mentored by 13 and our employees at Australia that business can make a real and Australia Post staff with the goal of Post provide a magnificent lasting difference to the refugee increasing education, training and window on the role that business community…Half of the 13,750 employment opportunities in their can play as an enabler of social refugees who arrive each year first 15 months of settlement into integration…We want to lead are under 18 and upon arrival Australia. by example, and I appeal to most have incredible aspirations Australia Post’s Ahmed other corporations to open up for their careers and lives. It’s Fahour, and Foundation House their networks for the refugee important to engage with them Director, Paris Aristotle, signed a community to access new social, at this pivotal time and facilitate Memorandum of Understanding education and employment connections with the community… that signals Australia Post’s contacts.” The support Australia Post is intention to provide ongoing providing in allowing access in-kind support of the Ucan2 to its staff and its workplace is program to achieve social something that money can’t buy.” inclusion goals for the refugee community. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 17 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Policy and Research Program

Service effectiveness This year we completed a Conference presentations Foundation House has been study that has identified outcome ➔ McFarlane, C., (November, undertaking research about indicators for survivors of 2009). Developing indicators the effectiveness of services for torture and trauma who use the of recovery for refugee children survivors of torture and trauma. service. The indicators have been and youth who have received The project aims to evaluate the translated into a comprehensive services for survivors of torture effectiveness of our services and set of goals for use by staff in and trauma. 2nd International establish an evidence base about planning and rating the outcomes Conference of International Society services for torture and trauma of their interventions. of Child Indicators: Counting survivors with components In collaboration with Assoc. Children In, Sydney, Australia. specifically for adults, children and Prof Jeanette Lawrence (a ➔ McFarlane, C., & Kaplan, I. young people. developmental psychologist at (February, 2010). Establishing In April 2010, we hosted a The University of Melbourne) an evidence base for survivors meeting of some of the leading we are developing child-friendly of torture and trauma. 4th Australian academics on the computer based assessment tools. National Conference of the Forum subject of evaluating service The tools will be used to assess of Australian Services for Survivors effectiveness to discuss our project changes in children and young of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) and they provided highly valuable people in the course of receiving — From Surviving to Thriving: advice. services. FASSTT Agencies Supporting Individuals, Families and Communities.

Mental health services Participants were drawn and young people of from academic institutions, refugee backgrounds the Victorian and Australian In August 2009, Foundation governments and service House co-convened a roundtable providers. Following on from the on research and policy issues meeting, the partners established relating to mental health services a collaborative project with three for children and young people of components: a refugee background in Victoria. ➔ a study of factors that inhibit The partners were Associate or promote the engagement Professor Harry Minas (Centre of young people from refugee for International Mental Health, backgrounds with health and University of Melbourne) Carmel community services; Guerra (Centre for Multicultural ➔ the development of a mental Youth), and Dr Georgia Paxton health research agenda; and (Royal Children’s Hospital). ➔ a further roundtable discussion with the participation of young people, service providers, academics and government. The project will be completed in late 2010. 18 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t

Improving the wellbeing Supporting healthy Postnatal depression of Afghan women in South mothers and babies among women of refugee East Melbourne amongst refugee backgrounds Women of refugee backgrounds communities Dr Renata Kokanovic of Monash from Afghanistan have significant Maternal and Child Health University and Foundation House risk factors for their wellbeing Centres provide an important are preparing an application to because of experiences in that care service for all Victorian the Australian Research Council country and post-arrival. In 2009, families with children from to fund a study of postnatal Angela Rintoul (Fellow, Victorian birth to school age. There is no depression among women of Public Health Training Scheme) published data or research on refugee backgrounds in Australia. was placed with us to undertake how adequately the service meets a study of issues relating to the the needs of families of refugee mental health and wellbeing of backgrounds. Foundation House Afghan women in South East and the McCaughey Centre for Melbourne, where the largest the Promotion of Mental Health number of Afghan refugees settle and Community Wellbeing at in Victoria. Her report examines the University of Melbourne factors that affect the women’s have established a partnership to mental health and wellbeing, and undertake a study to determine provides recommendations for whether there are barriers to services, policy and research. The access and how the service can report is on our website. better assist families of refugee backgrounds.

Family separation and Impact of displacement Tracking educational reunion and trauma on refugee progress of young people Foundation House completed families of refugee background research on family separation and Dr Radhika Santhanam-Martin, Foundation House has reunion and the ways in which a clinical psychologist and commenced a study with Ms Australian government policies family therapist at Foundation Abi Brooker and Associate affect family composition in House, is undertaking a review Professor Jeanette Lawrence at 2009. The study indicated that of the literature on the effects of the University of Melbourne. The family separation adversely affects displacement on families who are study will follow refugee young wellbeing and the capacity of forced to flee. The key outcome people through their first year of people to settle and plan for the will be a paper exploring the mainstream high school after their future. A report on the study with nature of profound transitions Ucan2 Program* or an English recommendations to resettlement and the impact of displacement language course. The findings countries was prepared by Dr experiences on the development of will be used to inform educational Brooke McDonald-Wilmsen and family resilience and vulnerability. authorities and teachers on young Professor Sandy Gifford (La Trobe people’s educational needs. University) and published by UNHCR*. A complementary report with recommendations for Australian policy has been * Ucan2 is a Foundation House prepared. program providing a range of support services and programs to encourage * Research Paper No. 178, Refugee newly arrived young people to remain resettlement, family separation and engaged in education and training Australia’s humanitarian programme, whilst following an appropriate pathway 2009. to reach their goals. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 19 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Refugee Health Research Consortium

Foundation House and several the Dandenong Casey General ➔ engage in knowledge transfer other key organisations have Practice Association, Southern and exchange; and established a consortium to Health Ambulatory and ➔ inform state, national and promote refugee health research Community Care, the Victorian international policy and directly applicable to policy and Departments of Health and practice in refugee health. service provision in south east Human Services, and the Adult The consortium has established Melbourne (the main area in Migrant Education Service. The a mental health sub-group of which newly arrived refugees to consortium will: which Foundation House is the Victoria are settling) and more ➔ foster collaboration on refugee initial chair. widely. The other participants health research in the region; include Monash University,

Identification of Mental health of refugees The psycho-social impact vulnerable clients of the and asylum seekers of prolonged immigration Immigration Department Foundation House staff Dr Ida detention The Department of Immigration Kaplan and Josef Szwarc, and In 2009 Foundation House staff and Citizenship commissioned Professor Helen Herrman completed a study of the mental Foundation House to develop (ORYGEN Research Centre, health consequences of long-term a sample tool to identify and Department of Psychiatry, immigration detention for people assess ‘vulnerable’ people who The University of Melbourne) seeking asylum. The findings are awaiting resolution of their co-authored a chapter for an were disturbing: prolonged visa applications and who are international publication, Mental immigration detention caused not in detention. The aim was to Health of Refugees and Asylum enduring harm. All the individuals assist the Department to identify Seekers. Their chapter is titled were struggling to rebuild their as early as possible which clients ‘Post-migration and mental health: lives in the years following release need assistance (e.g. to access The Australian experience’. The from immigration detention, and health services) in order to remain book is edited by Dinesh Bhugra for the majority the difficulties effectively engaged with the status and others and has been published experienced were pervasive. resolution process and expedite by Oxford University Press. ‘The meaning and mental outcomes, whether that means health consequences of long-term the granting of a permanent visa immigration detention for people or departure from Australia. The seeking asylum’ by Guy Coffey, project was completed in March Ida Kaplan, Robyn Sampson 2010. and Maria Tucci was published in the international journal, Social Science & Medicine (2010) 2070–2079. The article was widely disseminated to members of the Australian government and other politicians and other key policy-makers and Foundation House convened a meeting in June where participants discussed continuing issues of concern about immigration detention in Australia. 20 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Health Sector Development Program Rural services

Rural and regional Victoria training, health advocacy and consultation as needed to other continue to attract both newly other forms of capacity building. towns where there is refugee arriving and relocating refugee Foundation House has settlement, such as Castlemaine, families and individuals for established partnerships with Horsham, Cobram, Warrnambool a variety of reasons such as counselling agencies in nine rural and Wodonga. employment opportunities, areas in order to be able to provide With refugee-background affordable housing, joining torture & trauma counselling communities now well established relatives, and a perception of a and related advocacy in the in several parts of regional slower pace and more traditional areas where there is significant Victoria, we are providing more values. Foundation House settlement. In 2009/10 there advanced and specific professional continues to assist a range of were active partnerships in place development at the request services in regional towns with in Ballarat, Bendigo, Colac, of service providers, such as their work in settlement and Geelong, Shepparton, Latrobe workshops on families in cultural psychological support, through Valley, Wonthaggi, Mildura transition, social and employment contracted counsellor-advocate and Swan Hill. We have also inclusion, and more intensive services, secondary consultation, provided training and secondary counselling skills development.

Victorian Refugee Health Network

The Victorian Refugee Health ➔ GP working group: Activity in ➔ Oral health: the Network was Network, auspiced by Foundation 2009/10 included provision very pleased to be advised that House, provides a unique forum of advice to Commonwealth people of refugee background to bring together health and Department of Health have been identified as a mental health services, clinicians, and Ageing regarding the priority group for public dental government departments, introduction of new Medical health services general care, settlement and asylum seeker Benefits Schedule items that and eligible for a fee-waiver. agencies, to identify and address replace the Refugee Health A project to work with public refugee health issues. Assessment item numbers. dental health services will Victorian Refugee Health The good news is that GPs can commence in 2010-11, in Network highlights in 2009-10 now charge for the time taken partnership with Dental Health included: for using interpreters. Services Victoria, to increase ➔ Website and e-bulletin: The The Network also worked capacity of services to work number of visitors to the with three GP divisions to effectively with clients from website and subscribers to the organise the GP Refugee refugee backgrounds. e-bulletin continues to grow Health series 2010. ➔ Involvement in the with 370 unique visitors per ➔ Sexual & reproductive health: development and activities of week to the website and 430 A working group focussing the Refugee Health Network of subscribers. on sexual health literacy was Australia. ➔ A successful forum attended by established in March 2010 to over 60 health service providers canvass the range of issues from rural and metropolitan facing new arrivals in gaining Victoria to explore the findings access to necessary health of the report ‘Access to information. A forum is Specialist Services by Refugees planned for November 2010. in Victoria’. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 21 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Training and Professional Development

Foundation House is committed Our training program is based Counselling and to providing high quality training on our practice experience and Incidental Counselling and professional development gathers resources and information training is growing as we opportunities to education, health from all of our programs receive more on request training and community services providers, including Direct Service, Service for two-day skill development as part of a broader objective to Innovation Program, Health modules . build the capacity of these sectors Sector Development, Policy and Victorian Multicultural to better respond to the needs of Research both in Brunswick and Commission Two-Day Incidental people of a refugee background. Dandenong. Most Foundation Counsellors Course April 2010 In the 2009/2010 financial year House training curriculum is What will you do differently as a Foundation House provided based on the material contained in result of this training? 300 training sessions to 7494 Rebuilding Shattered Lives (1998- “Not feeling I have to fix all the participants. There continues to 1999), School’s In for Refugees issues, give more time and space for be an overwhelming demand for (2004-2005), and Promoting individuals.” training from Foundation House’s Refugee Health: a Guide for Doctors “Asking more directly how people training team, with an increasing and Other Healthcare Practitioners, are feeling. I haven’t really done that focus on more specialised training Caring for People from Refugee before.” for particular groups. Some Backgrounds (2007), among other “Allow more space for silence, give highlights in 2009/2010 included: Foundation House publications. dual permission to disclose and not ➔ Two day program for the Some feedback from training disclose.” Statewide Sexual Assault participants: School training is offered workforce. Refugee Health Nurse centrally via the training calendar ➔ Professional development Introduction March 2010 but also through relationships session for program staff from What will you do differently as a developed in the regional Refugee the recently established Healthy result of this training? Action Networks. Mothers Healthy Babies “Use of interpreters (as suggested School’s In Training May 2010 program. in session). Heightened awareness What will you do differently as a ➔ Partnership with Victoria Police of client’s experience. Will share result of this training? to provide training for new knowledge to colleagues and “Approach situations differently— recruits, including Train-the- encourage them to attend training.” give smaller goals for students to Trainer for Victoria Police staff “Set up protocols and practices achieve.” and Police members. around refugee health in our medical “Incorporate some elements into ➔ Partnership with the Victorian practice for more effective treatment our school policies and procedures, Transcultural Psychiatry Unit and management.” backed up by greater understanding.” in the provision of training “More patient with students, for specialist mental health GP training is delivered in judge student outbursts differently in services. partnerships with GP divisions regard to consequences of behaviour; ➔ Professional development and Primary Care Partnership. furthered understanding.” sessions with family services Refugee Health Case worker in in a number of rural areas, General Practice Shepparton drawing on the work of the November 2009 Foundation House Family “It’s a fantastic opportunity to Strengthening Strategy. learn more and do the best for people ➔ Ongoing training offered who are in real need of service” by the Schools’ program to the regional Refugee Action Networks as part of a broader program of capacity building for schools. 22 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t Complementary Therapies

Complementary Therapies (also of chronic body pain, muscular According to Dr. Gardiner, referred to as natural therapies) tension related to long term “The approach of Foundation at Foundation House includes depression, anxiety, grief, as well House to client care, with an naturopathy, herbal medicine, as the physical effects of torture, emphasis on case conferencing nutritional medicine, relaxation hard labour, and or a history of and practitioner collaboration, and remedial massage therapy, poor living conditions. offers something unique to the yoga, shiatsu and physiotherapy, A chronic pain special interest care of clients who are suffering for clients referred for this service. group for staff was facilitated by chronic pain related to torture Over the past 12 months the the complementary therapies team and trauma. The first task is the complementary therapies program and Dr. Joanne Gardiner. The aim building of trust between client has further developed work in the of the group was to consolidate and therapist, and secondly to give area of chronic pain – common and build on existing knowledge the client a sense of a supportive in refugees recovering from the of chronic pain in refugees team of carers willing to allow effects of torture and trauma. from different therapeutic the client to go at their own pace Referrals to the program are approaches including medical, and individualise therapy. This frequently of those requiring natural therapies and counseling approach, uniquely suited to assistance with the management frameworks. refugee clients, is different to that of most multidisciplinary pain clinics.”

Karen Women’s Yoga Group can reduce muscle tension, The Karen Women’s Yoga Group, pain, physical symptoms and piloted for the first time in emotional distress, and increase February 2009, continued this quality of life*. The women who year after positive feedback from have attended the group regularly participants. Four courses of 6-8 report improvements in many of weeks were conducted between these symptoms. August 2009 and June 2010, with an average of 10-12 participants each week. * See for example: Foundation House counsellors • Richmond J et al. ‘Integration of refer women to the group to learn behavioral and relaxation ap­proaches strategies to manage anxiety, sleep into the treatment of chronic pain and problems, and chronic pain. One insomnia’. Journal of the American important aspect of recovery from Medical Association. 1996;276:313-318. Complimenatry therapy trauma is learning skills to relax • van der Kolk, B. ‘Clinical Implications in action. the body and calm the mind. of Neuroscience Research in PTSD’, Yoga practices, including physical Annals of the New York Academy of postures, breathing practices, and Sciences. 2006; 1071:1-17 relaxation techniques, can assist • Telles S et al. ‘Post traumatic stress with pain management through symptoms and heart rate variability in increasing awareness of the Bihar flood survivors following yoga: mind-body connection. Research a randomized controlled study’. BMC has shown that yoga practices Psychiatry. 2010 Mar 2;10:18. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 23 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 s e c ervi s e e h t

Case Study Addressing his pain issues The client reported significant A 51-year-old Chin Burmese man was such a high priority for this reductions in pain with massage presented with chronic pain client that he had not conveyed therapy, and over time and in originating from past torture other important health issues, combination with physiotherapy, experiences in Burma, where he such as rapidly deteriorating his pain and mobility further had been severely beaten and his eyesight, to his GP. improved. The client was better hand broken. He was left with X-ray results from the GP able to address and deal with extensive back pain referring to were obtained, and appropriate other health issues such as his right leg and right arm, and referrals were made for eyesight and anxiety symptoms. deformity and pain in his right physiotherapy and eye tests. His daily functioning also hand. The natural therapies improved, allowing him to The client described his approach involved therapeutic successfully complete an Aged current pain as ‘severe, as massage, nutritional Care course. if someone is beating’ him. supplementation, and teaching Pain interfered with his sleep, relaxation / stretch techniques mobility, concentration and well- that the client could practice at being. home.

The use of herbal Thank you medicine for insomnia and We are deeply appreciative of exhaustion the contribution of volunteer Withania somnifera is a medicinal therapists – Alex Caldwell (Shiatsu herb traditionally used in therapy) and David Kelly and Tibor Ayurvedic medicine for sleep Boka (Physiotherapy). disturbance as well as a tonic for We would also like to debility, nervous exhaustion, and thank Mediherb, Integria, the effects of long term anxiety. and Southern Light Herbs for Naturopaths at Foundation House their ongoing support which will often use Withania as part of helps us to continue to provide an approach to supporting people herbal medicine and nutritional to sleep better and recover from supplements to clients free of the effects of torture and trauma charge. on both the body and the mind alongside other practitioners and therapies. Herbs such as Withania are often part of a therapeutic approach to working with chronic pain when considering how long term pain affects the overall functioning of a person. 24 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

The House foundation Foundation House says thank you!

Each year, the list gets longer. Funding In-kind Support and Ever increasing numbers Government Services of organisations, groups and Commonwealth Department of Adult Multicultural Education individuals have stepped forward Health and Ageing Services to work together with Foundation Commonwealth Department of Alex and Paddy Stitt House as it assists individuals, Immigration and Citizenship Arts Access families and communities from Dental Health Services Victoria Australian Football League refugee backgrounds to build Victorian Department of Brigidine Sisters (West Footscray) their lives in Australia. In addition Education and Early Childhood Circus Oz to financial support, Foundation Development Cranlana House and its clients have Victorian Department of Human Ian McKenzie benefited from a range of in-kind Services Margaret Wehl and Family and pro bono assistance. It is Marion Hadingham Other Funding very reassuring to have so many Mediherb (Integria) Annamila Pty Ltd friends committed to supporting Presentation Sisters Anna Wearne Trust our work. We appreciate the Southern Light Herbs Australian Red Cross assistance and we value the UNHCR Regional OfficeC anberra Caroline Durre Foundation relationships we have formed with Prof. David Penington AC Complementary Therapy the people who offer their support. Department of Justice – Volunteers Foundation House would like Broadmeadows, Sunshine and Tibor Boka (Physiotherapy) to acknowledge the financial and William St Magistrate’s Courts Alex Caldwell (Shiatsu Therapy) in-kind support of the following Hugh Williamson Foundation David Kelly (Physiotherapy) organisations and individuals. The Invergowrie Foundation John McFarlane To those organisations and Karen McLeod Adair individuals not on this page but Lord Major’s Charitable Fund who support Foundation House McLeod Family Foundation in a myriad of ways, including Meadow Heights Primary School all our volunteers—occasional or Melbourne Community long-serving—thank you for your Foundation invaluable contribution to our Portland House Foundation organisation. Reichstein Foundation Roxburgh College The Sidney Myer Foundation The Sky Foundation Mr Victor and Mrs Fleur Spitzer Susan Brennan Victorian Health Promotion Foundation William Buckland Foundation WPC Group

From small things, big things grow.

End of year celebration, December 2009. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 25 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 foundation A word from our Patrons

Patrons not only associate their “Foundation House continues “The Foundation is to be names and reputations with our to provide a multidisciplinary congratulated on another year’s work but also give generously of response to those who are quiet but very important work their time, networks, support and being challenged by their past in supporting a large number of encouragement. We offer our experiences of displacement, people in need of its very expert sincere gratitude to our esteemed trauma and torture. counselling and social support Patrons for their generous The compassionate approaches services, as well as maintaining participation. provide the necessary support to high profile national and enable refugees and migrants to international links. It has every resettle in their new home. Your reason to take pride in these Patrons-in-Chief services are invaluable.” achievements” Prof. David de Kretser, AC, — Prof. David de Kretser — Prof. David Penington AC Governor of Victoria and Governor of Victoria Mrs Jan de Kretser “Foundation House continues Patrons “Once again a year closes. The to enrich and inspire our Prof. Hilary Charlesworth AM all too frequent elections seem to community. It does work that goes Prof. Max Charlesworth AO regularly bring out xenophobic largely unrecognised, but which is Ms Dur-é Dara OAM elements in Australians. There critical for a caring and generous Mr Andrew Demetriou is a whipped up demonization of society. Foundation House Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG boat people. But our Foundation provides a safety net for those who Prof. David Penington AC knows that all too many refugee fall between the cracks of our legal Mr David Scott AO applicants are genuine. Their and social systems.” trauma is real. We demonstrate — Prof. Hilary Charlesworth AM that there are Australians who are principled and loving to those who have suffered torture and persecution.” — The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG Past Justice of the High Court of Australia

End of year celebration, December 2009. 26 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 foundation A word of thanks

So many individuals and Thank you! We would also like to acknowledge organisations make contributions Clients the significant contribution of our large and small to the work, Board of Management members Ethics Committee throughout the service and achievements of Members year: Foundation House, and we Patrons John Gibson don’t know how we could ever Neighbours – The Bouverie Centre Andrew Hamilton accurately list them all. and Milparinka Professor Helen Herrman What we do know is that we Government funding bodies Jill Jameson could not do what we do without Philanthropic trusts David Manne the generosity, commitment and Private donors Mary O’Brien collaboration of each and every Corporate supporters Dr Dick Sloman one of you. Please accept our Contractors and suppliers Joe Zaia warm and sincere thanks for your Volunteers and our Research Sub-Committee: support during the past year. Refugee, health, education and Dr David Corlett community sector colleagues Dr Renata Kokanovic Victorian Government Associate Professor Jeanette Commonwealth Government Lawrence Local Members of Parliament Dr Raelene Wilding Media representatives

Management and staff

Foundation House brings Richard Home (our new treasurer) Foundation House Board together an increasingly diverse and Karen McLeod Adair. We of Management management and staff team would like to sincerely thank Mick Lynne Haultain (Chair) whose commitment to human and Teresa for their tremendous David Bilander (Deputy Chair) rights and achievement of support and commitment to Genevieve Timmons (Secretary) high quality levels of service to Foundation House over the Richard Home (Treasurer and survivors is unparalleled. This years—their knowledge, expertise Public Officer) Board of past year we said farewell to Board and dedication was a huge asset to Helen Casey Management and members Mick Kane and Teresa the Board and will be missed. Michelle Groves Director, Paris Zolnierkiewicz and welcome to Lenora Lippmann Aristotle. Ian McKenzie Karen McLeod Adair Dick Sloman Kathleen Walsh

Foundation House Agency Management Team Paris Aristotle AM Rose Blustein Sue Casey Lew Hess Ida Kaplan Roslyn Leary Chris Pierson Mardi Stow Jo Szwarc T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 27 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

Foundation House And of course, we must acknowledge our staff—all of whom share an Staff Teams unwavering dedication to providing the highest possible level of service Agency Operations to our clients and their families. Complementary Therapies Foundation House Staff listing 2010 Direct Services Early Intervention and Capacity Alison Mynard Eric Brunet Marie-Pierre Bouchet- Building (North West) Amy Camilleri Erin Hughes Hibbert Generalist (North West) Amy Harkin Fiona Lorrimar Marilyn Magno Health Sector Development Andrea Stewart Frank Deans Mary Read Program Andrew Kalon Freya Merrick Michael Bromhead Policy and Research Program Angela Woodburn Ged Lannan Morag McKillop Service Innovation Program Anita Biesheuvel Georgia Phillips Naem Yari South East Regional Anne Carey Gillian Kerr Najla Naier Anne Clifford Giovanna Citta Nora Fernandes Annerose Reiner Grace Lopez Philippa Duell-Piening Publications and Annie Mullarvey Guy Coffey Pina Garasi Antonia Sotelo Hala Chamas Rebecca Cole resources Aphrodite McGregor Heidi Wegener Reginald Shwe Foundation House continues to develop resources Archangelo Madut Hien Bui Cong Rob Newling to enhance the understanding of the needs of Arna Stewart Jackie Hoggart Rosa Dias Santilhano survivors among health and other professionals, Babette Sabella Jacqueline Robson Rose Harper government and the wider community. Recently Berly Montano James Twang Sabehete Flamuri produced publications encompass areas such Bernard O’Rourke Janet Chesters Salam Dankha as refugee health and wellbeing, community Bernie Farrell Janine Borrell Sandi Howlett development, family strengthening, and school and Bethany Smith Jasmina Mulugeta Sandra Walker education resources and curriculum material. Briele Hanson Jennifer Adams Sarah Berberi Our resources and publications are available Carolyn Wilson Jess Krummel Sarah MacWilliams on the Foundation House website for free Cecilia Clarke Jessica Martinez Sera Elmasri download to ensure they are available to the widest Chitlu Wyn John Belieu Shelley Cook possible audience. Publications can be viewed Chris Hortin Joyce Sadia-Peter Sheree McDonald and downloaded under the Resources tab at www. Chris Nathan Julia Doherty Sherina Shwe foundationhouse.org.au Christine Bakopanos Julie O’Donoghue Siobhan O’Mara HouseNotes, a regular electronic newsletter, Clare Lincoln Kate Hill Sophie Cavanagh is produced three times a year to give members, Clare Wherry Kath Cooney Sue Liddelow sector colleagues, funding bodies and supporters Colleen McFarlane Kirsty Sangster Sue West regular updates on the work of Foundation House. Conrad Aikin Lauren Dukier Susan George You can view the latest edition of HouseNotes, Cora Torrefranca Leigh Johnston Susie Strehlow as well as all the latest Foundation House news, at Corinne Marcello Leo Sexton Suzanne Dean www.foundationhouse.org.au/news/index.htm Cristina Wlasiuk Lesley McLeod Tania Herbert Dakhylina Madkhul Leslie Heath Therese Meehan Danni Forer Louise Crowe Thomas Mung Dimi Cromdos Luisa Capasso Thon Adut Dina Korkees Madeleine Valibhoy Tim Andrews Donna Chesters Malong Matiok Tom Griffiths Elizabeth Alexander Margy Carney Victoria Ajoung Elizabeth Hess Maria Diaz William Fearnley- Emely Massoud Maria Tucci Sander Emma Hodges Zakia Ebrahim 28 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0 e s e Hou e Th THE VICTORIAN FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE Financial ABN: 52 783 974 656 statements Statement of comprehensive income FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2010 Statement by Members Revenue 2010 2009 of the Board Grants: $ $ Department of Health and Ageing 1,347,084 1,322,521 In the opinion of the Board the Department of Human Services (VIC) 1,829,684 1,821,150 IHSS contract – DIAC 3,000,761 2,541,910 financial report: Funding received for projects and programs 798,626 768,234 1. presents a true and fair view Non-recurrent grants 1,767,862 1,508,100 Consulting and training fees 90,950 46,052 of the financial position of Interest 59,184 73,846 The Victorian Foundation for Membership subscriptions 4,911 3,907 Donations 1,173,178 346,837 Survivors of Torture as at 30 Publications 136 914 June 2010 and its performance Surplus on sale of assets 30,535 28,378 for the financial year ended on Reimbursement, national forum and other income 441,130 726,028 Total revenue 10,544,041 9,187,877 that date in accordance with Expenditure the Australian Accounting Salaries, wages and on-costs (6,706,397) (6,453,970) Standards and other mandatory National forum (283,173) (297,207) professional reporting Annual general meeting (26,809) (30,975) Bank and credit card charges (3,827) (3,364) requirements and other Building and occupancy costs (287,518) (255,513) authoritative pronouncements Equipment, computing/IT and furniture supplies (108,350) (108,078) and depreciation of the Australian Accounting Conferences, seminars, publications and (51,689) (33,855) Standards Board. professional development Interpreting costs (703,040) (578,133) 2. At the date of this statement, Program, consultant, contractor and client costs (465,834) (707,448) there are reasonable grounds Advertising, volunteer, agency and Board (83,508) (56,606) expenses to believe that The Victorian Motor vehicle expenses and depreciation (470,910) (435,469) Foundation for Survivors of Client travel expenses (63,033) (57,580) Printing, stationery and postage (76,465) (74,731) Torture will be able to pay its Telephone expenses (138,228) (109,506) debts as and when they fall due. Professional fees (23,676) (32,550) Evaluation fees (347,481) - This statement is made in Other Expenses (83,377) - accordance with a resolution of Total expenditure (9,923,315) (9,234,985) the Board and is signed for and on Operating surplus/(deficit) before income tax 620,726 (47,108) behalf of the Board by: THE VICTORIAN FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE statement of financial position AS AT 30 JUNE 2010 2010 2009 CURRENT ASSETS $ $ Cash and cash equivalents 2,273,014 971,727 Lynne Haultain Term deposits — 551,669 Chairperson Trade and other receivables 1,091,970 836,352 Total current assets 3,364,984 2,359,748 NON‑CURRENT ASSETS Property, plant and equipment 1,463,438 1,418,385 Total non‑current assets 1,463,438 1,418,385 Richard Home TOTAL ASSETS 4,828,422 3,778,133 Treasurer CURRENT LIABILITIES Trade and other payables 771,476 815,648 29 September 2010 Borrowings 74,074 63,507 Deferred income 1,309,369 968,695 Full copies of the audited accounts are Provisions 907,395 653,227 Total current liabilities 3,062,314 2,501,077 available on request. The notes form NON‑CURRENT LIABILITIES part of these financial statements. Borrowings 211,314 226,549 Provisions 37,459 153,898 Total non‑current liabilities 248,773 380,447 TOTAL LIABILITIES 3,311,087 2,881,524 NET ASSETS 1,517,335 896,609 EQUITY Opening balance 896,609 943,717 Surplus/(Defecit) for the period 620,726 (47,108) TOTAL EQUITY 1,517,335 896,609 T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e 29 A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE VICTORIAN FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT INDEPENDENTTO THE MEMBERS AUDITOR’S OF THE REPORTVICTORIAN FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE INDEPENDENTTO THE MEMBERS AUDITOR’S OF THE REPORTVICTORIAN FOUNDATION FOR SURVIVORS OF TORTURE TOWe THEhave MEMBERS audited the OF accompanying THE VICTORIAN financial FOUNDATION report of The FOR Victorian SURV IVORSFoundation OF TORTURE for Survivors of Torture, which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2010 and the statement of comprehensive income, We have audited the accompanying financial report of The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, which statement of changes in equity, and statement of cash flows for the year ended on that date, a summary of Wecomprises have audited the statement the accompanying of financial financialposition asreport at 30 of JuneThe Victorian2010 and Foundation the statement for Survivorsof comprehensive of Torture in, come,which significant accounting policies and other explanatory notes and the Statement by Members of the board. statementWecomprises have audited ofthe changes statement the accompanying in of equity, financial and financialposition statement asreport ofat ca30ofsh JuneThe flows Victorian2010 for and the Foundation the year statement ended for on Survivorsof that comprehensive date, of Torture a summary in, come,which of statementsignificant accounting of changes policies in equity, and and other statement explanato ofry canotessh flows and the for Statement the year endedby Members on that of date,the board. a summary of Thecomprises Responsibility the statement of the Membersof financial of positionthe Board as for at the30 FinancialJune 2010 Report and the statement of comprehensive income, statementsignificant accounting of changes policies in equity, and and other statement explanato ofry canotessh flows and the for Statement the year endedby Members on that of date,the board. a summary of significantThe Responsibility members accounting of theof thepolicies Board Members are and responsible other of the explanato Board for for thery the notes pr Financialeparation and the Report andStatement fair presentation by Members of of the the financial board. report in Theaccordance Responsibility with Australian of the Members Accounting of the Standards Board for the (including Financial the Report Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the The members of the Board are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in Associations Incorporation Act 1981. This responsibility includes establishing and maintaining internal controls Theaccordance Responsibility members with of Australian theof the Board Members Accounting are responsible of the Standards Board for for the the (in prcluding Financialeparation the Report andAustralian fair presentation Accounting of Interpretations) the financial reandport the in relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, Associationsaccordance withIncorporation Australian Act Accounting 1981. This Standards responsi (inbilitycluding includes the Australianestablishing Accounting and maintaining Interpretations) internal controlsand the whetherThe members due to of fraud the Board or error; are selecting responsible and for applyi theng pr eparation appropriate and accounting fair presentation policies; of and the making financial acco reportunting in relevantAssociations to the Incorporation preparation Act and 1981. fair presentation This responsi of bility the financial includes report establishing that is and free maintaining from material intern misstatement,al controls estimatesaccordance that with are Australian reasonable Accounting in the circumstances. Standards (including the Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the whetherrelevantAssociations todue the Incorporation to preparation fraud or error; Act and 1981. selecting fair presentation This and responsi applyi of ngbility the appropriate financial includes report establishing accounting that is and freepolicies; maintaining from and material making intern misstatement, accoal controlsunting whetherestimates due that to are fraud reasonable or error; in selectingthe circumstances. and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting relevantAuditor’s toResponsibility the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whetherestimates due that to are fraud reasonable or error; in selectingthe circumstances. and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimatesOurAuditor’s responsibility Responsibility that are isreasonable to express in an the opinion circumstances. on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordanceAuditor’s Responsibility with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. We conducted our audit in ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable OuraccordanceAuditor’s responsibility Responsibility with Australian is to express Auditing an opinion Standards. on the Thefinancialse Auditing report Standardsbased on ourrequire audit. that We we conducted comply with our rauditelevant in assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. Ouraccordanceethical responsibility requirements with Australian is to relatingexpress Auditing toan auditopinion Standards. engagements on the Thefinancialse and Auditing report plan Standardsbased and perform on ourrequire audit. the that audit We we conducted to comply obtain with our reasonable rauditelevant in ethicalassurance requirements whether the relating financial to report audit is engagementsfree from material and misstatement. plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable accordanceAn audit involves with Australian performing Auditing procedures Standards. to obtain The se audit Auditing evidence Standards about therequire amounts that we and comply disclosures with relevant in the assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. ethicalfinancial requirements report. The procedures relating to selected audit engagements depend on theand auditor’s plan and judgement, perform theincluding audit the to assessment obtain reasonable of the An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the assurancerisks of material whether misstatement the financial report of the is financialfree from repmaterialort, whether misstatement. due to fraud or error. In making those risk Anfinancial audit report. involves The performing procedures procedures selected todepend obtain o n a uditthe auditor’s evidence judgement, about the amountsincluding andthe assessment disclosures inof the assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financialrisks of materialreport. The misstatement procedures of selected the financial depend rep oort,n the whether auditor’s due judgement, to fraud including or error. the In makingassessment those of riskthe Anfinancial audit report involves in orderperforming to design procedures audit procedure to obtains a thatudit are evidence appropriate about in the the amounts circumstances, and disclosures but not for in the risksassessments, of material the auditor misstatement considers of theinternal financial control rep relevantort, whether to the entity’s due to preparation fraud or error. and fair In makingpresentation those of riskthe financialpurpose report. of expressing The procedures an opinion selected on the effectivenedepend onss the of auditor’s the entity’s judgement, internal including control. Anthe auditassessment also includes of the assessments,financial report the in auditor order toconsiders design auditinternal procedure control relevants that are to the appropriate entity’s preparation in the circumstances, and fair pres butentation not for of the risksevaluating of material the appropriateness misstatement of accounting the financial polici repesort, used whether and due the reasonableness to fraud or error. of Inaccounting making those estima risktes financialpurpose ofreport expressing in order an to opinion design onaudit the procedure effectivenes thatss of are the appropriate entity’s internal in the control. circumstances, An audit but also no t includes for the madeassessments, by the members the auditor of theconsiders committee, internal as wellcontrol as evrelevantaluating to thethe overallentity’s presentation preparation ofand the fair financial presentation report. of the financialpurposeevaluating ofreport the expressing appropriateness in order an to opinion design of onauditaccounting the procedure effectivene policis es thatss used of are the and appropriate entity’s the reasonableness internal in the control. circumstances, of An accounting audit but also no estima t includes for thetes evaluatingmade by the the members appropriateness of the committee, of accounting as well policias evesaluating used the and overall the reasonableness presentation of ofthe accounting financial report. estima tes Wepurpose believe of that expressing the audit an evidence opinion we on have the effectivene obtained isss sufficient of the entity’s and appropriate internal control. to provide An a audit basis also for our includes audit made by the members of the committee, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. opinion.evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates madeWe believe by the that members the audit of theevidence committee, we have as well obtained as ev aluatingis sufficient the andoverall appropriate presentation to provide of the financiala basis freport.or our audit opinion.We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit Independence opinion.We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.InIndependence conducting our audit, we followed applicable independence requirements of Australian professional ethical pronouncements.Independence In conducting our audit, we followed applicable independence requirements of Australian professional ethical pronouncements.InIndependence conducting our audit, we followed applicable independence requirements of Australian professional ethical Audit Opinion pronouncements.In conducting our audit, we followed applicable independence requirements of Australian professional ethical pronouncements.TheAudit financial Opinion report of The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture is in accordance with the Associations IncorporationAudit Opinion Act 1981 including: The financial report of The Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture is in accordance with the Associations (i)IncorporationTheAudit financial Opinion giving aActreport true 1981 andof including:The fair Victorianview of the Foundation entity's fin foancialr Survivors position of asTorture at 30 isJune in accordance 2010 and of with its perfothe Asrmancesociations and Incorporationcash flows Act 1981for the including: year ended on that date; and (i)The financial giving areport true andof The fair Victorianview of the Foundation entity's fin foancialr Survivors position of asTorture at 30 isJune in accordance 2010 and of with its perfothe Asrmancesociations and (ii)(i)Incorporation complyinggivingcash flows aAct true 1981withfor and the Australianincluding: fairyear view ended Accountingof theon thatentity's date; Standards fin andancial (includingposition as Australian at 30 June Accounting 2010 and Interpretations) of its performance and andthe Associations Incorporation Act 1981. (ii)(i) complyinggivingcash flows a true withfor and the Australian fairyear view ended Accountingof theon thatentity's date; Standards fin andancial (includingposition as Australian at 30 June Accounting 2010 and Interpretations) of its performance and andthe (ii) complyingAssociationscash flows withfor Incorporation the Australian year ended AccountingAct on 1981. that date; Standards and (including Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the (ii) complyingAssociations with Incorporation Australian AccountingAct 1981. Standards (including Australian Accounting Interpretations) and the Associations Incorporation Act 1981.

PKF J A Mooney PKF JPartner A Mooney PKF PartnerJ A Mooney 21 October 2010 Partner MelbournePKF J A Mooney 21 October 2010 Partner 21Melbourne October 2010 21Melbourne October 2010 MelbourneTel: 61 3 9603 1700 | Fax: 61 3 9602 3870 | www.pkf.com.au Tel:PKF 61 | ABN3 9603 83 1700 236 985 | Fax: 726 61 3 9602 3870 | www.pkf.com.au PKFTel:Level 61 |14, ABN3 9603140 83 William 1700 236 985 | Street Fax: 726 61 | Melbourne3 9602 3870 | Victoria| www.pkf.com.au 3000 | Australia GPO Box 5099 | Melbourne | Victoria 3001 Tel:LevelPKF 61 |14, ABN3 9603140 83 William 1700 236 985 | Street Fax: 726 61 | Melbourne3 9602 3870 | Victoria| www.pkf.com.au 3000 | Australia GPOPKFLevel Box|14, ABN 1405099 83 William 236| Melbourne 985 Street 726 | | Melbourne Victoria 3001 | Victoria 3000 | Australia GPOLevelThe PKF Box14, East 1405099 Coast William Practice| Melbourne Streetis a member | | Melbourne Victoriaof the PKF 3001 International | Victoria Limited 3000 network | Australia of legally independen t member firms. The PKF East Coast Practice is also a member of the PKF Australia Limited national network of legally independent firms each trading as PKF. PKF East Coast Practice has offices in NSW, Victoria and Brisbane. PKF EastGPOThe PKFCoast Box East Practice 5099 Coast does Practice| Melbourne not acceptis a member responsibility | Victoriaof the PKF or liability3001 International for the Limitedactions networkor inactions of legally on the independen part of anyt othermember individual firms. Themember PKF firmEast or Coast firms. Practice is also a member of the PKF Australia Limited national network of legally independent firms each trading as PKF. PKF East Coast Practice has offices in NSW, Victoria and Brisbane. PKF The PKF East Coast Practice is a member of the PKF International Limited network of legally independent member firms. The PKF East Coast Practice is also a member EastLiability Coast limited Practice by a schemedoes not approved accept responsibility under Profes orsional liability Standards for the actions Legislation. or inactions on the part of any other individual member firm or firms. of the PKF Australia Limited national network of legally independent firms each trading as PKF. PKF East Coast Practice has offices in NSW, Victoria and Brisbane. PKF EastTheLiability PKFCoast limited East Practice Coast by a schemedoes Practice not approved acceptis a member responsibility under of Profesthe PKF orsional liability International Standards for the Limitedactions Legislation. networkor inactions of legally on the independen part of anyt othermember individual firms. Themember PKF firmEast or Coast firms. Practice is also a member of the PKF Australia Limited national network of legally independent firms each trading as PKF. PKF East Coast Practice has offices in NSW, Victoria and Brisbane. PKF EastLiability Coast limited Practice by a schemedoes not approved accept responsibility under Profes orsional liability Standards for the actions Legislation. or inactions on the part of any other individual member firm or firms.

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation. T h e V i c t o r i a n F o u n d at i o n f o r S u rv i v o rs o f T o rt u r e A n n u a l R e p o rt 2 0 0 9 – 2 0 1 0

Poem honouring Foundation House clients in print

Waiting for time, space, a place. Waiting to create a home. Waiting for some peace Waiting for healing. — Carolyn Wilson

Ode to the Waiting Room A poem written by Foundation House generalist counsellor Carolyn Wilson has been published in Waiting for the interpreter a book celebrating life in Melbourne through the eyes of its poets and artists. Waiting for the client Ms Wilson wrote ‘Ode to the Waiting Room’ Waiting for a letter while preparing to leave clients and colleagues Waiting to meet the doctor. in a move from Foundation House Dandenong Sleeping on the couch, in the south-east to the organisation’s Brunswick Catching precious rest. office. Ms Wilson says the poem was her way of Waiting for time, space, a place. honouring the people—refugees, asylum seekers and workers—who meet in the office reception Waiting to create a home. area, and all the interactions that take place in that Waiting for some peace space. Waiting for healing. Reflecting on Melbourne, a compilation of 220 Waiting for news, - any news poems and 97 visual artworks/photographs, Waiting for darkness to fade, the pain to dull, the nightmare to pass. was launched by long-time Foundation House Waiting for a smile supporter and well known Melbourne writer, Waiting for a chat Arnold Zable at St Paul’s Cathedral on October 18th. The book, which was produced by Poetica Waiting for chai, for coffee, a biscuit. Christie Press (PCP) to commemorate Melbourne And while we wait, being named the second UNESCO City of We laugh Literature in the world (the first isE dinburgh) also We worry includes contributions from leading Australian We cry poets, including Bruce Dawe, Judith Rodriguez, We shake. Chris Wallace-Crabbe and Tom Shapcott. We exchange a kiss, Reflecting on Melbourne, Poetica Christie Press A greeting in broken Dari (PCP) www.poeticachristi.org.au A discrete cigarette, A recipe An offering of love. We are all waiting. Waiting, hoping, cursing, praying. — Carolyn Wilson, January 2009

Foundation House

The Victorian Foundation for Foundation House at Dandenong Survivors of Torture Inc. 155 Foster Street, Dandenong, 3175 6 Gardiner Street, Brunswick, 3056 Victoria, Australia Victoria, Australia Telephone: (03) 8788 3333 Telephone: (03) 9388 0022 Fax: (03) 8788 3399 Fax: (03) 9387 0828 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web address: www.foundationhouse.org.au Web address: www.foundationhouse.org.au