Annual Report 2004-2005 Supporting and Enhancing the Wellbeing of the Jewish Community of Victoria

Caring for the Community Annual Report 2004-2005 Supporting and enhancing the wellbeing of the Jewish community of Victoria Jewish Care (Victoria) Inc is Our work is all about people, who include: Four prime Jewish values form the the only comprehensive health • the 400 elderly and frail residents of our foundation of Jewish Care: hostel and nursing homes tzedakah – charity and social care provider for the who receive care 24hrs a day in a uniquely chesed – kindness Jewish community in Victoria, Jewish and welcoming environment derech eretz – respect • the 500+ clients who rely on the provision caring directly for nearly 1,000 mishpacha – family people every week. of the high standard of our social services every week These values guide our staff and volunteers, ensuring that the organisation provides • the 600+ staff who know how vital their compassionate support, treating everyone work is in ensuring the delivery of these with dignity and respect, always within services across our many resources a warm and caring Jewish environment. • the 300+ volunteers who give their time because they want to and because they feel a part of Jewish Care Caring for the Community Contents President’s Report 2 Aged Care Services 14 Governance 22 CEO’s Report 3 Healthy Ageing Program Executives 22 Treasurer’s Report 6 - Activities 14 The Board 24 Financial Statements 7 - Alan Rabinov Centre 14 Board Members 25 Profiles 4 - Therapy 14 Board Committees 27 Emily: Youth Services 4 AtHome 15 Community Development 30 Iser Frenkiel: Hostel resident 8 Talking Australian Jewish News 15 Public Relations and Fundraising 30 Tzivia: Mental Health program 20 Holocaust Services 17 Events 31 Harry Szmerling: Counselling 28 Disability Services 15 Cultural and Spiritual Office 34 Bronia Hahn: AtHome 32 Fink (Respite) House 15 Volunteer Program 35 Year In Brief 10 Outreach 16 Human Resources 36 Review of Operations 12 Schools Integration Program 16 Occupational Health and Safety 36 Aged Care Facilities 12 Supported Accommodation 16 Acknowledgments 37 Melbourne Hebrew Memorial Financial Services 17 Life Governors 37 Nursing Home, Fink Family Financial Aid 17 Donors (Gifts of $1000+) 37 Wing (Ashwood) 12 Jewish Mutual Loan Company 17 Special Occasions 39 Montefiore Homes Support Services 18 Bequests 40 Community Residence 12 Always Moving Forward 18 Fundraising Committees 41 Mark and Dina Munzer Nursing Counselling and Case Management 18 Home (Northcote Ave) 12 Individuals, Organisations Housing 18 and Companies 41 Smorgon Family Nursing Home 13 Intake and Assessment 19 President’s Report in Hebrew, Independent Living Units (ILUs) 13 Mental Health program 19 Yiddish and Russian 43 Youth Services 19 Glossary 44 Cover photo: AtHome client Bronia Hahn (second from left) with (from left) friendly visitor Raph Ajzensztat, counsellor and case worker Haidee Nathanson and personal carer Rita Spivak. Jewish Care (Victoria) incorporated reg no. A00 407 05X and controlled entities 1 President’s Report “...Jewish Care provides the best possible care for those people in our community who are vulnerable and disadvantaged for whatever reason.” It is with great pleasure that I present my in the “Committed to Caring” review of At the same time we are also actively first President’s report. After 12 months Jewish Care’s Community Services, seeking alternate suitable sites within I can now reflect on a wonderfully enjoyable published in the Australian Jewish News the City of Glen Eira. and rewarding first year. in June. It requires services to be delivered We have begun the redevelopment of our The enjoyment comes from meeting in new and innovative ways. Partnerships Northcote Ave site into a new Extra Services and collaborating with a diverse range with other service providers within and facility. This new Facility, The Mark and of people who share my commitment: beyond our own community, community Dina Munzer Community Residence, to ensuring Jewish Care provides the capacity building and enhancing our will be completed early in 2006 and will best possible care for those people in resource base through involving volunteers provide premium accommodation for our community who are vulnerable and directly in service delivery are key elements 45 nursing-home level residents. for ensuring Community Services flourishes disadvantaged for whatever reason. Finally, I feel fortunate to have taken on into the future. The group most directly responsible for the Presidency at this time. Thanks to my providing care is our staff. My intimate One particular area of our Community predecessor, Alan Schwartz, the merger involvement with Jewish Care places me Services that currently faces significant has been successfully completed. It is now in an excellent position to observe and challenges is our services for those with my responsibility to ensure the benefits of assess the day-to-day workings of the disabilities. The number of children with the merger are realised in terms of being organisation. My experience is that staff disabilities in our community is increasing. better able to meet the community’s care are open, respectful and responsive to Jewish Care is taking the lead role in needs as one integrated organisation. planning for their needs now and into the families, volunteers and with whomever I am indebted to the CEO Bruce Salvin for future. The most pressing need will be to else they come in contact on a daily basis. his professionalism, integrity and sensitivity find a range of suitable accommodation Staff are a care organisation’s greatest asset as he works within our community. I thank options for them as they reach adulthood. and I would like to take this opportunity to my Board colleagues for their expertise thank Jewish Care’s staff on behalf of the The other major challenge for the and commitment. Two long-standing Board Board for the wonderful work they do in organisation is the need to redevelop our members retired this year. Jacob Weinmann caring for the hundreds of individuals aged care facilities. Many of our facilities will and Yehudi Blacher each made outstanding who require our assistance every day. not meet Federal Government Certification contributions and I thank them on behalf of Unfortunately, professional and caring requirements by 2008. Additionally, the everyone who is interested in the wellbeing staff alone are not enough to ensure the configuration of these facilities does not of Jewish Care. community’s care needs are met. The reality allow for maximum efficiency in delivering is that there are insufficient funds available care and so we continue to incur significant as Government funding simply does not operating losses. Most significantly, the meet the needs of the most vulnerable and quality of our buildings falls below what needy, providing less than 75% of the funds should be provided for the aged members of our community. required. Jewish Care therefore relies on Robyne Schwarz the generosity of the community to fund The Board has been working hard to finalise a significant proportion of the services plans for a new 120-bed high/low care facility and programs we provide. that can accommodate residents with a In Community Services the Board has variety of care needs including dementia. been mindful to set the direction needed We are currently negotiating with the State to achieve maximum sustained effort to Government to build this facility on potentially effectively meet demand and to respond to surplus land on the Caulfield General increasing care needs. This was highlighted Medical Centre site in Kooyong Road. 2 CEO’s Report “...Our strategic aim is to expand and improve our facilities and services to reflect the changing needs of the Victorian Jewish community.” The 2004-2005 year has been one of In June 2005 we published the findings individual services and programs to more consolidation. We have achieved much in of the review and distributed it through than 1,500 people. In a community of around the three years since amalgamation, but still the Australian Jewish News and to all our 55,000 individuals, this is a significant have several opportunities to improve the supporters. The document outlined our contribution. ways in which we provide services. Our key services and strategies relating to the Whether a registered nurse is caring for strategic aim is to expand and improve our broad range of community services and residents with dementia at Ashwood; facilities and services to reflect the changing highlighted the growth areas including a physiotherapist is providing individual needs of the Victorian Jewish community. services for people with disabilities, the therapies at the Goldin Centre; a social One of our key challenges is the healthy ageing program, at-home care worker and personal carer are visiting a replacement of some of the ageing for the elderly and opportunities for further client at home in Ripponlea; or a youth building stock housing our residential volunteer involvement. worker is talking to a class of school children aged-care facilities. Consultation with key stakeholders continues about developing resilience to deal with peer In line with the Towards Tomorrow White as we move forward, helping us to plan pressure regarding drugs, Jewish Care’s Paper for Residential Services, the following appropriately to meet future demands. dedicated staff all provide vital services to actions have been taken: Collaborative engagement with community help to meet the needs of the community. • demolition of the Jacob Danglow Wing reference groups

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