Community Benefit SA ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005
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Community Benefit SA ANNUAL REPORT 2004-2005 Charitable & Social Welfare Fund Established by Section 73B of the Gaming Machines (Miscellaneous) Amendments Act, 1996 PO Box 208, Rundle Mall SA 5000 Phone: (08) 8415 4234 Fax: (08) 8415 4255 This report is also available online www.dfc.sa.gov.au/cbsa Community Benefit SA Annual Report 2004/2005 Table of Contents Page No 1. Chair’s Report to the Minister................................................................. 1 2. Overview of the Fund.............................................................................. 3 3. Brief History of the Fund......................................................................... 4 4. The Board................................................................................................. 7 5. Highlights ................................................................................................ 8 6. Funding Rounds .................................................................................... 10 7. Funding History......................................................................................11 8. Evaluation, Monitoring & Accountability ............................................ 13 9. Case Studies.......................................................................................... 15 Appendices .................................................................................................. 19 1. Financial Statement Appendix I ............................................................. 21 2. Statistics, Tables & Charts Appendix II.................................................. 24 3. Lists of Funded Projects 2004/2005 Appendix III.................................... 34 4. Freedom of Information Statement Appendix IV .................................. 84 Community Benefit SA Annual Report 2004/2005 1. Chairman’s Report to the Minister Hon Jay Weatherill MP Minister for Families and Communities GPO Box 2269 ADELAIDE 5000 Dear Minister On behalf of the Board of the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund (Community Benefit SA), I am pleased to present the Annual Report for the period 2004/05. In this last financial year, a total of 957 applications were received from non government community service agencies requesting $13.4 million over two funding rounds conducted in August 2004 (Round 18) and February 2005 (Round 19). The high level of demand for funds has continued to grow throughout the 9 years of operation of Community Benefit SA, with a grand total now of 7,557 applications requesting $109.4 million. This is a reflection of the level of need for program and infrastructure assistance in the SA community. In 2004/05 a total of 373 one-off projects were funded for $3.92 million. The Board was extremely pleased that the following special need groups received funding: • Aboriginal communities – 56 projects for $724,400 • Multicultural communities – 52 projects for $608,900, of which 15 projects were funded to refugee groups for $249,600 • People with disabilities – 42 projects for $387,100 • Families with children – 76 projects for $697,700 • Young people – 59 projects for $700,800 The Board was highly appreciative of your initiative to provide additional monies of $768,000 to fund 74 disability projects from Round 19 applications. This was clearly very well received by the agencies concerned. On a geographic basis, 38% of funds, or $1,483,900, was allocated to the rural and remote regions in 2004/05. The Board is pleased to see that agencies in these regions have received information on Community Benefit SA and have taken the initiative to apply. In addition, most of the projects funded in the metropolitan area targeted the highest need regions. The Board is well aware that non government agencies require infrastructure support so that they are in a strong position to provide services and resources to assist disadvantaged individuals, families and communities. As in previous years, Community Benefit SA has funded significant sums of money for: • Community facilities (101 projects for $1,235,800) • Program equipment (89 projects for $395,400) • Vehicles (16 for $392,300) • Office and IT equipment (45 projects for $242,500) It is understood by the Board that up to date IT resources are critical for the community services sector to not only function efficiently and communicate effectively, but are utilised to provide training for disadvantaged participants in what has become essential life skills. Community Benefit SA Annual Report 2004/2005 1 During the year, Board and staff members made visits to 65 agencies in both rural and metropolitan areas. The visits have provided much insight into the positive impact of projects on agencies and client groups, and once again gave evidence to the continued capacity of agencies to “value add” to projects by attracting additional resources and volunteers. This positive perception is reinforced by the fact that 90% of projects that have been evaluated (1,530 in all) were rated as successful in meeting or exceeding contracted objectives. Community Benefit SA conducted 12 application workshops for 410 people in 2004/05 to assist agencies to understand the guidelines and improve the quality of their applications. This strategy has proven to be successful as the standard of applications in terms of clarity and detail has clearly advanced over recent years. It was extremely pleasing to see that workshops in the rural towns of Murray Bridge, Port Augusta and Ceduna attracted large audiences. The introduction of the Fund’s web site in July 2003 has proven to be a valuable asset in increasing ease of access to information about the Fund and has also allowed agencies to download the application form so that proposals can be directly word processed. Usage of the website increased over the 2004/05, peaking with 1,950 visits in February 2005 in the lead up to the closing date of Round 19. I also note the cohesive nature of the Board and constructive input of all Board members – Libby Kosmala and Colleen Fitzpatrick (Foundation members), together with Diana Hill and Harold Allison. Their knowledge of the community services sector and the needs of disadvantaged people has been critical in the decision making process to fund the most appropriate projects. The dedicated hard work of the small staff team, Enza Monterosso, Paula Dickson, Bec Curtain and highly competent leadership of John Smith continues to be greatly appreciated by the Board. The Board plans to hold its third Conference in July 2006 to celebrate ten years of success of the Fund. We would welcome you to open the conference and will write separately with a request. In closing, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve on the Community Benefit SA Board and for your ongoing support of Community Benefit SA. Yours sincerely MARK HENLEY CHAIR 2 Community Benefit SA Annual Report 2004/2005 2. Overview of the Fund Legislation Excerpt from the Gaming Machines (Miscellaneous) Amendments Act, 1996 Charitable and Social Welfare Fund 73B. (1) The Charitable and Social Welfare Fund is established. (2) The Fund will be kept at Treasury. (3) The money paid into the Fund under this Part will from time to time be applied by the Treasurer, in accordance with the directions of a board that must be established by the Minister for Human Services for the purpose, in financial assistance for charitable or social welfare organisations. (4) The board established under subsection (3) is to consist of 5 members- (a) Being persons who have, between them, appropriate expertise in financial management and charitable or social welfare organisation administration; and (b) At least 2 of whom are women and 2 are men. (5) The procedures of the board will be as determined by the Minister for Human Services. 72A. (4) The revenue received under this section by the Treasurer in respect of each financial year is to be paid – (b) As to $4 million - into the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund established under this Part. Community Benefit SA is the public name given to the Charitable and Social Welfare Fund, established under Section 73B of the Gaming Machines (Miscellaneous) Amendments Act 1996. The Fund is a program of the Government of South Australia and distributes $4 million each year from gaming machine taxes. The Fund provides financial assistance for charitable or social welfare organisations in accordance with the directions of a Board appointed by the Minister for Families and Communities. The Board is responsible for making the funding decisions and the Minister is responsible for determining the guidelines. In accordance with the Funding Guidelines approved by the Minister, the overall purpose of Community Benefit SA is to provide one-off project funding to assist incorporated, non government non-profit charitable and social welfare organisations to improve the well-being, quality of life, community participation and life management skills of disadvantaged individuals, families and communities, and to develop and strengthen communities across the metropolitan, rural and remote regions of South Australia. This is achieved by funding one-off projects which: ~ Enhance the functioning, administrative efficiency, infrastructure, volunteer base and ongoing revenue raising capacity of organisations ~ Establish, provide, enhance, develop or expand services, programs, activities, facilities, resources and equipment provided for disadvantaged individuals, families and communities. A major focus of the Fund is to complement community service programs,