, Annual Report 2018-19 Partners Contents Our Mission 3 Reclink India 22 About Reclink Australia 3 Our Funding 23 Why We Exist 4 Our Performance 23 What We Do 5 Our Member Agencies 23 From Little Things Big Things Grow 6 Events, Fundraising and Volunteers 24 Corporate Governance 7 Our Activities 32 Founder’s Message 8 Our Members 34 Impact of the Reclink National Program 9 Gratitude 36 Community Partners 10 Our National Footprint 38 State Reports 11 Reclink Australia Staff 39 AAA Play 20 Contact Us 39 Notice of 2019 Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting for Members 1. Confirmation of the minutes of the last Annual of Reclink Australia will be held at General Meeting held on 21 November, 2018. Reclink, South Melbourne at 9.30am 2. To receive the Report and Financial Statements on Wednesday 27 November, 2019. for the year that ended 30 June, 2019. 3. General business. 2 RECLINK AUSTRALIA – REBUILDING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND ARTS Our Mission Respond. Rebuild. Reconnect. We seek to give all participants the power of purpose. About Reclink Australia Reclink Australia is a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage or facing significant barriers to participation, through providing new and unique sports, specialist recreation and arts programs, and pathways to employment opportunities. We target some of the community’s most vulnerable and isolated people; at risk youth, those experiencing mental illness, people with a disability, the homeless, people tackling alcohol and other drug issues and social and economic hardship. As part of our unique hub and spoke network model, Reclink Australia has facilitated cooperative partnerships with a membership of more than 390 community, government, private organisations, and agencies. Our member agencies are committed to encouraging our target population group, under-represented in mainstream sport and recreational programs, to take that step towards improved health and self-esteem, and use Reclink Australia’s activities as a means of engagement for hard to reach population groups. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 3 Why We Exist From the streets of St Kilda Building resilience and a sense of and Kings Cross, to the community, Reclink Australia believes that sport, recreation, arts and public housing estates of pathways to employment are the perfect Adelaide and Canberra and vehicles to improve the lives of those the remote communities experiencing complex disadvantage of the Northern Territory, and social exclusion. Reclink Australia champions We believe that everyone has the participation in physical right to a positive identity and a social network. This can be achieved through and artistic activity and active participation in sport and the pathways to employment for arts. It revives, nurtures and sustains an all Australians. We believe individual and improves their mental that sport, recreation, music and physical health. and art are powerful tools to For 29 years, we have led a network of member organisations and acted engage and support those as a facilitator in the support of most hard to reach within disadvantaged communities and the community. individuals. “Reclink gives me energy and strength to get up every morning and face the day because I know I have Reclink to go to and it just makes me want to live.” Raeles Budge 1990 1998 2005 launch Reclink Australia 2011 First Reclink Australia Reclink Victoria v Reclink SA Peter Cullen appointed nationally. Women’s football league at Punt Road Oval. as Reclink Australia network meeting is held. 2008 commenced in Alice Springs. VicSafe Crime Prevention Development Manager. Appointment of the first CEO. Transition to Public 1991 and Community Safety Reclink Australia ‘All Stars’ Company Limited by Four teams play Australian Award. game held at the MCG. IOOF Foundation became Guarantee. football (AFL) in an a major community partner. The first Frank Galbally Friends of Alice launched. organised competition. 2000 Cup is played between Reclink Australia established Reclink Australia Super 8s Melbourne’s barristers in Western Australia. 2012 1992 and solicitors. played on the MCG. Staff members appointed in The Transformers Choir Former Victoria Police 2006 Brisbane and Alice Springs. sings with His Holiness the Commissioner, Mick Miller, 2003 Dalai Lama. appointed as first Reclink The Reclink Raiders are Reclink Australia partners the first cricket team to 2009 Australia Patron. with the Victorian Australia Day Community compete in a community Staff members appointed Event of the Year. Government. cricket league. 1997 in Hobart and Canberra. Reclink Australia employs Reclink Australia established 2013 Peter Cullen tours Australia first staff member. in Alice Springs. 2010 presenting the Reclink Record membership (588), South Yarra FC is the first The Choir of Hard Knocks is Networks established in Australia model. community football club networks (22), formed. Sydney and Logan. events (10,856) and Reclink Australia travels to to accept Reclink Australia participants. Appointment of new staff participation (111,409). NSW – football and the 2007 members in Adelaide, Reclink Australia Olympics. Reclink Australia is a finalist Reclink Australia wins ACT for the Premier’s Award for Reclink Australia partners Brisbane and Fremantle. Health Promotion Award. Reclink Australia PCYC is with VicHealth. Community Participation. Strategic plan for 2010 to established in Hobart. Reclink Australia wins 2004 Reclink Australia established 2015 approved by the Board. Australian Crimes and Funding is secured to in Brisbane. 10 teams compete in the Prevention of Violence establish Reclink Australia in Federal Government Award. South Australia. Victorian Reclink Australia Football League. announces partnership to 4 RECLINK AUSTRALIA – REBUILDING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND ARTS What We Do - Participation, Partnerships and Pathways to deliver improved outcomes for physical activity can be undertaken. Reclink Australia delivers residents and a Victorian Government Using our extensive experience and our services across the country, funded information and referral service established networks we negotiate or ‘AAA Play’ is connecting people with subsidise access to facilities, manage with participation at the core a disability to sport and recreation customised programs and competitions of everything we do. participation opportunities. within existing facilities and coordinate transitional programs to enable Reclink From running, basketball and football, During the year our programs have expanded to include: Australia participants to move into the to painting, instrument making and mainstream community. singing we promote and deliver the • Reclink National Program across 25 health, social and economic benefits of locations Australia-wide; Underpinning all our programs is the activity to an otherwise largely inactive principle of respect that recognises and • Pathways to employment projects, population group. rewards participation and a willingness Streetgames and targeted sport and to support others above all else. Skill Our national program of team sports recreation programs in 4 locations development and event days feature has the ability to bring together people across Queensland; and strongly in our annual calendar and from diverse communities. • Jobs Victoria program, VRGF are used to develop life skills rather than separate winners from losers. Our The Reclink Australia Football Series expansion of the Reclink Football ultimate aim is to empower participants is a flagship program that engages league in two rural locations and the to sustain an enhanced level of health, over 650 men and women, while ActiVIC program in 10 locations in wellbeing and involvement in the the Reclink Tasmanian Youth League Victoria. community. continues to engage young people As a unique voice in the sports from geographically disadvantaged participation space, we act as an By assisting with the development of communities. Our National Crime and advocate and conduit between fundamental social skills, participants Violence Prevention Award winning disadvantaged communities, sports are supported and encouraged to High Density Housing Safety and clubs and state sporting associations, transition to mainstream sports and arts Security Project in the ACT continues recreation facilities and programs where programs, education and employment. 2014 2015 2016 Reclink Somali Youth 2019 Basketball League. Reclink Australia becomes Rebranded Access for All Reclink Community Cup Queensland Government provider of Australia’s first Abilities First Point of Call goes National. 2018 funds 5 SQFW projects. State funded information Service to AAA Play. Expanding Work Readiness Federal Government and support service, Victorian Government funds Seven Work Readiness sites program to 49 projects across $4m for ActiVIC program. commits a further $1 million assisting people with a established across South QLD, VIC, SA, TAS and NT. to Reclink National Program. disability to link with sports Department of Social East Queensland. Celebrating 25 years of the and active recreation. Reclink wins three Skilling Services funds Reclink Street Joint partnership with Queenslanders for Work Reclink Community Cup. Australia Post announces Games in QLD. Cycling Victoria to establish Tenders. Reclink Disability Reclink Australia as a VRGF funds expansion of the TryCycling initiative. Employment Service National ‘Our Victorian Football Leagues. 2017 commenced in Bundaberg Neighbourhood’