ANNUAL REPORT 2018-2019 CONTENTS
1. BANKSTOWN COMMUNITY RESOURCE ...... 3 OBJECTIVES & STRUCTURE
2. PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE ...... 4 OFFICER REPORT
3. 2018 – 2019 FUNDING OVERVIEW ...... 6
4. PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS ...... 8
4.1 MOBILE MINDERS PROJECT ...... 8
4.2 EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES ...... 10
4.3 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ...... 11
4.4 ABORIGINAL CHILDREN & ...... 14 FAMILIES PROGRAMS
4.5 DEADLY BEGINNINGS, DEADLY FUTURES ...... 16
4.6 CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMUNITY ...... 17 DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
4.7 BCRG CHESTER HILL PRESCHOOL ...... 20
5. TREASURER’S REPORT ...... 21
6. AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ...... 22
BANKSTOWN COMMUNITY RESOURCE GROUP INC WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE DARUG PEOPLE WHO ARE THE TRADITIONAL OWNERS OF THE LAND ON WHICH OUR PREMISES STAND. BCRG OBJECTIVES 1 & STRUCTURE
OUR VISION MANAGEMENT Strong individuals connected COMMITTEE communities. Ali Mojtahedi PRESIDENT
Harry Allie VICE PRESIDENT OUR MISSION Tim Carroll TREASURER To strengthen individuals and families Alison Purcell SECRETARY through responsive children’s services, early intervention and community Fran Glozier MEMBER development programs. Janice Brooker MEMBER
Vinh Trang MEMBER OUR VALUES The values that underpin the quality of our services and responsiveness to service users and other stakeholders are;
RESPECT: We value diversity
RESPONSIVENESS: We listen
COLLABORATIVE: We work with you
ETHICAL: We are professional and protect your rights
REFLECTIVE AND INNOVATIVE: We are flexible and creative
EVIDENCED BASED: We are committed to quality
BCRG is driven by family-centred and evidence based practice. We promote a holistic, integrated and strengths-based approach to service provision. It is also our goal to build and sustain the capacity of BCRG and the community services sector through collaborative and sustainable partnerships as well as to deliver responsive services through sector development, policy and advocacy.
3 PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE 2 OFFICER REPORT
2018 - 2019 in September last year and attracted and supports that promote choice, It is with pleasure that I present BCRG’s professionals from health, allied health control and dignity. In order to remain a 32nd Annual Report 2018 – 2019. community workers, early childhood & registered NDIS service provider with the BCRG is committed to strengthening primary school educators across the NDIS Commission BCRG will undertake individuals and families through responsive Canterbury-Bankstown LGA. The one- certification early next year through children’s services, early intervention day conference explored children’s rights an approved quality auditor, Quality and community development programs. as active contributors and what it means Innovation Performance (QIP). Although BCRG has faced significant for children to influence decisions and challenges with funding uncertainty, NDIS express their opinions on matters that The main principle that underpins BCRG market forces and premises, there have concern them. service practice is the importance of been great achievements and highlights relationships with the children, families throughout the year. Mobile Minders continues to provide and the community with whom we work. an important and unique service to BCRG adopts a strength based and BCRG continues to run a range of community and government agencies in person centred approach to working with Aboriginal programs including our long- Bankstown. This year 333 families and children and families. standing Guring Gang Playgroup funded 444 individual children accessed the by Communities and Justice Department service, 97% of these children were from Each program co-ordinator has written which has seen families grow and thrive a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse a detailed account of the year and I over the years. This year saw an average Background and 61% of children do not encourage you to read each report to of 14 families a week actively involved in attend any form of childcare including see what great work our staff initiate and playgroup. Many of these families attend playgroups. These figures highlight the carry out within our community. multiple BCRG Aboriginal programs important role mobile educators have including the school-based program in providing positive interactions with NEW PREMISES ‘Connect to Culture’ and ‘Homework children and assisting families into One of the more significant challenges Club’. The Black Santa Community pathways of quality early childhood BCRG has faced in the last few years has event held last December drew over 125 services. been finding local affordable premises children and their families along with for the organisation. In late October 2018 local Elders and community members. BCRG continue to provide Speech BCRG applied for a local Government The ongoing success of these programs Pathology and Occupational Therapy tender for the provision of Family & is not only due to the wonderful staff services for children 0-12 years with Child related services at 24-26 Jacob who facilitate these, but the wrap around existing NDIS packages, where the child Street Bankstown. To our delight we approach to service delivery. may have a diagnosis of autism spectrum were successful, and we moved from disorder, developmental delay and other Kitchener Parade to the new Jacobs In partnership with The Corner Youth developmental disabilities. BCRG also Street premises on 23 January this year. Health Service and funding from provide therapy for private fee-paying This has been a critical outcome for Canterbury Bankstown Council the clients using Medicare and Private Health BCRG and will allow us time to rebuild Inclusive Communities Network has Cover, however our capacity has been our financial position and continue to continued to build the capacity of local limited this year due to the reduced grow the organisation. We wish to thank services to be more inclusive of LGBTIQ numbers of experienced staff applying for the Canterbury Bankstown City Council community members. In August last early intervention positions. for the premises that will enable BCRG to year the Inclusive Communities Network continue to serve the community. hosted an annual awareness day, ‘Wear This year BCRG transitioned to the NDIS it Purple Day’, an annual awareness Commission, a new independent agency PRESCHOOL initiative where the network engaged with established to improve the quality and In June this year the BCRG preschool’s over 75 community members. safety of NDIS supports and services. enrollments grew to full capacity with The NDIS Commission will work with 40 children per day. This has been The Children’s Week Bi-annual NDIS participants, service providers, such an exciting time for the staff Conference IV: Little Voices, Big workers and the community to introduce and management of BCRG who have Ideas, Better Outcomes funded by a new nationally consistent approach been involved in the planning, building Canterbury Bankstown Council was held so participants can access services and operation of the preschool. The
4 continued support we have received from FUTURE I would like to acknowledge and thank the staff and Principal of Chester Hill BCRG will enter a new three-year Tim Carroll a long-standing Executive Public School Mr Brent Kunkler has been strategic planning phase early next year Management Committee Member, who central to the establishment and success and it is essential we invest time and for many years has been central to the of the service. Working collaboratively expertise in consolidating and exploring ongoing improvements and success of to achieve a common goal has been new opportunities for growth. We are BCRG. After 28 years Tim has resigned an extremely rewarding process. The excited about future opportunities a from his position as Director of Outloud partnership with the school allows new three-year organisational strategic (formerly BYDS). Those of you who benefits for all stakeholders involved. The plan will bring. We intend to revive our are lucky enough to know Tim, know preschool children have an opportunity preschool with an improved outdoor how passionate and committed he is in to get to know ‘big school’, regularly learning space, expand the early his work with community and making participating in school activities such intervention team and look at potential a difference in people’s lives. Tim has as library visits, school assemblies and social enterprise opportunities. BCRG instigated hundreds of creative art-based transition to school visits. The preschool will continue to focus on governance projects and has a far reaching legacy. and school partnership directly support and quality improvement in all areas of We can’t thank him enough for his and strengthen the transition for children service delivery. contribution to Canterbury Bankstown to big school. and beyond, his unwavering support and ACKNOWLEDGMENT & continued professional contribution and PBI & DGR APPLICATION THANKS we wish him every success in the future. This year BCRG applied to be endorsed I extend our sincere thanks to the I would also like to thank the generosity as a deductible gift recipient and public government funding bodies that support of The Rotary Club of Padstow and Ray benevolent institution through the us. A special thank you to Canterbury White Bankstown for including BCRG Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Bankstown City Council for their in the ‘Little Ray of Giving’ program last Commission (ACNC). In November continued partnership and support of year and to The GPT Group who kindly last year BCRG held a Special General BCRG. Thank you also to the members of donated stationary to our children’s Meeting to vote on amendments to our local community Bankstown Sports programs. the current rules and objectives in the and Revesby Workers Club. Constitution. We have been fortunate to A special thank you and expression of have the knowledge and expertise of pro Thank you to our volunteers Bradley gratitude to the community and families bono Lawyers from Gilbert + Tobin to Eather and Paul Henry who make an who use our services and we look assist in this comprehensive process. important contribution to the day to forward to continuing to work with you. day operations and administration NOW N THEN tasks of BCRG. Sadly, after much deliberation Now N _____ Then Occasional Care Centre at Revesby A big thank you to the staff who often Ali Mojtahedi centre closed its doors in December go above and beyond to make things PRESIDENT last year. The service was established work. It is a has been a privilege to _____ by BCRG CSCDO Maria Marmarinos work with such a dedicated and skilled Louise Scarcella and auspiced by BCRG until the service team at BCRG. became incorporated in 2000. Now N EXECUTIVE OFFICER Then has always been well supported by On behalf of the staff we would like to Revesby Workers Club and Management sincerely thank the BCRG Management Committee President members John Committee, Ali Mojtahedi, (President), Rodwell, who is also the Vice President Tim Carroll (Treasurer), Fran Glozier of RWC, and Christine Butters, RWC (Vice President and Secretary), Harry Director. The late Rebecca Galea and Allie (Member), Alison Purcell (Member), I also served on the Management Janice Brooker (Member) and Vinh Committee and saw first-hand the Trang (Member) who give their valuable contribution this service made to the time and expertise to guide and manage community. our organisation.
5 2018 – 2019 3 FUNDING OVERVIEW
THE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS OF BCRG ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR FUNDING BODIES AS FOLLOWS