Making a difference... jewish care annual report 2006 Jewish Care (Victoria) Inc Our work is all about people, who include: Four prime Jewish values form the is the only comprehensive • the 400 elderly and frail residents of our foundation of Jewish Care: health and social care provider hostel and nursing homes who receive tzedakah – charity care 24hrs a day in a uniquely Jewish and chesed – kindness for the Jewish community welcoming environment derech eretz – respect in Victoria, caring directly • the 500+ clients who rely on the mishpacha – family for people in need. provision 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 a services across our many resources 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 contents President’s Report 2 Disability Services Volunteer Program 39 CEO’s Report 4 Individual and family resources 21 Human Resources 42 Treasurer’s Report 6 Respite House 21 Occupational Health Financial Statements 7 Respite Recreation Groups 21 and Safety / Environment 43 Profiles Schools Integration Program 22 Acknowledgements Leading the way for aspiring youth 8 Supported Accommodation 22 Life Governors 46 Supporting people with special needs 14 Financial Services Donors (Gifts of $1000+) 46 Keeping the mind and body active 36 Financial Aid 22 Special Occasions 48 Easing loneliness through friendship 40 Jewish Mutual Loan Company 22 Bequests 49 Loving care helps elderly at home 44 Holocaust Services 23 Trusts and Foundations 49 Grants 49 Year In Brief 10 Support Services Review of Operations Always Moving Forward employment program 23 Schools Integration Program 49 Individuals, Organisations and Companies 50 Caring for older people 16 Counselling and case management 24 Fundraising Committees 51 Residential accommodation Housing 24 Mark and Dina Munzer Community Residence 16 Intake and Assessment 24 President’s Report in Melbourne Hebrew Memorial Nursing Home, Mental Health Program 25 Yiddish and Russian 52 Fink Family Wing (Ashwood) 16 Youth Services 25 Glossary of Terms Inside back cover Montefiore Homes Community Residence 17 Governance Smorgon Family Nursing Home 17 Organisational chart 26 Independent Living Units (ILUs) 17 Executive 28 Community services The Board 30 Healthy Ageing program incorporating Board Committees 33 the Jack and Ethel Goldin Therapy Unit; Social and Recreational Activities Program, Community Development Holocaust Survivor Program and Talking Public Relations, Marketing and Fundraising 34 Australian Jewish News 18 Events 35 Home support incorporating BlueStar & Kesher 20 Cultural and Spiritual Office 38 Cover photo by Mark Chew: Alysa Dvash (left) with disability support worker Noa Weinstein at Jewish Care’s respite house for children which is open weekends and during school holidays (see story p14). 1 president’s report “The organisation would be diminished without the community’s ongoing financial and voluntary support ...” Five years have now passed since the Of course the major fear around the merger It is in keeping with our mission to cater merger. On reflecting what has been was that community services would be for the entire community by providing achieved and what we have learnt, I am gobbled up by the huge financial needs different residential care options across struck by the fact that some of the of aged care. different facilities in different locations. predictions did not eventuate. It is important to understand however, Our preference is to have the highest quality The technical aspects of the merger were that prior to the merger, a large proportion care provided in home-like environments in easier to complete than anticipated, but the of services provided by Jewish Community locations that are easily accessed by families cultural and human resource components Services were to the aged. Undoubtedly and visitors. were much more complex and have taken the merger has been highly successful for To that end we have recently purchased longer to resolve. aged care. Being able to provide the full land with a building permit for 120 It has been a period of tremendous change continuum of culturally and spiritually- aged-care beds in Freeman Street, South within the organisation. Jewish Care is appropriate services – from healthy aging, Caulfield and will proceed without delay bigger and its processes more sophisticated. to home-based support, to independent to build another fine facility of which the We are more accountable – not only to living units, and to low and then high care, community will be proud. those who fund us including government, including dementia and palliative care – However, the need remains to redevelop the Claims Conference, chartable trusts has many benefits. Service planning and even more of our aged-care beds. As you and individual donors – but to those who development is enhanced, particularly in know, we have been in protracted use our services as well as the broader rationalising capital requirements. negotiations with Bayside Health for a community. This requires us to have well- For example during this year, Jewish Care substantial parcel of land on the Caulfield developed and transparent policies and acquired the use of a building in Kooyong General Medical Centre site in Kooyong accountable practices for all components Road, North Caulfield for our successful Road. Unfortunately because progress has of our work. Healthy Aging programs. All our centre- been so slow, we are becoming increasingly Additionally, there has been a conscious based programs were relocated to the concerned that there will be insufficient decision to “open up’’ the organisation Active Living Centre, allowing us to sell time to complete the facility in time for through a range of partnerships with other our Prahran premises and consolidate our the 2008 deadline set by the Federal bodies, both within the community and the services to one location. Government. We remain hopeful of a broader service system. Jewish Care engages Proceeds from the lucrative sale of our positive outcome over the next few regularly at all levels with multiple services, Independent Living Units in Herbert months, but may need to consider stakeholders and interest groups, all with Street Elwood will assist our residential alternative options. strong views and suggestions. This is a real redevelopments for the aged and those But despite all this activity, it is important strength, but can also create difficulties with disabilities. to underscore that the merger has not if we are trying to respond to competing The magnificent 45-bed Mark and Dina resulted in a shift of resources from demands. Munzer Community Residence in Northcote non-aged-related services to fund deficits Avenue, Caulfield opened mid year. in aged care as many feared. 2 The thriving Healthy Ageing Program consolidated all its centre-based activities when it moved to the Active Living Centre in Kooyong Road, North Caulfield (right) in November 2005. Services to the non aged remain vibrant. Finally, there are many people I wish to As an example, Jewish Care has recently thank. I am grateful to my fellow board completed a review of disability services members for their fantastic input and the in consultation with the community. As a expertise they bring to the organisation. result, a redevelopment of our properties I would particularly like to thank departing in Glen Eira Road is planned to provide board members David Werdiger and Esther supported accommodation for 16 adults Frenkiel for their contributions. David has with a disability as well as respite facilities. been a board member since the inception A new property will be purchased to of Jewish Care in 2001 and was integral to continue to provide much-needed respite ensuring the success of the merger. care for children with disabilities. The organisation would be diminished The merger has enabled the expertise without the community’s ongoing financial gained in capital aspects of residential and voluntary support – whether it’s aged care to be utilised in disability services. providing transport to an older person in First Call was established following the the community or staging a concert for merger as the first point of contact to help residents; joining a fundraising committee people access services more efficiently and or providing us with a donation. Thank you! broadly. Whether we have been able to Finally, but most importantly, I would like achieve the broader goal is currently to thank the staff led by CEO Bruce Salvin under consideration. and the Executive team. You are our most We have reached youth through our valuable resource and on behalf of our community-strengthening approach via residents, clients and the community, the Young Achievers mentoring program I thank you. and drug and alcohol education; and the Orthodox community through the Always Moving Forward employment program. We have also tackled family violence via our partnership with the Jewish Taskforce Robyne Schwarz against Domestic Violence. President All these initiatives have been highly successful and we plan to expand them to other service areas. Jewish Care also continues to provide much-needed support to the community through its housing, financial aid,