St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Annual Report 2011/12 Contents Message from the President 4 Message from the CEO 5 Message from the Spiritual Advisor 6 Message from the Cardinal 6 History of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW 7 Our Mission, Vision and Structure 8 NSW State Council 10 Advisory and Steering Committees 12 Membership and Assistance 14 Social Justice and Advocacy 16 Who we help 18 Our Members and Volunteers 20 Building a Sustainable Future 24 Central Councils 26 Vinnies Retail Centres 30 Homeless and Addiction Services 32 Housing, Community Support and Financial Services 37 The Annual Report of the St Vincent de Responsibility for this document rests Disability Services 40 Paul Society NSW was produced by the with the State Council of the St Vincent de Community and Corporate Relations team Paul Society NSW. Food Services 40 of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Privacy statement: The St Vincent de Mental Health Services 41 November 2012. Paul Society NSW respects the privacy of Youth Services 42 Written and edited by: the people it assists and our members, Yolanda Saiz, Communications Manager, volunteers and employees. As a result, the Refugee Support Services 44 [email protected] names of clients, members, volunteers or Overseas Partnerships 45 employees featured in this report may have Supervising Editor: been changed and pictorial models used. Rural Taskforce 45 Julie McDonald, General Manager, Community and Corporate Relations, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW ABN: Disaster Recovery 45 [email protected] 46 472 591 335 Our Employees 46 Designed by: Claudia Williams, Auditor: Grant Thornton Our Governance 50 Publications and Design Coordinator, Primary Bank: [email protected] Our Fundraising and Engagement 52 Commonwealth Bank of Australia Statistics collated by: Our Supporters 56 Primary Solicitor: Hunt & Hunt Jey Natkunaratnam, Senior Statistics Finance 58 Officer, [email protected] 2 Annual Report 2011/12 3 Message from Message from the President the CEO Dear Brothers and Sisters, Society, I can say I have never seen such look forward to working with the new Dear friends, As our State President, Ray Reynolds funds and is actively working to expand a united and coordinated response to State Council and all of our Vincentian referred to in his report, over the past 12 our funding sources to meet this need. I was appointed President of the NSW As a relative newcomer to the St Vincent addressing poverty. members, volunteers and employees to months we have developed a strategic Provisional Board for a period of 12 de Paul Society, I am inspired by the Australia is a strong and prosperous implement the new strategic direction plan that outlines an exciting roadmap months during the last financial year. Through home visitation, the core work grassroots work that is being done by nation with much to be proud of. However, for the Society. This direction is clearly for the future. The Plan takes account of In July 2012, an election for a President of the Society for 150 years, Conference our members, volunteers and employees we can also do more to ensure that all underpinned by the charism of Blessed the challenges and opportunities facing to form a new State Council was held members visit people in their homes, across the State every day of the year. Australians have equal opportunity to Frederic Ozanam and the spiritual ethos the Society and will ensure we are in and I was very honoured to be elected hospitals, nursing homes and prison, The Society not only provides practical participate in the community. of the St Vincent de Paul Society. the best position to effectively address for a term of four years. In this capacity, providing support, friendship and assistance and emotional support to disadvantage in NSW. This Annual Report demonstrates I am proud to present the Annual Report financial or material assistance. Another We cannot do our work at the State people experiencing disadvantage the good that can be achieved when 2011/12. form of assistance we provide is our level without the tremendous support but continues the important work of The Society is fortunate to be in a sound people come together for a common Support Centres which are located at we receive from the employees in the advocating on behalf of people pushed financial position with the statement of The Society’s Annual Report is an cause. With a presence in nearly every many of our Vinnies Retail Centres. In Charles O’Neill NSW State Support to the margins of society. comprehensive income for the financial important way to document the work of community in NSW, the Society is in a 2011/12, members made more than Office, Central Councils and Special year ended 30 June 2012 reflecting a our members, volunteers and employees This Annual Report gives an important unique position to drive social change 223,000 visitations as part of their Works across the State. Thank you to consolidated surplus of $1.766m after in communities across the State. It insight into the range and scale of the and improve people’s lives and I am very day-to-day commitment to those people all of you who so zealously dedicate transfers to related entities. enables us to present statistics on work carried out across the State by pleased to be a part of that journey. most in need. yourselves to the work of the Society. the breadth and scale of our work at a the Society. In 2011/12, around 2.2 In line with the Society’s National Yours sincerely, grassroots level. It gives us a picture of The development of a new Strategic Plan I would especially like to thank our million hours of member and volunteer Investment Policy, funds have been the kinds of people turning to us for help means that the organisation can look former CEO, Mr Graham West for his service supported over 620,000 people. spread between major financial and the reasons why, as well as puts a forward to the next five years as it builds dedication and the skills he provided Through our homeless and housing institutions to diversify risk, as well as dollar value on the delivery of hundreds a strong platform to make the Society during a difficult time. Our new CEO, services, 310,000 bed nights and almost obtain competitive interest rates. Other of services and programs for people more sustainable, improving its capacity Mr Michael Perusco joined the Society 680,000 meals were provided to people notable movements in the balance sheet experiencing disadvantage and poverty. as a service provider to people affected in August and has already shown great without a home. The breadth and include the decline in receivables by Michael Perusco by poverty. initiative in assisting me to move the magnitude of the contribution of our $12.1 million due largely to the receipt But in real terms, our Annual Report Chief Executive Officer Society forward. I look forward to a long members, volunteers and employees to of the second last installment from the only tells half the story, because behind The six strategies that underpin the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and productive association with Michael. the lives of others is extraordinary. aged care sale of $12.222 million. the 620,000 people we assisted last Plan are: year, there are confronting stories about 1. Strengthening our Spirituality Most importantly, I sincerely thank More than 130,000 people were helped Whilst the financial position is strong, average Australians facing unbelievable our members, volunteers, supporters, through our Special Works in the areas the Society has budgeted capital 2. Strengthening our Service challenges in their fight to keep their corporates, benefactors and trust and of homelessness; domestic violence; expenditure in excess of $51 million heads above water. 3. Developing our Membership foundations for making our good works support to migrants and refugees; mental over the next five years to support 4. Strengthening our Society possible, ensuring that we can continue to health programs; vocational services for the Society’s work in assisting those Every day we hear countless tales of change lives every day. people with a disability; drug, alcohol and people experiencing disadvantage and hopelessness and despair. Families who 5. Strengthening our Partnerships gambling counselling services; financial homelessness. During the year, cash are struggling to put food on the table, 6. Raising our Voice Yours sincerely, counselling and food vans. flows generated by operating activities pay their bills or cover rental costs. I am truly honoured to be a part of were $10.9 million, up 12% on the prior People who have run out of options, find However, to truly address poverty, something so significant that will enable year. In the same period, payments for themselves alone, sleeping in cars, tents we know that we need to look at long our Conferences, Centres and Special capital expenditure amounted to $11.6 or on the streets. In a year that saw the term strategies. That is why we are Works to continue to reach out to people million. Cash reserves including long- cost of food, electricity and rent soar, very proud of the work that has been experiencing the most extreme forms of term deposits at the end of 30 June 2013 new faces of poverty emerged, resulting Ray Reynolds done through training and educational disadvantage. are forecast at $65 million, although in a time of unprecedented calls for help President, NSW State Council centres such as the Ozanam Learning this is largely dependent on the timing on the Society. I would like to take this opportunity St Vincent de Paul Society NSW Centre (OLC).