, Annual Report 2011-12 Partners Contents About Reclink Australia 3 Why We Exist 4 What We Do 5 Growth and Challenge 6 Corporate Governance 7 Research and Evaluation 8 Transformational Links 9 Community Partners 10 State Reports 11 Our Networks 18 Events 20 Our Activities 22 Our Members 24 Donated by Gratitude 30 Participant Stories 32 Design and production by Print donated by Midway Colour Reclink Australia Staff/Contact Us 34 Digital proofs and plates donated by Paper stock donated by The Type Factory BJ Ball Papers Photos by Glenn Hester Photography and Peter Monagle Our Mission Respond. Rebuild. Reconnect. We seek to give all participants the power of purpose. About Reclink Australia Reclink Australia is a charitable organisation whose mission is to provide sport and arts activities to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage. Targeting some of the community’s most vulnerable and isolated people – those who are experiencing mental illness, disability, homelessness, substance abuse issues, addictions and social and economic hardship – Reclink Australia has facilitated cooperative partnerships with a network of over 490 member agencies committed to encouraging participation in physical and artistic activity in a population group very under-represented in mainstream sport and recreational programs and associations. We believe that sport and the arts will become accepted as a primary approach to improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness, drug and alcohol addiction and socio-economic disadvantage. Those tackling social isolation and disadvantage will seek out Reclink Australia knowing that participating in our activities will change their lives for the better. More than 9500 activities were conducted this year across Reclink Australia’s 21 networks. More than 95,800 participants were involved in those activities. ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 3 Why We Exist We believe that everyone has the right to a positive identity Currently, many Australians experiencing For the past 20 years, Reclink Australia has disadvantage and social isolation are facilitated a proven, effective and efficient and a social network. This can be achieved through active unable to access or actively participate partnership based model that uses sport participation in sport and the arts. It revives, nurtures and sustains in sport or arts programs. and the arts to transform the lives of these an individual and improves their mental and physical health. communities and to individuals experiencing disadvantage and social isolation. “Reclink Australia has given me back my life and the opportunity to be part of the community again” 1988 1989 1991 1997 2000 2004 Peter Cullen uses recreation as Kick-to-kick commences – seven Four teams play Australian Peter Cullen tours Australia presenting Reclink Australia Super 8s played on 10 teams compete in the street outreach. social games of football (AFL). football (AFL) in an organised the Reclink Australia model. the MCG. Victorian Reclink Australia competition. Football League. Reclink Australia travels to NSW – football 2003 1990 and the Reclink Australia Olympics. 1992 Reclink Australia partners with the 2005 First Reclink Australia network meeting Reclink Australia PCYC is established is held. Former Victoria Police Victorian Government. Peter Cullen appointed as Reclink Commissioner, Mick Miller, in Hobart. Australia Development Manager. Reclink Australia employs first appointed as first Reclink Funding is secured to establish staff member. Reclink Australia ‘All Stars’ game Australia Patron. Reclink Australia in South Australia. held at the MCG. South Yarra FC is the first community 1998 football club to accept Reclink Australia The first Frank Galbally Cup is participants. played between Melbourne’s Reclink Victoria vs Reclink SA at barristers and solicitors. Punt Road Oval. Reclink Australia is a finalist for the Premier’s Award for Community VicSafe Crime Prevention and Participation. Community Safety Award. 4 RECLINK AUSTRALIA – REBUILDING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND ARTS What We Do Some of our activities include Our seasonal team sports include our famous and competitions within existing facilities and A foundation principle of shared respect exists grassroots Australian football (AFL) fixture – in coordinate transitional programs to enable that recognises and rewards participation golf, swimming, table tennis, which more than 1000 people take part from Reclink Australia participants to move into the above all else. Skill development and grand lawn bowls, tenpin bowling, April to August each year. Our other team mainstream community. final days feature strongly and are used to squash, basketball, choir, drama sports include cricket, soccer, league tag and develop life skills rather than separate winners 8 Ball, and we also facilitate regular skills By facilitating relationships in supported from losers. and music and are used to development courses and Transformational environments, Reclink Australia is able to Link programs. offer programs in places that cater for the Our ultimate aim is to empower participants to promote and deliver the health, safety and wellbeing of participants which sustain an enhanced level of health, wellbeing social and economic benefits of We act as an advocate and conduit are affordable and accessible. and involvement in the community. By assisting activity to an otherwise largely between passive populations and facilities with the development of fundamental social and programs where physical activity can Many programs that are initiated by our skills, participants are able to become inactive population group. be undertaken. Using our experience and member organisations are based on active contributors in a variety of community networks we negotiate or subsidise access participant choice and interest. All activities environments such as sporting groups, social to facilities, manage customised programs are inclusive and are alcohol and drug free. settings and work places. 2006 2007 2009 2011 2012 The Reclink Raiders are the first Reclink Australia partners with VicHealth. Staff members appointed Women’s football league Record membership (493), networks (21), events (9535) and cricket team to compete in a in Hobart and Canberra. commenced in Alice Springs. participation (95,811). Reclink Australia established in Brisbane. community cricket league. Federal government announces partnership 2010 Transition to Public Company The Transformers choir sings with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Reclink Australia established to launch Reclink Australia nationally. Limited by Guarantee. in Alice Springs. Networks established in Sydney ACT program receives Australian Red Cross Humanitarian Award. and Logan. The Choir of Hard Knocks 2008 Australia Day Community Event of the Year. Appointment of new staff members is formed. Appointment of the first CEO, in Adelaide, Brisbane and Fremantle. Adrian Panozzo. Strategic plan for 2010 to IOOF Foundation became a major 2015 approved by the Board. community partner. Reclink Australia established Our Membership passed 490 agencies for the first time. in Western Australia. Staff members appointed in Brisbane and Alice Springs. ANNUAL REPORT 2011-12 5 Growth and Challenge The significant and national Growth was evident by a 33% increase in The deficit for the year was directly linked We would like to take this opportunity the number of member organisations to 493 to a lack of success in securing grants to express our gratitude to our dedicated growth of all key outputs and the number of sport and art activities from trusts and foundations, losses or less government and community partners, our continued throughout the available to those members increased from than budgeted surpluses from key events volunteers and friends for their continued last year; however this was 5653 to 9539. This growth was realised and a shortfall in corporate donations. support of Reclink Australia. In particular in spite of reduced funding and is largely The challenge now facing the organisation we would like to acknowledge the balanced by a substantial due to efficiency gains in the cost of in 2013 is to sustain the extent of our dedication and commitment of our staff shortfall across anticipated delivering programs. national network, should the trend of who have continued to deliver and grow declining revenues continue beyond the Reclink Australia programs during this sources of revenue. These gains over the past three years are next 12 months. challenging time. significant with the average program cost reducing from $102 in 2010 to $54 Counteractive measures have been in 2012. As a result, a record level of implemented including a streamlining participation of almost 100,000 (95,811) in administration and a reduction in was reached with the goal of 120,000 operational staff. Program cost analysis in the next 12 months now a very is ongoing. realistic outcome. A more conservative strategic and financial The positive effects of Reclink Australia approach to revenue generating activities Mary Delahunty programs was further validated with the will predominate the organisations Chair release of several research reports from operations in the short term. At the same Latrobe University and the presentation of time, further efficiency gains in the sourcing an Australian Red Cross Humanitarian and delivering of our sport and art programs Award for our programs in the Australian will be actively pursued in order to maintain Capital Territory. the level and diversity of choice