Brotherhood of St Laurence working towards BROTHERHOOD australia free of S! LAURENCE of poverty 2000 annual report Ipsa inspired by its Christian foundation and its commitment to social justice, the Brotherhood of St Laurence works for an Australia free of poverty by empowering people who have little money or other resources Executive Director’s Message 3 Building Partnerships 4 Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage 5 Speaking Up 6 Quality, Service and Care 7 Our Past and our Present 8 Into the Future 9 Financial Reports and Statements 10 Balance sheet, Income and Expenditure 12 Corporate Governance Statements 13 Chairman’s Report 16 Thank you to Our Supporters 17 Membership of Our Committees 22 Become a Brotherhood Partner 23 Front cover photograph: A Somali family takes part in our Home Instruction Program for Pre- School Youngsters, the first program of its kind in Australia and one which we believe helps break the cycle of disadvantage by teaching children to love learning. At least 12 per cent of Australians are living in relative poverty. The hardest hit by this simple fact are children, people with a disability and our older citizens. If you are one of Australia’s original citizens, an Aborigine, your poverty is likely to be not relative but absolute. By absolute we mean denied access to the basics of life; fresh water, sanitation, education, adequate food, adequate shelter. That there is poverty - relative or absolute - in Australia is not acceptable to this organisation. Our vision is for an Australia that is free from poverty. For seventy years we have been working with the “poor” , and some things have changed yet the one-in-eight statistic remains. But is it just the 12 per cent who are “poor” or is it all of us who are missing out on some richness in our lives? Overburdened by work, fearful of our inner cities at night, missing time with our children, absent from the care of our elders - our increasingly separate and competitive lives play harshly on all of us: even on the young, from the child who sees no place for themselves, as much as the one buckling under the weight of expectation. We are in this world together whether we like it or not. Yet while many are looking for different ways of living they are finding an absence of options. We want to provide some of those options, a chance for everyone to play a part in the creation of a better world. In this document you will see evidence of our commitment to our vision of working toward a more cohesive, caring society in which each of us has a role, a place, an intrinsic value. You will also see how this commitment is enhanced by the practical ways in which we are engaging with all parts of our society to create an Australia free of poverty. Fr Nic Frances Executive Director Brotherhood of St Laurence m Rev Stuart Gardiner, parish priest of St Paul’s Fairfield and volunteer Mr Joseph Speziale check out the new Brotherhood shop located in the church. “It is dangerous for everyone if the poverty gap becomes too wide. It destabilises the social order. The poor need to be supported in learning skills to increase their chance of work and governments and corporations need to provide jobs.” BSL Supporter, Balwyn “ ""partnerships The pain of poverty will never be alleviated in Some of the concrete examples of this the Defenders of Native Title while also Australia unless the resources of all willing broadening of alliances include: introducing Koori-specific Aged Care participants are harnessed and utilised. • The huge success of our first capital appeal. Packages which enable elders to receive the Individual donors, corporations, trusts and care they need so they can continue living in In an increasingly fast-changing environment, foundations gave a staggering $5.7 million their communities. the Brotherhood of St Laurence is taking a more for our Building Better Lives Appeal, • The development of new and inspiring lateral approach to partnership building to make designed primarily to upgrade aged care partnerships with local Anglican parishes. In our vision of an Australia free of poverty a facilities. Launched in October, the appeal what we hope to be the first of many reality. generated sufficient resources to cover not innovative alliances, a new Brotherhood Major corporations and local businesses have only the cost of the necessary upgrade but to store has been established in St Paul's as significant a role to play in creating the also fund innovative programs for children, Church, Fairfield, which allows proceeds to groundswell for social change as do families and people without work. be divided between the BSL and the parish philanthropic trusts, parish associations, • The return of the Ecumenical Migration while allowing the church to remain open community groups and dedicated individuals. Centre (EMC) to the Brotherhood fold. For during the week for private prayer. nearly 40 years, the EMC has worked to Yet while we build these supporting While creating these new partnerships, ensure that those who have just arrived may partnerships we continue to engage with those however, the Brotherhood has not lost sight of enjoy the same opportunities as those born people or groups suffering disadvantage - our traditional support base. in Australia. The work of the EMC has believing that what we do for the individual allowed us to connect further with the needs must have benefit for the many. More than 1100 volunteers gave their time, and hopes of migrants and refugees, some of energy and commitment to a range of programs This year the Brotherhood received both whom are Australia’s most vulnerable new and shops during the past year while unprecedented financial support from those citizens. supporters have continued to donate with the resources to help, while at the same • A new commitment to work with Australia’s generously. time we created new partnerships with those in original citizens. Indigenous Australians need of assistance. continue to be among the most marginalised and disadvantaged members of society. This year the Brotherhood forged a new link with Executive Director Fr Nic Frances with children at the Cottage Centre for Families and Children. “It’s not just about creating jobs - it’s about giving people the skills and ability to develop hope and motivation and move out of de spair.” BSL Supporter, Middle Park J Every member of Australian society deserves state or ex-offenders, our JPET program this communication skills, improved problem­ the chance to shape - and reshape - his or her year linked dozens of marginalised young solving skills and increased confidence in own destiny. people back into school, into work or training learning. The first of its kind in Australia, we or into suitable housing. hope to see HIPPY become a national Yet some of our most vulnerable citizens are program within the next few years. often caught in the spiral of disadvantage Other Brotherhood programs developed to help • The Homework Program which continues to leaving them without jobs, without homes and young people build strong futures include: help disadvantaged students by providing without the support structures commonly • The Transition Project, designed to offer a them with access to skilled tutors to help available to others. “bridge” between school and the labour them maximise their academic potential. market for young people leaving school The Brotherhood of St Laurence devises and early. This program involves placing a case­ At the same time, our employment services in runs a variety of programs aimed at breaking worker at the school to develop personal Fitzroy, Frankston and the Mornington the cycle of disadvantage. relationships with teenagers at risk of leaving Peninsula continue to grow through our Each has been designed to both help us work school early to help link them into further commitment to working with the most toward an Australia free of poverty and in the training or employment BEFORE they fall out disadvantaged job seekers. belief that what we do for the individual must of the system. So successful has the More than 600 people facing particular have benefit for the many. Transition Project been in the past few years, employment barriers - such as mental illness, a new project worker has begun at a third We work with three-year-olds as well as those homelessness or lack of literacy skills - were Victorian school. people heading toward retirement, with students individually case-managed this year through • The Home Instruction Program for Pre- who need tutors to those who need homes. our Intensive Assistance Program to connect School Youngsters (HIPPY) which aims to them back into the workforce or other support Our Jobs Placement Education and Training promote both a love of learning in children services designed to help break the cycle of program (JPET) in Fitzroy works with young before they start school and confidence in disadvantage. people already pushed to the fringes of society. parents to assist them when they do. A home-based program in which a parent Designed to assist young people who are works with a child on specific educational homeless, at risk of homelessness, wards of the activities, research completed this year showed that HIPPY children have improved “Growing Apart: A new look at poverty in Australia” found that the majority of Australians are becoming increasingly concerned about the growing economic divide in our modern society. “Poverty should be eradicated like a disease not wanted in the world” BSL Supporter, Box Hill Speaking up in favour of those without a voice Though many respondents expressed As part of our commitment to creating new is a central imperative of the Brotherhood of pessimism at the growing economic divide, we alliances, the Brotherhood stood up in support St Laurence.