, Annual Report 2013-14 Partners Contents Our Mission 3 Indigenous Advancement 17 About Australia 3 AAA Play 18 Why We Exist 4 Our National Footprint 20 What We Do 5 Events, Fundraising and Volunteers 21 A Forward Looking Approach 6 Our Activities 24 Corporate Governance 6 Our Members 26 Research and Evaluation 7 Gratitude 32 Transformational Links, Training Reclink Australia Staff 34 and Education 7 Contact Us 34 Community Partners 8 Founder Message 35 State Reports 8 2 RECLINK AUSTRALIA – REBUILDING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND ARTS Our Mission Respond. Rebuild. Reconnect. We seek to give all participants the power of purpose. About Reclink Australia Reclink Australia is a not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to enhance the lives of people experiencing disadvantage or facing significant barriers to participation, through providing new and unique sports and arts opportunities and specialist recreation programs. We target some of the community’s most vulnerable and with a membership of over 380 community, government and isolated people; at risk youth, those experiencing mental private organisations. illness, people with a disability, the homeless, people Our member agencies are committed to encouraging our target tackling alcohol and other drug issues and social and population group, under-represented in mainstream sport and economic hardship. recreational programs, to take that step towards improved As part of our unique hub and spoke network model, health and self-esteem, and use Reclink Australia’s activities as Reclink Australia has facilitated cooperative partnerships a means for engagement of hard to reach population groups. ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 3 Why We Exist From the streets of St Kilda Building resilience and a sense of community, Reclink Australia believes and Kings Cross, to the that sport and the arts is an accepted public housing estates of approach to improving the lives of those experiencing multiple and complex Adelaide and Canberra and issues and social exclusion. the remote communities We believe that everyone has the of the Northern Territory, right to a positive identity and a social Reclink Australia champions network. This can be achieved through active participation in sport and the participation in physical arts. It revives, nurtures and sustains an and artistic activity for all individual and improves their mental Australians. We believe that and physical health. sport, recreation, music and For 24 years, we have led a network of member organisations in the art are powerful tools to support of disadvantaged communities engage and support those and individuals. most hard to reach within the community. “Reclink is actually the best thing that’s ever happened to me” 1988 1992 1998 2003 2004 Peter Cullen uses recreation Former Victoria Police Reclink Victoria vs Reclink SA Reclink Australia partners 10 teams compete in the as street outreach. Commissioner, Mick Miller, at Punt Road Oval. with the Victorian Victorian Reclink Australia appointed as first Reclink Government. Football League. VicSafe Crime Prevention Australia Patron. 1989 and Community Safety Reclink Australia employs Kick-to-kick commences Award. first staff member. 2005 – seven social games of 1997 Peter Cullen appointed Australian football (AFL). Peter Cullen tours Australia 2000 South Yarra FC is the first as Reclink Australia presenting the Reclink community football club Development Manager. Reclink Australia Super 8s 1990 Australia model. to accept Reclink Australia played on the MCG. participants. Reclink Australia ‘All Stars’ First Reclink Australia Reclink Australia travels to game held at the MCG. network meeting is held. NSW – football and the Reclink Australia is a finalist The first Frank Galbally Reclink Australia Olympics. for the Premier’s Award for 1991 Community Participation. Cup is played between Reclink Australia PCYC is Melbourne’s barristers Four teams play Australian established in Hobart. and solicitors. football (AFL) in an organised competition. Funding is secured to establish Reclink Australia in South Australia. 4 RECLINK AUSTRALIA – REBUILDING LIVES THROUGH SPORT AND ARTS What We Do Reclink Australia delivers communities in rural Tasmania and networks we negotiate or subsidise each year. access to facilities, manage customised services across the country, programs and competitions within Reclink Australia has extended its existing facilities and coordinate with participation at the core activities to include work readiness of everything we do. programs in Queensland, a National transitional programs to enable Reclink Crime and Violence Prevention Award Australia participants to move into the From running, squash and basketball, winning community safety program in mainstream community. to painting, instrument making and the ACT and a Victorian Government A foundation principle of shared singing, we promote and deliver the funded referral service, connecting respect exists that recognises and health, social and economic benefits of people with a disability to sports and rewards participation and a willingness activity to an otherwise largely inactive recreation opportunities, AAA Play. to support others above all else. Skill population group. Reclink Australia’s programs’ impact development and event days feature Our national program of team sports extends to providing a vehicle for our strongly and are used to develop life are iconic and have the ability to bring member organisations to engage skills rather than separate winners from together people from all walks of life. informally with ‘at risk’ and ‘hard losers, with our ultimate aim to empower Our famous grassroots ‘Australian to reach’ populations, facilitating participants to sustain an enhanced level Rules’ football program involves more discussions about housing stability and of health, wellbeing and involvement in than 850 people from April to August safety, health improvement and welfare. the community. each year. This program is rolled out As a unique voice in the sports By assisting with the development of across the Northern Territory, Victoria participation space, we act as an fundamental social skills, participants and Tasmania, with our Tasmanian advocate and conduit between are supported and encouraged, if Youth League engaging over 200 boys passive populations and facilities and applicable, to transition to mainstream and girls from small geographically programs where physical activity can sports and arts programs, education and economically disadvantaged be undertaken. Using our experience and employment. 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 The Reclink Raiders are Appointment of the first CEO, Networks established in The Transformers Choir Reclink Australia becomes the first cricket team to Adrian Panozzo. Sydney and Logan. sings with His Holiness the provider of Australia’s first compete in a community Dalai Lama. State funded information IOOF Foundation became Appointment of new staff cricket league. and support service, assisting a major community partner. members in Adelaide, Australia Day Community people with a disability to Reclink Australia established Brisbane and Fremantle. Event of the Year. Reclink Australia established link with sports and active in Alice Springs. in Western Australia. Strategic plan for 2010 to recreation. The Choir of Hard Knocks 2015 approved by the Board. 2013 Staff members appointed in Australia Post announces is formed. Record membership (588), Brisbane and Alice Springs. 2011 networks (22), Reclink Australia as events (10,856) and a National ‘Our 2007 Women’s football league 2009 participation (111,409). Neighbourhood’ Reclink Australia partners with commenced in Alice Springs. Staff members appointed community partner. VicHealth. Reclink Australia wins ACT in Hobart and Canberra. Transition to Public Company Health Promotion Award. Reclink Australia established Limited by Guarantee. in Brisbane. Friends of Alice launched. Federal Government announces partnership to launch Reclink Australia nationally. “Reclink give me a sense of identity, belonging, community, purpose and empowerment” ANNUAL REPORT 2013-14 5 A Forward Looking Approach During 2013-14 Reclink While the year has seen a change in Australia has received from Local, the leadership of the organisation, a State, Territory and Commonwealth Australia delivered over smooth transition in senior management Governments, community partners, 115,000 sport, recreation has enabled us to pursue a number our loyal volunteers and the many of exciting initiatives to strengthen communities across Australia with whom and arts participation sustainability and create opportunities we are privileged to work closely with. for growth in a financially sound manner. opportunities, while working A special thanks to our dedicated and closely with over 380 The Executive would like to thank committed staff who work tirelessly to Adrian Panozzo for his excellence and deliver Reclink Australia’s diverse range member organisations dedicated service as CEO over the past of sport, recreation and arts activities. five years. across Australia. In addition, On behalf of the Board it is with great In May, the Commonwealth Government pleasure that we present our annual our Transformational informed us that funding for the report for the 2013-2014 financial year. Links program has National Reclink Program would conclude on 30 June 2014. We will continued to provide monitor the potential impact the loss targeted opportunities for of funding may have on our sport and recreation programs and