TRUST Autumn 2014

MAGAZINE

baptistcare launches new name and brand celebrating 70 years of care social inclusion in australia

Autumn Edition 2014 • www.baptistcare.org.au

Our Vision The trusted name in life-transforming care.

Our PURPOSE Transforming lives by expressing the love of Christ.

Ross Low CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Values Responsive - We respond positively and thoughtfully to each other’s individual needs.

Empowering - We value the freedom that comes from an improved quality of life.

Supporting - We believe safety and security is our responsibility – a shared priority.

Personal Solutions We understand that no one-size-fits-all and we embrace this individuality.

Enriching - We ensure everyone’s personal and shared environments are comfortable, nurturing and positive places to be.

Communicating - We create open communication channels to build strong and mutually respectful relationships.

Togetherness - Through team work we actively support each other’s shared goals and respect each other’s individual journey.

Sign up for E-News www.baptistcare.org.au Like us on Facebook facebook.com/ BaptistCareNSWACT Connect with us on LinkedIn “BaptistCare NSW & ACT” To advertise in Trust visit the Publications page at www.baptistcare.org.au BaptistCare NSW & ACT ABN 90 000 049 525

In this special newlook Trust since we became ‘BaptistCare’ in February 2014, I have been struck by what a remarkable time it has been in the history of our organisation.

While 2014 sees the launch of our brand new brand, this year also marks the 70th anniversary of Baptist care services in NSW and ACT. In a time of change, we should reflect on and remember the lasting legacy of those who have gone before. Their legacy inspires us and reminds of our great vision and mission before us, to serve the communities in which we live.

In many ways, little has changed. The mission of BaptistCare is still the same as when we were called the ‘NSW Baptist Homes Trust’ – to express the love of Jesus to those in need. There are still so many vast needs in our communities. Demand for high quality, affordable care services continues to grow. A rising number of

people are experiencing poverty, homelessness, mental health problems and domestic violence. In response BaptistCare is working hard to build our capacity as one of the most active providers of community services in Australia.

There is much to thank God for as we look back and see where we have come from, and as we look forward to what the future holds. I personally want to thank all the members of my team who have helped create something special - a world leading & wonderfully engaging brand. On behalf of BaptistCare, I also want to thank the thousands of dedicated staff and volunteers who have supported us so faithfully over the last 70 years and made such a difference in the lives of so many.

Our great God is leading BaptistCare into this new season. It is my pleasure to invite you to share this journey with us.

Trust Editorial Team - Brendan Wood & Natalie Lammas This publication is printed on ecoStar 100% recycled paper.

Trust is the partner’s magazine produced by BaptistCare for its members, donors and supporters, clients, the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT, and the wider community. Trust is distributed quarterly.

our name has changed BUT

our care remains the same It is with a real sense of anticipation and excitement that we now welcome our supporters to BaptistCare, along with a new chapter in the Baptist care story.

Welcome to BaptistCare.

What began as the Baptist Homes Trust in 1944, and becoming Baptist Community Services in 1992, has now become BaptistCare NSW & ACT, to be known as BaptistCare.

This exciting change came about following a review of our public profile in late 2012 which resulted in a decision in late 2013 to change our name

to BaptistCare. A number of names were considered but after much discussion, the decision to embrace the name ‘BaptistCare’ was made in recognition of the advantage of sharing a similar name to Baptist care agencies across Australia. The Board of Directors and Executive Committee were strongly of the opinion that this name was best suited to clearly reflecting our vision as an organisation, and was agreed to by the Company Members at the AGM in November 2013.

The opportunity provided by the name change has been used to review and redesign all our marketing and communication material. We have given considerable thought to how we should communicate our name, and how that could best represent what we stand for and believe. Our name, purpose and values, logo, corporate colours, promotional materials and website are all being updated

and refreshed in a way that is significantly more relevant to our clients, those to whom we provide service, and to all our stakeholders.

The new look and feel captures both our purpose and our values; it expresses very clearly in words and in designs our absolute commitment to being leaders in life-transforming client centred care. The key changes you will notice have been made to our brand logo, our Purpose and Values, our Vision and Positioning, as well as our organisational Promise.

Our Brand Logo BaptistCare has adopted a new logo and colour

scheme to both ‘refresh’ our public face and to align our external branding with our new strategy. Through analysing the culture and character of our organisation, we developed the phrase ‘All Individual, All Connected, All Respected’ to describe BaptistCare’s relationships with clients, carers, staff and volunteers. This phrase then guided development of a powerful new logo which depicts a client at the centre of our care offering, while other

figures surround the client with supportive and enabling care, underpinned by our new name BaptistCare.

Our Purpose ‘Transforming Lives By Expressing The Love Of Christ’ BaptistCare’s new purpose statement recaptures the simplicity of the original 1944 mission statement: ‘Expressing the love of Jesus to those in need’, while bringing additional focus on transformational outcomes and acknowledging the broader client group that BaptistCare now serves. This new statement will bring renewed focus on our purpose as an organisation.

Our Values - RESPECT Each person is unique, loved

by God, and worthy of respect, dignity and inclusion. By respecting this individuality, we create strong and caring communities that value personal wellbeing - and each other.

When this respect is shared, it has the potential to transform lives. We value this respect in our clients, colleagues and our wider network and this is what we practise every day.

The RESPECT acronym is already widely used across BaptistCare to define our approach to care and service delivery in many

different situations, such as: client-centred care, spiritual care, dementia care, palliative care, and special needs groups. Aligning our values with this acronym will enable the whole organisation to powerfully connect our values with our care delivery.

Our Vision and Positioning The Trusted Name In Life Transforming Care’.

The new vision statement provides BaptistCare with an aspirational goal, to be the trusted name in life-transforming care; trusted above all others to facilitate life-transforming care

Respect is thus translated into our new Values:

R E S P E C T

Responsive We respond positively and thoughtfully to each other’s individual needs.

Empowering We value the freedom that comes from an improved quality of life.

Supporting We believe safety and security is our responsibility – and a shared priority.

Personal Solutions We understand that no one-size-fits-all and we embrace this individuality.

Enriching We ensure everyone’s personal and shared environments are comfortable, nurturing and positive places to be.

Communicating We create open communication channels to build strong and mutually respectful relationships Togetherness

for and with our clients. This vision also establishes a high benchmark for BaptistCare, that is, to be positioned as industry leaders:

‘Leaders in Life Transforming Client Centred Care’.

Our Promise ‘Care You Can Trust’ Through aligning our Purpose, our Values, Our Vision, and our Positioning into all that we do as an organisation, BaptistCare is able to make a bold promise to our clients, that we will provide ‘Care You Can Trust’. This is our commitment as an organisation.

Our Invitation To You Preparations have been underway to launch publicly as BaptistCare on Tuesday 18 March. This is following many months of planning as our BaptistCare teams have implemented changes to uniforms, stationery, signage, promotional material, and the website, to name just a few of the many matters that have required attention. To everyone involved we say thank you and well done.

We trust you will appreciate the fresh enthusiasm of our valued clients, staff and volunteers as they embrace this exciting new chapter in the rich story that is BaptistCare. We invite you to join us in this journey by visiting our new website after the March launch at www.baptistcare.org.au.

Here you will discover that our name has changed, but the mission and the care remains the same.

Through team work we actively support each other’s shared goals and respect each other’s individual journey.

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Top: The 1953 opening of Yallambi at Carlingford Middle left: Fred Church lays foundation stone Middle right: Karingal, the first home for children at Mosman Bottom: Inspection of Yallambi by the early pioneers in 1952

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FAITH IN ACTION In Australia in the 1930s and 40s, growing older often meant growing poorer. In the grip of the Great Depression, when 30 per cent of people lost their jobs and many were evicted from their homes, the grim reality for many older women who had outlived their spouses was that of terrible poverty and hardship.

Deprivation and dislocation also meant many children had nowhere safe to come home to. This was an untold story in Australia of struggling communities, fractured families and traumatised refugees.

Support was badly needed.

In response to these urgent social issues and the Christianity that they passionately clung to, forward-thinking Baptist men and women began to dream of Baptist churches putting faith into social action. A few years later the ‘NSW Baptist Homes

Trust’ officially began the work of serving the needs of the most vulnerable and isolated.

Homes for elderly women and children were initially set up.

Then followed immigration support, refugee accommodation, opportunity shops, programs for prison inmates, domestic violence crisis support, community centres, social housing, chaplaincy, street outreach, food support, microfinance loans; the list goes on.

The heart of the NSW Baptist Home Trust was that people do matter. The following are just

a few of the stories of those pioneers whose sustained commitment to the value of people who are not valued by society has led BaptistCare to where it is today.

Frederick Church Successful young Sydney lawyer and senior partner of his own law firm, Fred Church, was the founder of the Baptist Homes Trust, becoming the Trust’s President until the early 90s. His deep commitment to Christian social action saw him fired from www.baptistcare.org.au | TRUST Autumn 2014

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his role as a Sunday School teacher and made him, in the words of his close family, “a thorn in the side of less progressive thinkers”. Church’s own words several years later bore witness to his passion for human rights and service.

“to dwell”) at Carlingford. Isabel led much of the management of setting up the home and was also a driving force behind the newly formed Ladies Auxiliary that provided much needed voluntary fundraising support and practical assistance to the work over the following decades. As new problems arose over the first twelve months of the new home, Isabel was the daily consultant to staff in ironing out difficulties and attending to the residents comfort, as well as to their joys and their losses.

appointed in 1956 to manage the operations of the work of the Home Trust. In the early years, he had no office and no office staff, working instead out of the boot of his car. Ron’s headquarters were at his home, so his wife always answered the telephone with the words, “Hello, NSW Baptist Homes Trust”. She opened his business letters and typed his replies, or else Ron wrote the answers by hand, keeping a carbon copy. Their two young daughters would get excited when the postman would deliver large bundles of mail to the house each day.

“Everything we do as Christians we should do in love but we must not forget that love’s only currency is the centre of the world’s activities is justice, and Christians should be in the midst of activities to proclaim Christian justice,” he said. “As Christians we must take our place in the social, political, trade and community affairs of our nation, and express Ron preached at around 130 fearlessly the Christian viewpoint churches in the first five years BaptistCare has without condemning him with the Homes Trust. In his come a long way who does not accept it, banff blue Holden station in 70 years.

While Ron but condemning injustice, wagon, Ron travelled immorality and sin. It is over “90,000 miles” to Robertson had only a not interference but visit churches all over car boot, and Margery involvement in the world’s NSW and ACT. When Bartlett farmed vegetables activities that Christians the odometer reached and pigs to pay for daily must do.”

100,000 one evening after a Council meeting, operations, BaptistCare Not interference but Ron celebrated what he involvement. Church today has over 4000 called “scoring a century”. At lived by those convictions staff and 1,100 that moment with eyes open in public life and saw that and on the road in front of him, volunteers. they were woven into the Ron prayed, “Thank you God for philosophy of the Baptist Homes protecting me on the road from Trust. Once described as “tough accidents, from my own stupidity but straight as a gun barrel”, At times, Isabel bravely battled and from that of other road Fred’s shrewd financial and legal resistance from some Council and idiots. Also, thank you for the expertise proved invaluable as Auxiliary members who argued privilege of working for the NSW he set up the Homes Trust, and that Yallambi should be furnished Baptist Homes Trust and for being his drive and vision led to what cheaply at the expense of quality permitted in my own small way to has become the largest, most and comfort, and who complained go about doing good.” effective and comprehensive that the food provided was too program of Christian social Margery Field (nee good to provide at an elderly ministry ever attempted by Bartlett) ladies home. Isabel strongly Australian Baptists anywhere. disagreed with these ideas and While Yallambi, the Homes her firm opposition secured the Isabel Church Trust’s first aged care home had ethos of high quality care that become a reality and the buildings Fred Church’s wife Isabel shared is a core part of the DNA of finished, there was no matron. It her husband’s enthusiasm for BaptistCare today. was 1953 and the position had the Baptist Homes Trust as it been advertised in the national prepared to open its first-ever Ron Robertson periodical The Australian Baptist, ‘home for elderly ladies’, Yallambi Ron Robertson was the Baptist but no suitable candidate had (an Aboriginal word meaning Homes Trust’s first paid Secretary been found. The situation was 8

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becoming dire when a young Miss Margery Bartlett, who had been living and working in England, received a ‘prophetic’ letter from a resident near the almost completed Yallambi.

“She said I was to be the matron. I had not heard of Yallambi, nor had any of the Homes Trust Board heard of me.”

Margery considered the letter and upon her return to Sydney, urged on by her friends at Central Baptist Church, paid a visit to the home of Fred and Isabel Church to discuss the position. As soon as Margery left the house, Isabel jubilantly telephoned her husband to tell him she had just met the future matron of Yallambi, and the Homes Trust’s first employee, just in time for the grand opening.

A top nursing graduate, Margery proved to be just the right fit for the role as she launched herself into establishing the new aged care home, attending to a multitude of daily matters and training new staff. Margery lived on site in a single room behind the office so as to be close to the residents. She listened to them and supported them through their highs and lows. Margery made the centre a real home.

In the first few months after Yallambi opened, there was no telephone, so when a call needed to be made, pennies were taken to the public telephone box nearby. As a stop-gap solution, Margery had a duplex telephone at her aunt’s house, over a mile away. The aunt must have been a patient woman; Yallambi kept the line constantly busy.

Margery’s talents were showcased in many ways at Yallambi. To reduce costs, a pig sty was built on the property and Margery and the other staff would feed the pigs from buckets of scraps every day.

When the pigs got sick, Margery would administer penicillin injections. However, giving the injection turned out to be the simple part. Catching the pigs proved more difficult.

Margery put every effort in keeping operating costs low by growing vegetables and collecting milk and horse manure from other sites. Margery’s creativity proved invaluable. “If we did not have the right equipment for a nursing or medical emergency she very soon improvised something that fitted the bill.”

Later as the Matron of the Niola aged care centre, she organised two shifts of volunteers to refurbish and set up the home; one shift working during the day, the second working until midnight. Endlessly energetic, Margery covered both shifts.

The guiding force for many BaptistCare aged care centres, Margery was most known for her kindness and generosity. A senior government official working on a report on nursing homes for the Commonwealth Government was profoundly impacted by meeting with Margery.

showed the most human and compassionate concern of any matron in the Commonwealth and that’s a fair description. She wasn’t the matron of the type of clinical control. She made it a home,” he wrote.

BaptistCare has come a long way in 70 years. While Ron Robertson had only a car boot, and Margery Bartlett farmed vegetables and pigs to pay for daily operations, BaptistCare today employs over 4000 staff, and benefits enormously from the contribution of over 1,100 volunteers. But what remains unchanged is the starting point for our work. Many people are still struggling in the community, and Jesus compels us to bring life-giving care and support to those who need it. As we look back, we see that the legacy of those early pioneers - their vision, their sacrifice and the care they offered to people in need – still lives on. *We acknowledge the work of Gerry Ball and BaptistCare historian Jim Mallice and their book “Striving for Excellence” which recounts the history of BaptistCare.

“Matron Bartlett, although a bulldog, was the one who www.baptistcare.org.au | TRUST Autumn 2014

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baptistcare

the early years

Women and Children First.

That was the slogan of the then fledgling NSW Baptist Homes Trust (as BaptistCare was known).

That aim, like the unwritten shipwreck code, spelled out where this new grassroots movement was to begin. The first task of the new enterprise was to start helping the most vulnerable; those people who had the least access to support and services in the community.

Established in the early 1940s to provide outstanding Christian “care and welfare services”, the move to provide a social services program was not without opposition. A few within Baptist ranks took the view it was not the concern of the denomination 10

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to embark on social work at all. Debate continued on but finally it was decided - social action must become part of the life and thinking of NSW Baptists.

In 1944, the Homes Trust produced its first mission statement: “Expressing the Love of Jesus to Those in Need”. It was then decided that the challenging work of giving social services, starting with homes for elderly women and children, should begin. Finally, the vision of the early organisers was realised at the opening of the first two homes, Yallambi, a home for aged women at Carlingford in 1953, and Karingal, a home for children at Mosman in 1956.

More than just institutions Yallambi (an Aboriginal word meaning “dwelling place”) was the first BaptistCare home to be built.

Yallambi provided a model home where elderly ladies would be

able to spend the rest of their days in comfort and security, untroubled by the fears of insecurity and loneliness which age often brings. Over many years, the NSW Department of Health used Yallambi as the gold standard when approving other new nursing homes. Yallambi was also acclaimed by social workers as being of an exceptionally high standard and equal to the best aged care homes in the state.

When it established its first “home for elderly ladies”, the Homes Trust was clear on its distinctive mission.

“Any attempt to establish a home will fail if it merely establishes another “institution”, for the State and secular organisations are able to erect institutions for the elderly… A home is more than a modern building, replete with chromium gadgets and carpets.

It must be one where there is an atmosphere, a friendly kindly atmosphere, where everyone feels instinctively that they are loved and wanted.”

Margery Field (Bartlett), the first-ever employee of the Baptist Homes Trust and matron of Yallambi saw her work primarily

as an act of faith.

“No way would I have faced nursing today – the paper work, the impersonal restrictions, the fear of litigation all making it so hard to love and care. I always believed it was the Lord’s work, it was his home and daily we needed the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help out in our day to day problems.”

Making love real in practical ways was the primary goal, and one to which the early pioneers continued to strive for. Elderly people now enjoyed nourishing meals, comfortable beds, precious companionship and freedom from the burden and monotony of living alone. Over the following years, building projects continued and at the opening of the Shalom aged care home in 1961, the original founder of the Homes

within a couple of months it was occupied… We were always looking for new sites,” said Ron Robertson, the NSW Baptist Homes Trust’s first Secretary.

By the early eighties, the Homes Trust had units, hostels and nursing homes catering for more than 1300 aged people across NSW.

NSW Baptist Homes Trust is officially incorporated.

Donors

Before government funded social services, The Baptist Homes Trust needed to raise its own funds.

Appeals were made to churches, church auxiliaries, Sunday Schools and individuals. Annual and life memberships were offered. The sacrificial effort of some Baptist churches and individuals was remarkable. 240 individual donors gave to the initial fundraising effort for the building of Yallambi.

Ladies groups In 1944, the Homes Trust from around produced its first mission the state staged fundraising drives. statement: “Expressing the The Christian Love of Jesus to Those in Need. Endeavour unit of the Baptist Union challenged Trust Fred Church once again youth groups to donate 30 reminded the Baptist community pounds to furnish one room. of its core vision.

The 1959 Annual Report lists “Let us never forget that it is not donations from 118 Sunday in erecting splendid buildings Schools and 99 Christian that our real work lies, but in the Endeavour Societies. The giving giving of loving care to those who from some churches was from live in them.” these youth groups alone. The youngest recorded donor was ten Progress is made year old “Master John Church” When Yallambi was built, all costs who gave a donation of one were borne by the Homes Trust. pound to set up the first elderly The availability of government ladies home. money in later decades marked a turning point with the Homes Caring for vulnerable Trust now expanding its activities. children and young people “In the sixties, but particularly in the seventies and eighties, there was a rapid acceleration in our building of homes for the aged.

The demand was enormous and the supply never caught up.

We would open a home and

1944

Being young and with no one to take care of you and no home to call your own is a terrible place to be. Recognising this need, the doors of Karingal were opened to provide a home for up to 16 children and young people who

1953

Yallambi, the Trust’s first aged care home is opened in Carlingford

1992

The Homes Trust becomes Baptist Community Services - NSW & ACT

2014 BCS becomes BaptistCare NSW & ACT

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were to have come from homes, “over which the shadow of death, sickness, desertion by a parent, or other tragedy has fallen”. Karingal, a beautiful, furnished residence in Mosman, with magnificent harbour views and room for 20 children had been sold at below value to the Homes Trust by a wealthy Mosman resident who wanted to “do something for the Baptists” after her friend had been helped by a Baptist Minister.

This bold adventure to tackle youth poverty and disadvantage had its exciting start.

Karingal (Aboriginal for “happy home”) cared for 186 children and young people over its 30 year history. The opening of Karingal in 1956 was later followed by Ruhama in 1959 and Thorington and Carisbrook in the 1970s. Lola Cousemaker was the first matron at Karingal and at its opening said, “I’m not sure what I’m in for in this work, I’m only sure of two things. I’m sure of my calling and

I’m very sure of the one who called me.”

Many of the children who came to live at the home came from chaotic and traumatic family situations. Poverty and violence had diminished their childhoods.

The Trust’s staff wanted to be part of making their lives change for the better. Over her time as matron, Lola learned much about caring for struggling children and young people.

“We tried to live in a way that practised what we preached.

We wanted our children to respect each other’s rights and be considerate towards each other.

They needed a place where they could be themselves and feel safe and be assured that we still love them, even if we disapproved of their behaviour.”

“I learned that every child’s needs are different but all respond to love. I learned that tears dried more quickly if you added yours

to theirs. I felt their pain and hopelessness when they first came in and they realised they were here to stay. A cuddle and love seemed so little to offer them,” she said.

Many years have now passed and thousands of people have been positively impacted loving care of BaptistCare’s dedicated staff, volunteers and donors. Programs have evolved, possibilities have been created and challenges have been overcome. As we look back to the 1940s and 50s we are grateful to all those who took bold steps of faith and rolled up their sleeves to make BaptistCare’s first mission statement, “Expressing the Love of Jesus to Those in Need,” a reality today. *We acknowledge the work of Gerry Ball and BaptistCare historian Jim Mallice and their book “Striving for Excellence” which recounts the history of BaptistCare.

Left: Members of the Women’s Auxiliary. Top right: Lola Cousemaker with Karingal children. Bottom right: Construction of Yallambi 12

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Heroes of faith Trevor Wight BaptistCare Senior Chaplain

This year, BaptistCare celebrates 70 years of care and service to the community. What a perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on the foundations that have made this all possible.

Hebrews 11 has often been referred to as the ‘Hall of Faith’ where we read a long list of ‘faith heroes’, stories of ordinary people who were willing to step out in faith and follow God’s direction even when what was being asked made no sense or seemed to be asking the impossible. Noah was to build a huge ark to escape a flood that would destroy the world.

Abraham and Sarah were to have a child after Sarah went into menopause. Absurd. Impossible.

When putting their faith into practice, I suspect our BaptistCare predecessors may have felt the same way as some of these biblical faith heroes.

When called to offer care to elderly women and vulnerable children with little experience or history in offering social services and with no money or paid

personnel, the task must have seemed daunting. They would have had no idea how large the organisation would become, how many programs would be run, or how many lives would be impacted. Perhaps if they had any inkling of how large the task actually was, they might not have even begun! Thankfully, they just trusted God’s leading and took the first step; providing a safe refuge for elderly ladies who just needed a home.

Hebrews 11 begins by saying: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. As we reflect on 70 years of committed and faithful care services to the community, we acknowledge our own Baptist heroes of faith, who heard the call of God to provide care to those who needed it.

Their faith shown in practice, has

led to what BaptistCare has now become.

As we look forward to many more decades of fulfilling our mission statement, “Transforming Lives by Expressing the Love of Christ”, it is my prayer that we might practice that same kind of faith. Just as our predecessors looked to God for direction and leading in challenging circumstances, let us continue to seek his guidance, direction and provision, as we translate the love of Christ and serve the communities in which we live.

We can know that the God who guides us, is the one who Paul describes in Ephesians 3:20 as the one who can do “immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

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The Unlucky Ones Social exclusion in Australia today.

by Natalie Lammas, BaptistCare Communications Coordinator

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In 1964, Australian writer Donald Horne wrote a book called The Lucky Country.

Never has a book title passed so rapidly into the language as this one. While Horne was actually being ironic and warning of the dangers of relying on luck rather than good management, Australia embraced the term and celebrated it. As a nation we have among the highest rates of material wealth and social mobility in the world. Luck has brought us much prosperity. But there is one thing that beneficiaries of this Lucky Country can so easily forget: it is only lucky for some.

There is now a large and growing number of people in Australia living on or below the poverty line. The Unlucky Ones.

more likely to be poor and stay that way.

Growing inequality, entrenched unemployment and diminishing opportunities for people in disadvantaged communities is real. Many who live in public housing estates, for instance, score so high on what might be termed the “misery index” - the statistics on early school leaving, unemployment, mental illness, domestic violence and prison admissions – that they become fodder for study by academics and the press. Studies show if you are Indigenous, a woman or have chronic health problems, you are

compels the church to offer hospitality to all-comers and a place of welcome to those who have worn out their welcome elsewhere. This is the vision that that BaptistCare has been engaged in for the last 70 years: ensuring that the most marginalised members of our community are not left out and have access to essential health, educational, welfare, and social services.

But disadvantage is not just about how little you have to live on, it’s also about poverty of opportunity.

Many people in Australia do not have the kind of opportunities they need to create the life they want and easily become trapped in a spiral of disadvantage. Family circumstances, low expectations, community poverty, awful living environments, illness and discrimination can all combine to make life a prison. Worse still, exclusion seems to transfer and increase from generation to generation so long as the causes are allowed to persist.

temptation to see the problems and jump to solutions. Solve. Fix. But if experience and wisdom tells us anything it is this: to make real change, lasting change, we first need to listen.

In Mark Peel’s insightful book The Lowest Rung: Voices of Australian Poverty, the historian says, “the so-called ‘losers’ know things about the world that winners don’t. The unlucky know more of the world and its vulnerabilities than the lucky; the weak have a far better sense of what matters than the strong.” Peel writes that, “there are things that being privileged doesn’t teach you”. If we are Here is the face of poverty ever to understand housing So we talk to those on the in Australia today. The or health or employment, four year old child who is margins of society. Listen we must first “listen to the surrounded by violence and unhoused, the unwell and to their stories. Seek to knows only two words, “bad the unemployed.” Not out understand what poverty boy”. The father of three of sympathy or compassion, who gets sick, loses his job of opportunity really means. but because they have much and has to decide between to tell us.

What can be done? What buying food and heating his Yes, this is a Lucky Country. should we do? home. The African refugee who That is why we need a greater cannot get anyone to rent him a The biblical mandate is one that recognition that for all but a very flat. The single mother who has calls us to unconditional love, few of us, hardship is only ever not seen a movie in ten years. “It’s care and support for people a retrenchment or an accident $12… I just can’t”. who are struggling. Christ away. That any of us could just be the victims of geography, tumultuous childhoods or just plain, dumb luck. So we talk to those on the margins of society.

Listen to their stories. Seek to understand what poverty of opportunity really means. And start to make a genuine difference to those who just need someone alongside them. We then see that there is no “us and them”. It turns out, there is only “us”.

However, when we become passionate about remedying poverty and social exclusion, there can often be a strong www.baptistcare.org.au | TRUST Autumn 2014

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70 years of volunteers “ I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.” - Helen Keller In 1952, Dorothy Henderson, a member of her local Baptist Church at Epping was looking for an opportunity to roll up her sleeves and serve. Someone suggested to her that she might like to lend a hand with the NSW Baptist Homes Trust, and help establish care facilities for the aged and children in need.

Dorothy agreed and so began a 55 year association for one of BaptistCare’s pioneer volunteers.

“There was so much to do to get Yallambi ready, for the opening and it was all volunteer labour,” she said. “I can still picture cleaning floors, hanging curtains and bringing in crockery for the opening. We would also go up and do relief shifts in the kitchen on weekends and cook meals for the residents.”

The story of BaptistCare is the story of many just like Dorothy who worked tirelessly to make the vision a reality. In those early years, this small, grassroots organisation was almost wholly based on a system based on voluntary work. The first Secretary of the Baptist Homes Trust, Fred Church - a volunteer himself - enlisted a virtual army of enthusiastic unpaid workers to get its aged care centres off the ground. Fred’s neighbour, 16

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an architect, was persuaded to design the first homes for free. A retired builder from Maroubra Baptist supervised the construction. Administrators, treasurers, accountants, as well as the formidable women of the Ladies Auxiliary, supported care services, raised funds and assisted staff. They poured themselves into growing BaptistCare into one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit Christian care providers.

The passion of these volunteers also energised the local church.

Their enthusiasm and drive was, “like that of a Baptist Fellowship not yet constituted as a church but moving in that direction, everyone doing the work of two or three and giving time and money per head that would startle the members of an established church,” said the first CEO of the Homes Trust, Ron Robertson.

While times have certainly changed since Dorothy and her friends first joined BaptistCare, the passion of our volunteers remains the same. Today, BaptistCare could not offer care

services without the dedicated support of our volunteer team.

BaptistCare volunteers come from all walks of life, yet they share one common goal: a desire to make a genuine difference to people in their communities.

Now more than ever we need a new generation to help us on the frontline of care. Will you help us?

Volunteers are needed right now in Residential Services, Home Services, Housing and Retirement Living Services, and Community Services. Please consider the volunteer opportunities on the next page or contact Craig Goodreid on (02) 98023 2563 or volunteering@baptistcare.org.au

Current Volunteer Opportunities

BaptistCare Home Services – Auburn

BaptistCare Nukara Respite Centre – Willoughby

BaptistCare Community Centre – Windale

Social Activity and Shopping Assistants Volunteers are needed to provide transport, companionship and support to isolated and/or housebound aged, frail aged and younger people with a disability.

Time commitment is 2 hours weekly/fortnightly. NSW driver’s license and own vehicle and comprehensive insurance are a requirement of this role.

Driver A licenced driver is needed for regular Wednesday outings.

Must be able to use GPS. Time commitment is 7-8 hours weekly or fortnightly.

Please contact Una on 8741 5999 for more information.

Outing Assistant/BBQ Cook A BBQ chef is needed to assist on day respite client outings and also provide some assistance with clients.

Outing Assistant/driver A volunteer with a reliable vehicle is needed to assist staff with

Community Centre Volunteer Volunteers required for a new Connect Centre opening in March 2014. Volunteers will assist in serving meals, tea and coffee and chatting with drop in clients. Time commitment is 3 - 4 hours per week.

Delivery Support Volunteer required for essential food pickup and delivery service around Newcastle. The volunteer will be a passenger in a truck and will need to be able to perform lifting tasks and assist in deliveries.

Please contact Darren on 9023 5291 for more information.

BaptistCare Gracewood Day Respite Centre – Kellyville Activities Assistant To assist our care staff in preparing morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea for our Day Centre clients. Time commitment is any day from Tuesday to Friday, 9am-2pm.

Volunteer Car Driver To provide transport to clients from their home to the Day Centre. Time commitment is any day from Monday to Friday, 9-10:30am and 2-3:30pm.

Please contact Agnes on 8804 4700 for more information.

Be the change you want to see Day Respite client outings. The role will require the volunteer to take part in the outing, drive their own car and in event of more clients than seats on the bus, transport extra clients to the outing. A car and valid licence is required for this role, petrol will be reimbursed.

Please contact Nicola on 9410 0272 for more information.

For more volunteer opportunities, just visit www.baptistcare.org.au

BaptistCare Home Services – Dubbo Gardener Our roses need the attention of someone with a green thumb.

Pruning skills are required once a month.

Social Support and Shopping Assistants Volunteers are needed to help support clients to remain living independently in their own homes by assisting with shopping and providing companionship.

Time commitment is 2 hours minimum per week. A NSW driver’s license, own vehicle and comprehensive insurance are a requirement of this role.

Please contact Janice on 6884 9306 for more information. www.baptistcare.org.au | TRUST Autumn 2014

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included in community For the last 13 years, Jon* has been living on the streets in Newcastle. As there are no more squats in the area because they have all been burnt down or vandalised, Jon mostly hangs out in parks or near the library, around the local Catholic church and sometimes at the local football grandstand.

Jon knows of others who sleep on trains. Jon has struggled with his mental health and this has made getting work quite difficult. With little support and few friends, Jon feels totally isolated.

When people are shut out from the community due to financial, psychological and social isolation, the devastating cycle of exclusion begins. Right now, many individuals, families, groups and whole neighbourhoods are deprived of the resources required for participation in all aspects of community life the majority of us take for granted.

The most marginalised are cut off for a significant period in their lives from key institutions, services, social networks and development opportunities. This is mainly due to a combination of linked problems like welfare dependence, unemployment, discrimination, low educational attainment and poor living environments. “It takes emotional energy to get out of a place of social isolation and without support to do this, people struggle,� says Ross Coleman, BaptistCare’s Services Development

Manager. So Jon is one of the many people BaptistCare seeks to support through our vital community programs.

The focus of BaptistCare’s community programs is to provide environments where people feel valued, their differences respected and basic needs met. We offer programs that foster people’s strengths and enable them to live with dignity.

programs have in people’s lives.

For many years now, Darcy House has supported some of the most marginalised people in Australia. The drop-in community centre in Port Kembla sees up to 80 locals visit each day for a hot meal and companionship, as well as for practical support for a range of problems like housing, money management and referrals.

Lisa* has been coming to Darcy Recently, a number of people House for three years. When who attend our community she first arrived, she had reached centres in Newcastle were rock bottom and was living on interviewed and asked what they the streets. With the help of found most helpful about the BaptistCare staff, Lisa is now work of BaptistCare. living in stable accommodation and is successfully managing her “I’m relatively happy, up and finances. “I can hold my head up down like most people, but high. I have a sense of belonging coffee and a chat is the best back with the community,” thing… its worthwhile for she says. Oftentimes the most lots of people.” (David*) important thing a person needs is to belong and feel The focus of BaptistCare’s community programs is to provide valued.

Being environments where people feel part of a valued, their differences safe and welcoming respected and basic needs met. community We offer programs that foster where they people’s strengths and enable can connect with social them to live with dignity. networks can make all the difference to “I love having people to talk to. If people like Jon and Lisa.

I get off track people will support As needs keep increasing and me and bring me back.” (Kelvin*) with limited funding from the “I come for friendship and good government, we need your community, to have a coffee and help to ensure these successful chat with my friends. I am always programs and services can welcome here.” (Rod*) continue. Will you help us?

“We help and support each Please make a donation today other. We share things with each using the coupon provided, or other. Social interaction helps telephoning 1300 275 227, or with mental health issues. We using our secure online donation are treated with respect and no form at www.baptistcare.org.au judgement.” (Dennis*) Thanks for being part of this Elizabeth Hukins, BaptistCare’s vital work.

Darcy House Manager, sees * Names and some details have been changed first-hand the impact BaptistCare to protect the privacy of individuals

Yes, I want to support the ministry of BaptistCare.

My details (please print) Rev/Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms/Miss (please circle) First name Surname Address Mobile Home Ph Work Ph DOB Email My gift I would like to support BaptistCare with a single gift of to assist $ vulnerable people.

Payment details I enclose my cheque/money order made payable to BaptistCare OR Please debit my credit card: Visa Mastercard /

/

/

Name of Cardholder Expiry date Signature Please send more information: Regular donations Including BaptistCare in my will BaptistCare membership Volunteering Please return coupon to: BaptistCare PO Box 7626 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible BaptistCare NSW & ACT ABN 90 000 049 525 NEWSAUT14

www.baptistcare.org.au | TRUST Autumn 2014

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Our name has changed but our care remains the same BaptistCare – transforming lives by expressing the love of Christ.

To find out more please visit

baptistcare.org.au

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Connect with us on LinkedIn “BaptistCare NSW & ACT” TRUST Autumn 2014 | www.baptistcare.org.au