From the CEO WELCOME TO THE ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2014-15. This year has been eventful for Camcare. Significantly, the Boroondara Council renewed our three year service agreement to provide a range of vital services in the municipality, including community support and well being programs. We deeply appreciate Council’s continued investment enabling us to respond to the needs of people in Boroondara who are experiencing economic hardship or disadvantage who would otherwise often miss out on services which strengthen their capacity for independence. Camcare participated in a consortium led by Community Information Services Victoria (CisVIC) when Emergency Relief Services were purchased by the Federal Department of Social Services (DSS). Funding was allocated to areas on the basis of an index of disadvantage. As the major funded Emergency Relief provider in Boroondara, Camcare’s funding has been cut by 71% from March 2015 compared to 2013-14. This has had a considerable impact on the support we can provide. We have also had to work with volunteer community support workers to reshape their role. It is heartening, however, that the community responded to the loss of resources by donating an unprecedented amount of non perishable food in a drive conducted by a coalition of local churches led by St Hilary’s Kew. Also, our volunteers raised funds (directly or through their networks) totaling $12,000 to support the program. A new partnership with Hawthorn Community Chest has provided small grants to those on low incomes unable to meet costs of government schooling, or essential personal items. This has meant we are able to supply valuable food relief and some grants to people on health care cards who are struggling to meet the basic costs of living. New projects utilizing volunteers have commenced including Broadband for Seniors which utilises volunteer tutors to provide skills training to older citizens in the use of computers and the internet. Earlier in 2015 Camcare underwent external review against Quality Innovation Performance Accreditation standards to qualify for registration to deliver State funded Family Services. This involved considerable preparatory work by staff to evaluate the organisation and the Family Services program against a detailed set of criteria and develop a quality work plan for the next three years. My thanks go to Nina Levin, new Client Services Manager, and the staff in Family Support for their contribution to a successful outcome.
We are grateful for the support we have received from partner organisations for exciting new projects. Bendigo Bank has provided funding for a train the trainer program focused on delivering the Love Bites program and Balwyn Rotary has generously supported a pilot cross cultural parenting education project in the Boroondara Indian community addressing the stresses on families associated with migration. Both projects respond to gaps in current service provision and aim to build community capacity. Swinburne University has commenced a cross faculty student initiative to increase Camcare’s profile in the community and to assist us in raising funds to support our work. A group of TAFE Event students developed a proposal and ran a highly successful Trivia Night which raised $8000 for Camcare. Earlier in the financial year, Grill’d Camberwell generously raised funds for Camcare by donating a percentage of every burger sold in-store over a designated weekend. Camcare was delighted to partner with Kew Rotary Club for the highly successful biannual Garden Designfest coordinated by Peter Stansfeld and Jill Forsyth. In a climate of changing purchasing arrangements by government which has impacted Camcare’s funding, sustainability remains the most important objective. Innovation, alliances and seeking alternative sources of support for the work we undertake in the local community, through enterprise, donations or fundraising is the single biggest imperative for Camcare if we are to continue to deliver a suite of relevant services to the local community. I appreciate the support of the Board, donors and the dedication of staff in these challenging times.
Jane Broadhead, CEO Camcare Annual Report – From the CEO
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