2022-23 Family Life Annual Report by Family Life

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

Annual Report 2022/2023

EVERY FAMILY DESERVES TO LIVE IN A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY.

Acknowledgements At Family Life, our focus is to eliminate discrimination in the service we deliver and the workplace we provide. We welcome, embrace and encourage the diversity of all of our staff, volunteers, clients and community. All the individuals who make up our organisation, respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country on which we live and work. We especially acknowledge the Boon Wurrung / Bunurong people, and other peoples of the Kulin nation on whose ancestral lands Family Life provides services to the community. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge their living culture and centuries of custodianship of these lands, which were never ceded. We acknowledge that the land on which we stand always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

ABOUT US Family Life has been working with vulnerable children, families and communities since 1970.

Every family deserves to live in a safe and supportive community. Everything we do supports this through our family and individual support services, community strengthening programs, a network of community stores, a vibrant engaged volunteer community and passionate skilled staff. We strive to develop innovative solutions to achieve our vision of capable communities, strong families and thriving children. We are proudly purpose-driven, independent and not for profit.

OUR VALUES RESPECT

INCLUSION

COMMUNITY

EMPOWERMENT

Family Life embraces diversity and the rights of all people.

Family Life supports individuals and families to participate in their communities.

We understand that Family Life exists as part of a network of relationships and interactions vital to everyone’s health and wellbeing.

Family Life enables individuals, families and communities to make connections and achieve change.

OUR VISION

Adults, young people and children learn and participate within supportive communities.

Families experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful relationships.

Children and young people experience optimal development and are safe from harm.

CEO REPORT

Our commitment to supporting children, families and communities through wrap around, trauma-informed systems of care is more relevant and critical than ever, given current economic uncertainty and cost of living pressures. Despite the increased need for our services, I am pleased to report that Family Life has risen to the challenge, as evident in this year’s report. This is the second year of our current Strategic Plan and we have worked hard to ensure we are on track with delivering the goals set out in 2021. People continue to be at the heart of everything we do, and we are thrilled to have recently been selected as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2023. Service excellence and expanded impact is critical to our commitment to the community and this year has seen the expansion of our work with men who use violence. We are now one of the largest providers of men’s family violence support services in the country, running over 20 Men’s Behaviour Change groups a week, along with wrap-around case management and targeted fathering programs. Our approach is informed by research, which underscores the importance of early intervention, whole of family approach, and addresses the effects of childhood trauma. We are also deeply committed to social cohesion and connection as critical to building a capable community. To support this we have expanded our social enterprises through the establishment

of three new community stores in Elwood, Rosebud and Mornington. Our community stores create meaningful employment and training opportunities for our volunteers and community members, while acting as critical social resourcing centres for vulnerable community members. Looking to the future, I am excited about what lies ahead for Family Life and the people we serve. We will continue to innovate, collaborate, and adapt to the changing needs and challenges of our communities. We will strive to be at the forefront of research and best practices, leverage technology to reach more people, and deepen our partnerships with government and sector stakeholders. I thank our staff, volunteers, and board members for their dedication, passion, and hard work during this period. They are the backbone of our organisation, and their contributions are invaluable. I also want to thank our donors, funders and partners for their generosity and support, which enable us to deliver our programs and services to those who need them most. Allison Wainwright CEO

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

CHAIRPERSON REPORT

I am delighted to share with you the 2022/23 Annual Report, highlighting our achievements, progress, and impact. Thousands of individuals and families have been supported this year through our innovative and evidence informed programs. From individual mental health support to family law services and interventions to break the cycle of family violence, our services are extensive and growing. Primary prevention continues to be a focus with our programs targeting school disengagement, parenting and relationship support, and community strengthening amongst others. The needs of the communities in which we work are constantly evolving, and Family Life adjusts and responds, striving to deliver positive and sustainable outcomes for our clients. Client and community voice is integral to delivering effective place-based services, and the last year has seen our team reach out to communities and amplify voices not often heard. A key initiative, led by our Community Activation team in partnership with five local governments, was an extensive Community Listening Tour. Focussed on better understanding the challenges faced by local families in a post-COVID-19 world, the tour involved collaborative and interactive events, attended by residents, community groups, government and other service providers. The data collected, themes identified and solutions proposed during this project have been invaluable in informing how we meet the needs of our community now and into the future.

This past year, the Family Life Board has welcomed three new members: Claire Harris, Michael Laps and Catherine Parisi. Each new member brings a wealth of specialist knowledge to our organisation, with Michael leading the way as a digital marketing strategist, Catherine working with major global banks in the wealth management industry and Claire holding senior leadership roles in the health, government and disability sectors. 2022 also saw the retirement of Board Director, Georgina Cohen. It is with heartfelt thanks that we mark the end of Georgina’s eight years of service to the Board in various roles including Company Secretary and Vice Chair. Georgina has also made a meaningful contribution to our Social Enterprise Sub-Board in which her expertise has been invaluable. On behalf of the board, I would like to recognise the great work by Allison, the executive team, staff and volunteers at Family Life, for their dedication and passion for providing the best support and services for our community and championing our values every day. Steve Walsh Chair

SNAPSHOT OF OUR SERVICES At Family Life, our work is delivered with a trauma informed approach and prioritises supporting vulnerable children, young people and families as early as possible.

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

FAMILY SAFETY & WELLBEING

FAMILIES & COMMUNITY

Children’s Contact Services

Women & Children’s Family Violence Counselling

Family Preservation and Reunification Program

Strength2Strength (specialist therapeutic support for women & children)

Integrated Family Services (IFS)

Parenting Orders Program Individual and Family Counselling Family Relationship Centre The Orange Door Intake Family Dispute Resolution Financial Counselling Property Dispute Resolution 6

Children’s Groups (for children impacted by family violence) SHINE Program (family mental health support) Connect Program (mental health peer support)

Integrated Family Services Plus (IFS+ intensive support) Community Bubs Brief Interventions Early Help Program Heartlinks Counselling

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

When people come to us for help, we offer to work with their whole family in an integrated approach across the organisation. Using wrap-around support for individuals, partners, families and working with local community to understand place-based needs, we create opportunities for change. Family Life provides a range of services in our community.

MEN’S SUPPORT SERVICES Court Mandated Counselling Orders Program Men’s Behaviour Change Program Dads in Focus Program Perpetrator Case Management Program

COMMUNITY ACTIVATION

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

School Focused Youth Services

Community Op Shops

Young Leaders for Change Program Creating Capable Communities

Volunteering Program Employment Pathways Social Inclusion Programs Corporate Partnerships

Creating Capable Leaders

Post Participation Program

STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2025 Our Strategic Plan is a living document and we have reviewed and refined the aims within our pillars to reflect the evolving landscape and our community’s needs.

Service Excellence Consistent high quality stakeholder experience

Community Connection

Our People Develop a people-focused culture that embodies the Family Life Way

Five Strategic Pillars

Financial Sustainability A sustainable organisation

As a strong plan with ambitious yet achievable goals, we have extended the life of the plan for an additional year, with an updated Strategic Plan to be developed during 2025. The second year of working within the current Strategic Plan has seen Family Life continue to make significant progress on our five key pillars. As part of this work we reviewed all operations to ensure our impact continues to grow through the use of evidence informed programs and developed a Family Life Practice Framework to further refine practice quality.

To support our early intervention focus, Family Life sought funding for Early Help which aims to reduce community and family need for intensive services and reduce return referrals. Program models were also refined across a number of programs with a significant focus on program design to support our growth in Men’s Support Services. We launched a Wellbeing Strategy, developed an Employee Value Proposition and reviewed our Hybrid Working Model and Induction Process promoting a sense of connection, welcoming and belonging to Family Life. Work also commenced on a Diversity Plan and the development of our first Reconciliation Action Plan.

All of organisation commitment to promote engagement and activation of our community

Expanded Impact Increase impact and reach by diversifying service delivery digitally and geographically

Of significant importance is our relationship with our wonderful volunteers. We continue to offer training opportunities and social connection as well as focusing our attention on recruitment and re-engagement to support our stores and further social enterprise expansion. This past year has seen us undertake Community Listening Tours, partnering with communities across five local government areas, to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on families to inform our service design and partnerships. Engagement with the broader community is also a focus which we achieve through the development of a strong brand story and engagement across multiple channels. We have focused on future-proofing, further progressing our renovation plans for our Sandringham service centre to better meet the needs of our clients and staff, and developed a new Digital Transformation Strategy. We continue to further strategic initiatives that position Family Life for a strong and exciting future of increased impact and growth.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

IMPACT Our work prioritises and values measurement to help us monitor and track our progress towards achieving the changes (or ‘outcomes’) we aim to support for children, families and the community. This information is showcased in more detail in our Performance & Impact Report. Key highlights from 2022/23 include:

15,248 3,189

2,316

were supported by Family Life services including:

5,255

clients

individuals

accessed individual therapeutic services

1,675

couples/families

We engaged clients living across

251

different Victorian postcodes

individuals attended 152 group sessions

students

accessed therapeutic services

across 31 schools were supported through our School Focused Youth Services program

330

36,675

volunteered with Family Life providing

of community service

individuals

hours

from

local government areas across Australia

90,676 users

New Community Op Shops

(Elwood, Rosebud & Mornington)

accessed our Family Life website

increase of 24.7%

ACCOMPLISHMENTS This year, our accomplishments reflect our commitment to provide continued program enhancement, community consultation and flexible service delivery to ensure our families are supported and able to thrive. The Children’s Contact Service (CCS) commenced delivery of new Intensive Support Packages. This service provides specialist support to complex families referred to the CCS by Child Protection. The CCS model was expanded to include a range of individual and group services for parents and children through increased collaboration between Parenting Orders Program Specialist Practitioners and Children’s Contact Service Workers and other co-located services. Through expansion of our referral pathways to now include the Magistrates Courts at Frankston, Dandenong, Ringwood, Melbourne and Moorabbin, our Men’s Support Services have seen significantly increased demand.

For the period, this equates to an estimated

1,400 referrals

to our Men’s Behaviour Change Program groups and delivery of more than

20 group sessions a week

Our Perpetrator Case Management Program continues to address the needs of clients experiencing complex issues. This program, focused on individual responses for those who use violence, highlights our collaboration and information sharing with other services while assessing and managing risk. With a recent increase in funding, Family Life will now be able to support even more clients within this space into the next financial year.

Over

25,000 members of the community

were reached and 700 directly consulted between November 2022 and June 2023 through the our Community Listening Tour project. The tour aimed to deepen our understanding of the needs and experiences of communities to develop local solutions. Over

150

participants from government, community and service organisations attended six workshops to review data, discuss and understand issues on a local level, and generate solutions. Reports are available via our website.

The pilot year for our Early Help Program was a resounding success. Early Help aims to support families, or carers, by providing brief early intervention support, group work or linking people to the right services, at the right time.

280 families

were provided with Early Help intervention support and/or participated in group work, and over 48 families were provided with funding packages to assist them in accessing services.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

We are thrilled to continue to be able to deliver these programs and services to our community into 2023/24. The Community Bubs team worked on refreshing and improving referral pathways to ensure that the program is able to engage families in support as early in the baby’s life as possible, increasing the probability of positive outcomes for the family. This saw an increase in referrals to the program, with more families accessing the Community Bubs Program earlier in the timeline. Family Life’s social enterprise footprint continues to grow, with three new community stores opened in Elwood, Mornington and Rosebud and the Hampton store relocated to a more costeffective site.

An impressive

135,250

customers made purchases in our stores during the past financial year. Supporting social enterprise growth,

330

36,676

contributed

across our eight stores and the Distribution Centre.

individual volunteers

volunteer hours

The SHINE & Connect programs support the mental health and wellbeing of children and families through the provision of caring, trauma informed, evidence informed and targeted low-intensity early intervention and prevention support. Over

400 families were supported through these programs during the period.

The Strength2Strength program provides therapeutic, multidisciplinary support to victim survivors of family violence. The program has recently been remodelled to create a more trauma informed, accessible service better aligned with current need. The changes have seen a surge of referrals into the program, with more women and children receiving this service than ever before. Our Orange Door team has successfully embedded changes to their processes during the year to meet the significant demand for services. This has led to a rapid increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of this vital family support service. Our Family Relationship Centre (FRC) financial counsellor has also integrated with the Orange Door Support and Safety Hub by providing weekly services at the Frankston location. This new service provides much needed support to women who have experienced financial hardship due to family violence. Over the 2022/23 financial year, we saw the introduction of two new service options within the Women and Childrens Family Violence counselling team. This included intensive intervention for children and adolescents and a children’s group, which is a collaboration across our Family Engagement and Family Violence services. Our School Focused Youth Service (SFYS) coordinators continued to provide students and schools with support for children at risk of disengagement.

During this period, SFYS supported

6,591 students

across 31 schools

in the Bayside, Kingston and Frankston regions, assisting schools to prevent student disengagement.

Children need a safe and nurturing environment to thrive - this philosophy underpins how we support our community and provide services based on the whole family unit.

Our practitioners aim to create a safe and nurturing environment for families, which promotes and supports parents and caregivers to do the same for their children. Our services extend beyond behavioural issues and mental health concerns, looking past the symptom to the cause of the issue.

Despite family challenges, including separation, we support parents to maintain a strong child-centred focus to ensure impact on the child is minimised. We provide individual and family counselling, group work, outreach services and family dispute resolution (mediation). We also work with individuals and their families to promote parenting support and strong community networks.

We assist families struggling with social anxieties that impact their children. A recurring issue noticed by our team is the avoidance of school. Our holistic, all-of-family approach ensures that we not only provide support to children who are refusing school, but also help parents navigate the difficult task of encouraging their kids to attend classes once again. Our aim is to assist parents to develop practical skills that empower them to overcome this increasingly prevalent challenge. With our range of child and family services, we tailor our approach to suit each family’s unique needs, offering guidance and solutions that address the heart of the problem.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

CASE STUDY

YOUNG LEADERS FOR CHANGE Young Leaders for Change used Map Your World, a curriculum and digital platform to empower young people to have a positive impact in their local communities as they connect nationally and globally with a worldwide movement of next generation changemakers and leaders. In January 2023, facilitators worked with Peninsula Autism Friendship Group (PAFG) members aged 12-25 to redesign Map Your World. The program was run over six days and included extended follow-up support. After mapping their environment and consulting with peers and family, the group initially chose a project to make short ‘bite sized’ videos to communicate about the experience of autism and how to better support students. The young participants strongly felt misunderstood by their teachers and their peers at school, and wanted to create something to help their school communities better understand what it is like to live with autism. After the facilitated sessions, group members faced various difficulties during the editing/production process and the project stalled for a period. Our facilitators persisted in communicating with the group to re-energise their valuable project. Over a few months, the project plan was adapted and postcards were created using material and ideas gathered during the Young Leaders for Change program.

The participants felt that by using postcards to communicate, they felt safer and less personally revealing, yet were still communicating the same core messages that the group members wanted to share with the community.

6000 cards

have been printed which will be distributed to Mornington Peninsula schools for teacher education and student information, and offer support and a connection pathway for families who have children with autism.

CASE STUDY

SHINE PROGRAM Operating in the City of Casey and the City of Greater Dandenong, the SHINE & Connect programs support the mental health and wellbeing of children and families through the provision of caring, trauma informed, evidence informed and targeted early intervention and prevention support. 404 families were supported through these programs this year. ‘Imran’, a 9 year old boy, was referred to the SHINE program due to concerns about the impact of family violence and parental separation. Imran needed support in relation to emotional regulation, low self-esteem, low mood, and behavioural issues both at school and home. Imran was bullied at school and had learning difficulties following a history of trauma and physical violence perpetrated by his father and paternal uncle. The family had migrated to Australia from Afghanistan and were still settling into a new life in Australia. Imran’s mother was a victim of family violence, and from a young age, Imran was exposed to violence in the home. As a result, Imran struggled with emotional regulation and would become really overwhelmed and emotionally dysregulated. Imran lived with his mother and two siblings, with his father only having contact with Imran a couple of times after separation, and no longer providing any financial support for the children. During one of the sessions with his SHINE Practitioner, Imran was emotionally distressed due to the separation of the parents, however spoke about feeling some relief that the home environment was no longer an abusive one.

The SHINE Practitioner worked with Imran to increase his ability to manage difficulties and intense emotion, and explored and implemented emotional regulation strategies to better manage behavioural responses when faced with school bullying. In addition to Imran’s mother being provided with strategies to support her son, the family were linked in with relevant support services, including a child psychologist for Imran to explore the impact of trauma, separation, grief and loss.

Imran and his siblings were connected with a local swimming program. His mother was also supported to get her driving licence and to enrol in English language classes. SHINE also communicated with Imran’s school regarding his learning difficulties which resulted in a teacher’s aid being provided to help Imran’s learning. Our SHINE program was not only able to provide the support that Imran needed, but created increased stability in his environment through working together with his mother and his school.

School Focused Youth Services Art Therapy School Focused Youth Services works with schools to support students in Years 5-12 who are vulnerable to, or at risk of disengaging from education. In 2022/23 this program supported a local secondary school with an art therapy program for a group of vulnerable students. This was a great tool for students to improve confidence and engagement within the school environment.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

Feedback from the local school receiving the Art Therapy program: “Art Therapy had a massive impact on one of our students in particular this year. This student had been struggling with significant mental health struggles and had not reached out for help. Art therapy provided the perfect medium for this person to express their inner world …. Brigitte (the program facilitator) really helps to bring difficult thoughts and emotions into the light of day in a non-verbal and non-threatening way.”

Family Life takes an all of family, all of community approach to build resilience and healthy relationships. We are committed to improving responses to child vulnerability and family violence by achieving better outcomes for survivors and communities.

With targeted interventions and flexible support we can make a positive difference in the lives of people who need our services. Our Early Help program offers early intervention services to connect families with appropriate supports when challenges arise. In addition, our family law services assist families in navigating separation in a childcentered manner. By preserving and promoting healthy relationships, we strive to achieve better outcomes for the whole family.

The traumatic effects of family violence on children and young people who witness or experience it, and its contribution to intergenerational cycles of violence are well acknowledged. Over the past financial year, we have expanded our men’s support services, becoming one of the largest providers of behaviour change programs nationally, as well as expanding targeted interventions for fathers who use violence.

In supporting fathers to gain awareness of the impact of violence on their children and helping them develop more positive, healthy relationships we increase safety for women and children maintain engagement and accountability for the men participating in our programs. The last year has seen positive outcomes in relation to thinking and attitudes, respectful communication, taking responsibility and safe actions and reactions.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

CASE STUDY

MEN’S BEHAVIOUR CHANGE PROGRAM The Men’s Behaviour Change Program is a 20 week group program for men using family violence, with a focus on promoting family safety, respect and equality. Program delivery is available both online and in person. ‘Bobby’, a 35 year old male, recently met with a Family Life practitioner to determine his suitability for the Men’s Behaviour Change Program. Bobby appeared significantly resistant to change, exhibiting little ownership or acknowledgement of his use of family violence, and he openly admitted he was ‘humouring the process’ and doubted he would learn or gain anything from the program.

Our practitioner observed increasing changes in Bobby’s presentation and engagement in the group. Over the course of the program, Bobby shifted away from being dismissive, resistant and denying his engagement in family violence, to taking full responsibility and accountability. He also sought feedback from his partner and his children on how he could be a better father and partner.

Bobby transitioned into the Men’s Behaviour Change Program and initially continued his defensive attitude, commenting that he still felt that he had not committed any form of family violence.

Bobby subsequently encouraged the other men who were in attendance at sessions to help find their ‘lightbulb moment’.

Three weeks into the program, however, Bobby had his ‘lightbulb moment’ during a session on intimidation and coercive control. For the first time he acknowledged that there was some family violence occurring at home, that there were things that he could be doing better, and that there was some really unhealthy messaging being sent to his children.

Family Life’s Men’s Support Services seek to support participants like Bobby to understand the impact of their use of violence on their families, improve knowledge and adjust behaviour to break the cycle of family violence.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

CASE STUDY

FAMILY SAFETY CONTACT Family Life’s Family Safety Contact work offers family violence support, including risk assessment, safety planning and referrals to the partners or/ex-partners of the men attending the Men’s Behaviour Change Program. ‘Sonja’, a mum of one, was initially reluctant to work with the Family Safety Contact team, hesitant to share her experience, scared of judgement and unsure that what she was experiencing warranted support.

As the case came to a close, Sonja shared how she had begun to feel safer and more secure in her home environment. She reflected on how her life had positively changed so quickly and was grateful for the service.

The Family Life practitioner worked to build trust during regular phone contact. Over time, Sonja was able to share her story, and as a result, a complete comprehensive risk assessment was conducted.

Family Life understands the importance of working with all members of the family to effectively achieve safe and positive outcomes.

It became clear that Sonja and her child were at risk, and she realised our support was required. The rapport the practitioner had built with Sonja allowed for a robust safety plan to be implemented, tailored to her family’s needs. Sonja was then referred to our Family Violence Case Management to help mitigate some of the risks. The practitioner was also able to refer Sonja’s partner to our Men’s Behaviour Change Team.

SONJA SHARED HOW INVALUABLE IT WAS TO HAVE SOMEONE WALK ALONGSIDE HER, HAVE HER STORY HEARD, AND TO FEEL THAT HER CONCERNS WERE VALID.

When it comes to our health and wellbeing, strong communities can make a major difference. When communities are connected and inclusive, families are supported and strengthened, and individuals have a positive sense of culture and belonging.

At Family Life, we understand that listening is the first step towards understanding the needs of our community, and providing the right support, which is why which is why we place a great emphasis on hearing and understanding the lived experience and needs of our local families.

We achieve this by actively listening to community members through a range of forums. From our recent Community Listening Tours to our tailored community-based programs, we are better equipped to identify trends and common themes in the challenges faced by our community. We are dedicated to engaging in ongoing collaboration with local government, service providers and community groups to share understanding and work together in codesigning solutions.

Our Community Op Shops also provide many great opportunities for our community, and provide a gateway for people to form connections, become less isolated and feel a sense of empowerment. We believe that by working closely with the community, we can help to build stronger and more resilient families, who are empowered to thrive, even in the face of adversity.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

ubsequent pages for Copy in both English CASE STUDY needs to be included. HERE4U ACTIVE BYSTANDER TRAINING PROGRAM

ogo & Here4U Here4U Logo is an active bystander program, providing participants with the tools to identify and respond to family violence in their community. Supported by the City of Casey’s Empowering Communities Program, Family Life recently piloted a new Here4U Active Bystander training program, adapted to be presented to culturally and linguistically diverse community members.

Outcome:

A series of consultations with members from the Afghan community were conducted in order to produce a culturally safe program for the Afghan community in the City of Casey. The program was redesigned to meet and respond to the needs of the Afghan community, while taking into consideration the community’s cultural and religious context.

• All workshop participants reported that the program was culturally safe

As a result of completing the program, participants reported increased understanding of family violence, as well as how to safely employ the active bystander intervention to address family violence in their community. The program participants acknowledged the cultural safety of the program content and activities, and the safe space provided for them to share their stories and experiences. They also reported that they intend on sharing the knowledge they acquired during the program with other members of their community.

‫ ثبت کردن جریان‬:‫ثبت کنید‬ ‫حین اتفاق افتادن آن بسیار‬ ‫مگر در صورتیکه برایتان‬ ‫هیچوقت آنرا بشکل آنالین‬ .‫اجازه شخص نشر نکنید‬

Front

• All* workshop participants reported feeling more connected with other participants as a result of attending the Here4U workshop

• As a result of attending the workshop, all the participants reported that they increased their knowledge and understanding of family violence. They also reported increased skills in transferring this knowledge to others in their community. • All participants reported that they increased their knowledge of available local services, and had an increased confidence to access Family Life services and other local services after completing the workshop * All refers to all participants who responded to the questions in the end of workshop feedback form. There were 22 participants overall, one participant did not complete the feedback form, and another only answered some questions

‫من یک سیربین مصؤن و فعال هستم‬

CASE STUDY

COMMUNITY BUBS PROGRAM

Community Bubs is a philanthropically-funded program designed and run by Family Life that supports families in the community to ensure babies thrive and develop in a safe and supportive environment. ‘Mei’ and ‘Arun’ were feeling anxious about their newborn baby ‘Meera’. During a check-up with their Maternal Child Health Nurse, the couple described their lack of rest due to Meera’s constant crying. Mei also revealed that she was overwhelmed with anxiety, fearing that she wasn’t a good enough mother whenever Meera cried, and disclosed she was having suicidal thoughts. Arun felt inadequate in his parenting abilities and would panic whenever Meera cried, often turning to Mei for help.

The Maternal Child Health Nurse referred Mei and Arun to the Community Bubs Program when Meera was 4 weeks old. During a session, Mei revealed that she often felt like a failure and would become anxious, having been neglected by her own mother as a child. She was scared of becoming neglectful herself. To support her mental health, the Community Bubs Practitioner referred Mei to a community mental health service and a Mother Baby Unit. The practitioner visited Mei and Meera in the unit,

providing support during the transition back home. Mei’s anxiety was stabilised with medication, and she and Arun were taught how to build their confidence in parenting, meet Meera’s emotional needs, and strengthen their attachment to her. The practitioner introduced Mei and Arun to the concept of watching and reflecting on Meera’s experience of the world. They were taught to use an emotion chart to help identify Meera’s emotions and body language and how to use curiosity to learn how to meet her needs. Through the Community Bubs Program, Mei and Arun were supported in learning new skills to parent Meera together effectively. As a result, Meera’s relationships with her parents were strengthened, and Mei and Arun became confident in their abilities to meet her needs. The Community Bubs Program helps new parents navigate the challenges of parenting, and gain new skills and insights, ultimately ensuring the healthy development of the child

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

OUR PEOPLE Our people are central to Family Life’s ability to achieve its purpose and vision. We were delighted to receive a 2023 Employer of Choice award through the Australian Business Awards. The award is a testament to our thriving, people-focused culture as we continue to embody the Family Life Way. This year, our organisational structure was reviewed to support Family Life’s growth and strategic plan. A fourth program area, Men’s Support Services, was established to support the significant growth in our Men’s Behaviour Change Program. The Social Enterprise staffing structure was remodelled to support the new store openings and planned growth. Realignment of teams to support our innovation focus and strengthen our clinical practice and quality has seen renewed energy in these areas.

Our two annual ‘All Staff’ events continue to be an engaging way to come together to connect and celebrate our achievements as an organisation. We celebrate the Family Life Way by recognising and rewarding individuals who are nominated by their peers for role-modelling and leading each of the categories of the Family Life Way.

Promoting a high performance culture, our People and Culture team re-launched the annual performance assessment and goal setting cycle. Supported by leadership training focused on performance management and coaching, we now have 97% completion of performance assessments across the organisation, enabling our people to effectively achieve the aims of our Strategic Plan.

91%

As an Employer of Choice, we have focused on creating an engaging employee experience throughout their Family Life journey. A continuous improvement lens has been applied to our onboarding and induction process, ensuring that the initial employee experience is welcoming, positive and supportive.

In 2022

of staff

showed a strong commitment to Family Life with the intention to stay (as surveyed in our Hybrid Engagement survey)

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

FAMILY LIFE RECOGNISED AS AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE We are thrilled to announce that Family Life has been selected as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2023.

The Australian Business Award for Employer of Choice [EOC] recognises organisations that develop workplaces that maximise the full potential of their workforce through established policies and practices which demonstrate effective employee recruitment, engagement and retention. Family Life has been formally recognised as an Employer of Choice across the categories of:

CULTURE, LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGY

PERFORMANCE, RECOGNITION AND ENGAGEMENT

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

HEALTH, SAFETY AND SATISFACTION 25 This award recognises our vibrant and diverse culture that truly embodies The Family Life Way.

VOLUNTEERING

It’s no secret that our volunteers are some of the most charitable members of the community, with their willingness to give back more visible than ever within our Community Op Shops and Distribution Centre.

330

individual volunteers contributed

36,676

volunteers supported

across our eight Community Op Shops and Distribution Centre

customers to make purchases

volunteer hours

135,250

96%

of volunteers would recommend volunteering at Family Life to a friend*

Beyond the incredible practical work they do, they contribute to creating safe spaces for our community, welcoming those who need a friendly face or an empathetic ear. The connections formed and support shown by volunteers both within our team and to the wider community is a vital part of our organisation.

volunteers who have joined our team. Following an extensive recruitment drive to support our growing network of Community Op Shops, we have 156 new volunteers. Regular induction and training sessions ensure both new and longstanding volunteers gain the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in their roles.

With so much generosity shown by our volunteers, it is challenging to adequately express our gratitude. Our end of year and National Volunteer Week (NVW) celebrations are events that allow us to show our appreciation and celebrate the many volunteers who keep our organisation humming. This year’s events were attended by a combined 200+ volunteers, with much laughter and conversation enjoyed.

In addition to recruitment and retention of social enterprise volunteers, our Volunteer Engagement Team have also coordinated a number of volunteering sessions for corporate groups. The feedback received after each experience has been heartwarming and we are excited to expand this opportunity further.

We’re also thrilled to share there has been a significant increase in the number of new

Thank you to all who have contributed their time and energy to our organisation over the last year - we couldn’t help so many members of our community each year without you.

Thank you to our 22/23 Corporate Volunteers and Community Volunteer Groups ANZ Deloitte MediBank AIG Peninsula Grammar *Key finding from Family Life’s 2023 Volunteer Survey

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

CASE STUDY

MOYA’S STORY Moya recently joined Family Life as a volunteer, working in the Mornington Peninsula Community Op Shop. ‘At first, I was hesitant to apply,’ Moya recalls. ‘But Eske and the volunteering team made it so easy, and the following week, I had my first shift.’ From that moment on, Moya’s life changed for the better. She had found a purpose, a reason to get up and go every day. ‘I love getting to say to my family, “I can’t do that today, I have to go to work”’ Moya admits with a chuckle. As an Op Shop Volunteer, Moya is surrounded by the things she loves most – books, art, and music. ‘I love that I get to immerse myself in the books and art that come into the store, and share my knowledge with customers’ Moya beams. ‘I love organising and colour-coordinating displays, and I really love that we all dance when the music comes on!’

But what Moya feels most strongly about is the difference a Community Op Shop can make to the more vulnerable people in the community. ‘Our Op Shops are different’, she says. ‘They have a personality. They are a place for people to connect, and to have a chat when you’re lonely. Everyone leaves with a smile.’ Through her volunteer work with Family Life, Moya has found a sense of fulfilment and purpose that she never thought possible. She has made new friends, gained new skills, and has a newfound appreciation for the positive impact a small gesture, such as volunteering, can make in one’s life and in the community.

“PEOPLE MIGHT ONLY COME IN TO SHOP, BUT THEY LEAVE DANCING AND SMILING!”

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Our social enterprise stores, also known as Community Op Shops, continue to play an integral role in the community, building sustainable neighbourhoods, promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability, and fostering social cohesion. One of our biggest achievements this year was the successful expansion of our store network with the opening of three new stores - in Elwood, Rosebud and Mornington, expanding our footprint in the Mornington Peninsula Shire. These new stores were warmly welcomed by the community, and celebrated with wonderful grand opening events. Regular VIP shopping nights, store birthday celebration events and monthly warehouse sales also featured throughout the year. Another notable highlight from the past year was the seamless relocation of our Hampton store to a new and improved location. Our team worked tirelessly to make the move a success and we are thrilled to say that our new Hampton store is thriving.

One of the core principles of our Community Op Shops is to provide opportunities for our volunteers to gain valuable work experience and develop important skills. This year, we were pleased to see nine volunteers transition into paid positions within our social enterprise, demonstrating the positive impact that our stores are having on the lives of people in the community. The success of the stores is a direct result of local community support of the public who donate, shop and volunteer. We are incredibly grateful for the 135,250 customers who made purchases this year, along with 330 volunteers who supported our Op Shops and Distribution Centre. With prospect of further expansion on the horizon, our social enterprise team is geared up for an exciting year ahead.

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HIGHLIGHTS

135,250

customers made purchases in our stores

Hampton Store Relocation

342,009 items sold

9 volunteers transitioned into paid positions within Social Enterprise

3 New Stores

Elwood, Rosebud, Mornington

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

OUR BOARD MEMBERS BOARD MEMBERS Family Life is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, governed by a voluntary Board. The Family Life Board of Directors is a multidisciplinary group with a diverse range of experiences dedicated to continuing the work of Family Life for years to come. Chair of the Board and Director Mr Steve Walsh

up and c y m ls “It fil ky to work c I’m lu awesome with .” people

Vice Chairs and Directors Ms Judy Pridmore Mr David Stewart Treasurer and Director Mr Jeff Phillips Company Secretary and Director Carmel O’Brien OAM (Georgina Cohen retired November 2022) Directors Aneesha Varghese Emily Darnett Catherine Parisi (Appointed November 2022) Michael Laps (Appointed November 2022) Claire Harris (Appointed November 2022) Patrons Malcolm Parks OAM Len Gill Heather Spooner

VALE GRAEME DISNEY OAM It is with a heavy heart that we acknowledge and celebrate the generous friendship of our cherished supporter and Patron, Graeme Disney OAM. Graeme leaves an extraordinarylegacy of love, careand kindnesswhich he so generously shared with Family Life and many other community organisations in Bayside. Graeme started his journey with Family Life 29 in 1968, involved in the earliest meetings of concerned community members proposing to create an organisation to support vulnerable local families. His generous support has been a mainstay of the organisation throughout our 53 year history, with Graeme becoming a Family Life patron in 2003. His support and enthusiasm for our work in supporting local community has been unwavering.

TREASURER’S REPORT

For the 2022/23 financial year Family Life completed external audits and achieved compliance with governance and management standards. In addition, we closely monitored recommendations from the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission and the Australian Institute of Company Directors, to ensure our future readiness as a social purpose organisation. Management has successfully promoted Family Life innovations to support government reform directions delivering expansion of our service footprint and revenue growth. This is reflected in our end of year surplus of $455,921, down from a surplus of $621,960 in 2022/23. Planned capacity building investments across the organisation have continued in the past year, building on the substantial investment made in prior years. Responding to the growing complexity of the community Family Life supports and the work we undertake, we have focused our investment on improving practice quality. This investment has included staff training and upgrades of our client management systems which has been pivotal in our ability to respond to the expansion of our work in the family violence sector. Another area of investment has been the strategic growth in Social Enterprise, with the opening of three new stores. This investment has seen positive impacts on our surplus.

Government funding has increased by $2.026m during the financial year, up 11% on last year, largely driven by the increase in funding from Department Family Fairness and Housing and Court Services Victoria supporting our growth in services responding to families facing family violence. We project further income growth in the coming financial year via increased funding to support our work with men who have perpetrated family violence, making us one the largest providers of men’s services in Victoria.

Significant strategic investment has occurred in social enterprise, with the opening of three new stores and improved operational performance resulting in an increase in sales of $1.2m, an increase of 108% from prior year. In addition to providing Family Life with a diversified income source, this growth in sales has enabled significant growth in social impact. Our stores are deeply connected to the community, providing opportunities for our volunteers and local community to find connection and purpose, in addition to providing pathways to employment and diversion of waste from landfill. 2022/23 has continued to be a challenging environment for attracting charitable donations. To respond to this Family Life continues to prioritise generating income to fund innovation and support the community. We work to translate research into practice, allowing opportunities to intervene early where social needs are identified and work with the community to reduce and prevent social problems. Financially, this strategic approach to invest for the future and grow our impact is reflected in our expenditure of $22m, an increase of 18%. The Board and management have maintained a strong cash flow and balance sheet for Family Life. Family Life was solvent as at 30 June 2023 and the Board expects this trend to continue. We invite you to share in our meaningful work by making a personal tax deductible donation. Jeff Phillips Treasurer

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

FINANCIALS STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2023

2023 ($)

2022 ($)

Federal Government funding

5,945,223

5,826,227

State Government funding

13,879,914

11,972,812

Local Government funding

132,658

106,406

Non-Government grants

215,000

368,965

Donations

212,209

104,811

Social enterprises

2,289,442

1,097,963

Service income

71,545

64,253

Interest

70,000

20,156

Other income

17,825

29,899

(Loss)/gain on investment at fair value through profit or loss

36,796

(37,209)

22,870,612

19,554,283

Depreciation and amortisation expense

697,263

492,723

Audit and accounting fees

24,781

22,811

Bank charges

32,041

18,658

Finance costs

90,572

14,144

Staffing expenses

16,931,868

14,002,245

Program expenses

2,861,475

2,966,445

Operating expenses

665,847

551,709

Property expenses

1,071,302

863,588

22,375,149

18,932,323

495,463

621,960

495,463

621,960

Income from Operating Activities

Expenditure from Operating Activities

Net Surplus for the Year Other Comprehensive Income Other Comprehensive Income

Total Comprehensive income for the Year

Supporting notes The reduction in surplus from prior year signifies increased expenditure on strategic projects that were delayed due to the COVID 19 Pandemic. A complete copy of the Family Life Limited audited financial statements are distributed at our AGM and available on our Website.

FINANCIALS STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2023

2023 ($)

2022 ($)

Cash & Cash Equivalents

5,181,879

5,468,469

Investments at fair value

389,161

357,342

Receivables - Trade & Other

1,125,252

691,646

416,398

302,690

7,112,690

6,820,147

175,749

40,033

Property, Plant and Equipment

2,001,593

1,996,282

Right of use assets

1,545,392

373,483

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

3,722,734

2,409,798

TOTAL ASSETS

10,835,424

9,229,945

Trade & Other Payables

585,481

566,076

Accrued Expenses

684,510

706,578

Unearned Income

392,622

894,711

5,333

4,582

1,061,199

864,394

Provision for Employee Entitlements - LSL

319,689

306,330

Lease liability

584,247

231,524

3,633,081

3,574,195

226,991

70,163

Lease liability

1,046,587

152,285

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

1,273,578

222,448

TOTAL LIABILITIES

4,906,659

3,796,643

NET ASSETS

5,928,765

5,433,302

5,713,643

5,218,180

215,122

5,928,765

5,433,302

CURRENT ASSETS

Other Current Assets TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS NON-CURRENT ASSETS Receivable – Trade & Other

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Interest Bearing Loan Provision for Employee Entitlements

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES Provision for Employee Entitlements - LSL

MEMBERS’ FUNDS Accumulated Funds Reserves TOTAL MEMBERS’ FUNDS

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

DONOR AND SUPPORTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2023 Family Life gratefully acknowledges the financial grants received from federal, state and local governments as well as funding support from philanthropic trusts, businesses, service clubs, community groups, schools and individuals. We would also like to acknowledge the pro-bono support of our professional services partners. 1st and 3rd Brighton Ranger Guides

Family Safety Victoria

Peninsula Grammar

AIG Australia

Firbank Grammar School

Peninsula Health

Alan Curtis

Frankston City Council

Philanthropy Australia

Amalocal

Fred and Monica Hofmann

Rani Serena Promotions

Andrew Booth

Freemasons Community Relief

Ray White (Cheltenham)

Andrew Cavallin

Freemasons Community Relief

Rotary Club of Brighton North

Ann’s Flowers

Geoffrey Thomas

Rotary Club of Moorabbin

ANZ

Glen Education

Safe and Equal

Aurora Apartments

Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand

Salvation Army

Good Start Early Learning Centres

Sandringham Lions Club

Australian Government Barbara Paroissien Bayside City Council

Gordon Street Pre-School

Bayside Community Emergency Relief

Graeme Disney OAM JP (Family and Friends)

Bayside Glen Eira Kingston Local Learning & Employment Network (BGKLLEN)

Handled with Care Harris Carlson

Bayside Masonic Centre

Heather Spooner

Brad Rowswell MP Brand Assembly Brent Pitman Cabrini (Brighton) Cabrini Health Brighton Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare Charitable Recycling Australia City of Casey City of Kingston Corrections Victoria Court Services Victoria Cybec Foundation Deloitte Australia Department of Education Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Department of Social Services Derrimut Weelam Gathering Place Dress for Success EACH Expedition Apparel Family and Relationship Services Australia

Hartrick Property Services Highett RSL Janet Larson Jeff Phillips

Sandringham East Primary School Sandringham Primary School Seawinds Community Hub South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) Spotlight St Kilda Mums Steve Walsh Tamarack Institute Taskforce Community Agency

Jesuit Social Services

The Flora & Frank Leith Charitable Trust

K&L Gates

The G.P. & M.D. Farrell Foundation

Kim Tran

The Jack Brockhoff Foundation

Kristy Breed

The Leonard Family Foundation

Len Gill

The Sandringham Club

Lions Club of Brighton

Trevor West Menswear

Lowe Design & Build and Trade Partners

Vauna Jaensch

Magistrates Court Victoria Malcam Investments Malcolm Parks OAM MediBank Melinda Carbone Mornington Peninsula Shire Mums Supporting Families In Need Nairm Marr Djambana - Gathering by the Bay Frankston Vic No To Violence Orwil Street Communty House Our Place

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS) Victorian Government Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Incorporated Women’s Health In the South East (WHISE)

“We are so grateful to Matt and the Lowe family, the team and contractors of Lowe Design & Build for this generous contribution,” Family Life CEO, Allison Wainwright

LOWE DESIGN AND BUILD DONATE $80,000 TO FAMILY LIFE In May 2020, Family Life announced an exciting new partnership with Lowe Design & Build. The well respected local business offered to support the work that Family Life does through the development of a beautiful property in Green Parade Sandringham. Throw in a global pandemic, unprecedented disruption to every element of our lives and inevitable impacts on building and the property market, and the project was faced with unavoidable delays and hurdles. Despite this, we saw unwavering commitment from Lowe to continue with the partnership, complete the build and pledge a generous $80,000 to Family Life.

Lowe Design & Build shared the journey of the townhouse development with their staff, contractors and clients, many of whom contributed trades and money to the completion of the project and the overall pledge. The power of community was evident and so appreciated throughout this project.

Family Life - Annual Report | 2022/2023

GET INVOLVED Whether you choose to volunteer your time, make a donation or raise awareness, your support makes a real difference in the lives of our most vulnerable members of the community. How you can support: • give the gift of ongoing support by contributing regular monthly amounts • donate to our online fundraising appeals • celebrate a birthday, wedding or anniversary with a gift • collaborate giving with your workplace and colleagues • give a gift in memory to celebrate the life of a loved one • consider planned giving (during your lifetime or a gift in your will)

How you can get involved: • volunteer in our Community Op Shops or programs supporting families • champion corporate and community partnerships to collaborate in a meaningful way

• connect us your local school for participation in our Friendship Day initiative • consider student placement partnership opportunities for education providers • engage in corporate volunteering to help motivate and inspire your staff

Other ways you can help: • support our Community Christmas Appeal by donating food, toys or vouchers • hear our latest news by following us on social media and sharing our story • stay up to date by subscribing to our eNewsletter • donate your pre-loved items to our Community Op Shops • connect us to manufacturers and organisations who could donate goods to our Op Shops

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET IN TOUCH: Phone: +61 3 8599 5433 Email: communityengagement@familylife.com.au Visit us here: www.familylife.com.au All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Family Life Phone: +61 3 8599 5433 Email: info@familylife.com.au familylife.com.au Sandringham: 197 Bluff Road Sandringham, Victoria 3191 Frankston: Level 1, 60-64 Wells Street, Frankston, Victoria, 3199

Follow us on Social Media FamilyLifeAU familylifeau auFamilyLife familylifeau in family-life Some names and photos have been changed in case studies to protect the individual’s identity

Family Life Opportunity Shops FamilyLifeOpportunityShops familylifeshopau Family Life Opportunity Shop locations visit familylifeLifeLocations

Dandenong: 2/75 Robinson Street, Dandenong, Victoria, 3175

In relation to Victorian Government Department of Health and Human Services funded programs:

Family Life and all the individuals who make up our organisation respectfully acknowledge all Aboriginal people and their ancient and ongoing connections to culture and country. In particular we wish to acknowledge the Boonwurrung and Woiwurrung-Wurundjeri people of the larger Kulin nation in whose ancestral lands Family Life provides services to the Melbourne community.

NOV 2023