2022-23 Family Life Performance and Impact Report by Family Life

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

Performance and Impact Report 2022/2023

FAMILY LIFE SUPPORTS CHILDREN TO THRIVE, IN STRONG AND SAFE FAMILIES, CONNECTED WITH COMMUNITY.

Acknowledgements Family Life is an inclusive organisation. We welcome, celebrate and encourage the diversity of our clients, staff, volunteers, and community. We are committed to challenging and responding to the marginalisation and disadvantage experienced by many of our clients due to often overlapping experiences of adversity. Family Life, and 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 - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

FOREWORD The past year has been challenging for families. The current economic climate including high levels of inflation and a lack of affordable housing, has contributed to significant levels of financial stress, impacting mental health and wellbeing and placing pressure on relationships. While these external factors impact nearly everyone in our community, we know that those already experiencing social and economic disadvantage, have been most affected. Recent evidence shows that one in eight Australian adults and one in six children live in poverty,1 confirming that there has never been a more important time to support families and children. Family Life supports children to thrive, in strong and safe families, who are connected with community. We are committed to this work because we know it benefits everyone now and into the future. We know that access to the right support, at the right time, and delivered in a way that creates safety and trust, provides an optimum environment for change. And so we continue to reflect, learn and innovate across our programs and services, using evidence, lived experience and practice wisdom to ensure that each connection we make with a client or a family offers that opportunity, and values and affirms their experience. Sobering findings released by the landmark Australian Childhood Maltreatment Study this year highlight the extensive levels of abuse and neglect experienced by so many children today, as well as the long term impacts on the mental and physical health of children and the adults they become across the life course.2 These findings are an urgent call to action, and an opportunity to advocate for change, within our own communities as well as at the broader state and national level. Family Life has strengthened our commitment to work safely with all family members, including men, in the context of family violence, particularly as it relates to parenting and safety for children. Bringing together our extensive experience in working with families, and our deep knowledge of

systems and local communities, we have expanded our men’s support services, becoming one of the largest providers of behaviour change programs nationally, as well as expanding interventions for fathers who use violence. This work is integrated with risk management and therapeutic supports for women and children experiencing family violence through our suite of trauma informed programs that aim to break cycles of violence and promote healing and recovery. We have also supported and affirmed parents in their role as caregivers, through our Early Help programs based in the community. Our therapeutic Children’s Contact Service provides a safe space to navigate through separation and family breakdown, with children’s best interests in mind. Our Community Listening Tours across five local government areas have led to the development of nuanced place based recommendations for local stakeholders to include in their service design, while Community Op Shops continue to grow and thrive, creating social connection across our networks of volunteers, employees and communities. We embrace opportunities for continuous learning, innovation and critical reflection through the application of rigorous and reflective data collection and analysis processes across our programs and services, to help us understand our impact and tell our story. It is with great pride that we share this report outlining our performance and impact over the 2022/23 Financial Year (FY22/23).

Allison Wainwright Chief Executive Officer

1 Davidson, P, Bradbury, B, and Wong, M. (2023). Poverty in Australia 2023: Who is affected. Poverty and Inequality Partnership Report no. 20. Australian Council of Social Service and UNSW Sydney 2 Haslam, D, Mathews, B, Pacella, R, Scott, JG, Finkelhor, D, Higgins, DJ, Meinck F, Erskine, HE, Thomas, HJ, Lawrence, D, and Malacova, E. (2023). The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report. Australian Child Maltreatment Study, Queensland University of Technology

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO Family Life has been committed to supporting positive change for vulnerable children, families and communities since 1970. Through providing effective services, support and fostering connections, we strive to realise our vision: of thriving children nurtured within strong families, who live in capable and supportive communities.

At the core of Family Life’s work is a strong sense of purpose to transform lives, which contributes to the development of more resilient and connected communities. By striving to achieve this purpose, Family Life aims to create positive and lasting impacts beyond individual changes for clients, ultimately leading to the betterment of society as a whole.

We know that many communities face a variety of challenges and vulnerabilities, including issues like family violence, social isolation and mental health concerns. These challenges can be further intensified by factors such as intergenerational trauma and various forms of inequality such as those related to gender, social standing and cultural differences. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many of these difficulties and its impact is still being felt today, particularly amongst those most vulnerable. Family Life services play a vital role in helping individuals, families, and communities address challenges, heal from trauma, and cultivate

resilience. By providing trauma informed support, resources, and a safe space, our services contribute to the healing process and assist in building the strength needed to overcome adversity. Our Theory of Change provides a framework and understanding of what we aim to accomplish, and how we plan to do it. This is our blueprint of why and how we do what we do. We are proud to share our Theory of Change which presents the key elements of how and why we do the work we do. This includes: • The principles guiding our work • The action we take to support individuals, families and communities, and • The outcomes or changes (short, intermediate and long term) we hope to achieve with support for communities, families and children.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

Transforming Lives for Stronger Communities

Long Term Outcomes

CAPABLE COMMUNITIES

STRONG FAMILIES

THRIVING CHILDREN

Everyone learns and participates within

Individuals reach their potential

Children are safe and reach their full

sustainable, engaged, inclusive, thriving

enabling families to experience positive wellbeing and strong and respectful

potential

communities and responsive systems

relationships

Organisations respond to the needs of their community

Intermediate Outcomes

Individuals have social support and a sense of belonging within their community and culture Individuals are engaged and contributing to their community through employment, training, education and volunteering

Organisations collaborate to provide a holistic response to families and individuals

Short Term Outcomes

Individuals are connected to culture and community networks Individuals have trust and are empowered to seek support when needed Individuals have the skills and support to contribute to their community

Initiatives that strengthen the community

Individuals and families experience optimal functioning and wellbeing

Children experience an environment that optimises their development, wellbeing and safety

Families have healthy relationships and experience reduced conflict and violence

Children have healthy relationships with their support network

Individuals are empowered, resilient and able to manage individual and family challenges.

Children use prosocial strategies to express themselves and have their needs met

Individuals make positive choices and decisions to address their health and wellbeing needs

Children have a range of support networks that enhance their mental health, wellbeing, learning and developmental needs

Individuals are aware of the dynamics and effects of conflict and violence and implement strategies to improve safety

Children are supported to engage, learn and participate in their community

Individuals develop their ability to manage individual and family challenges

The child support network promotes healthy attachment relationships and creates a safe, stable and nurturing environment for children

Caregivers experience parenting as positive

Children have a sense of belonging, are empowered and confident

Actions

Community connection and activation

Holistic services with families at the centre

Hear the voice of the community (co-design)

Evaluate impact

Principles

Create Safety

Be Real

Celebrate Difference

Build social capital through volunteering and social enterprises

Advocate for social justice and equal opportunities to access services

Innovative programs to increase knowledge and skills

Collaborate with other organisations

Dream Big

Be Bold

Embrace Everyone

Context: Communities experience a range of vulnerabilities including family violence, social isolation and mental health concerns. Factors such as intergenerational trauma and inequality (e.g. gender, social, cultural) exacerbate vulnerability. Services can support communities to heal from trauma and develop resilience. Notes: 1. Family Life acknowledges that families are remarkably diverse both in structure and dynamics. 2. Children include children and young people. 3. Individuals include those who receive our services and those who engage in our community capacity building activities. 4. Organisation could include: government departments, community organisations, schools, businesses, etc.

WHY AND HOW WE MEASURE Our approach to measurement helps us monitor and track our progress towards achieving the changes (or ‘outcomes’) we aim to support for children, families and the community. Our strategy for understanding the difference our work has made for the people we serve is framed through the following questions: • How much did we deliver to the community? • How well did we deliver it? • What changes occurred for children, families and communities as a result of our work? This approach helps us measure the tangible effects of our work and promotes continuous improvement. It also underpins our commitment to transparency, accountability and our genuine desire to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. Our focus on understanding what changes occur for our clients extends beyond donor compliance, and is a way for us to monitor, promote and maintain the high quality of services we deliver.

How much did we deliver to the community? • This question seeks to understand the quantity and scale of the services, support and resources that we provide to the community. • With this information we want to understand not only the number of services provided, but also who we reached in the community. • It is one way we review how accessible and available our services are to those in need. • By quantifying our efforts, we gain insights into our organisation’s capacity to support change. • Measuring the volume of our service delivery is supported by our internal client management database and other record keeping processes. Key results for FY 22/23 are available in the following section ‘How much did we do for children, families and the community’.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

How well did we deliver it? • This question delves into the quality and effectiveness of our services. It considers factors such as overall service satisfaction, and implementation of best practice. • Learning about client experience provides insight and opportunities for learning and service development to ensure we are providing the best possible service to our clients. • Family Life seeks to understand how well our services met client needs through the use of a range of client self-reporting tools. The ‘What are our clients saying’ section of this report summarises the key layers of client feedback provided during FY 22/23.

Family Life is committed to hearing the voice of community in all aspects of our work. This year, we have taken steps to expand the way we can hear from our child and youth clients about their experiences with our services. In hearing their voice, Family Life aims to ensure their best interests are served with ethical, safe and effective translation of evidence into practice that meets the diverse needs of children and their families. This year Child and Young Person feedback surveys were established across identified child focused services to expand the way we hear about our services from young clients. These tools include age appropriate questions, and image based rating scales to support access for younger children, or those with lower levels of literacy. Building on the success of this process in identified services, we look forward to expanding the use of these tools across more of our services, offering more opportunities to hear the voices of children and young people.

What changes occurred for children, families and communities as a result of our work? • This question focuses on the outcomes and impact of our services for our clients. It examines the changes that individuals, families and communities experience when engaged with our services. • Through the use of validated and reliable tools, we collect data to help measure the change occurring for individuals at service entry and exit. • These produce ‘outcome measures’ that tell one important part of the story about a client’s journey. • Program specific tools are embedded in service delivery processes, and often support and guide practice. The ‘What changes did we see’ section of this report presents a snapshot of outcome measures recorded for children, families and communities.

HOW MUCH DID WE DO FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY?

3,189

1,244

accessed individual therapeutic services including:

919

clients

men

received family violence support services

158

children and young people provided with support, assessment and therapeutic treatment for stress, anxiety and/or trauma

women and children received family violence specialised support

1,675

2,316

(made up of 4,158 individuals) accessed therapeutic services including:

attended 152 group sessions including:

couples or families 568

families provided with assistance to develop co-parenting skills as well as access to post-separation support

333

families 8

provided with intensive child focused and family centred services to give parents the skills and confidence they need to raise healthy, happy children in a loving home environment

206

individuals, couples and /or families provided with short term solution focused counselling with the aim of promoting healthy family functioning

167

families provided short term, intensive support to promote the mental health and wellbeing of a child or young person in their care.

individuals 1,411 men

attended Men’s Behaviour Change Programs

644 parents

or carers participated in nine group parenting programs

5,255

students and staff across 31 local primary and secondary schools were supported through wellbeing and engagement activities through our School Focused Youth Services program

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

330

Who did we reach through our client services? Gender

individuals

of our clients identified as male

46.5%

volunteered with Family Life providing:

of our clients identified as female

0.7%

36,675

of our clients identified as another gender, for example non-binary, transgender, or intersex

hours

of community service

Age

135,250

74%

made purchases in Family Life’s Community Op Shops

of our clients were adults

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander

2.5%

of our clients

How did we deliver our support in FY 22/23

79,688 individual

identified as Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander

sessions to our clients

Culturally or linguistically diverse

59%

18.3%

of sessions were delivered face-to-face

of our clients identified as culturally or linguistically diverse

Family Life engaged clients living across

251

26%

of our clients were children or young people under the age of 18

customers

Service area

52.8%

41%

of sessions were delivered online through video-conference, telephone or internet based activities

FY22-23 Service Delivery Footprint Frankston 24% Kingston 15% Mornington Peninsula (Shire) 14%

different Victorian postcodes, and from

Casey 11%

Greater Dandenong 8%

local government areas across Australia

Bayside 8%

Glen Eira 6%

WHAT ARE OUR CLIENTS SAYING? Client Satisfaction3

Adults of adults felt that the Family Life service listened to them and understood their issues4

91%

of adults feel better able to deal with the issues that they asked Family Life to help them with5

79%

of adults reported being satisfied with the service they received from Family Life6

88%

Children & Young People

of children and young people felt that the Family Life 83% service listened to them and understood their issues7

of young people feel better able to deal with the issues that they asked Family Life to help them with8

69%

of children and young people reported being satisfied with the service they received from Family Life9

86%

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Of those clients who chose to complete service feedback 5% neither agreed or disagreed that the service listened to and understood their needs 12% neither agreed or disagreed that the service helped them with the issues they sought help for 7% had ‘neutral’ feelings about the services they received 11% neither agreed or disagreed that the service listened to and understood their needs 13% neither agreed or disagreed that the service helped them with the issues they sought help for 10% had ‘neutral’ feelings about the services they received

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

Client Feedback “Being involved with Family Life has changed our family’s life greatly. We are a happier family and all the support, communication and services that have been set up for us is truly wonderful. [My worker] was incredible. They listened and got really involved in helping our family. We felt safe talking with them and taking on their advice and we are so immensely grateful for their support. [My worker] was always happy and full of joy and it was evident from our first meeting they were geared up to help and they have gone above and beyond our expectations.

“[My worker] is amazing & has a natural ability to listen, not judge and advise me how to move forward in my relationships, especially with my daughter.”

“Having someone that listened, believed and cared for me and my family really helped me move forward and provide a safe environment for my family.”

[My worker] is an exceptional person and a real asset to your organisation.” “Family Life provided resources that helped me financially. They also helped me to cope mentally with problems, and helped me with my family and children.”

What Do People Like About Our Service? Safe, non-judgemental services

Useful information and advice

“COMPLETELY met my needs. Everyone was efficient, friendly, non-judgemental. Practitioner’s counsel was invaluable. The empathy, understanding and direction was second to none.”

“The mediator was very courteous, listened to all of my concerns, and gave me positive advice through the whole process.”

“Family Life helped me to make decisions based on what is best for my kids, rather than emotions.” “[My worker] was kind and understanding. [My worker] made me feel 100% supported. [My worker] made me feel comfortable and empowered. It is people like [my worker] that make a positive difference.” “Family Life has a welcoming environment with supportive staff.” “Family Life’s welcoming environment, and emotional support dealing with sensitive situations such as domestic violence were really valuable.”

“[My worker] knew about places I could go for help and gave us a lot of information about mental health and emotional wellbeing.” “Family Life’s team is equipped to be able to handle conversations and provide other helpful resources also.”

Quality of engagement “But the best experience was with [my worker]. We are connected with other agencies too but the way they understood and helped us during our difficult days none has done so far. They are outstanding! Wish I could have them again.”

WORKING TOWARDS OUR VISION OF THRIVING CHILDREN, WHO ARE SAFE AND SUPPORTED IN STRONG FAMILIES, AND CONNECTED TO CAPABLE COMMUNITIES

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

WHAT CHANGE DID WE SEE? Family Life uses outcome measures to understand where and how clients and their families may experience changes to their health, wellbeing and quality of life after their engagement with our services. Through the use of a range of validated, reliable tools aligned with each service, clients and practitioners work together to identify current strengths and difficulties across a range of domains or areas related to their lives, creating a point in time assessment of their experience. The tools use a scored approach as well as qualitative feedback, and provide a context to support and direct shared goal setting, and reflect together on progress. Used at service entry and exit, these measures provide an indicator of change over time.

We use outcome measures in several ways: • Primarily to understand how our services support change for individuals and families. This includes embedding awareness that change is unlikely to be linear, particularly in complex settings, and that positive, negative and/or no change across some or all domains provide useful information for practitioners at individual and service level. • To reflect on this data to inform practice and service design. • To support reporting to funding bodies and contribute to sector-wide monitoring and evaluation which further builds and strengthens the evidence base around programs. Outcome measures at Family Life are aligned with our organisational Theory of Change and provide an important part of our story around how we are working towards achieving our long term outcomes to create Thriving Children, who are safe and supported in Strong Families, and connected to Capable Communities.

SERVICE OUTCOMES

The ‘Thriving Children’ pillar of Family Life’s Theory of Change aims to achieve the long term outcome that children are safe and reach their full potential

Outcome measures used across our programs seek to understand how our work contributes to creating and maintaining safe and nurturing families and support networks for children in the early years and beyond, to maximise health and development outcomes across the lifespan. This includes a focus on physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing, safety, relationships and attachment, and confidence, connection and empowerment of both children and their caregivers.

Family Life services focusing on child, parent and family wellbeing use Outcome Stars, a collaborative tool designed to engage clients within their journey of change. Each tool includes a set of scales in a star shape to assess strengths and difficulties across key areas of parenting, and identify how and where change is likely to occur, based on their relationship with this issue or area of focus.10 The stars are strength-based, person centred and there are

options to include both adults and children within the process based on family needs and service approaches. “Parent wellbeing”, “boundaries and behaviour” and “meeting emotional needs” were three areas where parents and caregivers identified the greatest need for support at service entry for programs supporting child, parent and family wellbeing at Family Life in FY 22/23. An overall comparison of outcome measures at service exit showed that clients and practitioners assessed the most significant changes occurring in the areas of “boundaries and behaviour”, “parent wellbeing”, “meeting emotional needs” and “support networks” with the greatest number of clients moving from requiring support to independence in these domains.

Triangle Consulting. (2017). Briefing: What is the Outcome Star?. https://www.outcomesstar.org.uk/about-the-star/what-is-the-outcomesstar/#:~:text=The%20Outcomes%20Star%20is%3A,impact%20whilst%20improving%20their%20keywork

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

OUTCOME SNAPSHOT

Children have a range of support networks that enhance their mental health, wellbeing, learning and developmental needs All parents and carers who participated in a Community Bubs program in FY 22/23 believed they had gained new knowledge and strategies to bond with their baby and keep them safe at program end At program commencement:

34%

of participants had identified a need for support to promote bonding and attachment

38%

required information and support in keeping their baby safe

Parents and carers who engaged with the Early Help program showed:

34%

increase in ability to stay focused on their child’s needs, even during times of distress, when assessed at the end of their service

Parents and carers who participated in the SHINE mental health and wellbeing program reported:

30%

increase in their ability to understand and meet the emotional needs of their child or young person at completion of the program

The child support network promotes healthy attachment relationships and creates a safe, stable and nurturing environment for children

84%

26%

in Family Preservation and Reunification and Community Bubs programs identified limited support networks as a concern at program commencement

who accessed mental health services at Family Life were seeking support for relationships with their parents

55%

60%

of participants

of participants who completed these programs reported increased connection and independence in this area

of young people

More than of those who completed the service demonstrated increased capacity in this area at service completion

Children are supported to engage, learn and participate in their community Children and young people in our SHINE program reported:

35% increase in their abilities to feel hopeful, set goals and stay motivated in their relationships, education and families with over three quarters reporting greater capacity and skills in this area at the end of the service Children have a sense of belonging, are empowered and confident

86%

of children and young people

Less than 35%

reported confidence in this area at the start of the program

in our SHINE program demonstrated the capacity to make friends at the end of service 15

SERVICE OUTCOMES

The ‘Strong Families’ pillar of Family Life’s Theory of Change aims to achieve the long term outcome that individuals reach their potential enabling families to experience postitive wellbeing and strong relationships

Outcome measures that align with this pillar provide data on how and where our work supports individuals to address their own health and wellbeing, and create and support safety in relationships for strong, connected and positive experiences of parenting, even in times of challenge or crisis. This includes a focus on making positive choices around health and wellbeing, understanding and reducing factors that cause conflict and violence, and developing strategies to manage challenges and provide positive family role models. 16

Programs within the Strong Families pillar use a range of outcome measures including Outcome Stars focused on mental health and wellbeing, victim/survivor empowerment and behaviour change for people who use violence as well as psychometric screening tools and validated sectorwide tools to assess levels of family conflict and

collaboration. These tools assess perspectives of both adults and children within the family unit to capture a variety of perspectives. Individuals accessing Family Life services linked to Strong Families highlighted “communication”, “attitudes” and “taking responsibility” as the areas where they needed most support. “Being a good father” and “improving communication” were the domains where participants showed the greatest degree of change during FY 22/23.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

OUTCOME SNAPSHOT

Individuals make positive choices and decisions to address their health and wellbeing needs

30% increase in the number of parents receiving Family Support Services reported capacity to recognise and manage their own health and wellbeing needs at service conclusion

66%

of Men’s Behaviour Change Program participants entered the service requiring support in regards to their views on their partner or on women in general At service exit

51%

of participants who had completed both outcome measures demonstrated increased capacity for respectful behaviour

Participants who attended the ‘Here4U’ community advocate program reported that their understanding of family violence increased after completing the program from an average score of 2.75, to 5 out of 5 after attending the training sessions

Individuals are aware of the dynamics and effects of conflict and violence and implement strategies to improve safety

23%

of participants in Men’s Behaviour Change Programs commenced their service requiring support in taking responsibility for their violence or abuse

47%

of those who completed the program and two outcome measures demonstrated independence/capacity in this area at the conclusion of their service

Individuals develop their ability to manage individual and family challenges

54% of participants

in the Parenting Orders Program and Children’s Contact Services demonstrated independence/capacity in the area of maintaining an amicable relationship with their spouse at service exit, compared with 36% at commencement

42% of parents

identified requiring assistance to support their child or children communicate directly with both parents in the case of separation when entering these services

53%

of participants who completed the service demonstrated independence/capacity in this area

11% of parents who

participated in Community Bubs

commenced service requiring support in regards to housing and financing issues

All

participants who completed the Community Bubs program showed positive change and increased capacity in this area

Caregivers experience parenting as positive

51%

of parents reported feeling more amicable towards their former spouse at the end of their involvement with the Parenting Orders Program

26%

of participants of the Dads in Focus program

commenced their service expressing that they required support with being a good father. At conclusion, 16% of participants who completed the program demonstrated increased capacity 17 in this area

SERVICE OUTCOMES

The ‘Capable Communities’ pillar of Family Life’s Theory of Change seeks to support the long term outcome that everyone learns and participates within sustainable, engaged, inclusive, thriving communities and responsive systems

Outcome measures that align with this pillar seek to understand how and where our work supports individuals and families to engage and contribute to diverse and connected communities, sharing skills, gaining social networks and participating in education, employment, training and volunteering. This includes a focus on knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in community activities, mechanisms to build and maintain social support, and organisations equipped to respond to community needs and work with individuals, families and communities to create targeted supports and solutions. 18

“Building and maintaining relationships and social networks”, and “engaging with education or work” were identified as the most common areas for support when engaging with Family Life services. The area where clients demonstrated the most significant change was improved “social networks” and increased “engagement with education for children and young people”.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

OUTCOME SNAPSHOTS Individuals have the skills and support to contribute to their community

47%

of primary carers participating in Integrated Family Services activities identified a positive change in relation to home and money matters at the end of their service

27%

identified a positive change related to progress to work or training

Individuals have social support and a sense of belonging within their community and culture

33%

50%

who participated in the Community Bubs program commenced the service requiring support building social support networks

demonstrated increased skills and capacity in this area

of parents

of those who completed the service

All participants in the Connect wellbeing program agreed or strongly agreed that they have a better understanding of the importance of family and friends in their life after completing the program

Individuals are engaged and contributing to their community through employment, training, education and volunteering

35%

of primary carers engaged in the Family Preservation and Reunification program commenced our service requiring support to meet their child’s education and learning needs. 67% of those who completed the service demonstrated independence/ capacity in this area at the conclusion of their service

Nine

Family Life volunteers were recruited into paid management positions across Family Life’s Community Op Shops

SHOWCASE

COMMUNITY LISTENING TOURS

Family Life undertook a series of Community Listening Tours in FY22/23 to understand current needs of local communities and how services can continue to meet their evolving needs.

This showcase illustrates one of the ways that Family Life: • Enables community connection and activation • H ears the voice the voice of the community (co-design) • Collaborates with other organisations • Supports innovative programs to increase knowledge and skills

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

In partnership with five local governments,11 Family Life delivered a series of Community Listening Tours to work with community and service providers to better understand strengths, needs and opportunities in each local community, and to identify potential actions for locally based change.

PROBLEM

WHAT WE DID

he COVID-19 pandemic T created new and varied demands for the service sector, as it impacted almost all areas of life and all segments of the community, particularly the most disadvantaged

700

he Community Listening T Tours aimed to deepen our understanding of the needs, perceptions, and experiences of communities, and share this information with stakeholders to develop local solutions

from government, community and service organisations attended six workshops and presentations to review data, discuss and understand issues on a local level, and generate solutions

community members were consulted between November 2022 and June 2023

Over 150 participants

Over 25,000

stakeholders were reached Key themes and priority areas for action were identified for each Local Government Area (LGA). While each area reflected their unique needs and opportunities, these common issues to be: • Mental health • Family violence • Social isolation and loneliness

IMPACT A call to action across LGAs to: - Increase collaboration and alignment between services and programs both within and across individual LGAs - Recognise the significant variation in need within each LGA and target services accordingly - Keep learning from, and engaging with the community to support targeted service development - Increase service access for community and reduce barriers to service utilisation

Various stakeholders and networks are using the reports to further their discussions, enhance collaboration, and progress implementation of the community solutions/ recommendations Post-workshop feedback showed t hat the community listening process supported stakeholders to find new ways to support the community (39%), network with peers (28%), and make new connections (22%)

73%

of stakeholders agreed they would think about partnering with other organisations to support the community

of stakeholders will consider making changes to existing services

View report here 11

City of Frankston, the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, the City of Kingston, the City of Bayside, and the City of Casey.

SHOWCASE

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

Family Life runs eight social enterprise stores in key community hubs along Melbourne’s southeast. These stores are deeply connected to, and serve the needs of their local communities.

This showcase illustrates one of the ways that Family Life: • Supports initiatives that strengthen the community • Enables community connection and activation • Builds social capital through volunteering and social enterprise

“I like meeting people & hope that in some small way I can help by volunteering”

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

Stores function as community hubs, have a strong focus on volunteerism and purposefully engage in activities that promote social connection as mechanisms to overcome isolation. Family Life’s Community Op Shops provide a safe environment for people to come together and interact in support of developing meaningful social relationships. Through this, we aim to increase the social support and sense of belonging individuals feel in their community, and empower individuals to feel engaged and contribute to their community.

PROBLEM

WHAT WE DID

• Australians are less socially connected than ever before,12 and globally this disconnection has been described as an “epidemic of loneliness and isolation”.13

Family Life opened

• Communities with higher levels of social connection typically enjoy significantly better health outcomes than communities that have lower levels.14

Relocated the Hampton store to an improved space

“I f conn eel e feel scted, & feel afe loved ”

three new Community Op Shops in Elwood, Mornington and Rosebud, open 9am-5pm, six days a week

330

individual volunteers

36,676

IMPACT

“I feel I’m helping a much needed cause. Meet lots of lovely people and made some nice friends”

Eight

assistant store managers and one store manager transitioned into paid positions from our volunteer cohort

volunteer hours

135,250

across our eight stores and the distribution centre

made purchases in our stores

customers

88%

77%

90%

87%

choose to engage with Family Life as a way of giving back to the community

feel they have more social connection through volunteering with Family Life

feel connected to their community through volunteering

feel they are contributing to the wellbeing of their community through volunteering

of our volunteers

Wilkins, R, Vera-Toscano, E, Botha, F, Wooden, M, and Trinh, T. (2022). The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey: Selected Findings from Waves 1 to 20. Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, University of Melbourne US Public Health Service. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Available via: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html 14 US Public Health Service. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Available via: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html 12

SHOWCASE

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

This showcase illustrates one of the ways that Family Life: • Provides holistic services with families at the centre • Supports initiatives that strengthen the community

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 lowintensity early intervention and prevention support.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

SHINE and Connect programs aim to enhance community and service connection, and build confidence and coping skills to improve mental health and wellbeing for children, adults and families. These programs are designed to be accessed easily and quickly, without the need for formal referral with opportunity to refer into additional support as needed.

PROBLEM

WHAT WE DID

Many children and families in the City of Casey and the City of Greater Dandenong lack social connection and appropriate support to promote their mental health and wellbeing.

167 families were supported

These communities are some of the most culturally diverse in Victoria, and attract a high number of new migrants and refugees who often experience a range of overlapping vulnerabilities. Mental health concerns and increasing levels of family violence have been identified as key challenges.

were supported through the SHINE program this year

SHINE is an early intervention program

assisting children showing early signs of mental health concerns, or those who have a parent experiencing mental health concerns, to rebuild confidence and wellbeing

239 families were supported

through the Connect program this year

Connect is a peer support program

offering caring, evidence informed interventions to improve wellbeing, decrease emotional distress and improve community connections for adults Due to the unique linguistic and culturally diverse capacity of the Connect team, the majority of services are delivered in the client’s own language and with an in-depth understanding of their cultural values and beliefs. Connect provides both practical settlement support but also addresses the client’s emotional needs in a trauma informed and culturally appropriate way.

IMPACT

29%

25%

identified that they needed support getting involved in activities they enjoyed, developing skills, and being part of something positive

required support in managing their feelings and emotions. At the conclusion of service, 64% of young people had improved their ability to manage their feelings and emotions

of children engaged in our SHINE services

72%

of those who completed the service reported that they could do this independently at the conclusion of the service

of young people engaged in our SHINE services

82%

of Connect clients were likely to be experiencing moderate to severe psychological distress at service entry. At service exit this reduced to 37%

After attending Connect Group Work sessions:

97%

of clients agreed that they were helped to understand the factors/ triggers of stress and anxiety and how this linked to their wellbeing

97%

of clients had a better awareness of coping strategies for sustainable self-management of stress and worry

SHOWCASE

CHILDREN’S CONTACT SERVICE

As part of our Family Law programs, Family Life has developed an enhanced child focused therapeutic service that positively supports parents and children

This showcase illustrates one of the ways that Family Life: • Provides holistic services with families at the centre • Supports innovative programs to increase knowledge and skills • Supports initiatives that strengthen the community

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

Through service integration and connection, families are supported to develop positive parenting skills, to process and manage trauma, and to strengthen parent and child relationships as the family navigates separation processes.

PROBLEM

WHAT WE DID

There is a high risk of harm to children when parents separate.

Family Life’s Children’s Contact Service offers a safe and neutral child focused space for parents to have supervised contact with their parent/s during a separation process.

support, in addition to contact sessions with their parent. Children can also participate in a group program, ‘What about Me’, which supports children experiencing family separation.

Families may be Court Ordered to use the service or self-refer when they recognise the need for support.

Parents can access postseparation group programs that support child focused approaches to separation and build coparenting skills. They can also access other referrals to Family Life services, such as the Dads in Focus program, that provides individual counselling and parenting skills for fathers who have used, or are at risk of using family violence.

nresolved parental conflict U affects children of all ages and can have a long term effect on their mental health and future life chances.15 In some cases, this can lead to children losing a close bond with one or both parents.16

his year, the structure of the T Children’s Contact Service was revised 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 including Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners, Family and Relationship Services, and the Orange Door. Children can access specialist trauma informed, therapeutic

he goal of this revised structure T is to assist families progress through the Children’s Contact Service in a timely and safe manner, and provide the greatest potential for positive long term outcomes for children and parents.

IMPACT

74%

51%

54%

who provided feedback on this service this year reported being satisfied with services received

feeling more amicable towards their former spouse at the end of their involvement with the Parenting Orders Program and Children’s Contact Service program

who completed the service reported positive change in this area, compared to 36% at service entry

of clients

of parents reported

of participants

Hess, S. (2022). Effects of Inter-Parental Conflict on Children’s Social Well-Being and the Mediation Role of Parenting Behavior. Applied Research Quality Life, 17:2059–2085 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-021-10022-y 16 Family Solutions Group. (2020). “What about me?.”: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation. Accessed via https://www. familysolutionsgroup.co.uk/what-about-me/ 15

SHOWCASE

EARLY HELP PROGRAM

In collaboration with community partners, the Early Help program assists families to access early intervention support, and equips community level service providers to identify and connect families with services as early as possible.17

This showcase illustrates one of the ways that Family Life: • Supports initiatives that strengthen the community • Provides holistic services with families at the centre • Collaborates with other organisations • Supports innovative programs to increase knowledge and skills

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

The program responds to strong evidence that while the effects of disadvantage or adversity in early life can impact long term health, development and wellbeing outcomes for children, this is not universal or irreversible. Early Help seeks to offer the right support at the right time to improve outcomes for children and families, reduce the need for later engagement with secondary or tertiary services and support children and parents to thrive.

PROBLEM Parents and children are often unable to receive timely and targeted preventative and early intervention support required to support their development. hile this particularly affects W parents and children from marginalised and disadvantaged groups, this can affect anyone at any time.

WHAT WE DID Running across the Shire of Mornington Peninsula, City of Kingston, City of Bayside, and City of Frankston, this program aims to support each community to thrive by promoting and supporting the wellbeing of individuals and families.

107 families

were provided with Early Help intervention support this year. These services link individuals to community activities such as social inclusion groups, parenting programs, informal support services, and other essential community services.

Over 48 families

were provided with funding packages to assist them access services such as counselling, developmental assessments, recreational activities, and medical services to support their positive development.

173 families

participated in group programs. These activities provide support ranging from promoting social connection for isolated families, to providing evidence based programs which support parents and carers bond and connect with their children, and enhances their ability to respond to the different needs of their children.

client-facing service providers in Mornington and Frankston attended Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) to enhance their ability to support people presenting at risk of suicide.

222

parents attended online workshops “Creating Confident Teens” and “Creating Confident Kids” in partnership with STRIDE Education in response to parent requests to support their children’s confidence, coping and social skills. Early Help has co-located at the following locations this year: Westall Community Hub, Frankston North Community Centre, Seawinds Community Centre, Mahogany Rise - Our Place, and Mentone Girls Secondary School. Through this co-locating approach with community partners, Early Help increases the ease with which families can access and connect with support.

IMPACT

82% of participants

who completed a service exit survey agreed or strongly agreed they were doing a good job as a parent. At service entry 70% of participants identified that they had mixed feelings about their parenting skills Parents/carers felt gaining strategies for engaging their teenage children was one of

their most valuable learnings from the Early Help program Many parents thought that the Early Help program had increased their parenting skills, ability to advocate for their children’s needs, and they had an increased ability to keep focused on their children’s needs even after a difficult or upsetting experience

44% of parents

identified mixed feelings or disagreed that they had the skills and confidence to parent effectively and advocate and support their child. In post program evaluations, only 14% believed they had not developed these skills

17 Burridge, H, Jones, N, and Moore, I. (2023). Supporting Families feasibility reports, Early Intervention Foundation. https://www.eif.org.uk/report/supporting-families-feasibility-report

REFERENCES Burridge, H, Jones, N, and Moore, I. (2023). Supporting Families feasibility reports, Early Intervention Foundation. Available via; https://www.eif.org.uk/report/supporting-families-feasibility-reports Davidson, P, Bradbury, B, and Wong, M. (2023). Poverty in Australia 2023: Who is affected. Poverty and Inequality Partnership Report no. 20. Australian Council of Social Service and UNSW Sydney Family Solutions Group. (2020). “What about me?”: Reframing Support for Families following Parental Separation. Available via https://www.familysolutionsgroup.co.uk/what-about-me/ Haslam, D, Mathews, B, Pacella, R, Scott, JG, Finkelhor, D, Higgins, DJ, Meinck F, Erskine, HE, Thomas, HJ, Lawrence, D, and Malacova, E. (2023). The prevalence and impact of child maltreatment in Australia: Findings from the Australian Child Maltreatment Study: Brief Report. Australian Child Maltreatment Study, Queensland University of Technology Hess, S. (2022). Effects of Inter-Parental Conflict on Children’s Social Well-Being and the Mediation Role of Parenting Behavior. Applied Research Quality Life, 17:2059–2085 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482- 021-10022-y Triangle Consulting. (2017). Briefing: What is the Outcome Star? Available via https://www.outcomesstar.org.uk/about-the-star/what-is-the-outcomes-star/#:~:text=The%20 Outcomes%20Star%20is%3A,impact%20whilst%20improving%20their%20keywork US Public Health Service. (2023). Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Healing Effects of Social Connection and Community. Available via: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection/index.html Wilkins, R, Vera-Toscano, E, Botha, F, Wooden, M, and Trinh, T. (2022). The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey: Selected Findings from Waves 1 to 20. Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research, University of Melbourne

FAMILY LIFE SERVICES PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING INDIVIDUALS FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES ADDRESS CHALLENGES, HEAL FROM TRAUMA AND CULTIVATE RESILIENCE.

Family Life - Performance and Impact Report | 2022/2023

ABN 37 712 782 209

SEP 2023

Family Life 197 Bluff Road Sandringham, Vic 3191 Phone: +61 3 85995433 Email: info@familylife.com.au www.familylife.com.au