Fresh Hope Communities Strategic Intent 2023

Strategic Intent

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of all the lands throughout Australia. We recognise and respect the connection to their land, culture and community and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

The Past

Churches of Christ Community Care, trading as Fresh Hope Communities, is a registered not-for-profit, charity and Public Benevolent Institution that has been in operation for over 85 years.

In its early years, Churches of Christ Community Care identified needs within the local community and responded by building orphanages for children who were estranged from their parents and homes for widows and single women. The sole purpose—to build community and to show care.

The Present

Today, Fresh Hope Communities operate nine independent-living retirement communities and six residential aged care facilities across New South Wales, as well as palliative and end-of-life services and other charitable programs.

Fresh Hope Communities manages The Tops and Greenstead Valley, the outdoor experiences arm of the organisation. The outdoor experiences and group accommodation enable people to connect and recharge and can accelerate the formation of community. Our sites are located in Stanwell Tops and the Southern Highlands.

The Future

Rooted in the Churches of Christ Community Care mandate to “see the need and respond” and to outwork “the deeds” element of the scripture “… faith without deeds is dead.” (James 2:17), we have explored the current challenges our society faces and how we can play our part in bringing solutions.

If we are going to live as God intended, we cannot do it abstractly or in general. We have to do it under the particularising conditions in which God works, namely, time and place, here and now.

Eugene Peterson – Minister, Scholar, Theologian, Author, and Poet

At Our Core

• Places, Spaces and Home

• Belonging and Meaningful Connection

• The Quartet of the Vulnerable

Places, Spaces and Home Belonging and Meaningful Connection

We are anchored in place and created for community. Place is where we work out our living and breathing. It is where we find our connection – to one another and to our land. It is where we are seen and known and valued.

Place is the space where we find our feet and our sense of belonging and develop and share our own stories in the company of others.

It’s why anxiety and stress dissipate when we commune in spaces full of nature1, when we open the doors of our homes and lives and share space, vulnerably with others2

Community cannot exist without places and spaces.

Belonging is a fundamental need of being human. It is the feeling of connectedness that comes with common bonds. To truly have that sense of belonging, one must feel unity with members of a group or community.

Our need for belonging and for meaningful connection is hardwired into our brains. The desire and need for human connection is located in the same region as the need for food: the hippocampus, caudate and insula3. The feelings that come with social exclusion are found in the same region as physical pain: the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex4.

Belonging is good for our wellbeing as humans. It’s important for individual physical, mental and emotional health and it’s critical to the health of our communities. When people lack a sense of belonging, it is a strong predictor of depression5.

“I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.”

Maya Angelou – Memoirist, Poet, and Civil Rights Activist

I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgement; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.

Dr Brené Brown – Professor, Researcher & Storyteller

The Quartet of the Vulnerable

Every place the word mishpat (justice) is found in the Old Testament of the Bible, several groups of people continually come up, forming “the quartet of the vulnerable”. They are widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor6.

Today this quartet could expand to include a number of other groups including the ageing population, those experiencing social isolation, those living with disabilities and those nearing homelessness.

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”

Coretta Scott King – Author, Activist, Civil Rights Leader and wife of Martin Luther King

We do justice when we give all human beings their due as creations of God. Doing justice includes not only the righting of wrongs, but generosity and social concern, especially toward the poor and vulnerable. This kind of life reflects the character of God. It consists of a broad range of activities, from simple fair and honest dealings with people in daily life, to regular, radically generous giving of your time and resources, to activism that seeks to end particular forms of injustice, violence, and oppression.

Timothy Keller – American Pastor, Theologian, and Christian Apologist

03 Research and Statistics

Ageing Population

ABS over the past two decades, the population aged and over increased by compared with the total population growth of

years 110% 35%

The Australian Bureau of Statistics projects that by 2021 people aged 65 or over will have outnumbered those under 15, and by 2051 nearly one quarter of the population will be 65 years or older, and around 5 per cent will be 85 years or older.

Loneliness Epidemic

Every year Gallup interview people in over 140 countries to ask them how their lives are going. One of their findings is that there is a growing epidemic of loneliness. They say, “Over 300 million people do not have a single friend—not talking to a single friend of family member for two weeks at a time.” There are also health risks with Gallup’s research outlining, “Loneliness leads to low social wellbeing and is as bad for your health and wellbeing as smoking nearly a whole pack of cigarettes per day.”

“Loneliness is not just a product of having no friends, you also need people in your life you can count on for help.”

Jon Clifton – CEO Gallup

Loneliness Epidemic

A review of

Studies Globally Less 50%

Both Japan and the UK initiated a “Loneliness Commission” in order to find the most people at risk and develop community solutions—showing a societal issue. Here in Australia the Queensland Government agreed to a motion that the Community Support and Services Committee launch a “Loneliness Inquiry” and report on societal isolation and loneliness in Queensland7.

The purpose of the Inquiry is to investigate and report on the nature and extent of the impact of social isolation and loneliness. They are identifying and consulting vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and groups that are seen to be at significant risk across the course of their lives in order to identify the causes and drivers of social isolation and loneliness. From this the inquiry will look at solutions to mitigate social isolation and loneliness, highlighting current and historical examples of successful initiatives undertaken nationally and internationally.

found that people who have adequate social relationships are likely to die compared with those who have poor or insufficient social connections

Jon Clifton, CEO Gallup

Workplace loneliness researchers are saying that phrases like, “You aren’t meant to feel alone” are counterproductive. We are meant to feel alone. It is our brain’s survival mechanism sending us a message like it does for other important cues like cravings for food. Adrian Franklin and Bruce Tranter’s sociological research showed that loneliness and belonging go beyond personto-person interactions. They shared that the bases of belonging are wider than we perceive – encompassing place, memory, history, culture and kinship.

In our Residential Aged Care Communities over 16% of our residents fall under the category of men 85 years old and over. In our Retirement Communities it’s almost 10%. Across all our seniors communities we do our utmost to address the issue of loneliness by providing opportunities for men to socialise. Most notably, in our Henley Brae Retirement Community, we have established a Men’s Coffee Club which provides opportunity for men to socialise with one another and hear from speakers about a variety of topics.

One of speakers lined up is Ash Druery. He will be sharing from his experience of overcoming alcoholism that led to suicidal ideation. Since facing those challenges, Ash has established a number of men’s activity groups including “The Man Walk Bowral” to provide safe spaces for men of all ages to discuss their own challenges with mental health and it’s making a difference. He shared in a recent interview, “The antidote to isolation is connection. I still attend meetings and they are a huge part of my continual recovery and they and the walks caused me to realise the power of connection.”

It’s been reported that in Australia, men over 85 have suicide rates more than three times the average rate.

They face psychological and existential distress, which can reinforce loneliness and worthlessness.

This group must be seen as a priority population for suicide prevention.

“Loneliness isn’t shameful. It’s a signal that we belong together and that we are better together.”

Ryan Jenkins – Generations Keynote Speaker, Millennial and Gen Z Author, and Workplace Loneliness Expert

The New Homeless

Homelessness among older women is an increasing problem. The number of homeless people aged 55 years or above increased 28% between 2011 and 20168 Single women of that age are the fastest-growing homeless group in Australia9.”

The Queensland State Government has announced a new $2.5 million fund to invest in community-driven responses that aim to reduce the barriers experienced by priority groups in building belonging and community connections. This fund is in response to the Loneliness Inquiry and they have made a commitment to address support for women over 55 experiencing social isolation by delivering better services right across Queensland10.

An NSW inquiry is underway into homelessness among people aged 55 and older, run by the Standing Committee on Social Issues11

Homeless aged 28% years or above increased

“Older women are the fastestgrowing group of people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, and we think that’s because there’s been a lifetime of gender inequality.”

Fiona York – Executive Officer, Housing for the Aged Action Group

According to Gallup, there are five factors that make up a great life:

Work Wellbeing

Financial Wellbeing

Community Wellbeing

Physical Wellbeing • Social Wellbeing

Living in a great community is fundamental to living a great life. But over 1 billion people are so dissatisfied with their community that they want to leave it forever. Almost 2 billion would not recommend their community to a friend. These broken communities are not just the result of crime and a lack of basic infrastructure, they also lack a sense of community. Thriving communities are built on trust and people who help each other.

Jon Clifton – CEO Gallup

04

Organisational Values, Purpose, Mission and Vision Statements

Values

Kindness Connection Integrity Optimism

Purpose

To cultivate belonging.

Mission

To strengthen meaningful connection. To foster wellbeing, dignity and choice.

Vision

A place where it feels like home.

Our Context, Capability, Contribution and Customer

What is our purpose and strategy?

How will we deliver social and financial value?

Context

What is our operating environment?

Capability

What can we uniquely do and do well?

Contribution

What societal issues do we stand for?

Customer

Who do we serve and what are their needs?

Residential Care Communities

Given market dynamics, our purpose, and our experience working in Ageing Services, we plan to pivot where we play on the continuum of care – balancing support to those with acute health needs with those seeking community and supported living solutions. With this mix we can offset the financial challenges of high end specialist care services with more commercially viable assisted and independent living solutions.

Where to play: Continuum of care for Residential Care Communities

Cultivate belonging early with families and residents

Australians aged 85+ will more than triple from

500K

to 1.9M

to $5.3B Strategic Intent 2023

Housing and Accommodation Communities

With growth, compliance and funding challenges in ageing services as well as more consumers choosing to live at home, we plan to do more in the independent living and housing space. This will create a diversified portfolio, reducing concentration risks and expanding our potential services and consumer groups. Housing is a natural area for us to participate in given our purpose and mission, capabilities, heritage (housing for women and children) and the growing need for accessible housing stock in Australia.

High focus

Moderate focus

Low focus Awareness

Where to play: Continuum of care for Housing and Accommodation Communities

Accessible At risk

Cultivate belonging and build financial buffer

Support those in need via integrated solutions and partnerships

Build to own Build to rent Independent living Affordable housing Social housing Transitional housing Crisis/Homeless

Conference and Venue Hire, Outdoor Experiences, Camping and Group Accommodation

Conference and Venue Hire, Outdoor Experiences, Camping and Group Accommodation enable people to connect and recharge, and can accelerate the formation of community. We plan to leverage our existing venues and direct their usage towards individuals and organisations that care for those in need. We will continue to support schools and camps given our established and respected brand at The Tops – using the revenue generated via this channel to help cross-subsidise support for community organisations and carers of carers.

High focus

Moderate focus

Low focus Awareness

Where to play: Continuum of care for Conference and Venue Hire, Outdoor Experiences, Camping and Group Accommodation

Corporate conferences

School camps

Church groups

Community groups

Given our established and respected brand at The Tops,

schools and camps will continue to be a focus

This is Fresh Hope Communities

We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.

Herman Melville – Novellist

Fresh Hope Communities exists to cultivate belonging, to strengthen meaningful connection and foster wellbeing, dignity and choice in places and spaces that feel like home.

And this is what it means; we live and we work in community –our hands-in-the-soil type living, local and immediate, reaching into the mess and the richness of the here and now.

Plan

Strategic Plan

Residential Care Communities

To cultivate belonging.

Housing and Accommodation Communities

Strengthen meaningful connection. Foster wellbeing, dignity and choice.

Purpose Mission Strategy

Aligned with churches of Christ in NSW and ACT, build a community-centric organisation. We offer a blend of permanent and temporary living and wellbeing solutions in metropolitan and regional NSW.

Outdoor Adventures

When trees grow together, nutrients and water can be optimally divided among them all, via their root system, so that each tree can grow into the best tree it can be. And that is why even sick individuals are supported and nourished until they recover. Every tree, therefore, is valuable to the community and worth keeping around for as long as possible.

A tree can be only as strong as the forest that surrounds it—their wellbeing depends on their community.

Peter Wohlleben - Author

Hidden Life of Trees’

‘The

1. https://time.com/6171174/nature-stress-benefits-doctors/

2. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/is-having-a-sense-of-belonging-important

3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-020-00742-z

4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15740417/

5. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/1999/08/990810164724.htm

6. Psalm 68:5-6, Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 58

7. https://cqtoday.com.au/news/2022/08/25/social-isolation-among-older-women-fund/

8. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/housing/census-population-and-housing-estimating-homelessness/latest-release

9.. https://www.oldertenants.org.au/content/women-over-55-are-australias-fastest-growing-group-homeless

10. https://cqtoday.com.au/news/2022/08/25/social-isolation-among-older-women-fund/

11. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-24/older-women-and-homelessness-nsw-inquiry-case-study/101251666