SecondBite - Fitzroy, Victoria

"Food Collection Expansion Project"

With the economy booming and food prices soaring it is Melbourne's most marginalised and vulnerable communities that are suffering, becoming more and more isolated with no or very limited access to fresh nutritious food.

SecondBite receives numerous daily enquiries from individuals and local business wanting to donate their surplus produce.   In order to keep pace with the growing demands for collections and deliveries SecondBite needs to employ a part time Donor/Recipient Development Coordinator to focus solely on developing relationships with existing and potential food donors and respond to the numerous requests from recipients.

The key objective of SecondBite is to marry local food donors with local agencies and recipients, ideally utilising members of that same community to transport the food in a safe and timely manner.   This is a project that is self sustainable.

HOPESTREET Urban Compassion (trading name of Baptist Inner City Ministries) - Woolloomooloo, NSW

"Cleaner's With A Mission"

Through an extensive community survey in 1994 and contact with people in need, unemployment was identified as a major problem in the communities of the inner city of Sydney.   In 1995 Hopestreet began a cleaning service, targeting this need.   Almost exclusively, those who apply to work with Hopestreet are dealing with issues of mental illness, drug addiction, alcoholism and gambling addiction.   In May 2004, 60% of those working with Cleaners with a Mission were receiving a Disability Support pension and living with mental illness, 15% were recovering from drug addiction, and 10% were recovering from a gambling addiction or were refugees.   These people, so often disempowered and reliant on others, have a wealth of talentsand abilities and are of great value.   Given the opportunity, and support in managing the issues in their lives, those working with Cleaners with a Mission have the ability to develop and contribute enormously to the lives of others.

A pilot project in 2006 enabled Hopestreet to put additional resources into Individual Employment Plans for each person working in the program, to offer some more formal training opportunities, and to broker networks with potential employers.

Glendyne Education & Training Centre - A program of Qld Baptist Care (QBC) - Hervey Bay,   QLD

"You are not alone court support project"

Glendyne Education & Training Centre in Hervey Bay is an alternative and innovative education model that provides comprehensive support to the most disadvantaged of teenagers.   There are currently over 100 young people attending Glendyne.   Approximately 90% have misused substances, as well having suffered a multitude of atrocities from sexual abuse, systemic abuse and domestic violence.   The objective of Glendyne is to provide youth at risk of long-term unemployment with basic life skills education, and trade and other real life experiences in an environment that provides youth with complete holistic support.

The "You are not alone" project is designed to complement and enhance the "Life without substance abuse" (LWSA) program.   Young people charged with various offences relating to drug use, robbery, assault, break and enters and other criminal behaviours will be provided with a personal support and advocacy service when they are required to appear before the court.   The Court Youth Support worker will also link young offenders with the Glendyne mentoring program and other community based services and support their exposure to, and participation in, a wide range of sport and recreational pursuits.    The funding that was sought for this project was for the employment of a Youth Worker 2 days per week to support disadvantaged young people appearing before the courts.

Advocates for Survivors of Child Abuse (ASCA) - Kirribilli,   NSW

"National Circuit Breaker Strategy"

ASCA is a national organisation which works to advance the wellbeing of people and communities affected by child abuse.   It is working to ensure that all adult survivors of all forms of child abuse and neglect in Australia, regardless of geographic, economic and other parameters will be able to access the specific services they need, professionally delivered for as long as required to ensure health, wellbeing and meaningful engagement in the communities in which they live.    ASCA provides a support network, information and education to survivors, public and health professionals, therapeutic workshops, monthly newsletter, 1300 information/support line, website and advocates to raise awareness.   ASCA is currently developing partnerships to rain health workers to deliver specific services.

The National Circuit Breaker Strategy program is for development of short course material to enable ASCA to appropriately train health care workers specifically to address the needs of the adult survivors they work with.   It is envisaged courses will be rolled out nationally through collaboration with mental health peak bodies.

Australian National Committee on Refugee Women (ANCORW) - Kensington,   NSW

 "Realising Refugee Rights in Rural & Regional Australia"

ANCORW is a lobbying, advocacy and research group which works with and for refugee women and their families.   By working with the strengths and knowledge of refugee communities to identify issues and gaps in settlement services, ANCORW aims to inform settlement policy in Australia and internationally.

The "Realising Refugee Rights in Rural & Regional Australia" project aims to enhance refugee settlement service provision in rural and regional areas of NSW through the involvement of both refugees and settlement organisations in the design and development of a settlement training program.   In partnership with the Centre for Refugee Research (CRR), ANCORW will work with refugee communities and service providers in 2 regional sites to identify settlement needs and develop a suite of training resources to assist organisations in supporting resettling refugees.   The project will commence with a series of consultations with resettled refugees and settlement organisations including community and volunteer groups.   Strategies to identify and address settlement needs from a human rights perspective will be a core focus of the training resources.

Asylum Seekers Resource Centre of NSW (ASC) - Kirribilli,   NSW

"Strengthening sustainable volunteer and community support of vulnerable asylum seekers"

Asylum Seekers Resource Centre of NSW (ASC) is an independent Not For Profit which aims to provide a welcoming environment and practical support for community-based asylum seekers in NSW, while building community support and pursuing social justice for asylum seekers.   ASC deliver direct casework, healthcare, education, recreation and welfare services, and also undertake systemic advocacy and community awareness raising.  

The project aims to sustainably enhance ASC's capacity to engage and support skilled volunteers to perform diverse functions to effectively assist hundreds of destitute, traumatized, socially isolated and otherwise vulnerable asylum seekers, while also building broader community support.   The project's key objectives are to strengthen the scope, sustainability and benefits of supports provided to and by ASC volunteers; directly alleviate hardships endured by highly vulnerable asylum seekers; and to increase community awareness of asylum seekers' circumstances, while contributing to relevant social policy reform.

Bridgewater Police & Citizens Youth Club - Bridgewater, TAS

 "Break down the barriers"

Bridgewater Police & Citizens Youth Club was established in 1986 to provide sport and recreational activities for residents of the then totally Housing Department areas of Bridgewater & Gagebrook, as a means of reducing crime and other anti-social behaviour stemming from lack of services and in particular sport and recreation services.   However over the years the objectives have broadened to include the social and educational programs through the establishment of the YouthLinx/Youth Activity service in 2002.

A separate YouthLinx building, attached to Bridgewater P&C Club is now available, containg a counselling room, internet access, a youth information library, meeting/lounge area, kitchen, games room etc.   Due to the multiple use of the Bridgewater PCYC building, YouthLinx has only been able to run activities on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays.   However with the ability of the YouthLinx building (for "at risk" 11-16 year olds) there is now the space to open to samller and even higher need groups on Thursdays each week.    The funding for this project is for the employment a street youth worker whose role will be to seek out and build a rapport with the most marginalised, liase with the young people on the streets, work with Project SAM at Bridgewater High School and encourage more young people to attend YouthLinx services.