Annual Report

The Toowoomba Community Justice Group has been auspiced by Centacare since June 2004. The main of objective of the CJG is to reduce the level of Indigenous young people coming into contact with the Justice system.

Youth Engagement- The Whaddup Youth Program is still running every Friday night and is always well attended. From February 2006 to December 2006 1931 young people attended the program and were involved in sporting and recreation activities.

An Indigenous Youth Leadership camp was held in Tallebudgera in December 2006 where 30 young people participated in activities which helped them to build their team and leadership skills.

A team of 14 young boys and girls competed in the secondary school division of the First Contact Touch Carnival in November 2006. The team won 4 out of 6 games, while not making the finals they showed great team spirit and played well.

Sentencing Group – The Community Justice Elders Group continue to receive referrals of young Indigenous people from the Magistrates Court. The Elders meet with the young people to talk to them about their offences and offer them guidance and support. The Magistrates have indicated that they are pleased with this process and continue to support it.

The same group of Elders continues to meet with the Queensland Police once a month to discuss any issues concerning the Indigenous community from both sides.

The CJG Elders and community members have began to attend community days at the Darling Downs Correctional Centre every fortnight where the group visits with and supports the Indigenous inmates of the centre. The Justice Group has been instrumental in helping to develop and will support to resource a Multi Cultural Centre within the Darling Downs Correctional Centre.

“....to respond to individuals, families and the community by providing services which enhance human dignity and freedom and enable people to realise their full potential”

TRAMS truly embodies Centacare’s Mission Statement. It is a wonderful place where volunteers offer friendship and support to refugees and migrants, while seeking to impart those skills which will equip newly arrived families to lead satisfying, rich and independent lives in our local community.

On any given day at TRAMS, you might arrive to the rhythms of African music, be caught up in three or four conversations, each in a different language, feast your eyes on the vibrant colours of a variety of national dress…and then settle down to an English, Cooking, Sewing or Computer class. While some volunteers conduct classes, others care for babies and toddlers, drive the TRAMS van, conduct primary and secondary homework tutoring, help in the office, or carry out general “handyman” tasks. It is a busy place, buzzing with laughter, underpinned by genuine hospitality, respect and compassion.

Beyond the Centre, refugee families are connected to “their” volunteer whose job it is to smooth the path of resettlement. These family supporters help “plug the gaps” for a family who has possibly never lived in a western style house, whose culture and lifestyle are very different from ours, and who, perhaps, has little or no English language. Recently, one volunteer remarked that she walked into TRAMS for an interview and walked out with a family of seven…which has now increased to eight with the birth of a precious little 8lb 2oz baby daughter…and yes, the volunteer was there in the delivery room!

TRAMS has been truly blessed this year. One of the highlights of the year was the refurbishment of our kitchen and amenities area. It is wonderful how new blue and lemon paint and a very functional kitchen can add brightness and convenience to daily life. The existing English program has been restructured and re-resourced to meet the needs of our guests and to aid their progress towards independence in the community. In preparation for this new course, our volunteers completed a series of inservices and then spent the holiday period preparing resources. Not to be outdone by the English tutors, our Childcare volunteers also undertook professional development, work-shopping the topic, Play Preparation for a Learning Life.

On 20 June, 2007, World Refugee Day, TRAMS joyfully celebrated its third birthday. Two guest speakers from the equatorial region of Africa presented insights into their particular life and culture, while the mandatory candles on the birthday cake were blown out by a group of volunteers who were also present at TRAMS to celebrate its inauguration on World Refugee Day, 2004. The throng of refugees, migrants, volunteers and members of other services who came to celebrate with us was testament to the support we receive in our local community.

To all who support us, we are most grateful. TRAMS is indeed a centre which “enhance(s) human dignity and freedom and enable(s) people to realize their full potential”, but it exists only because of the trust of our refugee and migrant families and the generosity of our local community. We are indebted to many individual people, as well as to community, service and business organizations which assist us with goods, professional services and financial support. Above all, we are deeply indebted to our amazing volunteers who expend such time and energy ensuring that our refugee and migrant population is welcomed, befriended and given every support to find a rich and satisfying life in Toowoomba.

Support for Dependants of Skilled Migrants, casework to humanitarian entrants, Migration Advice for humanitarian entrants.

In the period 2006 – 2007 3 families on Skilled Independent Regional visas were referred to the service by either Toowoomba City Council or the Queensland Department of State Development and Trade. These families, after consultation, initially received intensive casework in order to help them find housing, schools for children, information regarding medical and health issues and referral to employment agencies. Clients from the previous funding period continued to contact the service for information and referral. The numbers of skilled migrants coming to Toowoomba has dropped off dramatically. It is thought that this may be due to the limited availability of employment in the area.

It had become apparent that it would be advantageous for clients of both the Settlement Grants Program and the Community Settlement Services Scheme to have an alternate caseworker available. Women in particular have at times expressed a wish to see a female worker especially if there are issues involving domestic or family violence. To this end one day a week has been spent at the Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Services to provide casework to eligible humanitarian entrants.

The provision of migration advice to humanitarian entrants has also become an important part of this program. Marg Lesueur, a migration lawyer, from the Refugee and Immigration Legal Service came to Toowoomba for a day each in September and October to give advice to referred clients. In all 13 clients were referred to her, 2 more received advice on a telephone hook-up and another was taken to Access in Logan to see a RAILS lawyer. After the initial consultation ongoing clerical support and document help has been provided to those clients who wish to proceed with applications to bring family members to

Australia

Administration

It was a watershed year for Centacare Toowoomba, with the retirement of Helen Richards, after 18 years as Office Manager. On behalf of Centacare Toowoomba, I would like to express our appreciation for Helen’s many years of dedicated service.

During the year, there were a couple of changes within the administration team. We welcomed Alice Magnaye in August, initially to work as administration assistant to the Director and Counselling team. On Helen’s retirement in March, Barbara moved to become Office Manager and Alice took over the payroll and accounts, which left a vacancy in the administration team. In December, we welcomed Sandy Jenkinson to take over the role vacated by Alice. Kirsten continues in her role at Reception and rounds up the staffing of the administration team.

Notwithstanding the changes, the administration team continue to maintain a caring, tolerant and empathetic role in welcoming all clients and visitors to Centacare Toowoomba. At present, the administration team supports 18 separate programs within the Centacare Toowoomba agency. The following are some of the services provided:-

Ø Payroll, Salary Packaging, Human and Industrial Resources Services;

Ø Fixed Assets Management;

Ø Insurances - Management of Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Employment Practices, Fidelity Guarantee and Personal Accident (Voluntary Workers), Property and Motor Vehicle insurances on behalf of the Agency;

Ø Corporate Services - Coordination of formal signing processes on behalf of the Agency and, if required, the corporate entity; maintaining taxation benefits of PBI and income tax deductibility status, as per ATO requirements; providing tax deductible receipts for bona fide donations to Centacare Toowoomba on behalf of all Agency Programs; Representing Centacare Toowoomba with external regulators – ATO, auditors, CCI, solicitors;

Ø Finance and Accounting - Preparation and coordination of monthly Balance Sheets and Profit & Loss Accounts for all Agency Programs; requiring accounting intervention for accruals, provisions, depreciation, amortisations, etc; preparation and coordination of annual statutory financial statements; coordination of the annual audit of Centacare Toowoomba; Preparation and lodgement of quarterly acquittals and annual reports to funding bodies;

Ø Coordination of IT resources; and

Ø Management and administration of the Family & Relationship Services Program (FRSP) online reporting system is up and running.

The external audit for 2006-2007 was conducted by the GTH Accounting Group and the Auditor’s Management Letter stated that “The results of our audit testing confirmed that the required objectives were complied with.”

We thank the Diocesan Development Office for their assistance in processing our financial accounts through their accounting system.

I have been attending the Financial Administrators’ Support Network (FASN) teleconferences during the year, which have provided me with insight into how other member agencies of the Catholic Social Services Australia operate. I recognise the value of the experience and advice gained from financial administrators of larger agencies.

Centacare Toowoomba generated a surplus of $80,329 for the 2007 year compared with a shortfall of $18,971 in the prior year.

There were no major changes in funding sources for the 2006-07 year. The following graphs indicate the Financial position of Centacare as at 30^th June, 2007 as per audited figures.

Statistics for 2007 show that approximately 4400 clients attended relationship counselling, relationship education, mediation and primary dispute resolution, employment and personal support programs, refugee and migrant services and there had been greater participation in activities for indigenous youth. Approximately 40 staff and some 65 volunteers delivered these services in Toowoomba and rural centres in South West Queensland.

In October 2006, after 26 years, Therese O’Brien retired from her position as Director of Centacare Toowoomba. Therese has taken Centacare from very humble beginnings to its current size of 40 employees and a budget of over $3 million in 2007.

In 1983, along with Jack Zeller, Therese opened the counselling doors at Centacare. Therese came to Toowoomba after training with the Canberra Marriage Guidance Council and doing her accreditation steps under Fr John Quinlan, working as a volunteer counsellor at St Patrick’s Parish Centre.

If fees are a guide to an agency’s growth, then Centacare Toowoomba has definitely grown by leaps and bounds, under Therese’s guidance. An old letter to Bishop Kelly stated that in the 1988/89 year, Therese expected the average client contribution will be lifted to $3.52 per interview! We’ve come a long way, baby.

In 1989, with the Diocesan contribution and funding received from the Attorney-General’s Department, Therese appointed Helen Richards as her administration assistant. It was the start of a partnership that lasted 18 years. Along with Sr Joan Sutherland, Centacare Toowoomba expanded its service to include pre-marriage education and involvement in various community groups such as DOVES (Domestic Violence Education and Support) and VOCA (Victims of Crime Association).

In 1995, Therese extended the counselling service in the bush with the introduction of the South West Queensland Psychology Service.

These days, Centacare Toowoomba auspices 18 separate programs, from counselling, pre-marriage education to mediation, indigenous youth activities and refugee and migrant services. Areas covered include Toowoomba, Warwick, Roma, Charleville, Goondiwindi and other districts.

In retirement, Therese has decided to live in Buderim, with plans to spend more time with her children and grandchildren.

Centacare Toowoomba will always remember Therese as the founder of a strong and vibrant community-based social service, assisting the people of regional and remote South West Queensland.

After 18 years as Administration Manager, Helen Joy Richards retired in March 2007.

Helen will be remembered for organising what might have been administrative chaos even from when it was just a two-person team to its current staff population of about 40.

No one has ever organised a more entertaining Melbourne Cup party than Helen. Each year, the parties ranged from fun to utter hilarity and helped lift the spirits of staff members.

In the office, Helen can often be heard saying (after a loud sigh) “now!” followed by a clap of her hands – like it was a full stop. This usually signifies the completion of one job and the start of the next.

Helen’s middle name sums up her personality – Joy. It is such joy to hear Helen whistling up and down the hallways of Eymard House and, occasionally bursting into song during morning tea time. Morning tea time, being sacred time in Centacare, would either be famine or feast by way of food, but when Helen brings in her pikelets or home made pesto – its fiesta time.

Helen has the gift of helping people. Clients were looked after in a loving and kind-hearted manner rather than from a business standpoint. Staff members were treated with fairness, compassion, understanding and warmth.

Helen’s contribution extends not only to Centacare, but to the Diocese of Toowoomba, often called on to play the music in church and even composing special music for the installation of the Rev William Morris as Bishop of Toowoomba.

We will remember her loyalty to friends, her kindness and generosity, her sense of humour and her music.

Helen has traded in her life behind a desk at Centacare for a life spent in retirement with her husband, Trevor, her four children and grandchildren.

B. Staff