SERBIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA INC.

Transcription

SERBIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF
VICTORIA INC.
Annual Report
2008-09
SERBIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION of VICTORIA
Annual Report 2008-09
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Table of Contents
Vision --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Our Mission ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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SWAV’s Primary Objective ----------------------------------------------------------------
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SWAV’s Aim ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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SWAV’s Board of Directors ----------------------------------------------------------------
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SWAV’s Staff ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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President’s Report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
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The Aging Serbian Community ------------------------------------------------------------
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Community Partners Program (CPP) ----------------------------------------------------
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‘Count Us in Program” (CUI) --------------------------------------------------------------
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Workforce Participation Program & New Workforce Participation --------------
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Developmental Feasibility Study “Changing Needs of the Serbian Community”--
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The Launch of the “The Changing Needs of the Serbian community” -------------------
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Dandenong Women’s Group -------------------------------------------------------------------
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Multicultural Arts Group -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Addressing the Issue of againg in the Serbian community -------------------------------
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Aging Positively in the Serbian Community -------------------------------------------------
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Financial Reports ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Vision: To be the leading welfare organisation for the Serbian community in Victoria.
Our mission: To improve the Serbian’s community wellbeing through innovative services,
advocacy, education and research.
SWAV’S primary objective is to:
• Assist migrants, especially newly arrived migrants with their settlement into the local
and broader community.
• Promote understanding and awareness of the Serbian community, its culture and
settlement needs to service providers and the general community
• Facilitate the development of new services and structures to meet the needs of
migrants and in particular newly arrived refugees
SWAV Aims to:
• Provide a caring and supportive environment
• Ensure clients understand what services are available and how to access them
• Develop links and partnerships with other welfare providers and organisations for the
benefit of our clients and the Serbian community
• Work as a team to share knowledge, experience and workload and to provide a
supportive environment
• Always strive to improve Serbian Welfare and oneself
• Integrate research and education with welfare care
• Expand the team and offer a greater range of services
• Work closely with other service providers to improve their understanding of and
services to Serbian people
• Recognise efforts and celebrate and promote achievements
• Balance life and work and enjoy the experience
SWAV’s Board of Directors
President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Assistant Treasurer
Board Member
Marija Dragic
Ranka Trisic
Suzana Mihajlovic
Biljana Komnenovic
Zorica Markovic
Radmila Savic
SWAV’s Staff
Manager/ CPP Project Worker
Employment Consultant
‘Count Us In’ Project Worker
Marina Celebic
Mira Sajinovic
Anja Copelj
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President’s Report
This past financial year has proven to be a positively challenging and inspiring year
for the Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria (SWAV). It marks the first year,
since SWAV’s inception, that the organisation has operated without funding for the
Settlement Grants Program from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
(DIAC). For over 15 years, DIAC was the organisations main funding body which
offered support and settlement assistance to newly arrived Serbian migrants and
refugees. I would like to extend my thanks to the Federal government for their
support of SWAV during that time.
As you can imagine the challenge for us was to look beyond who we were in the
1990’s and who we are and who we will become in the 21st century. The year was
spent in reflection, evaluation and strategically planning for the future of the
organisation and the community. And despite not being in receipt of our major
funding, SWAV has continued to grow and meet the changing and diverse needs of
our community. This year and the next, you will continue to see major changes with
this vibrant organisation.
To provide a more effective and beneficial service to its community, SWAV has
embarked on a journey to explore and ascertain the needs and challenges facing the
Serbian community today and in the future. This has successfully been achieved
through the Developmental Feasibility research study ‘The Changing Needs of the
Serbian Community’ which has been funded by the Victorian Multicultural
Commission (VMC) under the Community Strengthening Grant. The findings from
the study have identified key issues and concerns faced by subgroups of the Serbian
population including the ageing population, young adults and specific gender related
issues. SWAV has carefully examined these findings and aims to undergo strategic
planning to implement new programs and services in an attempt to overcome and
cater to the needs of the community.
The study was successfully launched in May, 2009 and the memorable event was
attended by well respected members of government departments and the Serbian
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community. The two honoured guest speakers Mr George Lekakis, Chairperson from
VMC and Cr Pinar Yesil, Mayor of Dandenong, officially launched the study and
praised SWAV for undertaking such an important study which offers to provide
important insight and understanding of issues facing the cultural diverse communities
in Victoria.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the funding bodies who have continued
to support SWAV: Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development
(DIIRD) who have funded the Workforce Participation Program and the Department
of Health and Ageing who have funded the Community Partners Program. This year
we received funding from the Department of Human Services for the ‘Count Us In’
initiative to assist with implementing and providing culturally appropriate care to the
ageing Serbian population. Other important funding bodies I would like to thank and
acknowledge include the City of Dandenong and City of Casey who have supported
the delivery of various activities and programs to assist with key issues being faced by
the community in the Melbourne’s South East.
I would like to thank the staff of SWAV, including our Manager Marina Celebic,
employment officer Mira Sajinovic, project worker, Anja Copelj and women’s group
coordinator Slavica Stojkovic. Thanks also to Janene Blanchfield Brown for her
guidance and valuable input to the organisation’s planning and development.
And finally a special thanks to the wonderful women on the Board of Directors.
These names you will see here from year to year, demonstrate the passion and
commitment with which they work, Biljana Komnenovic, Ranka Trisic, Suzana
Mihajlovic, and Radmila Savic. I would also like to welcome Zorica Markovic our
former settlement worker to our Board.
I look forward to another successful year ahead of us.
Marija Dragic
President
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The Ageing Serbian Community
Given the ageing trend of the Serbian population in Victoria there is a growing
number of Serbian elderly in Victoria in need of aged care assistance. SWAV has
continued to seek funding for programs to address the issue of ageing. Currently
SWAV is undertaking two projects which aim to address the issue of ageing through
consultation, information and research.
Community Partners Program (CPP)
This year marks the second year of the delivery of the Community Partners Program
(CPP) funded by the Department of Health and Ageing. The continuation of the
program has meant that SWAV has been able to continue to provide links and access
for elderly people of Serbian background into mainstream aged care services through
the dissemination of aged-care related information to the Serbian community and the
aged-care providers.
Working directly with the community has proven to be of a great benefit for the
community and the project itself. Through our direct contact, the elderly members of
the community have actively participated in various activities. Having an opportunity
to attend the pensioner groups’ meetings to listen to their concerns and ascertain their
current needs has proven to be of a vital importance in gaining further understanding
of the issues facing the elderly Serbian population. The project has distributed
information via the Serbian media and through the delivery of information sessions to
the various pensioners’ groups in Melbourne.
In addition, linking the aged care service providers and the community has allowed
the providers to obtain direct information about the needs of the Serbian ageing
community and how to deliver culturally appropriate care to this community.
Moreover, it increased awareness and necessary understanding of the various aged
care services amongst the Serbian elderly.
Information sessions relating to Serbian customs and traditions to the aged care
service providers was another activity undertaken by the project. The purpose of these
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information sessions has been to impart information to the aged-care providers to help
increase culturally appropriate care to the Serbian residents. Information disseminated
via the media releases and the organised information sessions were well received by
the Serbian elderly. This information equipped them to make informed decisions
relating to aged care services.
In the last twelve months the project has spread its activities from the South Eastern
Region to all other regions of Melbourne. The contacts we made with the seniors from
other regions have underlined the existing issues which apply to Serbian seniors
regardless the area they live. Healthy Ageing in the Serbian Community has been
supported by the Serbian elderly residing in Melbourne and SWAV is anticipating a
positive outcome of its application for delivery of the Community Partners Program
until 2012.
Marina Celebic
CPP Project worker
‘Count Us in Program’ (CUI)
In May of 2009 the Department of Human Services provided funding to increase the
social inclusion of Serbian residents living in Victorian Public Sector Residential
Aged Care Services (PRACS) through the ‘Count Us In’ initiative. The aim of the
initiative is to increase the quality of life and well being of the Serbian residents living
at PRACS. This will be achieved through the implementation of social support
systems and culturally appropriate services and programs as well as providing cultural
briefing information sessions to the aged care providers to help increase their
empathetic and mutual understanding when dealing with the Serbian residents.
Whilst the project has only been running for a month now it is hoped that the project
will be able to provide assistance to the Serbian residents currently or in the near
future who will be in need of aged care facilities and services.
Anja Copelj
CUI Project worker
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Workforce Participation Program & New Workforce Participation
The months of June to November of 2008 saw the successful conclusion of the
Workforce Participation Partnership (WPP) employment program which was
delivered in partnership with the Spanish and Latin American Welfare Centre
(CELAS) as the SWAV and CELAS Job Help Program. Our partnership with the
CELAS was a valuable and memorable time and we extend our thanks to the
management and staff for their worthy contribution.
As the WPP employment program drew to an end, the Department of Innovation,
Industry and Regional Development (DIIRD) launched the latest concept in
employment programs, the New Workforce Partnerships (NWP).
The Community Job Links project began in March 2009 as a partnership project with
the Dandenong Community Advisory Bureau Inc. Other Community Partners in the
project are Chisholm Institute of TAFE, Springvale Community Aid and Advice
Bureau Inc., (SCAAB), and the Doveton Neighbourhood Learning Centre.
The Community Job Links project services the Dandenong and surrounding region by
addressing the recognised Skills Shortage areas of industry including the Construction
and Property Services Industry, the Manufacturing sector, the Aged Care and the
Hospitality Industries. This is a project tailored to the needs of the disadvantaged
members of the CALD community and helps overcome obstacles which they face in
their job search endeavours. The Community Job Links project works to ensure that
clients have an equitable chance of entry into the workforce. A relevant course of
education is in some cases deemed to be appropriate in order to help address the
obstacles which many of our jobseeker clients face such as: low level English
language and/or numeracy skills; lack of relevant qualifications in Australia and the
lack of understanding of the Australian work culture and safety regulations. The
education pathway is a solution enabled by our partnerships with our project partners
in the education sector of the community. We take this opportunity to thank DIIRD
for funding this project and all our partner organisations for their help, advice and
support in the delivering of this important community project,
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By end of June 2009, The SWAV Community Job Links project has worked to
overcome the hindering effects of the GFC which resulted in large numbers of people
in our community becoming jobless. We look forward to the future and aspire to be
able to help those members of our community who are in need of a boost to overcome
their employment challenges. We are very proud of all our clients over the last year.
Despite experiencing many challenges impeding access to employment their
determination and dedication has enabled them to gain and maintain successful
employment.
Mira Sajinovic
Employment Consultant
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Developmental Feasibility Study
“Changing Needs of the Serbian Community”
In December of 2008 until January 2009, the Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria
conducted a developmental feasibility study to ascertain the current needs and future
challenges faced by the Serbian community. The study was funded by the Victorian
Multicultural Commission, as part of the Community Strengthening Grant. This was a
vital initial step undertaken by SWAV to help with strategic planning and possible
new directions, which would cater to the changing demographic feature of the Serbian
population.
The aim of the research study was to ascertain the general issues confronting the
Serbian community as well as the specific subgroups within the Serbian community
including; the ageing population, young Serbian adults and gender specific issues.
Overall, the study has identified key issues currently faced by the community
including integration into the Australian society due to language difficulties and the
need for information and services available relating to physical and mental health
disseminated in linguistically and culturally appropriate modes and forums. The key
issues identified by the study have included:
• Integration into the Australian society due to language difficulties
• Employment and education
• Mental health
• The need for culturally appropriate aged-care facilities
• Social isolation and lack of community support
The findings were very important as they have identified specific areas and challenges
that SWAV needs to help tackle and alleviate. Altogether the study has provided
important insights and possible future directions that SWAV needs to strive for in
order to continue to provide the appropriate support and services to the Serbian
community.
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The Launch of the ‘The Changing Needs of the Serbian community”
The findings from the research study ‘The Changing Needs of the Serbian
Community” was launched on the 25th May, 2009 at the Grand International in
Dandenong. This was a memorable event for SWAV as the event was attended by
well respected members of government departments including; the Victorian
Multicultural Commission, Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Human
Services, Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development and many
other prominent government bodies and well respected members of the Serbian
community.
The event was officially launched by Mr George Lekakis and Cr Pinar Yesil, Mayor
of City of Greater Dandenong, who were the honoured guest speakers. The event
received positive feedback from the attendees who congratulated SWAV for
undertaking such a unique and important study.
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Community Participation 2008/2009
Dandenong Women’s Group
SWAV continues to facilitate and support the women’s group in Dandenong. The
Dandenong women’s group has welcomed new members this year from both Serbian,
as well as Greek and Bulgarian backgrounds, adding a new multicultural flavour. The
weekly meeting were filled with fun and exciting activities and programs including
various information sessions, art and craft programs, light exercise programs and
excursions.
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Multicultural Arts Group
The long standing Multicultural Arts Group has continued to maintain its community
presence through the support of the Serbian Welfare Association of Victoria. The high
quality of work produces by these women is a reflection of their strong social
networks and friendships, coaching by the highly professional artist, as well as their
artistic inspiration.
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Addressing the issue of ageing in the Serbian community
SWAV has continued to strive towards disseminating information relating to Aged
Care Services and support available for the Serbian community. SWAV has organised
numerous information session for the Serbian elderly to help them obtain important
information regarding Aged Care appropriate services available. Several visits were
organised for the Serbian community to visit the Serbian residents currently living in
nursing homes to help facilitate and promote volunteerism. Relatedly, numerous
cultural briefing sessions were provided to the aged care providers to increase their
knowledge of Serbian customs and traditions, and to provide more culturally
appropriate care.
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Ageing Positively in the Serbian Community
SWAV has received funding to continue to promote and encourage healthy and
positive ageing among the Serbian ageing community members. The two grants by
the City of Casey ‘Ageing Positively’ and ‘Health is Wealth’ have provided funding to
support the dissemination of information relating to healthy eating and maintenance
of an active and healthy lifestyle, and the implementation of various exercise
programs. The City of Grater Dandenong General Support Program provided
financial assistance to establish fortnightly fitness and healthy cooking classes.
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SERBIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION of
VICTORIA INC.
186 Foster Street East, Dandenong 3175
Phone: 03 97017308 Fax: 03 9706 9912
Email: [email protected]
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SERBIAN WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA INC.

Transcription

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