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Footscray social housing development update

More than 100 lives are set to be transformed with 92 new units delivered by our VincentCare Community Housing and Homes Victoria.

Our new Footscray social housing development was funded by Homes Victoria as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build and delivered in partnership with Australian Housing Solution and L.U. Simon Builders.

The 18-storey residential social building in the middle of Footscray will comprise 28 one-bedroom, 58 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes and ground floor office space, along with parking. The Footscray project is one of three housing projects with our Epping project starting soon and the start our Bendigo project not too far away.

The new Footscray development set to be finished in the second half of 2024 reflects St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria’s as well as the Victorian Government’s commitment to grow social housing and offer a practical response to the housing crisis.

 

 

Footscray social housing development update

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OzHarvest's NEST Program at Ozanam House

At Ozanam House, our clients are relishing every moment of OzHarvest Melbourne's NEST program.

 

This week, a group of clients whipped up a delicious Thai Yellow Curry, complimented by French toast, fresh fruit and yogurt for dessert.

The NEST program, short for Nutritional Education Skills Training, teaches participants healthy eating and cooking skills to help them make lasting changes for better health.

Through NEST, participants gain valuable knowledge on various aspects of nutrition, such as how to stretch their shopping budget, store food safely, decipher food labels, plan nutritious meals, and minimise food waste. Moreover, they learn to cook easy, healthy recipes that taste great. Each session spans 2.5 hours and encompasses a blend of nutrition activities, group cooking lessons, and the joy of sharing a meal together.

Upon completing the 6-session program, participants will receive a certificate of achievement, along with valuable take-home resources, including a copy of the OzHarvest Everyday Cookbook.

Learn more about the diverse range of health and wellbeing services offered at Ozanam House HERE.

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VincentCare shone bright at Midsumma Pride March

Despite Sunday's extreme heat, this year's Midsumma Pride March was a celebration of unity and pride, with an even larger crowd of onlookers lining the streets.

Underneath the vibrant VincentCare banner, our spirited group of 21 marchers, including clients, volunteers and employees from across the organisation, stole the show. Dressed in eye-catching “Homeless to House Proud” T-shirts and waving pride flags high, we were a beacon of inclusion and empowerment.

As we marched, we passed out small branded paper flags to spectators, each featuring a QR code to find out more about our services. The response was overwhelming, with nearly all 500 flags snapped up before we even hit the halfway mark.

Every step through the cheers of supporters and the vibrant energy emanating from the crowd fuelled our movement. We are reminded of the profound power of affirmation, solidarity and love that defines the Midsumma Pride experience. 

With such overwhelming enthusiasm, we’re already planning to double our flag order for next year’s march. The spirit of VincentCare shines brighter than ever.

VincentCare shone bright at Midsumma Pride March

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Making a difference, one haircut at a time.

For some people, a fresh hair cut is more than a change in appearance; it’s a potential life-changer.

This was Kim’s second time volunteering at Ozanam House, using her hairdressing skills to give our clients a fresh look and a boost of confidence.

For many, a trip to the hairdresser is a luxury they can’t afford. But we all know what a difference it makes to how we feel when we have a new haircut. It’s more than a change in appearance; it’s a potential life-changer.

“We saw that many times today,” said volunteer coordinator Louise, who had to tell quite a few people that there where no appointments left for the day.

The good news: Kim will be back in the new year to put a smile on many more faces!

Interested in volunteering? Find out how today. 

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Celebrating diversity: recognising International Disability Awareness Day at VincentCare

Honoring contributions, fostering inclusion, and embracing diversity in our community.

Today is a day to raise community awareness, understanding and acceptance of the 4.4 million people with disability in Australia.

It’s also a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge our team members, leaders and sector colleagues who identify as having a disability, and recognise their significant contribution to our organisation and to the work of our sector.

At VincentCare, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community. 
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Our investment in a ‘world free from gender-based violence’

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence – observed from 25 November to 10 December – is a global initiative that condemns violence against women and girls across the globe, raises awareness, inspires action and fosters a world free from gender-based violence.

This year’s theme, ‘Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls’ underscores our shared responsibility to challenge harmful norms, amplify survivors’ voices and advocate for policy changes to ensure women, in all their diversity, live free of violence and coercion.

The 16 Days of Activism serve as a reminder that our actions today pave the way for a safer and more inclusive tomorrow. But our commitment to support victims of family violence is not limited to these 16 days.

Our family violence programs and initiatives provide advocacy and support year-round, empowering survivors to rebuild their lives with dignity and independence. Our specialised services, like VincentCare’s Marian Community and Olive’s Place, actively make a difference, offering refuge, crisis accommodation and essential information on future housing options. This collective effort is a commitment to a future where violence has no place.

It’s crucial to also acknowledge that the impact of family and domestic violence transcends the confines of private spaces  entering into our workplaces.

As we consider the next 16 days, let us reflect on the impact of our shared commitment. Your participation, voice and commitment amplify the message that change is possible when we stand together. We encourage you to engage with our social media campaigns, attend virtual events and participate in open dialogues. By fostering a community of empathy and understanding, we can contribute to breaking the silence that perpetuates gender-based violence.

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Walk Against Family Violence: Collective activism

VincentCare employees joined the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence in the Walk Against Family Violence on 24 November.

In a powerful display of solidarity, this collective activism, held in Melbourne CBD (Naarm), Victoria, demonstrated our commitment to preventing and eliminating family violence, and raising awareness around the challenges faced by victim-survivors.

Our VincentCare teams intimately understand the far-reaching consequences of these challenges. The walk was more than just a symbolic gesture. It was a proactive stance, advocating for a society characterised by safety, equality and mutual respect. By joining the walk, we aimed to amplify our collective voice against family violence, standing in solidarity with victim-survivors and advocating for prevention efforts.

In the heart of the 16 Days of Activism, our collective voice grows stronger. The Walk Against Family Violence was not merely a moment in time – it was a collective assertion that our community stands united against gender-based violence.

As we continue our journey through the 16 Days of Activism, let us continue to stand strong, speak out and work collectively to create a future where violence is eradicated and every individual can live free from the fear of harm. 

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2023 Victorian Homelessness Achievement Award Winners Announced

The winners of the 2023 Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards were announced live at Melbourne Town Hall on Monday, in front of the crowd at this year’s Victorian Homelessness Conference.

The mood in the Main Hall was jubilant, with winners’ names greeted by joyous cheers from the crowd – a fantastic acknowledgement of the sector’s collaborative spirit, as well as the winners’ achievements.

Here’s your list of the 2023 Victorian Homelessness Achievement Awards winners… [drumroll please!]:

The Consumer Achievement Award: Mario Scialdone

Mario has been a client of VincentCare for the past 7 years and in 2019, he joined the Client Volunteer Program, a case managed, recovery program for VincentCare clients with a lived experience of homelessness. Mario gained qualifications as a Barista while in the CVP program. He graduated in May 2023 and joined the Community Volunteer Program at Ozanam House. As a CVP Graduate he continues to volunteer, mentoring new members of the program and supporting VincentCare clients. Mario also became a member of the VincentCare Client Advisory Committee in 2019. This committee is a representative body that advises on policy, procedure, and client participation. Mario is a peer support mentor at Quin House, VincentCare’s residential A.O.D rehabilitation service where he listens, supports, informs and shares his wisdom and knowledge with others. His colleagues describe him as a quiet achiever who is kind and generous, especially to rough sleepers who come to Ozanam House for a cuppa, a meal or a chat. 

Award for excellence in ending homelessness among children and families: Melbourne City Mission’s Youth Refuges and Intensive Child and Family Services Program 

MCM’s Youth Refuges and the Intensive Children’s and Family services program have been working collaboratively over a number of years to increase awareness of and improve interventions for accompanied children in Refuge. Supports are available to young parents in Refuge however children are often the silent consumer leaving a massive unfunded gap in the homelessness/Youth Refuge system. They’ve been working tirelessly to share learnings, develop a therapeutic practice framework and resources to bring infants and children into focus to ensure their needs are met too. 

Award for excellence in ending homelessness among adults: Anchor Community Care’s Rapid Response Program.  

Rough sleeping in the Yarra Ranges is often a hidden and unseen issue, with many rough sleepers taking refuge in the bush and remote areas of this semi-rural landscape. Identifying and supporting this cohort is made more difficult by extreme weather events such as fire, floods and storms which are typical for the region. The Rapid Response Program was born out of a need to provide a coordinated response to rough sleeping. Previously, council or the police would attend to reports of rough sleepers, and they could do little to help. Rapid Response Program outreach teams engage with rough sleepers without overwhelming them, providing non-perishable food and personal care items if needed. Subsequent visits are conducted to maintain contact, monitor the person’s safety, address their physical needs, reinforce messages about available services, make referrals and continue to develop trust and rapport. To date, the program has responded to over 100 reports of rough sleepers in the region.

Award for ending homelessness among Diverse and over-Represented Groups: Women’s Housing Limited’s Women’s Justice Diversion Program. 

The Women’s Justice Diversion Program was designed to extend the housing support and brokerage offered under the prison-based IAP service to divert unhoused women and gender diverse people from extended periods on remand and reduce the likelihood of re-presentation to custody. It is a response to feedback from consumers of the Prison-IAP program who reported being refused bail and release orders due to homelessness. The program utilises a flexible fund to sustain existing rentals, purchase crisis accommodation, and establish safe tenancies in the private and social housing markets to divert participants from custody, and keep them safely accommodated while transitioning back into the community. 

Award for excellence in ending homelessness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: VACSAL, The Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited 

VACSAL is a registered state-wide Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation and operates with an approach underpinned by principles of self-determination and cultural integrity. VACSAL has a unique understanding of the needs of Aboriginal people experiencing homelessness and housing stress, having developed considerable expertise in this sector over the last 30 years. It operates a number of critical services grounded in cultural safety including: a Homeless Outreach Support Program, an APRAP Program which offers financial support aimed at maintaining tenancies and preventing homelessness, and a H2H program that was developed as a response to COVID for its most vulnerable clients and continues to this day. 

The Leading Practioner Award: Anne Kennedy. 

Anne Kennedy is a proud Trawlwoolway woman who has been an assertive outreach practitioner with Neami National for over 21 years. She has spent more than 10 years providing homelessness, mental health and psychosocial support to First Nations consumers at Wadamba Wilam. She provides holistic psychosocial support to First Nations consumers, utilising a trauma informed, client centred and social emotional and wellbeing approach. As an assertive outreach practitioner, Anne provides support to consumers in a number of areas including mental and physical health, alcohol and other drugs, housing support, cultural connection, family violence and she also provides strong advocacy for those engaged with child protection and the justice system. Anne has described her time with Wadamba Wilam as a parallel process of learning, discovery and connection and credits the experience to her own journey of cultural exploration. 

The 2023 Beth Thomson Lifetime Achievement AwardJoal Presincula

Joal has just experienced her 10th year of formally contributing to consumer participation as a member of CHP’s PESP team and the wider SHS and has worked hard at utilising her lived experience expertise to make a difference. Over the years she has leant her considerable knowledge to consultative processes in homelessness policy and programs across various homelessness services and local government. She’s contributed to working groups and provided input into the ongoing discussion of best practice when working with people experiencing homelessness and who have experienced significant trauma. Joal has facilitated focus groups, contributed to training sessions, and as one of sector’s first Peer Support Workers supported people without homes in crisis accommodation. Joal’s insight is invaluable, whether she’s sharing it with media, private organisations, government, policy makers, or using it to support people without homes. 

Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who submitted nominations.

This article was originally published by the Council to Homeless Persons. Read it here

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VincentCare at OUT in the OPEN Festival

We had so many great conversations with the local community at the OUT in the OPEN Festival this weekend!

It’s crucial to recognise that LGBTQIA+ experiences of homelessness and family violence are not limited to urban areas; however, there are significantly fewer safe and supportive services available outside metropolitan regions.

This is why it’s essential for us to venture into rural and regional areas, spreading the message that we are here to support individuals of all bodies, genders, and sexualities. Our goal is to help them feel safe and loved in their intimate and family relationships, and empower them to move from homeless to house proud.
 
Find more information about the Pride in Place program and the invaluable services it offers HERE
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