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Welcome...
UnitingCare West is committed to achieving justice, hope and opportunity for all, and works to support and empower in particular those most in need in the WA community. It is a not for profit community services organisation and part of the mission of the Uniting Church in Australia and UnitingCare national network.
We are delivering creative and innovative programs and services in several locations covering the Synod of Western Australia (the geographic area south of Broome.) Our aim is to locate our services where people most in need can easily access them.
The agencies that formed UnitingCare West have been serving the community of Western Australia since 1830 and touch the lives of many thousands of families and individuals each year.
Removing Barriers
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| Scotch College students perform at the Winter Appeal launch |
Richard Goyder, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Westfarmers and Chair of Scotch College Board officially launched UnitingCare West’s Winter Appeal for 2010.
The launch also showcased a moving physical theatre performance on Homelessness by Scotch College students.
UnitingCare West Golf Day
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| Winning Team: Paul Brown, Ric Dawson, Peter Bilbe and Bill Brown from Macquarie Private Wealth |
UnitingCare West’s annual Golf Day was hosted at the West Australian Golf Club in May and proved a challenging and hilly course for the participants.
The event rose over $30,000 for UnitingCare West and attracted a variety of corporate sponsors.
Lesley Wilkinson, Executive Manager Finance, Property and Marketing, said UnitingCare West was extremely happy to attract 28 corporate teams to this year’s event.
“We were really pleased that the golf day was such a success and the feedback we’ve had has been really positive,” she said.
“The event is a great way for us to thank our supporters, raise funds and also awareness for our work and also have some fun at the same time, so all round it’s a great event to organise and be part of.”
The competition was close with Macquarie Private Wealth beating Datacom for first prize by .5. Third place went to Ansvar Insurance.
A special thank you to Aon Risk Services, Datacom, Westpac, Macquarie Private Wealth, Mirvac, Downings Legal, Lloyd Collins Property Consultants and the Commonwealth Bank who sponsored the event.
Golf Day Super Platinum Sponsor Aon Risk Services
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Official Opening UnitingCare West Merriwa by Federal Minister Plibersek
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UnitingCare West’s new client service centre at Merriwa was officially opened by the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Housing and Status of Women on 30 March 2010.
More than 70 guests including Federal and State politicians, representatives from our funding bodies, government agencies, including local government, our corporate partners, the community sector, and members of the Uniting Church joined in the celebrations at our new multi million dollar facility in Merriwa.
The official proceedings included a poignant Welcome to Country by Reverend Sealin Garlett, Chair of the UAICC in WA, speeches by Wendie Wilkie Chair of the Board and Chris Hall, Chief Executive Officer and with a blessing of UnitingCare West ‘s activities and services by the Reverend Ken Williams, Moderator of the Uniting Church in Western Australia.
UnitingCare West’s Merriwa Centre, which is located in the outer northern suburbs of Perth, currently accommodates 20 staff and provides a range of support services to those families and individuals most in need in the community. The Uniting Church has had a presence in Merriwa since 2001 when the service began as Mofflyn House and has grown substantially and today programs and services provided include:
- An early Intervention Program which is unique to Western Australia and provides intensive parenting support services via the NewPin model which has been in operation in other States/UnitingCare Burnside for a number of years.
- Personal Helpers and Mentors Program which provides support services to people living with a severe or persistent mental illness.
- Aboriginal Family Respite Service which provides a culturally appropriate model of service delivery and respite support for Aboriginal families caring for a family member with mental illness. There are also children’s activities, and pamper sessions for carers including a hairdresser, reiki and beauty therapy sessions together with education and self care information.
- An Individual Disability Advocacy Service provided in partnership with Sussex Street Community Legal Service, which provides independent and confidential support for people with disabilities.
- Emergency relief funding plus a new program funded by FAHCSIA for a Financial Management Service for sole parents and young families living in the northern suburbs, with emphasis on longer term case management, budgeting and appropriate referrals.
Mr. Chris Hall, Chief Executive Officer said “In a relatively short period of time we are seeing across all our new programs and services in Merriwa and surrounding suburbs, that housing and housing affordability is a critical factor of concern for all our clients and that many more young families and individuals are now seeking emergency relief and financial assistance.”
This is a disturbing trend and our research is also showing that the unemployment rate in this region is 6.2%, which is considerably higher than the state average of 5.4% and the local population consists of young families, with 44% of the population under the age of 40 years.”
“The opening was another significant milestone for UnitingCare West in 2010, with the planning and development of the location as part of UnitingCare West’s overall Property Strategy to develop 6 strategic locations across the Perth metropolitan area” said Mr Hall.
The Minister Tanya Plibersek was very impressed with the location, and the programs and services provided on location. In her media release of 30 March 2010 the Minister acknowledged that “the Merriwa Centre is an asset to the local community”.
UnitingCare West acknowledges the significant funding and support provided by Lotterywest towards the refurbishment of the building.
Financial Boost for Most in Need
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The Honourable Jenny Macklin, Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs presented a cheque for $300,000 to UnitingCare West during her visit in February.
The money will go towards providing emergency relief services for families and individuals facing financial hardship in Stirling, Joondalup, Wanneroo and Swan.
This substantial increase in funding is welcomed by Chris Hall, Chief Executive Officer of Uniting Care West.
“With emergency relief requests we struggle to meet the demand. The effect from the global financial crisis means we are seeing more West Australians looking for immediate help from community service organisations.
“UnitingCare West assists on average 330 families and individuals per month who are seeking emergency relief, yet each week we are forced to turn away many because we do not have the funds to assist them.
“In the last seven months, we have had to turn away 2,175 individuals and families, that equates to 77 people a week” said Mr Hall.
Emergency relief provides support for socially disadvantaged people with assistance given for utility bills, rent, food, clothing, accommodation or any other crisis needs.
“Often people can get caught in unforeseen circumstances and need emergency relief to help tide them over. The loss of a job, a relationship breakdown, some ill health or changed circumstances can lead to people who never thought that they would ever need assistance coming into the UnitingCare West centres. UnitingCare West aims to make this process as smooth as possible and assist with the maze of services.” said Mr Hall
UnitingCare West not only provides emergency relief but financial counselling, budgeting, and support to those most in need in our community.
“Our role is to not just give ‘hand outs’ but to educate low income earners to live within their means and to become financially stable. We do this by short term crisis management and long term prevention strategies” said Mr Hall.
The cheque presentation was made at UnitingCare West’s new Inner City Centre which was officially opened by the Premier of Western Australia last week.
Emergency relief and financial counselling are delivered from this centre as well as a centre in Merriwa which is where these funds are destined.
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Premier Opens First Integrated Service to Help Homeless
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WA Premier the Hon Colin Barnett MLA officially opened UnitingCare West's new multi-million dollar centre in
During the visit, the Premier was shown around the new facilities by Chris Hall, CEO of UnitingCare West, and Wendie Wilkie, chair of the UnitingCare West Board.
The Premier took time to learn more about the services which would be offered at the centre, which is now WA’s first integrated service response centre for homelessness.
He commended the work of UnitingCare West and said his government was looking for more opportunities to partner with community services.
The
For the first time, it will bring together a host of specialist services and programs to provide a ‘one stop’ location from which individuals and families can access a range of support services.
During his address to guests, Mr Hall said UnitingCare West was seeing more and more people who were struggling to make ends meet, and with the rise in the cost of living and in food and essential services such as electricity, he said demand for the organisation’s services would continue to increase.
“This centre is essentially a one stop shop and will provide people with a range of support services at one location so they don’t have to navigate a maze of services in different locations,” Mr Hall said.
“People may visit the centre when they need help with a short term crisis, but our aim is to work with clients using an integrated holistic approach. We are providing ongoing guidance with a focus on longer-term strategies and solutions.”
UnitingCare West was also privileged to have students from the Wesley College Moorditj Mob Program dance at the opening ceremony.
The building in which the centre is housed was purchased by UnitingCare West, the
The new service has also received additional government funding and corporate support this year, in addition to a grant from Lotterywest, which also contributed around $2 million to refurbish the building.
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